Bi-fold - A fold where a sheet is folded in half vertically or horizontally. Also known as half-fold.
Binding - The way a book is held together, such as staples, coil, comb, glue, tape, and more.
Bleed - Any element, such as color, images, or artwork, that extends past crop marks or the edge of the page, often requires cutting.
Booklet - A book binding that folds all pages in half and staples inside the fold; most magazines use this binding. Also known as a saddle stitch book.
Brochure - A print that is folded and often used for informational or marketing material. Also known as a pamphlet or leaflet.
Bulk Mail - Mail that is prepared in large volumes or quantities as a specific class at a reduced postage cost. C1S - An acronym for
C2S - An acronym for Coated 2 Sided, the gloss or coating on both sides of paper.
Cover Paper - A paper that is thicker than average copy or text-weight paper. Also known as cardstock and cover weight.
Coated Paper - A paper that has a coating on the surface of the sheet, which produces a smooth finish, often glossy.
Coil Binding - A binding that uses a metal or plastic spiral through multiple holes. This allows the pages to lay flatter than other binding methods as well as spin 360 degrees around the spine. Also known as spiral bind.
Coroplast - A waterproof, stain-resistant, and chemically inert, twin-wall fluted plastic sheet, essentially corrugated plastic.
Finishing - Options such as binding, folding, cutting, etc., are performed after printing is completed.
Foam Board - A sturdy or rigid board with a foam core, often used for easel signs.
Gloss - The shiny coating on a sheet of paper, ink, or laminate, opposite of matte.
Grommets - A thin ring of various sizes used to reinforce holes and prevent wear and tear, often metal in material and used to hang posters or banners.
Label - A self-adhesive material covered by a backing sheet. Also known as pressure-sensitive and crack-n-peel.
Laminate - A thin plastic sheet applied to paper to make it more rigid, durable, and waterproof. Laminate can come in both gloss and matte finishes as well as various thicknesses.
Landscape - A document layout where the width is greater than the height, the opposite of portrait. Also known as horizontal.
Left Bind - The most common layout position that uses the left edge of a page as the spine, opposite of right bind.
Legal Paper - A size of paper that measures 8.5”x 14”.
Letter Paper - A size of paper that measures 8.5”x 11”.
Matte - A finish on paper or images that is dull in appearance, the opposite of gloss.
Mounted - The adhering of a substrate to a surface such as foam board, corrugated, gator board, glass, and more.
NCR - A thin chemically treated paper, that allows the transfer of writing, scratches, or impressions from one sheet to another, often printed in sets and as 2-part, 3-part, or 4-part. Also known as carbonless.
Padding - The process of binding pages together on one side with glue, often used for tear pads.
Paper Weight - The thickness of paper, material, or substrate. Also known as stock weight and weight. Often seen as 20#, 80#, etc., or as 20lb, 80lb, etc.
Perforated Window Vinyl - A substrate that has tiny holes and can be mounted onto windows; the printed image is solid and opaque when viewed from the outside but transparent from the inside.
Pop-Up Banner - A free-standing, retractable banner that can be rolled into a compartment for easy storage and transportation. Also known as a retractable banner, roll-up banner, and stand-up banner.
Print Ready - A PDFfile format containing all necessary specifications— 300 DPI resolution, CMYK color, and 0.125-inch bleeds—to produce high-quality, professional prints without further intervention.
Proof - A digital or physical representation of a completed product.
Resolution - Measured in DPI or Dots Per Inch, the greater the DPI, the better the image quality. The standard is 300dpi.
Text Paper - A paper that is thinner and more lightweight than cover paper.
Tri-Fold - A fold that has three panels and two folds. The right panel folds inward to the left, covering the middle panel. The left panel folds inward to the right, covering the back of the right panel, often used for informational or marketing material, such as a brochure.
Trim Size - The final size of a printed sheet after it has been cut.
Trimming - Slicing a sheet of paper or a stack of pages with a sharp blade to achieve a desired size or appearance. Also known as cutting.
Uncoated Paper - Paper that does not have a coating on the surface of the sheet, which would have produced a smooth or glossy finish.
Variable Data - A form of printing where elements such as text, graphics, artwork, etc. are pulled from a database and changed from one sheet to another without stopping the print process, often used for personalized letters, mailers, envelopes, and more. Acronym: VD.
Vinyl - A property of certain substrates that is heavier, more durable, water-resistant, and scratch-resistant when compared to paper or bond substrates.
Wall Cling - Removable self-adhesive that does not damage walls upon removal.
Wide Format - The printing of any material that is larger than a digital or offset printer, typically larger than 12”x18”.
Window Cling - A removable substrate that adheres to a glass surface with static. This can be easily removed and comes in white or clear. Also known as a static cling.
Yard Sign - An image printed on self-adhesive and mounted on a corrugated board, attached to the ground with a metal “H” stake.
Z-Fold - A fold that has three panels and two folds opposite of one another creating a “Z” shape.