Print and Pre-Press Terminology

Adobe Illustrator
Popular software program used in the manipulation of electronic files and images, toward the creation of the final artwork.

Aqueous Coating
Clear liquid topcoat applied to a printed sheet.

Bleed
Printing that extends beyond the edit of a panel or page.

Blueline/Dylux
Photosensitive paper that images in varying degrees of the color blue. This proof is used to check copy and position.

Buttfit/Kissfit
The meeting of two or more colors where there is no overlap or trap. The result is often a visible thin white line.

Caliper
The thickness of material measured in thousandths of an inch called points.

Choke and Spread
Fatty/Skinny to slightly decrease (choke) or increase (spread) the size of a graphic element to create a trap or fit.

Color Key
3M trade name for an overlay color proof.

Color Separation
The separation of a continuous tone image into the four process colors: cyan, magenta, yellow and black.

Composite Film
Also final film or plate-ready film; a single piece of film that contains all of the characteristics of several pieces of working films.

Cromalin Proof
DuPont trade name for a color contract proof, used as a color guide on press.

Die Template
The finished outline of a package or shape.

Directory
A list of the files, fonts and software programs used to create an electronic file.

Direct to Plate
Also Computer to Plate (CTP); the process of transferring electronic files directly to print plates, eliminating the intermediate step of imaging films.

DPI
Dots Per Inch; used loosely to describe the resolution of an element.

Dry Trap
Refers to the overlapping of inks done in two press passes while one of the inks is dry and one is wet.

Duotone
The graphic representation of an image using only two colors.

Dylux
DuPont trade name for a blueline proof showing type and position of images.

EPS
Encapsulated Post Script; a commonly used format for moving files from one software application to another electronically. The elements are locked to prevent inadvertent changes.

EPS Template
An electronic drawing of the actual die layout. It is used to prepare and layout artwork in its proper orientation. It is also used to create the die tool and should not be altered without notice.

Four Color Process
The representation of all colors through an arrangement of dots of the four processed printing ink colors: cyan, magenta, yellow and black.

Halftone
A one-color photographic image, with tones reproduced by varying-sized dots of ink.

Hickie
An imperfection in a printed sheet caused by a contaminant in the print process. Any paper dust, spray powder or other contaminant will adhere to a blanket or plate on press and prevent ink from being used in that area. The result is a small white spot.

Hot Spot
Increased density of a color in a small area that can occur in film or plate making.

Keylines
Rules that are placed in a document to mark specific areas to place graphic images. A keyline can also represent the shape of a three-dimensional product while in a flat two-dimensional drawing.

Knockout
The removal of all other colors behind a specific element. With a black background, you would remove the black behind any colored type.

Lines Per Inch
Number of rows of dots per inch in a screen tint, halftone or separation.

Make Ready
Activities required to set up a manufacturing process or piece of equipment.

Matchprint
3M trade name for a color proof of final films.

Moiré
Undesirable pattern in halftones and screen tints caused by conflicted screen patterns.

Page Count
Total number of pages including blanks and printed pages.

PMS
Pantone Matching System; a standard for color reproduction.

Preflight/Flightcheck
The verification of an electronic document for potential problems prior to outputting film or plates.

Proof
Test sheet produced to check color, type, layout and design.

Prototype
A machine-made or handmade sample of a pre-production package.

Prototype Dylux
Prototype made from a Dylux proof that illustrates the printing, folding and scoring in a three-dimensional form.

Quark File
Document or part of an art file that was created with Quark Xpress.

Quark Xpress
Software program written for the graphic arts industry. A tool for page construction and type manipulation.

Random/Scatter
Proof of a scanned image used to check the color or quality on an image prior to final films/plating.

Reverse
Image showing out of a printed background area.

Screen
Piece of film with dots of uniform density.

Screen Ruling
The number of rows of dots per inch in a screen for tints or halftones.

Screen Tint
Area printed with dots where ink coverage is less than 100% to simulate shading.

Trap
The overlapping of adjacent colors, so as to avoid the potential of a white gap between images.

Trim Size
Size of the printed sheet after last trim is made.

UCR
Under Color Removal; done during scanning to reduce the total amount of ink coverage in shadow areas by replacing some of the cyan, magenta and yellow with black. Reductions of ink usage can improve ink drying and dot gain control while on press.

Wet Trap
Refers to the overlapping of inks done in one press pass while the inks are all still wet.

Window
An area cut out of masking material on a mechanical to position a graphic element.

Working Film
Preliminary or intermediate films, which are then combined to produce the final (composite) film.

Packaging and Paper Terminology

Acetate Window
Clear film covering a die cut opening.

Aircell
A space created by forming a substrate into a shape to provide protection in a package.

Appliqué
A secondary layer of material joined over an existing substrate that creates a multi-level finish.

Assemble
To set up and finish into a fully completed format.

Bleach
A process used in paper making to whiten paper. Also a reference as to the whiteness of the paper.

Blind Emboss
Raised area of the sheet created using an engraved tool and a die press.

Board
Generic term referring to the substrate.

Boosters
Triggers at the ends of the ring metal that assist the opening of the ring.

C1S
Paper coated one side.

C2S
Paper coated two sides.

Caliper
The thickness of material measured in thousandths of an inch called points.

Capacity Pocket
A pocket formed with a double score along each side to create a spine that gives the pocket a greater thickness and capacity than a flat pocket.

Cast Coated
Paper with a high-gloss coating that can rival the gloss of a photograph.

Cavity
Recessed area of a package used to house an item: CD, VHS, promotional item, etc.

Chipboard
A paperboard substrate, normally recycled and used primarily in consumer packaging.

Combo Form
Print form that combines more than one item for print and finishing.

Consignees
The party that is receiving goods.

Crease
A score or impression in a substrate that facilitates folding and bending.

Deboss
An area on a sheet that has a depression created using an engraved tool and die press.

Deckle Edge
Feathered edge of a specialty paper.

Die Cut
The process of cutting a material into its finished shape using a steel rule cutting die and a die press.

Emboss
The registration of an embossed area to a printed area.

EPS
Expanded Poly Styrene; styrene foam blocks are hotwire-cut to create inserts used to support the structure of a dimensional package.

Expandable Pocket
Flat pocket that can become a capacity pocket using a Z-fold design technique.

F.O.B.
Freight On Board; the payment point on a freight shipment. "F.O.B. Destination" indicates the shipper is paying the transportation costs through to the final destination. "F.O.B. Shipping Point" means freight costs are not being paid by the shipper. "F.O.B." can be followed by a zip code, which is the point to which the shipper is paying the freight.

Film Lamination
A layer of polypropylene or polyester that is applied to a printed sheet. It is available in gloss, matte, satin or a metallic finish.

Finishing
The process of converting a sheet into its final form.

Flaps
Material extending off the ends of various panels on a package.

Foil Stamp
The flat application and transfer of foil to a substrate using heat and pressure. This graphic technique can be used in conjunction with debossing or embossing.

Fulfillment
Collating, inserting and loading materials into a package for bulk shipping or mailing.

Grain
The fiber direction in a sheet of paper.

Gusset
Flat panel with a center score that expands to a given width. Gussets can be pushed in or out in manufacturing and should be specified at the time of order.

Hinge
A score or crease that is used to open and close a panel.

Hook and Loop
Generic term for Velcro.

Hot Melt
Extremely durable and reliable adhesive used in the construction of a package.

Hotwire
A technique for cutting and shaping EPS foam.

Inner Packing
Materials used to position, support and protect an object inside its package.

KD
Knocked down flat.

Kraft
Paper color; natural kraft has a characteristic light brown appearance.

Lamination
The application of litho label to a corrugate sheet using a cold adhesive and pressure.

Laminator
A machine that applies film lamination to paperboard.

Litho-Label
Usually an 80# or 100# C1S stock that is printed and applied with adhesive to an E-flute corrugated sheet. Film lamination is required to prevent cracking on folding scores.

Locking Tabs
Tabs used in packaging for closure. They may be passive for re-opening a package, or positive for mailing or for more permanent applications.

Machinable
The ability to automatically glue, die cut or finish a package.

Pallet/Palletize
Wooden deck-like structure for loading boxes onto, for storage or shipping.

Panel
The face or side of a package.

Paperboard
Solid fiber board used for making packaging.

Plant Load
A U.S. Postal Service term; certification that allows manufacturing companies to mail packages or flats directly from their facilities into a USPS vehicle, bypassing the local post office.

SBS
Solid bleached sulfite (paperboard).

Score
An impression or crease in a substrate that is used for folding or bending.

Slipsheet
To insert a material between two packages to prevent abrasion and scratching in shipping. Unprinted newsprint is often used.

Slit
A cut made in a substrate without removing any material.

Slot
A cut made in a substrate that does remove material.

Substrate
The core material (i.e. paperboard) used in a printing, finishing or packaging process.

Super Panel
A panel or page of a package that is printed on one side, but folded onto itself, presenting graphics on both sides.

Tuck Tabs
Tabs that extend off a panel and are tucked into a mated slit; often used to close a package.

Turned Edge
Litho-label wrapped over a fiber or chipboard edge, for instance on a slipcase, to provide a more finished appearance.

Window
An area cut out of a panel; can be covered in cello.

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