Plate

Aqueous Coating

Aqueous coating is a clear, fast-drying, water-based coating that is used to protect printed pieces. Due to its water-based, aqueous coating it is more environmentally friendly than varnish or UV…

Artwork

The final digital file containing all design elements, ready for printing.

Binding

The process of assembling and securing pages together, such as saddle stitching or perfect binding.

Bitmap

A type of image made up of pixels. Common formats include JPEG, GIF, and PNG.

Bleed

Extending artwork beyond the trim edge to ensure no unprinted white edges appear after cutting. A standard bleed is 3mm.

CMYK

CMYK stands for cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, which are the four ink colors used in color printing. By mixing these four colors in different proportions, printers can produce a…

Coated Paper

A paper with a smooth, glossy, or satin finish that enhances ink vibrancy.

Collating

Arranging printed sheets in the correct order before binding or finishing.

Comb Bound (2-250 pages)

Also known as plastic binding, this economical method is great for manuals and workbooks that need to lay flat. Rectangular holes are punched along the spine, and a plastic comb…

Creasing

Creasing is the process of creating a controlled fold line in paper or card stock to prevent cracking and ensure a clean, professional finish. It is commonly used in packaging,…

Crop Marks

Small lines placed outside the artwork area to indicate where the final product should be trimmed.

Custom-Shaped Packaging & Boxes

Die cutting allows brands to create unique, custom-shaped packaging. Whether it’s a custom-cut box, a windowed sleeve, or a pop-up display, die cutting adds both function and style to packaging.

Die Cutting

Die cutting is a process used to cut materials into specific shapes using a custom-made steel blade (die). It is widely used in printing, packaging, and promotional materials to create…

Digital Printing

A modern printing process that uses digital files instead of traditional printing plates. It is ideal for short runs, variable data printing, and quick turnarounds.

Dot Gain

The tendency of printed dots to spread and appear darker when ink absorbs into paper, affecting image sharpness.

DPI (Dots Per Inch)

The resolution of an image or print. 300dpi is the standard for high-quality print.

Duplex Printing

Printing on both sides of a sheet of paper.

Embossing

Creating a raised design or text on paper using a press and a custom die.

Embossing and Debossing

While not a cutting method, embossing and debossing are often combined with die cutting to add texture. Embossing raises a design above the surface, while debossing presses it down into…

Encapsulation

The printed material is sealed both sides in plastic, often (incorrectly) referred to as a ‘laminate‘, it is in fact a different process and involves the heat setting of the…

EPS File

Encapsulated PostScript File. An old-fashioned vector based image file, developed in the late 1970’s. Modern alternatives are Adobe Illustrator native AI format and Vector PDFs.

Foiling

The application of metallic or coloured foil onto a printed surface for a premium effect.

Folding

A print finishing technique that creates creases for brochures, leaflets, and booklets.

Forest Stewardship Council. An independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit organisation established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests. Full Spectrum are proud to be FSC accredited.

FTP

Stands for File Transfer Protocol. Developed in the 1970’s this technology has since been superseded by the SFTP protocol. It is a method of sending files via computer modem. If…

Gloss Finish

A shiny, reflective coating applied to enhance vibrancy and depth of colours.

GSM (Grams per Square Metre)

The weight of paper stock. The higher the GSM, the thicker the paper.

Halftone

A technique used to create shading in print by varying the size of ink dots.

Hardcover / Case Bound (60-400 pages)

This is the standard binding for hardcover books. Inside pages are sewn together in sections, then glued to endpapers, which are attached to the cover’s spine. This results in a…

Imposition

Arranging pages correctly on a press sheet to ensure they print in the right order.

Inkjet Printing

A digital printing method that sprays ink onto paper. Ideal for short-run and personalised prints.

ISO

International Organisation for Standardisation. The ISO family of standards relate to quality management systems and are designed to help organisations ensure they meet the needs of customers and other stakeholders.…

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)

A common image format used for photographs and web images.

Kerning

Adjusting the spacing between individual letters in a word for better readability and aesthetics.

Kiss Cutting

A process where the die only cuts through the top layer of material (such as a label or sticker) while leaving the backing intact. This method is commonly used for…

Lamination

A thin plastic layer applied to printed materials for extra durability and a matte, silk, or gloss finish. Not to be confused with Encapsulation

Large Format Printing

Printing on oversized materials such as banners, signage, and exhibition graphics, typically on materials like vinyl, Foamex, or Dibond.

Litho Printing

Lithography is a traditional printing process that uses a metal plate to print images or text onto a substrate. This method is often used for high-volume jobs, producing consistent and…

Matt Finish

A non-glossy, dull coating that reduces glare on printed materials.

Mock-up

A sample version of a design to show how the final product will look.

NCR (No Carbon Required) Paper

Specialised paper used for duplicate or triplicate forms without the need for carbon sheets.

Offset Printing

A printing technique where ink is transferred from a plate to a rubber blanket before being applied to paper. A type of printing press or printing method. Full Spectrum have…

Pantone (PMS)

A universal colour-matching system ensuring consistent brand colours across different prints.

PDF (Portable Document Format)

Developed by Adobe. A widely used file format for digital artwork and print-ready files, ensuring consistency and portability across different devices and platforms.

Perf

Short for Perforation or Perforating. A process that places tiny holes in paper making it easier to tear out. An example would be around a Business Reply card.

Perfect Binding

A binding method where pages are glued together at the spine, used for books and thick brochures.

Perfect Bound (50-250 pages)

Perfect binding is a popular method where sections of folded pages (signatures) have their spines trimmed and roughened to improve glue adhesion. The sections are then glued to a wrap-around…

Personalisation

Customising printed materials with unique data, such as names or QR codes.

Plastic Grip (2-250 pages)

A simple, tool-free binding method using a moulded 3-sided plastic spine. The document is inserted into the plastic grip, which holds the pages securely. This method is best for temporary…

Preflight

The process of checking digital artwork for errors before printing, ensuring correct fonts, colours, bleeds, and resolution.

Prepress

Prepress is the stage that occurs before the actual printing process. It includes preparing the digital files, ensuring the layout and design are correctly formatted, checking for color accuracy, and…

QR Code

A scannable barcode printed on materials to direct users to a website or digital content.

Resolution

Images on a computer monitor are made by tiny dots of light (pixels). These dots fool your eye into thinking there is photo on the screen. Resolution refers to the…

RGB

RGB (Red, green and Blue). The colours used on an LED/LCD/ screen such as a computer monitor, digital camera or phone/tablet. These are the 3 colours that make up a…

Saddle Stitching

A binding method using staples along the fold of a booklet or magazine.

Screw Bound (16-400 pages)

Also known as post or stud binding, this method requires drilling holes through the document. A barrel post is inserted, and a cap screw is added to secure the pages.…

Sewn Bound (8-24 pages)

Similar to saddle stitching, but uses thread instead of wire. The thread is stitched along the entire spine, creating a strong and durable bind. As more pages are added, it…

Solvent Ink

Solvent ink is an ink that uses a solvent, typically petroleum-based, to dissolve the pigment or dye. Solvent inks are used for printing on non-porous materials such as vinyl, making…

Spiral Binding

Spiral binding uses a metal or plastic coil inserted through small holes punched along the spine of the pages. It’s often used for notebooks, reports, and manuals, allowing them to…

Spiral Bound (16-275 pages)

Uses a continuous round plastic or metal coil to hold pages together. This allows the book to lie flat when open, and pages can even be flipped 360 degrees to…

Spot Colour

Spot color refers to a single color of ink used in printing, which is pre-mixed and applied separately from the four-color process (CMYK). It’s ideal for specific, consistent colors, like…

Spot UV

A clear, high-gloss coating applied to specific areas of a print for contrast and impact. The varnish is cured with UV Light resulting a clear, high gloss finish.

Spot Varnish

Spot varnish is a selective coating applied to specific areas of a printed piece to create a glossy finish that contrasts with the matte areas. This technique is often used…

Sublimation Printing

Sublimation printing involves turning solid dye into gas without passing through a liquid state and bonding it with a material like fabric or metal. This process is used to print…

Tape Bound (50-250 pages)

Tape binding involves wrapping an adhesive tape around the spine to hold the covers and inside pages together. Pages are often stitched before the tape is applied to reinforce strength.…

TIFF File

A high-resolution image format used for professional print projects.

Trapping

Trapping is a technique used in commercial printing to prevent visible gaps between adjacent colors. It involves slightly overlapping colors at their boundaries to compensate for misalignment during the printing…

Trim Size

The final size of a printed piece after cutting.

Uncoated Paper

Paper without a coated surface, often used for stationery and business forms.

UV Coating

A high-gloss finish cured under ultraviolet light for durability and vibrancy.

UV Ink

A type of ink that dries instantly when exposed to ultraviolet light, offering vibrant colour and durability for both indoor and outdoor prints.

Variable Data Printing (VDP)

A digital print technique that allows customisation of each print, such as unique names or barcodes.

Wet Proof

A wet proof is a sample printed using the actual ink and material that will be used in the final print job. This proof is produced on the same press…

Wide-Format Printing

Wide-format printing refers to large-scale prints typically produced on printers that can handle paper widths greater than 18 inches. It’s commonly used for banners, posters, and signage. This method allows…

Wire-O Binding

A binding method using double-loop wire coils, ideal for notebooks and calendars.

Wire-O Bound (16-275 pages)

A professional and durable option where wire loops thread through punched holes along the spine. The book lays flat when open and is available in different styles: Standard Binding –…

Z-Fold

A folding style where a sheet is folded in a zig-zag pattern, commonly used in leaflets and brochures.

Perf

Resolution

Other printing terminology...

For cards

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