BLEEDS:

A bleed occurs when your design allows the ink to print to the edge of the paper. The amount of bleed required may vary from one printer to another. As a general rule the image or color should extend 1/8 (.125) inch to 1/4 (.25) inch past the page edge in your document.

BLUELINES:

A contact proof created from the film used to verify that the film is correct. The word comes from the blue paper used by most printers.

CAMERA READY ART:

This is art on board or paper output that can be photographed. If there is more than one color, they should be separated to different boards or sheets. A composite of your separations should also be included as a guide for stripping of the film for press. Photographs should not be included within the camera-ready art, but photographed as "half tones" in a separate process.

CMYK COLOR:

The printing process such as offset lithography or full-color (process) printing use CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) inks. Digital art must be created as CMYK color or must be converted from RGB color to enable use. All work that is to be printed should be produced in the CMYK (Cyan/Magenta/Yellow/Black) mode. When these four inks (CMYK) are combined, they can produce millions of different colors.

COLOR KEY:

A contact proof from the film made from acetate. There is one sheet per process color, one for Cyan, one for Magenta and so on. The film is overlaid with each other to verify that your color film, is correct.

COMPOSED FILM:

Is film that is ready to be stripped (pieced) together with other pieces of composed film in order to then have "plate ready" film. It is the plate ready film that is used to make the plates.

COVERAGE %:

The amount of ink on the page. Always let your printer know if there are large solid areas of 100% ink or a PMS Color. This allows the printer to select the appropriate press for your project.

COVER STOCK:

This is usually a heavier stock paper for the outside 4 pages of your project, (i.e., the cover of a book) providing that it is different from the text (inside pages). If the cover and the inside pages of your project are on the same paper it is called "self cover".

DESCRIPTION:

The type of item do you need the quote for. (book, brochure, catalog)

DESIGN:

Combining your type, images, colors logo and other items into a finished piece.

DIE CUT:

A steel rule die is created and is used like a cookie cutter. The most common example are the slit cut to hold a business card.

DIE SCORE:

To die score a piece is to make a "steel rule" die, which consists of thin pieces of steel that will be used to stamp a line where your piece needs to fold. A score line compresses the paper and allows the paper to fold without cracking. Heavier 100# gloss paper for example especially where there is ink traveling from one panel to the next.

DISK READY:

A disk that is complete and does not require any production work to output or rip the files. This disk should contain everything need complete the project including images, fonts and so on.

EMBOSS:

To create a stamp the paper from the rear in order to create a raised effect. De-bossing is just the opposite, the front is stamped to create a sunken effect. If the embossing or de-bossing does not touch ink or a foil, then it is referred to as "blind" embossing. If the emboss touches ink or has a foil on top of it, this is referred to as registered embossing or de-bossing.

FLAT/SPREAD SIZE:

This is the flat and trimmed size of your piece before folding. (Example: and 8 1/2 x 11" 4 page brochure spread out as 2 pages would be 17 x 11. NOTE: The width is always the first dimension given.

FOIL:

To foil stamp a die is used as a stamping tool (die), and the foil is stamped onto the paper. The foil usually is seen as metallic gold or silver, but can come in a variety colors as well. If the foil touches nearby ink or is raised by embossing, it is referred to as "registering".

HALF TONES:

A black and white photo shot with a camera with a honeycombed lens or scanned, that recreates your image as a series of dots required in printing.

HOLES:

Punching or die cut holes in the piece to allow for use in a binder such as a 3 ring binder.

MATCHPRINT:

Multiple pieces of contact proofing are pieced together and laminated as a single piece. This is an accurate proofing method; especially where color is critical.

OUTPUT FILM:

To produce your digital files and recreate as final film.

PERFECT BIND:

A squared off edge (spine), with scored hinges for ease of opening and the pages are glued in. An example would be soft cover book.

PERFORATE:

To perforate or a score line of holes that allow easy removal of a section of paper such as a coupon. If the perforation goes from top to bottom, that is a vertical perforation. If from side to side, it is a horizontal perforation.

QUANTITY:

How many of the items (your project) you need.

REFLECTIVES:

A print made from your original photographic negative.

RGB COLOR:

A computer monitor emit color as RGB (red, green, blue) light. All colors of the visible spectrum can be produced by mixing red, green and blue light, monitors are capable of displaying only a limited gamut (i.e., range) of the visible spectrum. All work that is to be printed should be produced in the CMYK (Cyan/Magenta/Yellow/Black) mode. If an RGB (Red/Green/Blue) file is submitted, it must be converted to CMYK. When the from RGB to CMYK conversion takes place, color shifts may occur.

SADDLE STITCH:

Two staples added to the center of the piece on the fold line (spine) which hold the pages inside. A magazine is a good example.

SCANS:

Scanning is the process that records your images as a digital file from a (35mm) slide and/or a transparency.

SET TYPE:

To chose the appropriate font (typeface) and type your copy and laying it out on the page.

STOCHASTIC PRINTING:

Stochastic is a process where printing dots have no pattern at all. This produces much more detail and eliminates moirés.

TEXT STOCK:

The paper you require for the inside of your project. If there were not a separate cover stock, then piece would be referred to as self cover.

TRIM SIZE FOLDED:

What is the size of your final piece once folded. (Example: if you fold a letter to fit an envelope, the folded size is the "trim size folded=3 2/3 x 8 1/2" verses the flat size of the letter you started with of 8 1/2 x 11").