While you’re looking for a way to deal with the summer heat, we thought it would be a good time to freshen up on your printing vocabulary. Now put on some sunblock, sit under an umbrella, and enjoy learning more about common terms that are frequently used in our industry:
A – Acetate
A transparent sheet placed over originals or artwork, allowing the designer to write instructions and\or indicate a second color for placement.
B – Brochure
A small book or magazine containing pictures and information about a product or service.
Examples: https://www.jameslitho.com/blog/printed_brochures/
C – Catalog
A complete list of items, typically one in alphabetical or other systematic order, in particular.
Examples: https://www.jameslitho.com/blog/catalogs-promote-business/
D – Digital Short Run
Limited quantity printing process that relies on speed and efficiency to get jobs done fast, usually for a specific marketing initiative.
Examples: https://www.jameslitho.com/blog/print-busy-business-schedule/
E – Emulsion
Casting of light-sensitive chemicals on papers, films, printing plates and stencils.
F – Format
Size, style, shape, layout or organization of a layout or printed product.
G – Grade
General term used to distinguish between or among printing papers, but whose specific meaning depends on context. Grade can refer to the category, class, rating, finish or brand of paper.
H – Hang Tag / Header Card
Printed material designed to be hung in unique places and to catch the eye of prospective clients.
Examples: https://www.jameslitho.com/blog/hang-tags-header-cards/
I – Impression
(1) Referring to an ink color, one impression equals one press sheet passing once through a printing unit. (2) Referring to speed of a press, one impression equals one press sheet passing once through the press.
J – Jogger
A vibration machine with a slopping platform to even-up stacks of printed materials.
K – Keylines
Lines on a mechanical or negative showing the exact size, shape and location of photographs or other graphic elements. Also called holding lines.
L – Large Format Printing
Graphics on above average sized placements, such as billboards, car graphics, posters, banners, trucks, food stands, etc
Examples: https://www.jameslitho.com/blog/large-format-printing/
M – Mull
A specific type of glue used for books binding and personal pads needing strength.
N – Nonimpact Printing
Printing using lasers, ions, ink jets or heat to transfer images to paper.
O – Opacity
(1) Characteristic of paper or other substrate that prevents printing on one side from showing through the other side.
(2) Characteristic of ink that prevents the substrate from showing through.
P – Packaging
Printed materials used to wrap or protect goods.
Examples: https://www.jameslitho.com/blog/packaging-sells-simple/
Q – Quality
Subjective term relating to expectations by the customer, printer and other professionals associated with a printing job and whether the job meets those expectations.
R – Rainbow Fountain
Technique of putting ink colors next to each other in the same ink fountain and oscillating the ink rollers to make the colors merge where they touch, producing a rainbow effect.
S – Stickers
An adhesive label or notice, generally printed or illustrated.
Examples: https://www.jameslitho.com/blog/make-message-stick/
T – Trade Show Exhibits
Booth designs that are meant to attract clients to find out more at large gatherings.
Examples: https://www.jameslitho.com/blog/trade-show-exhibits/
U – Undercolor Removal
Technique of making color separations such that the amount of cyan, magenta and yellow ink is reduced in midtone and shadow areas while the amount of black is increased. Abbreviated UCR.
V – Vehicle Wrap
A large vinyl graphic or decal. It is applied directly over the original paint of the vehicle.
Examples: https://www.jameslitho.com/blog/vehicle-wraps/
W – Wall Graphic
A vinyl print that is affixed to a wall or other smooth surface for decoration and informational purposes.
Examples: https://www.jameslitho.com/blog/november-product-spotlight-wall-graphics/
When you work with James Litho, you can eXpect that we will provide you with qualitY work without breaking the bank.
jameslitho.com
…Zebra