Whether it’s lawn care, insurance, auto, or medical — there is a special “language” that those who work within each industry understand. With our many terms from offset to bleed, we have a unique language all our own. Whether you’re new to print or a seasoned veteran, we thought we’d share a few common terms.
Bleed
The bleed is the part on the side of a document that gives the printer a small amount of space to account for natural movement of the paper during trimming
CMYK (Cyan Magenta Yellow Black)
Color space that uses ink to display colors during the printing process. Standard for offset and digital printing
Die Cut
In the printing world, a die refers to a precise, razor-sharp blade that allows multiple cuts of the same shape. A die cut is a process where the die cuts through the material, paper, cardstock, etc., on a die press. This process allows identical cuts to be made for a uniform look
Direct Mail
Traditional direct mail targets a specific demographic. You can use it to send postcards, flyers, and brochures to a mailing list that consists of people that fit your target age, gender, income, and other variables
Dye-Sublimation
Digital printing technology that uses heat transfer to apply an image to the intended substrate. Also referred to as digital sublimation, the process is commonly used for decorating apparel, signs, and banners as well as other items with sublimation-friendly surfaces.
EDDM (Every Door Direct Mail)
Using mailing routes from the United States Postal Service (USPS), you can choose a specific area that you want to cover with your direct mail, EDDM targets a specific geographic area. No mailing list is necessary
Four Color Process
The process of printing using the combination of four basic color inks: CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) to produce a range of colors and create a color image
Four Over Four (4/4)
A print job with four, full-color printing on both sides of the paper
Four Over One (4/1)
A print job with four, full-color printing on the front side and one color (usually black) on the back side
Four Over Zero (4/0)
A print job with four-color printing on the front side and no printing on the back side
Indicia
Preprinted postal information that takes the place of a stamp on a mailing envelope, postcard, etc.
Pantone Color (PMS)
Pantone Matching System: A universal color language that designers, printing companies, and brand owners use
Perforation
The process of making holes or a series of cuts to make tearing or folding easier
RGB (Red Green Blue)
Color space that uses light to display images onscreen. Commonly used for TV, websites, and other digital advertising that will be displayed on a monitor
Vector Images
Images made up of solids, lines, and curves that can be scaled or edited without affecting the image’s resolution