Print & Design Glossary

Plain-English definitions of the printing and design terms you'll run into when ordering — so nothing about your project is a mystery.

16pt: 16 point card stock — a premium thickness (approx. 0.016") commonly used for business cards.
aqueous coating: A water-based protective coating that gives a smooth finish and protects against fingerprints and scuffs.
bleed: Extra artwork that extends beyond the trim edge (typically 0.125") to prevent white borders after cutting.
CMYK: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (Black) — the four-color printing process used for most commercial print jobs.
coroplast: Corrugated plastic — a lightweight, weatherproof material used for yard signs and outdoor signs.
debossing: A technique that presses a design element into the paper surface, creating a recessed tactile effect.
die-cut: Custom-shaped cutting that follows the outline of your artwork rather than a standard square or rectangle.
digital printing: Modern printing method that prints directly from digital files — cost-effective for short runs and quick turnaround.
DPI: Dots Per Inch — resolution measurement for print files. 300 DPI minimum is required for sharp print quality.
EDDM: Every Door Direct Mail — a USPS program for mailing postcards to every address in a carrier route, no mailing list needed.
embossing: A technique that raises a design element above the paper surface, creating a 3D tactile effect.
foil stamping: A finishing technique that applies metallic or colored foil to specific areas using heat and pressure.
full bleed: Artwork printed edge-to-edge on a page with no white margins, requiring bleed extension beyond the trim size.
gloss finish: A shiny surface coating that makes colors appear vivid and vibrant on printed materials.
gsm: Grams per Square Meter — a measure of paper weight. Higher GSM means thicker, heavier paper stock.
lamination: A thin plastic film bonded to printed materials for added durability, available in gloss, matte, or soft-touch.
matte finish: A non-glossy surface coating that reduces glare and gives a sophisticated, flat look to printed materials.
offset printing: Traditional printing method where ink is transferred from plates to rubber blanket to paper — ideal for large quantities.
Pantone: A standardized color-matching system (PMS) used in printing to ensure consistent color reproduction across print runs.
perfect bound: A binding method where pages are glued to a flat spine — used for thicker booklets and books.
PPI: Pixels Per Inch — screen resolution measurement. Convert to 300 DPI when preparing images for print.
raster: Pixel-based image format (JPG, PNG) that can lose quality when scaled up. Use at 300 DPI or higher for print.
RGB: Red, Green, Blue — the color model used for screens. Always convert to CMYK before sending files to print.
saddle stitch: A booklet binding method where pages are folded and stapled along the spine — common for brochures and catalogs.
safe zone: The area inside trim marks where all important content (text, logos) should be placed to avoid being cut off.
soft-touch laminate: A velvety matte lamination that gives a premium tactile feel — popular for business cards and packaging.
spot UV: Selective glossy coating applied only to specific areas of a printed piece for a high-end visual contrast effect.
trim size: The final dimensions of a printed piece after cutting. Design files should extend to bleed beyond this size.
UV coating: A glossy protective finish applied to printed materials using ultraviolet light — adds durability and sheen.
vector: A scalable graphic format (SVG, AI, EPS) that stays sharp at any size — ideal for logos and print artwork.

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