Don't talk print? We can help!
Sometimes we can make it too hard to understand with our own printer's language. Stop us and ask questions, or feel free to reference the glossary below.
4 Color Process (CMYK) or (Full Color):
Printing using Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black to produce a full color image.
4/0:
Full Color on one side, Blank Back
4/1:
Full Color on one side, Black Ink on Back
4/4:
Full Color on all Sides
AQ or Aqueous Coating:
A clear water based coating used to seal and protect the printed sheet. This is available in gloss, satin (gloss + matte) and matte finishes.
Artwork:
All computer files including layout, images and fonts needed to produce the final printed product.
ASCII Text File (.TXT):
ASCII text file or .TXT is a file format is commonly used by clients to store mail list data.
Bindery:
All options available to a product after it has completed printing. This includes cutting, folding, drilling, etc.
Bitmap Images:
Bitmap images, or raster images, use pixels to represent images.
Bleed:
Artwork extended 1/8” on all 4 sides to allow for cutter variance.
Brightness:
The brilliance, or “whiteness” of a paper. The higher the number, the brighter the sheet.
C - Cyan:
One of four colors used in Full Color Printing.
C1S:
Coated One Side: Sheet is glossy on front, flat with no coating on back.
C2S:
Coated Two Sides: Sheet is glossy on both sides
Caliper:
The thickness of paper measured in 1/1000”.
CMYK:
Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black: The four colors used in full color printing.
Coated paper:
Smooth finish paper with a Matte or Glossy finish. Available in Book and Cover.
Color Correct:
To adjust the values of process colors to achieve the desired overall color.
Crop:
To cut off parts of a picture or image.
Crop marks:
Printed lines showing the edges for trimming.
Die Cut:
To cut irregular shapes using a die.
DPI:
Dots Per Inch: Term used in describing Resolution. Suggested image resolution for best print quality is 300 dpi.
Drill:
To punch holes in the printed sheet.
Emboss:
Pressing an image into paper to create a raised image.
File Extensions:
File extensions are three-digit codes at the end of a file name that indicate what format the file has been saved in.
Finished Size:
Size of product after completion of all bindery options.
Flat Size:
Size of product after printing and trimming, but before all other bindery options.
Four Color Printing:
The process of combining four basic colors to create a printed color picture or colors composed from the basic four colors.
Gloss:
Paper type with a shiny surface; best used with images.
Grayscale:
Grayscale is a strip of 256 gray values ranging from white to black.
Halftone:
An image or other continuos tone that has been converted to dots for printing.
High Res (Resolution):
Images with a resolution of 300 dpi or greater.
Image:
An Image is a computerized representation of a picture or graphic.
JPEG:
File format used for images requiring less storage space than needed for other file formats. Please supply uncompressed for printing.
K - Black:
One of four colors used in Full Color Printing
Linen Finish:
Paper finish that simulates a linen cloth.
Low Res (Resolution):
Images with a resolution less than 250 dpi.
Magenta:
One of four colors used in Full Color Printing.
Matte:
Paper type with a dull surface; best used with heavy text, and some images.
Offset paper:
Basic uncoated book grade of paper.
Offset Printing:
Main printing technique used on products offered on our site. Ink to paper.
Opacity:
The amount of show-through on a printed sheet.
Page:
One side of a sheet.
Page count:
Total number of pages in a book.
PDF:
Portable Document Format is a file format developed by Adobe Systems to preserve all fonts, formatting, graphics, and colors of the native file into a universal document.
Perforation:
A line of small dotted holes for the purpose of tearing-off a part of a printed matter.
PMS:
Pantone matching systems or PMS is a mixture of inks that will provide a specific color. This is used only on our 1/0 and 2/0 products.
Point:
In paper, a unit of thickness equating 1/1000 inch. Print Ready Files: Print-Ready files are digital artwork files that are 100% ready to print, requiring no adjustments.
Process Color:
The process of combining four basic colors to create a printed color picture or colors composed from the basic four colors.
Proof:
A PDF or Hard Copy showing a preview of art files submitted.
Recycled Paper:
Paper made entirely or in part from old paper.
Register Marks:
Position marks on artwork to help keep printing in register.
RGB:
Abbreviation for red, green, blue, the color mode used for viewing on monitors and screens.
Saddle stitch:
Binding a booklet or magazine with staples in the seam where it folds.
Score:
To pre-crease paper along a straight line so it folds more easily and accurately.
Self Cover:
A book where all pages are made of the same stock.
Plus Cover:
A book where the cover is thicker stock then the text.
Sheetfed Press:
Press that prints sheets of paper, as compared to a web press.
Toner:
A powder used to form the printed images on all digital machines.
TIFF:
Computer file format used to store images.
Trim marks:
Printed lines showing the edges for trimming.
Trim size:
Size of product after printing and trimming, but before all other bindery options.
TXT:
ASCII text file or .TXT is a file format is commonly used by clients to store mail list data.
Wove paper:
Bond paper with a smooth finish.
