Glossary

Aqueous Coating: 
A water-based coating applied to printed pieces for protection and a glossy or matte finish.

Artwork: 
The design or layout prepared for printing.

Bleed: 
Printing that goes beyond the trim edge so that once trimmed there are no white edges showing where the artwork had ended.

Binding: 
The process of assembling printed sheets into a finished product (e.g., saddle stitch, perfect binding).

Bi-Fold:
Simple fold where the paper is folded once in half, resulting in two panels. This is typically used for greeting cards and simple brochures.

CMYK: 
Colour model used in printing (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black).

Coated Paper: 
Paper with a smooth finish for sharper image reproduction.

Crops / Crop Marks: 
Lines on the outer corners of the document area outside the print area that indicate where the finished product will be trimmed after printing.

Concertina Fold (Z-Fold):
Also known as a Z-fold, involves folding the paper back and forth in alternating directions, creating a zigzag pattern. Each panel sits beside the next, making it easy to open and view multiple sections at once.

Crash Fold:
Binding technique where the paper is folded and crushed together, often used for tickets or vouchers to create a stub that can be torn off.

Case Bind:
Traditional bookbinding method where the pages are sewn or glued together and then attached to a hard cover, providing durability and a premium finish.

Die-Cutting: 
Cutting paper into custom shapes using a metal die.

Dieline:
A template or outline showing where cuts, folds, and perforations will be made on printed materials, essential for labels and custom diecut shapes.

DPI (Dots Per Inch): 
Resolution measure for images; higher DPI means better quality.

Double Gate Fold:
Extends the gate fold concept by adding another fold in the centre, resulting in four panels that open outwards, further enhancing the reveal effect.

Debossing: 
Creating an indented design on paper.

Embossing: 
Creating a raised design on paper.

Finishing: 
Post-print processes like folding, trimming, laminating.

GSM (Grams per Square Meter): 
Measurement of paper weight.

Gate Fold:
Features two end panels that open out from the centre, resembling gates. This creates a dramatic reveal for the inner content, making it ideal for invitations and special presentations.

Halftone: 
Image reproduction using dots of varying size to simulate shades.

Hex: 
Colour model for on-screen viewing. Six-digit combination of numbers and letters defining a mix of red, green and blue (RGB).

Hard Case:
Sturdy covers used for hardcover books, giving them a strong protective casing and a professional appearance.

Imposition: 
Arranging pages on a press sheet for efficient printing and binding.

JPEG: 
Common image file format for photos.

Kerning: 
Adjusting space between letters for better readability.

Lamination: 
Applying a thin plastic film for durability and finish.

Matte Finish: 
Non-glossy surface on paper or coating.

Non-Coated Paper: 
Paper without a smooth finish, often used for writing.

Offset Printing: 
Traditional printing method using plates and ink transfer.

Pantone: 
Standardised colour matching system.

Proof: 
A sample print for review before final production.

Perfect or Soft Bind:
Also known as soft binding, uses adhesive to hold the pages together at the spine, with a soft cover attached. This method is used for paperback books and catalogues.

PMS:
Stands for Pantone Matching System, a standardised colour system used in printing to ensure consistent colour reproduction. Pantone colours are pre-mixed inks that produce precise, repeatable hues across different print runs.

Queue: 
The order in which print jobs are processed.

Quiet Space: 
The area between graphic elements where the eye can rest or to form a margin between content and trim edge.

Raster Image: 
Pixel-based image format (e.g., JPEG, PNG).

RGB: 
Colour model for on-screen viewing (Red, Green Blue)

Router Cut: 
A process using a spinning router bit, often computer-controlled (CNC), to cut, shape, and engrave materials like paper, adhesive, rigid boards like ACM, corflute, paylite, foamboard.

Roll Fold:
Folding method where the paper is folded inward multiple times in a spiral, creating several panels that roll into one another. This technique is commonly used for brochures and pamphlets.

Spot Colour: 
Specific premixed ink used for exact colour matching.

Soft Proof: 
Artwork sent digitally via email for approval before production.

Saddle Stitch: 
Creating a stapled bind from a wire spool that is stitched into the books spine. Page multiples of four are required for saddle stitching.

Spiral Bind:
Uses a plastic or metal coil threaded through holes along the edge of the pages, allowing the document to lay flat and the pages to turn easily. This is widely used for notebooks and manuals.

Saddle Stitch:
Involves stapling folded sheets together along the spine, commonly used for magazines, booklets, and smaller publications.

Trim Size: 
Final dimensions of a printed piece after cutting.

UV Coating: 
Glossy coating cured with ultraviolet light for durability.

Vector Graphics: 
Scalable images made of paths/shapes, not pixels (e.g., AI, EPS files).

Wiro Binding: 
Binding method using double-loop wire.

X-Height: 
Height of lowercase letters excluding ascenders/descenders.

Yield: 
Number of finished pieces produced from a sheet or roll.

Z-Fold: 
A folding style where the paper folds in alternating directions like a “Z.” Also known as a Concertina fold.