Print & Production

The territory

30 core terms mapped for this field, ranked by how often builders reach for them. Each one is a future entry. Want to bust one? One entry, one file, one pull request.

• bleedextra art past the trim edge so cuts show no white"make the color go all the way to the edge" · "extra margin for cutting"
• CMYK vs RGBprint ink color model vs screen light model; colors shift"why my colors look dull when printed" · "screen colors don't match paper"
• effective PPI / printer DPIimage pixels per inch; 300 for print, 72 for screen"why my image printed blurry" · "is this photo big enough to print" · "300 dpi"
• trim / safe areafinal cut line and inner margin keeping text from being sliced"don't put text too close to the edge" · "the cut line"
• print-ready PDF (PDF/X)locked-down PDF standard printers accept without surprises"the file the printer actually wants" · "export for the print shop"
• preflightautomated file check for missing fonts, low-res images, bad color"check the file before printing" · "will the printer reject this"
• prepresspreparing and checking artwork before proofing, plates, or press"getting the file ready for the printer" · "the step before it goes on press"
• paper stock / substratethe material printed on: its coating, color, texture, and opacity"what kind of paper" · "what it's actually printed on"
• paper grammage (gsm)grams per square meter of paper mass; heavier feels sturdier"thick cardstock feel" · "flimsy vs sturdy paper" · "paper weight"
• vector vs rastermath-defined art scales infinitely; pixel art degrades"logo that stays sharp at any size" · "why it pixelates when enlarged"
• convert type to outlinesturn text into shapes so fonts can't substitute"so the printer doesn't need my font" · "outline the text"
• spot color (for example, Pantone Matching System)premixed named ink for exact brand color consistency"the exact brand color ink" · "Pantone color"
• rich black vs 100% K blackblack mixed with other inks for depth vs flat K only"why my black looks grey" · "make the black really black"
• coated vs uncoated stock; matte / satin / gloss finishhow the stock is treated, plus the sheen level chosen"shiny or not shiny paper" · "the fingerprint-proof one"
• digital vs offset printingtoner/inkjet for short runs vs plates for volume economy"cheap for 50 vs cheap for 5000" · "which printing method"
• soft proof / hard proofon-screen simulation vs physical sample before the full run"test print before we commit" · "preview how it'll actually print"
• color profile / ICC profileruleset translating colors between devices and paper"the color settings file" · "how the printer knows my colors"
• perfect binding / saddle stitch / spiralglued spine vs folded-and-stapled vs coil binding"how the book is held together" · "stapled or glued"
• score / perforationcrease for clean folding; dotted cut line for tearing"so it folds without cracking" · "the tear-off line"
• die cutcustom-shaped cut using a shaped blade"cut into a weird shape" · "cutout shape"
• dieline / cutting templatevector outline showing cuts, folds, glue areas for packaging"the flat unfolded box template" · "the fold-and-cut guide"
• trim marks; registration markscorner cut guides vs targets aligning the separate ink plates"those little corner lines" · "crop marks"
• registrationalignment of the separate ink plates"colors printed slightly off" · "fuzzy doubled edges"
• overprint vs knockoutink printed on top vs hole punched in the layer beneath"why my white text disappeared" · "layers of ink"
• spot UVglossy varnish on selected areas over matte stock"shiny bit on top of the matte" · "glossy accent"
• foil stampingmetallic film pressed on with heat for shine"shiny gold logo" · "metallic effect on the card"
• letterpress; debossing; embossinginked impression; recessed image; raised image, three distinct processes"pressed-in texture you can feel" · "raised lettering"
• halftone screening / screen ruling (LPI)continuous tone rendered as dots; LPI sets the screen frequency"the dot pattern in printed photos" · "comic book dots"
• moiréugly interference pattern from overlapping screens or rescanned art"weird wavy pattern in the print" · "shimmering grid"
• large format / wide formatoversized output for banners, posters, signage"printing a giant banner" · "poster-size printing"

Deeper in the field

• imposition arranging pages on a press sheet so folding orders them correctly
• trapping tiny overlap between colors hiding misregistration gaps
• ink coverage / TAC limit total ink percentage cap before paper saturates and smears
• variable data printing each printed piece personalized from a data source
• four-color process full color built from cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks
• separations splitting artwork into one plate per ink
• gamut / out-of-gamut range of reproducible colors; screen colors ink cannot hit
• Pantone bridge / CMYK equivalent closest process-ink match to a spot color
• color calibration aligning displays and output devices for predictable color reproduction
• dot gain ink spreading on press, darkening midtones from the file
• caliper physical paper thickness, distinct from grammage or basis weight
• grain direction paper fiber alignment; folding against it cracks
• flat size / finished size dimensions before folding vs final trimmed or folded dimensions
• fold type named geometry such as gatefold, roll fold, or accordion fold
• gutter / creep (shingling) inner binding margin; thick-book page shift toward outer edge
• signature folded sheet forming a group of pages, usually 8/16/32
• simplex / duplex printing printing one side of a sheet vs both sides
• duplexed / two-ply stock two sheets bonded, often with a colored core edge
• edge painting ink applied to the card's cut edges as an accent
• UV coating / film lamination UV-cured liquid coat vs bonded plastic film over the sheet
• aqueous coating / varnish liquid protective finishes distinct from lamination and spot UV
• soft-touch / suede laminate velvety tactile film finish
• kiss cut vs through cut cutting only the sticker layer vs the backing too
• white ink / underbase opaque white layer supporting color on dark or transparent substrates
• font embedding packaging font data inside a PDF without converting text to shapes
• screen printing ink pushed through a mesh stencil, common on apparel and posters
• digital stencil duplicator (Risograph/Riso) soy-ink duplicator producing bright, misregistered, zine-style prints
• press check attending the run to approve color before full production
• makeready / setup waste sheets consumed dialing in the press, drives short-run cost
• print run / MOQ production quantity and the minimum quantity a printer will accept