Lexicon

Printing Lexicon

  • Bleed refers to the area beyond the trim edge of a printed piece, allowing images or colour to extend fully to the edge without leaving a white border.

  • Blind Embossing / Blind Debossing A printing technique where the embossed or debossed element is applied without ink or foil, creating a subtle and tactile impression. Often used for minimalist or luxury finishes.

  • Die Cutting is the cutting of paper into decorative shapes or patterns using a steel cutting die.

  • Duplexing is the process of bonding two sheets of paper together to create a thicker, more substantial stock, often used for business cards or luxury invitations.

  • Edge Painting involves painting the edges of books or cards with opaque or metallic inks for a colourful or reflective finish, adding a decorative touch.

  • Embossing/Debossing embossing is impressing an image in relief to achieve a raised surface. Debossing is pressing an image into paper so it lies beneath the surface. Both can be registered over printing or on blank paper which is called blind embossing/debossing.

  • Exposed Spine Binding is a creative bookbinding technique where the stitching and spine of the book are intentionally left visible. This method not only adds an artistic touch but also ensures flexibility and durability, making it popular for design-focused publications.

  • Foil Stamping a technique using heat and a die to adhere foil to paper for decorative effects. A die, produced from magnesium, copper or brass, is shaped to the image required to be foil printed, and for each foil colour a different die is made. Foils come in many different colours.

  • HP Indigo is a division of HP specialising in digital printing. Its presses deliver offset-like quality and can print on a wide range of materials. They are used for labeling, flexible packaging, and commercial printing

  • Laser Cutting is a precise technique that uses a focused laser beam to cut intricate shapes into materials like paper, cardstock, or plastic. It allows for highly detailed designs, making it popular for custom invitations, decorative packaging, and artistic applications.

  • Laser Engraving is a process that uses a laser to etch designs, patterns or text into the surface of a material. The laser acts as a precise engraving tool. This technique creates a permanent, tactile impression, often used for marking, personalisation and luxury packaging.

  • Letterpress is a relief printing technique where a raised surface, typically containing text or an image, is inked and then pressed onto paper to create an impression.  

  • Offset Lithography is a printing technique where ink is transferred from a plate to a rubber blanket, then to the surface. It often uses CMYK plates for full-color prints but can include spot or fewer colours for specific effects or cost efficiency.

  • Print Finishing encompasses all post-print processes like trimming, laminating, binding, embossing, etc., which elevate the look, feel, and function of a print item.

  • PUR (Polyurethane Reactive) binding is a type of adhesive binding that uses a durable and flexible glue. Known for its strong hold, it is often used for high-quality books, catalogs, and materials with heavy or glossy paper.

  • Risograph (RISO) is a printing method blending digital and screen printing. It’s known for its bold, vibrant colours and unique handmade look, despite quirks like off-registration and uneven ink coverage. This imperfect style is part of its charm, making each print feel original and artistic.

  • Saddle Stitching is a binding method where pages are folded and stapled together along the spine. It is a cost-effective and simple technique, commonly used for booklets, brochures, and small magazines.

  • Silk Screen is a process of printing by hand. A mesh cloth is stretched over a wooden frame. The design or image is painted on this screen and is squeezed through onto the printing surface.

  • Spot UV is a gloss coating applied using ultra-violet radiation to cure the finish to the paper stock after the printing has been finished. It is able to be applied in specific areas or as an image.

  • Soy Ink is made from refined soybean oil mixed with natural resins and waxes. It’s more eco-friendly than petroleum-based inks and produces brighter, clearer colours. 

  • Vegetable Inks are eco-friendly inks made from oils like soybean, coconut, corn, walnut, linseed, and canola. They emit only 2-4% VOCs, much less than petroleum-based inks, but take longer to dry. These oils are renewable and non-toxic, unlike finite petroleum resources.

  • Waterless Printing is an offset printing process that eliminates water and chemicals by using CtP technology and silicone plates. It often uses vegetable-based inks to reduce pollution and waste, delivering high-quality colour prints with less paper waste.

  • White Ink is a specialty ink used in digital printing to create designs on dark or transparent materials as a base to enhance colours or on its own for striking effects, making it a popular choice for creative and luxurious print projects.

  • Wire Binding also known as wire-o binding, is a bookbinding method that uses a double-loop wire to secure pages together. It allows the pages to lie flat or rotate 360 degrees, making it ideal for notebooks, manuals, and calendars.

Paper Lexicon

  • Carbon Neutral Paper is produced by paper mills that offset their carbon emissions by planting trees. This process balances the environmental impact of manufacturing and transportation, making it more eco-friendly. 

  • Coated Paper has a smooth, shiny, or matte finish achieved by applying a layer of clay or other substances, making it ideal for high-quality printing.

  • Cotton Paper made from cotton linters or rags, is valued for its strength, durability, and ability to absorb ink well. Unlike wood pulp paper, it’s acid-free and long-lasting, making it ideal for important documents.

  • Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) paper is bleached without elemental chlorine, using alternatives like chlorine dioxide to reduce harmful by-products and minimize environmental impact.

  • FSC Certified 100% Paper means the wood comes entirely from responsibly managed forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. FSC promotes sustainable forestry, protects biodiversity, and ensures traceability from forest to finished product, helping consumers make eco-friendly choices.

  • GSM (Grams per Square Meter) indicates the weight of paper. Heavier GSM means thicker, more substantial paper. Essential for understanding how a print piece will feel.

  • Kraft Paper is made from chemical pulp via the kraft process, producing strong, durable paper or cardboard. Sack kraft paper is porous with high elasticity and tear resistance, ideal for heavy-duty packaging. Kraft pulp is darker but can be bleached to a bright white.

  • LB (Pound) stands for Pound and refers to the weight of 500 sheets (a ream) of paper at its basic size (which varies depending on paper type).

  • Opacity describes how much light passes through paper. High-opacity papers prevent show-through, ideal for double-sided printing.

  • Paper Grain refers to the direction in which the fibers of a sheet of paper are aligned. It affects how the paper behaves when folded or printed on.

  • PT (Point) stands for Point and is used to measure the thickness of paper, primarily in packaging and cover stocks.

  • Soft Touch Laminate is a velvet-like coating applied to printed materials, giving them a smooth, matte finish and a premium, tactile feel.

  • Tooth refers to the surface texture of paper—how rough or smooth it feels. Papers with more “tooth” have a more tactile feel, while smooth papers are better for detailed printing.

  • Tree Free Paper is an eco-friendly alternative to wood-pulp paper made from fibers like agricultural residues (e.g., sugarcane bagasse, straw), fiber crops, wild plants (bamboo, hemp, jute, flax), and textile or cordage waste.

  • Uncoated Paper has no coating, giving it a natural, textured feel and better ink absorption. Its rough fibers make it more porous, so it soaks up more ink and dries faster. It’s also easier to write on than coated paper.

Colour Lexicon

  • Brightness (or value) indicates how light or dark a colour appears. It’s affected by the amount of white or black mixed into the hue.

  • CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (Black), the colour model used in printing to produce a wide range of colours.

  • Colour Temperature refers to the warmth or coolness of a colour, often used in photography, print calibration, and lighting to affect mood and perception.

  • Hex Code a six-digit, three-byte hexadecimal number used in HTML, CSS, and design software to represent specific colours digitally.

  • Hue is the base attribute of a colour that defines its position on the color wheel – such as red, blue, or yellow – without considering brightness or saturation.

  • ICC Profile is a digital color management file that ensures consistent and accurate color reproduction across screens, printers, and materials.

  • Lab Colour a colour model designed to approximate human vision. It includes all perceivable colours and is device-independent, making it useful in colour correction and cross-platform colour matching.

  • Pantone Colour Matching System is largely a standardised colour reproduction system. By standardising the colours, different manufacturers in different locations can all refer to the Pantone system to make sure colours match without direct contact with one another.

  • RAL Colours are a standardized color matching system used primarily in Europe for paints, coatings, and plastics, ensuring consistent color across manufacturers and industries.

  • RGB stands for Red, Green, Blue – the colour model used for digital screens. Colours are created by combining different intensities of these three light sources.

  • Saturation refers to the intensity or purity of a colour. Highly saturated colors appear vivid, while low saturation creates more muted or greyed tones.