Quick answer
This glossary explains common printing words in simple English, such as bleed, gsm, CMYK, Pantone, dpi, die cut, lamination, NCR, MOQ and proof.
- Bleed
- Extra background past the cut line, usually 3 mm. It prevents white edges.
- GSM
- Grams per square metre. It shows how thick or heavy paper is.
- CMYK
- Cyan, magenta, yellow and black. The four inks used in most printing.
- Pantone
- A colour matching system with numbered colours.
- DPI
- Dots per inch. A measure of image sharpness. Use 300 dpi for print.
- Vector file
- A logo file that can be made bigger without losing sharpness. Examples are AI, EPS and PDF.
- Proof
- A preview of your design for approval before printing.
- Die cut
- Cutting paper or card into a custom shape.
- Lamination
- A thin film on printed paper that protects it and changes the feel.
- Spot UV
- A shiny clear coat on selected parts of a design.
- Foil stamping
- Pressing a thin metallic layer onto paper for a shiny effect.
- Emboss
- A raised shape pressed into the paper.
- NCR
- No carbon required. Paper that copies writing to the sheet below.
- MOQ
- Minimum order quantity. The smallest number you can order.
- Trim size
- The final size after the print is cut.
- Rigid box
- A strong box made from thick board wrapped in printed paper.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What does MOQ mean?
MOQ means minimum order quantity. It is the smallest number of items you can order.
What does NCR mean?
NCR means no carbon required. Each page copies onto the page below without carbon paper.