0-9
4C (Four-Color Process) – Full-color printing using Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (CMYK) inks. The standard method for reproducing color images in commercial print.
A
Accordion Fold – Multiple parallel folds in alternating directions, creating a zigzag panel structure. Common for brochures and maps.
Anti-Scratch Lamination – A lamination film engineered for enhanced resistance to surface scratches, ideal for frequently handled packaging and covers.
Aqueous Coating – A water-based protective coating available in gloss, matte, or satin. Fast-drying; resists fingerprints and moisture.
Art Paper – Coated paper with a smooth clay-treated surface for sharp, vibrant color reproduction. Available in gloss and matte.
Artwork – The complete design file for print — images, text, and layout. Must be CMYK, 300 PPI, with correct bleed and safe area.
Assembly – The process of combining all printed and physical components of a product — such as inserting cards into boxes, loading products into packaging, or collating book sections.
Auto Bottom Box – A folding carton with a pre-glued base that locks open automatically. Faster assembly than standard tuck-end styles.
B
B/W (Black and White) – Single-ink (black) printing, used for text-heavy publications and cost-efficient high-volume runs.
Bar Code – Machine-readable code encoding product data. Must meet strict size and color-contrast specifications for reliable scanning.
Bi-fold – A single fold dividing a sheet into two equal panels. Also called a half-fold.
Binding – The process of fastening printed pages or sections into a finished book or booklet. Method depends on page count, durability, and budget.
Binding Edge – The spine edge of a book where pages are bound. Content here must account for gutter space to avoid being obscured.
Black Core Paper – Card stock with a black inner layer visible at the cut edges, preventing light bleed-through. Standard for premium playing cards and trading cards.
Black Paper – Fully pigmented black paper or card stock, used for premium packaging, invitations, and specialty print where a dark base enhances foil stamping or metallic inks.
Bleed – Artwork extended 3 mm beyond the trim line on all sides. Ensures no unprinted white edges appear after cutting.
Blister Packaging – A pre-formed plastic cavity sealed to a backing card, providing product visibility and tamper evidence.
Blue Paperboard – A blue-grey paperboard used as a structural substrate for rigid boxes and hardcover book cases.
Board Book Binding – Pages are printed directly on heavy paperboard (300 GSM+), then folded in half. Each page is joined back-to-back with the next by gluing the inner faces together in sequence, forming a solid, continuous block. The first and last pages are glued to the inside of the front and back covers. No greyboard, sewing, or endpapers are used.
Book-Style Box – A rigid box that opens like a book along a spine. Popular for premium gift sets and collectibles.
Booster Packs – A sealed pack containing a random assortment of cards, commonly used in trading card games.
Box Sleeve – A printed paper or board sleeve that slides over an existing box, adding a second layer of branding or seasonal messaging without replacing the inner box.
C
C1S (Coated One Side) – Paper or board coated on one side only. Used for packaging and board book where only one face is printed
C2S (Coated Two Sides) – Paper or board coated on both sides for high-quality printing on each face.
Caliper – The measured thickness of a single sheet of paper, in mm or mils.
Card Deck – A packaged set of cards — playing cards, tarot, flash cards, or game cards — typically housed in a tuck box or sleeve.
Cardstock – Heavy paper (typically 200–400 GSM) used for cards, postcards, and packaging. More rigid than standard printing paper.
Case Binding – Hardcover binding where the text block is attached to a pre-made rigid case with endpapers and adhesive. The standard for durable hardcover books.
Chipboard – Dense board made from recycled pulp, used as the structural substrate for rigid boxes and book covers.
CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) – A shipping trade term meaning the seller covers the cost of goods, insurance, and freight to the destination port. The buyer assumes responsibility upon arrival at port.
Clamshell Box – A rigid box with a hinged lid connected along one edge, opening like a clamshell. Excellent product protection and presentation.
Cloth Cover– A hardcover book case wrapped in woven textile rather than paper. Provides a distinctive premium feel and greater durability. Common for collector’s editions, journals, and high-end publications.
CMYK – The four-color print model: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black. All print files must be in CMYK; RGB will produce unpredictable color output.
Coated Paper – Paper with a mineral (clay) coating for a smooth surface with sharp, vibrant print. Available in gloss, and matte.
Collapsible Rigid Box – A rigid box engineered to fold flat for cost-efficient shipping and storage, then assembled by the end user. Offers the premium look of a standard rigid box with significantly reduced freight volume.
Collation – Assembling printed sheets or signatures in correct order before binding.
Color Matching – Ensuring printed output accurately matches a Pantone, proof, or brand color standard through press calibration and ICC profiles.
Color Separation – Splitting full-color artwork into individual CMYK channels, each producing a separate printing plate.
Color Theory – Principles governing color interaction and perception; essential for correct CMYK builds and RGB-to-CMYK conversion.
Coptic Binding – An exposed-spine sewn binding where pages are stitched directly to the cover with a chain link stitch. Opens completely flat.
Copyright – Legal protection for original creative works. Ensure all images and fonts in print files are properly licensed.
Corrugated Board – A fluted medium sandwiched between flat linerboard sheets. Provides high strength-to-weight ratio for shipping and display packaging.
Corrugated Box – Box made from corrugated board. Available in single, double, and triple-wall constructions for varying load and transit requirements.
Cover Flap – A folded extension of a book cover that tucks inside the front or back cover. Common on hardcover dust jackets and some softcover editions; typically used for author bios or summaries.
Crash Lock Bottom – A pre-glued carton base that auto-locks when the sides are opened. Also called auto-lock bottom.
Cream Offset Paper – An uncoated offset paper with a warm cream tint rather than bright white. Reduces eye strain for text-heavy reading and gives printed books a classic, traditional feel. Popular for novels and literary publications.
Creasing – Compressing paper along a fold line for a clean, crack-free fold.
Custom Packaging – Packaging designed to specific dimensions, materials, and branding requirements, including custom die-cutting, printing, and finishing.
Custom Printing – Print production tailored to client-specified design, size, material, and quantity, in offset.
D
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) – A shipping term meaning the seller is responsible for all costs and risks, including duties and taxes, until the goods are delivered to the buyer’s specified destination.
DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid) – A shipping term meaning the seller delivers goods to the destination but the buyer is responsible for import duties and taxes upon arrival.
Debossing – A die-pressed recessed impression in paper or board. The inverse of embossing.
Die Cutting – Cutting paper or board into custom shapes using steel rule dies. Used for boxes, labels, stickers, and packaging structures.
Digital Printing – Plate-free printing direct from digital files.
Display Box – A retail box with an open or windowed front to showcase the product in-store.
DPI (Dots Per Inch) – Print output resolution: ink dots per inch. Commercial printing requires 300 DPI at final print size.
Drawer Box – A two-piece rigid box with a sliding inner tray — a premium unboxing format for cosmetics, jewelry, and electronics.
Drilling – Punching round holes through printed sheets for ring binders, calendars, and looseleaf formats.
Dust Jacket– A removable printed paper wrap around a hardcover book case. Carries the main cover artwork and protects the case beneath. Often finished with lamination, spot UV, or foil stamping.
E
Edge Gilding – Application of gold or metallic foil to the trimmed edges of a book block or card deck. Also called gilded edges.
Edge Painting – Coloring the exposed edges of a book block or card deck with ink or paint, in a full range of colors including metallics.
Embossing – A raised impression pressed into paper or board using a die and counter-die.
End Sheet – The sheets at the front and back of a hardcover book connecting the text block to the cover case. One half (the paste-down) is glued to the inside of the cover; the other half (the free endpaper) faces the first and last pages.
EPS – A vector file format for logos and illustrations, scalable without quality loss.
EVA Binding – Perfect binding using Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate hot-melt adhesive. Strong and flexible.
EVA Insert – A dense Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate foam insert, custom-cut to protect and present products inside a box.
EXW (Ex Works) – A shipping term meaning the seller’s responsibility ends once goods are ready for collection at their premises. The buyer bears all costs and risks from that point, including export clearance and freight.
F
Finished Size – Final dimensions of a printed piece after all trimming and folding. Distinct from print size (which includes bleed).
Finishing – Post-press processes that enhance appearance, texture, and durability: lamination, foil, spot UV, embossing, die cutting, and more.
Flash Cards – Small educational cards on thick cardstock, often laminated and packaged in tuck boxes or with ring binding.
Flexibound – A thick flexible cover binding — more rigid than standard paperback, less so than hardcover.
Flexographic Printing – High-speed rotary printing using flexible polymer plates.
Foam Insert – Cushioning material cut to fit inside a box. Available in polyethylene, polyurethane, and EVA foam.
FOB (Free on Board) – A shipping term meaning the seller’s responsibility ends once goods are loaded onto the vessel at the origin port. The buyer assumes all costs and risks from that point, including ocean freight and insurance.
Foil Stamping – Transfer of metallic or pigment foil using heat, pressure, and a metal die. Available in gold, silver, holographic, and custom colors.
Folding – Bending printed sheets along a crease line.
Folding Carton – Paperboard box die-cut, scored, and printed flat, then assembled by folding and gluing. The most common retail packaging format.
French Fold – Sheet printed on one side, folded twice (vertically then horizontally) to create a four-panel piece with a double-wall interior.
FSC – An international certification verifying that paper and board products come from responsibly managed forests.
G
Gloss Art Paper – Coated paper with a high-gloss surface for vivid color and sharp image reproduction.
Gloss Lamination – A shiny plastic film bonded to a printed surface. Enhances color and protects against moisture, scratches, and fingerprints.
Gloss Varnish – A liquid coating applied to a printed surface that dries to a shiny, reflective finish. Less durable than lamination but more economical for large coverage areas.
GMG – A professional color management software used in commercial printing to ensure accurate, consistent color reproduction across different presses and substrates.
Grain Direction – The alignment of paper fibers during manufacturing.
Gravure Printing – Intaglio printing using engraved cylinders.
Greyboard – Dense recycled-fiber board used as the structural core of hardcover cases and rigid boxes. Also called chipboard.
GSM (Grams per Square Meter) – Metric unit for paper weight. Standard office paper: 80 GSM; cardstock: 200–400 GSM; packaging board: 600+ GSM.
H
Halftone – A pattern of variable-size dots simulating continuous tones. The basis for all photographic reproduction in offset printing.
Hard Proof – A physical proof produced on a calibrated device to closely simulate press output. More color-accurate than a digital proof.
Hardcover – A book format with a rigid cover case made from greyboard covered with paper, cloth, or fabric. More durable and premium than paperback. Also called hardback or case-bound.
Hardcover Binding – Binding where the text block is encased in a rigid cover of greyboard covered with paper, cloth, or leather. The most durable book format.
Holographic Paper – Specialty paper with a rainbow-shift iridescent metallic coating.
Hook-and-Loop – A two-part fastening system (such as Velcro) used on box closures and packaging. Provides a resealable, secure closure without magnets or adhesive.
Horizontal – Orientation where width exceeds height. Also called landscape.
Hot Foil Stamping – Foil transfer using heat, pressure, and a metal die. Produces a crisp, durable metallic finish in gold, silver, or custom colors.
I
ICC Profile – A standardized data file describing how a specific device (monitor, printer, press) reproduces color. Embedding the correct ICC profile in print files ensures consistent color matching between screen and final press output.
Imposition – Arranging pages on a press sheet so that folding and cutting produce the correct page order and orientation.
Ink Coverage – The percentage of a printed area covered by ink.
Insert – Any item placed inside a box to hold, protect, or present the product — paper cards, foam pads, or tray inserts.
Insert Tray – A structural tray holding products securely inside a box. Made from foam, thermoformed plastic, or paperboard.
ISBN – A unique 13-digit identifier assigned to each edition of a published book. Required for retail distribution and library cataloging.
ISO A-Series Paper Sizes – The international standard paper size system. Each size is half the area of the previous: A0 (841 × 1189 mm), A1 (594 × 841 mm), A2 (420 × 594 mm), A3 (297 × 420 mm), A4 (210 × 297 mm), A5 (148 × 210 mm).
J
JPEG – A lossy-compressed raster format.
K
Kerning – Adjustment of spacing between individual character pairs for visual balance.
Kiss Cutting – Die cutting through the face material only, not the backing sheet. Used for sticker sheets and peel-off labels.
Knockout – Removing background ink beneath a foreground element to prevent ink mixing. The opposite of overprinting.
Kraft Paper – Strong, unbleached wood-pulp paper, naturally brown. Used for bags, wrapping, and eco-branded packaging.
L
Label – Printed paper or film adhered to products or packaging. Die-cut to custom shapes with graphics, barcodes, and finishes.
Lamination – Bonding a thin clear plastic film to a printed surface for protection and aesthetics. Options: gloss, matte, soft-touch, anti-scratch.
Landscape – Page orientation where width exceeds height. Also called horizontal orientation.
Laser Cutting – Precision cutting using a focused laser beam, enabling intricate shapes not achievable with conventional die cutting.
Lay-Flat Binding – Any binding method allowing the book to open completely flat. Achieved with board book binding, sewn sections, or coil/spiral binding.
Lead Time – Total time from order confirmation to delivery, covering prepress, production, and shipping.
Leather Cover – A hardcover case wrapped in synthetic leather, providing exceptional durability and a luxurious appearance.
Lid and Base Box – A two-piece rigid box with a telescoping lid and base.
LPI – Halftone screen frequency. Higher LPI produces finer print detail. Commercial offset typically runs at 150–175 LPI.
M
Magnetic Closure Box – A rigid box with embedded magnets for a secure, elegant lid closure.
Mailer Box – A self-locking corrugated box for e-commerce shipping. Interlocking flaps require no tape.
Mass Production – Large-scale manufacturing with high-speed equipment. Offset printing is cost-optimal for mass-production volumes.
Matte Art Paper – Coated paper with a flat, non-glossy surface. Colors appear softer; glare is reduced. Preferred for text-heavy premium print.
Matte Lamination – A flat, non-reflective film laminated to printed surfaces. Elegant; reduces fingerprint visibility. Often paired with spot UV for contrast.
Matte Varnish – A liquid coating that dries flat and non-glossy. Moderate protection; less durable than lamination.
Metallic Paper – Specialty paper with a shiny, mirror-like metallic surface. Available in gold, silver, and various metallic colors.
MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity) – The smallest quantity a printer will produce per order.
Multiple Cover – A print run where the same publication is produced with two or more different cover designs simultaneously. Common for collector’s editions and limited releases.
O
Offset Paper – Uncoated paper for offset lithographic printing. Good ink absorption; produces crisp text. Also called woodfree paper.
Offset Printing – Ink transfers from plate to rubber blanket to paper. The most widely used commercial printing method for long runs.
One-Piece Box – A box constructed from a single piece of board that folds into a complete box without a separate lid or base.
Overprinting – Printing one ink color over another instead of knocking out the background. Incorrect settings can cause unwanted color mixing.
P
Packaging Dieline – A flat template showing all cut, fold, and glue lines for a packaging structure.
Packaging Prototype – A physical pre-production sample to verify box structure, dimensions, and appearance before full manufacturing.
Page Count – Total pages in a publication. One sheet has two pages. Most bindings require counts divisible by 4.
Pantone – A standardized spot color system with numbered inks ensuring consistent color matching across printers and production runs.
Paper Insert – A printed sheet placed inside a box for branding, product information, or promotional messaging. Can be die-cut or folded.
Paper Weight – Paper mass measured in GSM (metric) or basis weight (US). Higher weight means thicker, more substantial paper.
PDF – The industry-standard file format for commercial print. Embeds fonts, preserves CMYK colors, and supports bleed and crop marks.
PDF Proof – A digital proof supplied as a PDF file for client review before printing. Used to check layout, text, image placement, and color before production.
Pearlescent Paper – Specialty paper with a soft iridescent pearl sheen.
Perfect Binding – Pages roughened at the spine and glued to a wraparound paper cover. Standard for paperbacks and catalogs of 48+ pages.
Perforate – A row of small cuts allowing controlled tearing along a defined line.
Perforated Line – A series of holes forming a tear line. Common in seal end box, and removable book inserts.
PNG – Lossless raster format supporting transparency.
Pop-Up – A paper engineering technique where die-cut and scored elements spring into three-dimensional structures when a page is opened.
Portrait – Page orientation where height exceeds width. Standard for books, documents, and most marketing materials.
PPI (Pixels Per Inch) – Digital image resolution: pixels per inch. 300 PPI at final print size for quality output.
Prepress – All file preparation and proofing before printing: file checking, color separation, imposition, and plate-making.
Print File – The final press-ready file: CMYK, 300 DPI, 3 mm bleed, embedded fonts, crop marks. Typically a high-resolution PDF.
Print Run – Total quantity printed in one job. Larger runs lower per-unit cost in offset.
Proof – A test print or digital preview submitted for client approval before full production.
Prototype – A physical pre-production sample to confirm design, structure, materials, and fit before full manufacturing.
PUR Binding – Perfect binding with Polyurethane Reactive adhesive.
Q
Quality Control – Systematic inspection of printed products before shipment, covering color, registration, dimensions, and finish.
Quote – A formal price estimate based on job specifications: size, quantity, paper, printing, finishing, and shipping.
R
Raster Image – A pixel-based digital image. Resolution-dependent; loses quality when enlarged. Should be 300 DPI at final print size.
Recycled Paper – Paper containing post- or pre-consumer recycled fiber. Reduces environmental impact.
Registration – Precise alignment of color plates so each prints in the correct position. Misregistration causes blurry images and color fringing.
Resolution – Image detail measured in DPI (output) or PPI (file). Supply all images at 300 DPI for commercial print.
Reverse Tuck End (RTE) – A Folding carton where top and bottom flaps tuck from opposite sides. Widely used for retail packaging.
RGB – The additive color model for screens. Convert all files to CMYK before printing; RGB colors may shift in print output.
Ribbon Marker – A narrow fabric ribbon permanently attached to the spine of a book, used as a built-in bookmark. Common in hardcover books, Bibles, journals, and premium notebooks.
Rich Black – A dense black using combined CMYK inks (e.g., 60C/40M/40Y/100K). Deeper than 100K alone. Use for large backgrounds, not small text.
Rigid Box – Non-collapsible box made from thick greyboard covered with decorative paper, fabric, or other materials. The benchmark for luxury packaging.
Round Back – A bookbinding technique where the spine of the text block is shaped into a convex curve before casing in. Gives hardcover books a classic, traditional appearance and improves long-term spine durability.
RIP (Raster Image Processor) – Software or hardware converting print files into device-ready data, handling color management and halftone screening.
Rounded Corners – Smooth curved corners instead of sharp 90° angles. Used on cards, board books, and booklets to improve aesthetics and reduce wear.
S
Saddle Stitching – Wire staples driven through the spine fold of nested sheets. Most economical binding for booklets and magazines under 64 pages.
Safe Area – The zone 3–5 mm inside the trim line where all critical content must remain. Content outside risks being cut off during trimming.
Sampling – Physical pre-production samples for client review before full manufacturing.
Sand UV – A textured varnish coating that dries to a fine, gritty surface resembling sandpaper.
Sand Varnish – A textured varnish coating that dries to a fine, gritty surface resembling sandpaper.
Scoring – Compressing a line in paper to create a controlled fold point. Prevents cracking on heavy or coated stock.
Scratch-Off – A opaque metallic coating applied over printed content that can be scratched away to reveal the hidden text or image beneath.
Screen Printing – Ink pushed through a mesh stencil onto a substrate.
Seal End Box – A folding carton where both ends are closed by gluing down a series of overlapping flaps, creating a more secure seal than a standard tuck end.
Sewn Perfect Binding – A hybrid binding method where signatures are first sewn together, then the spine is glued and wrapped with a perfect-bound cover. Combines the durability of sewn binding with the clean appearance of perfect binding.
Sheet-Fed Offset Printing – Offset printing where individual cut sheets of paper are fed through the press one at a time.
Shipping Box – A corrugated carton for product transport. Available in standard and custom sizes with varying wall strengths.
Shoulder Neck Rigid Box – A two-piece rigid box with an internal shoulder or ledge built into the base, allowing the lid to sit precisely at a set height.
Shrink Wrap – Polymer film heat-shrunk around a product or bundle. Provides tamper evidence, moisture protection, and multi-unit packaging.
Silk Paper – Coated paper with a semi-gloss satin finish — between matte and gloss. Good color reproduction with less glare.
Singer Sewn Binding – A binding method where a single line of visible stitching runs along the spine fold using an industrial sewing machine. Creates a distinctive exposed-thread aesthetic and allows the book to open completely flat.
Signatures – A folded section of printed sheets forming a unit of pages, typically 8, 16, or 32 pages. Multiple signatures are gathered and bound together to form a complete book.
Sleeve Packaging – An outer sleeve that slides over an inner box or tray, enabling two-layer branding and a premium layered unboxing effect.
Slipcase – An open-sided protective case for books or box sets, with the item sliding in from one end.
Smyth Sewn Binding – Signatures sewn through the fold and to each other, then cased. The most durable hardcover binding; opens fully flat.
Snap Lock Bottom Box – A folding carton with a base that locks securely into place by interlocking flaps, requiring no glue.
Soft Touch Lamination – A velvety matte lamination film giving a premium tactile feel.
Soft-Touch Cardstock – A cardstock with a pre-applied soft-touch coating that gives a velvety, matte feel without requiring a separate lamination step.
Softcover – A book format with a flexible paper or card cover glued to the text block.
Special Edition – A limited print run of a publication or product featuring exclusive content, premium materials, or unique finishes not found in the standard edition.
Specialty Paper – Papers for decorative or functional effects: metallic, holographic, pearlescent, textured, vellum, kraft.
Spine – The bound edge of a book, visible when shelved. Width is determined by page count and paper thickness.
Spiral Binding – Continuous plastic coil through punched holes. Pages rotate 360° and lay completely flat.
Spot Color – A pre-mixed single ink (such as Pantone/PMS) for precise, consistent color not reliably achievable with CMYK alone.
Spot UV – UV gloss varnish applied selectively to specific areas, creating high-gloss contrast against a matte background.
Sprayed Edges – Spray-applied ink coloring on the exposed edges of a book block or card deck.
Square Back – A bookbinding style where the spine is flat and perpendicular to the covers, giving the book a clean, modern profile.
Staple Binding – Metal staples fasten a publication through the spine (saddle stitch) or side. The most economical booklet binding method.
Stock – General term for any paper or substrate used in printing.
Straight Tuck End (STE) – Folding carton where both top and bottom flaps tuck from the same side. Simpler construction than reverse tuck end.
Swiss Binding – A binding with a visible gap between the spine and text block, allowing the book to open completely flat. Also called open-spine binding.
T
Tab – Protruding die-cut extensions on divider pages for easy section navigation. Common in reference books and manuals.
Tarot Card – Large-format custom cards (typically 70 × 120 mm) for tarot or oracle decks.
Tear Strip – A narrow perforated strip on a box or wrapper that allows clean, easy opening by pulling in one motion.
Template – A pre-built layout file with correct dimensions, bleed, safe areas, and fold lines.
Textured Finish – A tactile surface pattern added via embossing, special lamination, or textured paper. Enhances the sensory quality of packaging and covers.
Textured Paper – Paper with a surface pattern (laid, linen, felt, ribbed) created during manufacturing, adding visual and tactile interest.
Thread-sewn Binding – Signatures sewn together with thread for maximum durability and flexibility. Smyth sewn binding is the most common industrial form of thread-sewn binding.
TIFF – Tagged Image File Format — a lossless raster format supporting CMYK. Preferred for high-quality image files in commercial printing.
Tolerance – The acceptable range of variation in print measurements (color, registration, trim size). Tighter tolerances require more rigorous proofing.
Trade Size – Standard book trim sizes used in commercial publishing. Common trade sizes include 5.5 × 8.5″ (digest), 6 × 9″ (trade paperback), and 8.5 × 11″ (letter).
Traditional Chinese Thread-sewn Binding – A classical Chinese binding style where pages are folded and sewn through holes along the spine edge with decorative thread, leaving the spine fully exposed.
Tri-Fold – A sheet divided into three panels by two parallel folds.
Trim Mark – Lines outside the print area indicating where to cut. Also called crop marks.
Trim Size – Final dimensions of a printed piece after cutting, excluding bleed.
Tuck End Box – A folding carton closed by inserting a tuck flap into the box opening. Types: straight tuck end and reverse tuck end.
Turnaround Time – Business days from approved order to shipment. Varies by product complexity, quantity, and finishing requirements.
U
Uncoated Paper – Paper without a surface coating. Natural look and feel; higher ink absorption than coated stock.
UV Coating – Liquid coating cured instantly by UV light. Very hard, high-gloss finish with excellent scuff and scratch resistance.
UV Finish – The surface result of UV curing — typically high gloss. More durable than standard varnish.
UV Offset Printing – An offset printing process where UV-curable inks are dried instantly by ultraviolet light.
V
Varnishing – Applying a clear liquid varnish for protection and sheen. Available in gloss and matte. Less protective than lamination.
Vector – A digital graphic defined by mathematical paths rather than pixels, scalable to any size without quality loss.
Vector File – A file of mathematically defined paths (AI, EPS, SVG, PDF) scalable to any size without quality loss. Essential for logos and line art.
Vellum Paper – Smooth, semi-translucent paper with a parchment-like quality.
Vertical – Orientation where height exceeds width. Equivalent to portrait.
W
Web Offset Printing – Offset printing where ink is applied to a continuous roll (web) of paper at high speed.
Window Patching – Clear film adhered to the inside of a die-cut window, allowing product visibility while keeping the package enclosed.
Wire-O Binding – Twin-loop wire through punched holes. Stronger and more uniform than coil binding; opens completely flat.
Z
Z-Fold – Parallel folds in alternating directions forming a Z shape. Unfolds in one pull. Common for brochures and inserts.
