Glossary of Printing Terms

Common (and Not So Common) Printing Terms…
Digital Printing

A generic term meaning items are printed with a digital printer. Digital printing allows for short-run, full-color printing that is quick and efficient.

Digital Printer

A printer that does not require the use of a plate. A digital printer prints images directly to the substrate.

CMYK / Process Colors

4 colors (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black) combined and/or printed to create a multitude of colors.

Laser Printing

The process of using Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and/or Black toner in conjunction with electrostatic, heat, and pressure to create printed materials. 

Toner

Microscopic granules of colored plastic used in laser printing to create images on print-related materials through heat and pressure.

Color Calibration

The process of monitoring and adjusting press settings to achieve consistent, repeatable color.

Duplex

Printing on two sides of a sheet a.k.a. double-sided printing.

RIP - Raster Image Processor

RIP is a term used in digital printing software that converts art file data into print-ready files.

Ghosting

Washed out images appearing in unwanted areas due to excess ink in plate or cylinder from the prior impression or print job.

Offsetting

Image transferring from one printed item to the next when stacked. This is often caused by insufficient ink drying/curing.

DPI

The number of dots per inch. A low DPI count translates to a fewer number of dots printed to create an image, which can translate to a low-quality appearance; conversely, a higher DPI count translates to a higher-quality appearance.

Dot Gain

Printed dot size growing or increasing in size, which causes an image to look darker than intended.

Mottling

Uneven appearance of print caused by spotty or uneven ink or toner appearance.

Scum

Unwanted ink deposits in non-image areas on a printed piece.

Hickey

- Created with dust or debris that interacts with ink on the plate.  It blocks ink and creates small spots or circles where ink did not adhere to the sheet.

Misregistration

Error in print alignment where inks and/or toner become un-aligned to one another when printed.

Front to Back Alignment

The positioning of an image relating to the front and back of a printed sheet.

Crop Marks

Marks used to provide a guide for the cutting/trimming process.

Registration Marks

Marks intended to align inks and/or toner to one another on a printed item.

Bleed

Extended image area that spreads 1/8 inch (0.125”) past the trim marks. Upon trimming, this creates the effect of displaying the printed image to the edge of the material.

Paper Grain

Direction of fibers on a sheet of paper. Grain direction can be important when folding card stocks.

Substrate

Material a project is printed on such as paper, plastic films or containers, foils, fabrics/textiles, and more.

Density

Measures the amount, tone and/or darkness of ink or toner being printed.

Opacity

The amount of transparency of an ink or substrate to help readability on duplex printing. High opacity will ensure each side can be read without the other side interfering with the reader.

Flood

To completely cover a page with a color or coating.

Inkjet Printer

Relays microscopic nozzles to jet ink to create an image on paper, signage, and other related materials.

Latex Inkjet Printer

Uses a latex-based ink system to print on a variety of materials creating an extremely durable print suited for indoor and outdoor use.

Solvent Inkjet Printer

Uses a pigment and solvent-based ink system to print on a variety of materials creating a very durable print suited for indoor and outdoor use. 

UV Curable Inkjet Printer

Uses UV lamps to cure ink (change from a liquid to a solid) and print on a variety of materials creating a durable print suited for indoor and outdoor use. 

Aqueous Inkjet Printer

Also known as water-based printing, aqueous printers use a pigment and water-based ink system to print on paper and other related materials best suited for indoor use.

Banding

Visible quality issue appearing in the form of horizontal or vertical streaks or striping.

Curing

Using heat, circulated air and/or UV lamps to dry, cure and/or change liquid ink jet ink to a solid.

Nozzle

Microscopic opening in inkjet printer heads which eject ink droplets into printed-related materials.

Contour Cutting

Similar to dye-cutting, a blade is used to cut adhesive vinyl into custom shapes.

Weeding

A requirement for cut vinyl (vehicle lettering, window graphics, wall graphics, etc.), the process of removing excess adhesive vinyl from non-image areas, in preparation for the masking process.

Solvent

Durable method of large format printing where the image is etched onto the substrate. Proper ventilation safeguards are needed for this method. Ideal for outdoor usage.

Ecosolvent

Alternative to solvent printing using more biodegradable inks, suitable for outdoor usage.

Latex

No fumes, heat-cured, and durable inkjet large format printing that is suitable for outdoor use.

Aqueous

Water-based inkjet large format printing. For indoor use only unless laminated. Outgassing required if laminated.

Outgassing

A 24-hour airing out period for solvent and aqueous printing that is needed before lamination or finishing.

Masking

A requirement for cut vinyl (vehicle lettering, window graphics, wall graphics, etc.), masking is the process of adding a low tack adhesive sheet to a cut vinyl project after it has been weeded.  Also called transfer tape, the masking sheet is designed to keep the cut vinyl components in place, in preparation for the installation process.

Mounting

The process of adhering one material to another.

Hemming (Banners)

The process of folding and bonding the edges of banner material to increase durability, decrease edge curl, and provide a strong base for grommets.

Grommeting

The process of adding circular metal eyelets to banners and signs to allow for the item to be easily hung.

Laminating (Signage)

The process of adhering a clear protective layer to signage material to enhance durability.

Poster Paper

A high quality, sturdy paper typically gloss or matte-coated often used for indoor signage and related applications.

Engineering/Blueprint Paper

Lightweight, affordable paper typically used for engineering drawings and blueprints.

Adhesive Vinyl

Material with pressure-sensitive adhesive on the back side.  Can be printed on or come in the form of a solid color to create contour cut decals.  Can be mounted or adhered to on a variety of surfaces. 

Banner Vinyl

Also called scrim vinyl, banner vinyl is an affordable solution for outdoor banners.  Internal cross-hatched cording creates durability.

Coroplast

Corrugated plastic board material is an affordable solution for outdoor signage due to its lightweight, waterproof, and durable properties.  Often used in outdoor yard signs and related signage projects. 

Foamcore

Also referred to as foam board, foamcore is a ridged, triple-layer board comprised of top and bottom card stock sheets bonded to a foam core. Often used in indoor signage applications.

ACM (Aluminium Composite Material)

ACM, also known as sandwich board, ACP, and DiBond, is a durable yet lightweight triple-layer board comprised of top and bottom aluminum sheets bonded to a polyethylene (plastic) core.  Often used in long-term outdoor signage applications.

Canvas

Often used for wall art, canvas material can be printed and is often mounted to a frame for indoor display.

Perforated Adhesive Vinyl

Adhesive vinyl material with small uniform circular perforations that are designed to create a “see-through” effect from the inside of the window and the ability to see the printed sign from the outside of the window.  Often used in vehicle and building window applications.

Window Cling

Flexible, repositionable sign material, typically mounted to glass.

Mesh Banner

Durable, woven mesh banner material, designed to withstand high wind areas.

PVC

Thick, ridged plastic sign material used for indoor and short-term outdoor signage.

Polystyrene

Thin, plastic sign material used for indoor and outdoor signage.  Popular for Point of Purchase or Point of Sale displays.

Vehicle Magnet

Magnetic material designed to be printed and adhered to a vehicle door or trunk.

Vehicle Lettering

Adhesive vinyl cut into custom shapes and adhered to a vehicle.  Available in solid colors or printed in full-color.

Cut Vinyl

Adhesive vinyl cut into custom shapes and adhered to surfaces such as windows, vehicles, walls, signs, etc.  Available in solid colors or printed in full-color.

Retractable Banner

Banner equipped with a portable, lightweight base and pole system that allows it to be displayed and retracted for storage or travel.  Extremely popular at tradeshows and events for booth displays and presentations.

H Stake

Often called step stakes, these metal wire stakes are used to display coroplast yard signs.

Feather Flag

Sometimes referred to as a tear-drop flag, these fabric flags come equipped with poles to mount into the ground.

Pole Banner

Two-sided vinyl banners typically equipped with hardware sets specifically designed to mount to light poles.

Event Tent

Lightweight polyester canopy with aluminum framework that is printed to showcase your message.  Extremely popular at tradeshows and events.

Table Throw/Runner

Custom printed fabric table cover.  Extremely popular at tradeshows, presentations, and events.

Backlit Film

Translucent plastic sign which can be mounted in a special frame and lit from behind to create a vivid, eye-catching message.  Commonly used for airport and movie theater signs, menu displays, bus stops and exhibits.

Acrylic

Typically quarter-inch (1/4”) plexiglass often used indoors and mounted with metal stand-off hardware.  A popular material for signs, artwork, and awards.

Stand-Off Mounts

Typically used to mount acrylic signs, artwork, and awards, they provide a unique way to mount signs to walls.

Direct Mail

Sending either letters, postcards or flats as marketing material using a mailing/address list.  Lists can be customized to reach specific demographics. 

EDDM (Every Door Direct Mail)

An online tool created by the USPS to economically saturate local communities with postcards and marketing material.  EDDM does not rely on a mailing list, instead, the recipient list is based on local mail routes, zip codes, and other analytics.

Mailing List

List of contact data often used for direct mail marketing.  Can be customized using a variety of analytics.

Mail Permit

USPS account granting permission to use a certain postage payment method for bulk mailings.

Mail Merge

Using graphics software to import address information into a graphics file intended for mailing.

Variable Data Printing

Using graphics software to add customized and personalized variable information to individual documents in a graphic and/or print project.

Addressing

The process of printing addresses on mail-related material.

Indicia

Graphic printed on mail-related documents to indicate postage has been paid.

Postal Presort

The process of sorting your mailing list prior to mailing to optimize postage savings and generate required documentation for the mailing process.

NCOA - National Change of Address

The process of sorting a mailing list to determine address changes to create a more accurate and deliverable list.

CASS Certification - Code Accuracy Support System

The process of sorting a mailing list to determine deliverable addresses using data points such as zip codes and carrier route codes.

(ZIP+4)

4 digits added to the traditional 5-digit zip code to define a specific area within a traditional zip code to aid in sorting and delivery.

Intelligent Mail Barcode

USPS Barcode printed on mail pieces to aid in the sorting and tracking process.

Aspect Ratio

The difference between the length and height.  Often associated with mail pieces, which need to be between 1.3 and 2.5 for mail processing.

Endorsement

Authorized marking printed on a mail piece to indicate handling instructions.

Tabs

Also called wafer seals, tabs are pressure-sensitive paper or plastic circular seals that are used to secure the open edges of folded mail material, allowing it to easily pass through mail processing equipment.

Dye Sublimation

The method of applying an image to specially coated ceramics, metals and polyester fabric using specialized ink that changes from a solid to a gas and bonds with the material when brought under heat and pressure.

Heat Press

A machine used to apply heat transfers onto garments and other surfaces using time, temperature, and pressure.

Heat Transfer

A design is printed onto special paper using heat-sensitive ink. The image can be transferred on light and dark fabrics including cotton using a heat press.

Promotional Products

Useful tangible items imprinted with a name, logo or message designed to increase brand awareness. Often given out as gifts to clients and prospects.

Offset Printing

A traditional, commonly used printing technique where an inked impression is transferred from a plate to a rubber-covered roller, then transferred to paper.

Additive Colors

In photographic reproduction, the primary colors of red, green, and blue which are mixed to form all other colors.

Blanket

On offset presses, a blanket is a fabric-reinforced sheet of rubber to transfer the impression from the plate onto the paper.

Color Bars

This term refers to a color test strip, which is printed on the waste portion of a press sheet used to determine the quality of the printed material relative to ink density, registration, and dot gain.

Duotone

Color reproduction from a monochrome original. The keyplate is usually printed in dark color for detail, and the second plate is printed in light flat tints. Duotone is a two-color halftone reproduction generated from a one-color photo.

Gripper Edge

The portion of the sheet that the grippers hold on to to move paper through an offset press.

Impression

A printing impression is the product created due to one cycle of printing. The impression is created from the pressure placed on the image carrier.

Plate

Used in offset printing, the printing plate is a sheet of metal, plastic, or other material that is used to transfer an image. Each printing plate is used for one color of the design being produced.

Platemaking

Platemaking refers to the process by which printing plates are prepared, chemically sanitized, developed, and finished before printing.

Screen Printing

The process of pressing ink through a stenciled mesh screen using a squeegee to create a printed design on a variety of materials.

Carousel

A rotary screen printer with four or more color stations.

Color Separation

Taking a full-color image and separating the individual colors to break down the image so that it can be printed.

Cure (Screen Printing Ink)

Ink will harden when exposed to heat.  Typical curing methods for screen-printed apparel include using a conveyer belt oven or heat press.

Emulsion

Used during screen printing to help imprint a logo on printed items such as promotional products. Emulsion uses a photosensitive/photopolymer film or chemical that can be applied to the screen.

Image Area

The size of an image that can be placed on the screen.

Plastisol Ink

A plastic-based ink cured with heat and used to print on fabric.

Reclaiming

After the emulsion process for screen printing production, reclaiming is the method by which emulsion is removed so that the screen can be used again.

Registration

Registration is the process by which the colors of the artwork are aligned to produce the proper image. Each screen represents one color that must be aligned to prevent blending and overlapping from occurring.

Silkscreen

Used for screen printing, a silkscreen is a screen created using mesh.

Squeegee Blade

A squeegee blade has a handle that connects to a flexible blade of either plastic or rubber. It is used to create a print by running the blade over the screen, which then compels the ink through the mesh during silkscreen printing.

Under Base

The under base is the initial color used as the first layer of ink on apparel. Having the correct under base is important to make sure the screen printing process is properly achieved once the additional colors are applied.

Vector

A clean, camera-ready piece of artwork that can be scaled without any loss of quality.

Viscosity

The thickness of the ink.

DPI - Dots per inch

The higher the DPI, the better the print will look.  Printing files of 300dpi or higher will result in a high quality, finished product.

RIP - Raster Image Processor

A software accessory working as an enhanced printer driver, producing the highest quality standard output for text, bitmap images, and vector artwork.

Bleed

Printing that extends to the edge of a printed sheet or page after trimming, allowing the color to print to the edge of the paper.  Standard bleed for setting up document artwork is 0.125” or 1/8”.

Crop marks

Lines near the edges of an image indicating areas for cutting, including bleed and gutters. Also known as cutting or trim marks.

Gutter

The trimmable area between images before cutting.  Commonly used with documents containing bleed to ensure the print can be cut correctly.

Proof

Graphics, images, or artwork which require design or text changes from its original state for customer review and approval. Proofs are used to ensure all adjustments, corrections, and spelling and grammar changes have been made prior to printing, requiring final approval by the customer.  Proofs can be printed or emailed as a record on how a printing job is intended to appear when finished.

Flattened Image

Visible layers in a digital file that are merged into a background, which can also reduce file size.  Flattening an image discards hidden layers used in designing artwork and fills remaining transparent areas with white. In most cases, avoid flattening a file until you have finished editing individual layers.

JPEG

An image saved in a compressed image format. It is commonly used for storing digital photos and used by most digital cameras to save images.

PDF

Best universal tool for sharing graphics.  Can contain text, images, embedded fonts, hyperlinks, video, interactive buttons, forms, and more.

PSD

Proprietary default image file type for Adobe Photoshop that allows for layering of images throughout the design process including after the image is created.

INDD

An image file used in Adobe InDesign. It is the default format that InDesign uses for saving data.  Contains formatting, content, styles, and linked files. Used for desktop publishing to create books, magazines, newspapers, flyers, etc.

AI

An image file used in Adobe Illustrator. It is the default format that Illustrator uses for saving data representing single-page vector-based drawings.

EPS

A file type that may contain vector graphics, bitmap images, and text.

TIFF

A variable-resolution bitmapped image format.  It is very common for transporting color or gray-scale images into graphics applications.

Cut Sizes

Smaller sizes of paper, such as letter, legal, and tabloid, are cut down from parent-size sheets used by commercial printing presses.

Trim Size

Dimension of a printed page after cutting away any excess edges including bleeds or blank areas of the print, also known as finished size.

Saddle Stitching

Process of folding a series of sheets in half, stapling in the center of the fold.  The total page-count of this type of book must be divisible by four, also known as a signature.  If the total page-count is not divisible by four, a blank page will be used in its place.

Coil Binding

Process of punching holes on paper edge, inserting and closing ends of a plastic coil for creating a book.  Commonly used for presentations and can include a front clear plastic cover and solid back cover.

GBC Binding

Also known as comb binding, this is the process of punching a series of rectangular holes on paper edge and then binding it with a plastic comb like binding.

Perfect Binding

Paper glued on one edge into a wrap-around cover, like in a paperback book.

Drilling

Creating holes in paper with a specialized rotating bit or cutting die.

Padding

The process of applying specialized glue to stacks of paper separated by chipboard to create tear-off notepads.

Collating

Organizing sheets to create a finished packet, booklet, or brochure.

Coated Paper

Also known as gloss paper, coated paper has properties that enhance surface smoothness and increase brightness and sheen.

Uncoated Paper

Does not have a coating and tends to be rougher or more natural than coated papers.

UV Gloss Varnish

Clear, high sheen coating cured by UV lamps and used to protect printed material by increasing its durability.

Aqueous Gloss Varnish

Clear, moderate to high sheen water-based coating used to protect a printed piece by increasing its durability.

Satin Varnish

Clear, semi-matte coating used to protect printed material by increasing its durability.

Synthetic Paper

Typically manufactured from plastics to simulate the feel of paper, synthetic paper is an alternative option to paper offering enhanced features such as being waterproof, tearproof and greaseproof.  These features allow it to be easily sanitized.

Text Weight Paper

Typically a lighter weight paper used for flyers, business documents, and booklets.

Cover Weight Paper

Typically a heavier weight or card stock paper used for brochures, postcards, and business cards.

NCR Business Forms

Collated and glued sets of a form that allow for duplicate copies. Any written information on the top sheet such as a signature will be transferred onto the other sheets in the set.

Glossary Book with Magnifying Glass