In today’s world, nearly every business needs printed media to promote and build its brand—from flyers, brochures, and business cards to packaging, posters, and stickers. Understanding key printing terms helps you brief a print shop clearly and avoid costly mistakes. Below is a concise glossary of printing terminology every customer should know, with quick explanations and tips so your job turns out exactly as you expect.
1. Paper Terms
1.1 GSM (Gram per Square Meter)
- Meaning: The unit that indicates paper weight/thickness. Higher GSM = thicker, sturdier paper—suited to covers and packaging.
- Examples: Flyers: 80–130 gsm; Packaging: 250–350 gsm.
1.2 Art Card
- Meaning: Coated, smooth-surfaced paper ideal for high-quality 4-color printing.
- Examples: Business cards, posters, cosmetic boxes.
1.3 Bond Paper
- Meaning: Uncoated paper commonly used for office documents and forms.
- Examples: Copy paper, forms, letterheads.
1.4 Eye-Care / Cream Paper
- Meaning: Light cream/yellowish paper that reduces glare—comfortable for long reading.
- Examples: Books, notebooks.
2. Printing Process Terms
2.1 Offset Printing
- Meaning: The most common process for large runs with high, consistent quality.
- Benefits: Uniform color, lower unit cost at higher quantities.
2.2 Digital Printing
- Meaning: Best for small quantities or variable data (each sheet can differ).
- Benefits: Low minimums, no plates required, fast turnaround.
2.3 Plate
- Meaning: The metal/polymer printing plate used in offset printing.
3. Color & Printing Style Terms
3.1 CMYK
- Meaning: The four process colors for print—Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (Key).
3.2 Pantone / PMS
- Meaning: A standardized spot-color system for precise, consistent brand colors.
3.3 1-Color / 2-Color / 4-Color
- Meaning: The number of inks used on a job (affects cost and look).
4. Finishing & Post-Press Terms
4.1 UV Coating
- Meaning: High-gloss surface coating cured by UV light; adds shine and scratch resistance.
4.2 Lamination
- Meaning: Film coating applied to paper—available in Gloss or Matte—for durability and a premium feel.
4.3 Foil Stamping
- Meaning: Metallic foil (gold/silver/other) stamped onto paper for standout highlights.
4.4 Embossing / Debossing
- Meaning: Creating raised (emboss) or recessed (deboss) effects for tactile dimension.
4.5 Die-Cut
- Meaning: Cutting paper into custom shapes beyond standard rectangles.
5. Size & Product Terms
5.1 A4, A5, B5, etc.
- Meaning: International standard paper sizes (A-series/B-series).
5.2 Single-Sided / Double-Sided
- Meaning: Printing on one side or both sides of the sheet.
5.3 Cover, Inside, Spine, Flap
- Meaning: Common parts of books, notebooks, brochures, and boxes.
6. Order & Quotation Terms
6.1 Minimum Order (MOQs)
- Meaning: The smallest quantity a printer will accept for a given product/spec.
6.2 Lead Time
- Meaning: Production time from order confirmation to completion/delivery.
6.3 Proof
- Meaning: A pre-production sample (digital or printed) for checking content and color before the final run.
7. Other Useful Terms
- Trimming: Cutting the sheets down to final size.
- Bleed: Artwork that extends past the trim edge to avoid white borders (usually 3 mm).
- Margin / Safe Area: Inner clearance to keep text/logos away from the trim edge.
- Resolution (DPI): Image detail—supply at least 300 DPI for quality print.
- Mockup: A visual or physical sample showing how the final piece will look in context.