Printing Terminology Glossary
A
Artwork
The digital file containing designs and images intended for print.
B
Binding
The process of fastening together sheets of paper to create a book or booklet.
Bleed
Printing that goes beyond the edge of the sheet before trimming. Prevents thin white edges.
C
Caliper
The thickness of a single sheet of paper, usually measured in microns (mic) or points (pt).
CMYK
Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key (Black). The 4 standard process ink colors used in commercial printing.
Coated Paper
Paper with a surface coating of clay or other substances to provide smoothness and finish (Gloss/Matte/Silk).
D
Debossing
Pressing an image into paper so it is recessed below the surface.
Die-cut
A cut made with a custom-shaped tool to create irregular shapes, windows, or intricate patterns in paper/board.
DPI
Dots Per Inch. The resolution of a printed image. Professional printing requires 300 DPI.
E
Embossing
The opposite of debossing; raising an image above the surface of the paper for a tactile effect.
F
FOGRA
An international research association for the printing industry. FOGRA39 is a common color standard.
Foiling
Applying a metallic or pigmented film to paper using heat and a metal die for a luxury finish.
G
GSM
Grams per Square Meter. The metric measurement of paper weight.
Gutter
The inside margin between two pages of a spread, near the spine.
I
Imposition
The arrangement of individual pages on a large press sheet so they appear in correct order after folding.
K
Kraft Paper
Strong, often brown paper made from wood pulp. Highly popular for sustainable packaging.
L
Lamination
A thin plastic film bonded to paper to add durability, protection, and specific finishes (Matte/Gloss/Soft-touch).
O
Offset Printing
The standard industrial printing method where ink is transferred from a plate to a rubber banner and then to paper.
Overprint
Printing one color on top of another without knocking out the color underneath.
P
Pantone (PMS)
The Pantone Matching System; a standard for specific spot colors used for brand consistency.
Perfect Binding
A binding method where pages are glued into a flat spine (used for paperback books).
Proof
A preliminary version of a print project used to check layout, colors, and content before the final run.
R
Registration
The alignment of the four process ink colors (CMYK). Mis-registration causes blurriness.
Rich Black
A black made by mixing other colors with 100% black to create a deeper, darker finish.
S
Saddle Stitch
A binding method where sheets are folded and stapled through the spine.
Safe Zone
The area inside the trim line where all critical text and logos should be kept (usually 5mm).
Spot UV
Applying a glossy varnish to specific areas of a design rather than the entire page.
T
TIFF
Tagged Image File Format. A high-quality lossless format preferred for high-resolution print images.
Trim
The final size of the product after the edges have been cut off.
V
Varnish
A clear coating applied to a printed sheet for protection or aesthetic effect.
W
Waterless Printing
An eco-friendly offset method used by GN Print that eliminates water and fountain solutions.