Accordion Fold
Zig-zag folds with six or more panels and two or more parallel folds; one way to fold brochures and business letters.

Binders
Large folders, usually made of plastic, vinyl, or coated paper board that hold paper or folders by circular or D-shaped retainers, onto which the contents are threaded. The rings are usually spring-loaded, but can also be secured by lever arch mechanisms or other securing systems.

Bleed
When any image or element on a page touches the edge of the page, extending beyond the trim edge, leaving no margin.

Brochures
Small books or magazines containing pictures and information about a product or service.

Business Cards
Small cards printed with one’s name, professional occupation, company position, business address, and other contact information.

Calendars
Charts or series of pages showing the days, weeks, and months of a particular year, or giving particular seasonal information.

Canvas Finish
Coated paper that is embossed on both sides to mimic the look of a classic watercolor.

Cartons
Packaging/boxes produced in bundle quantities and shipped flat to save on storage space and shipping.

Cartons/Boxes
Light boxes or containers, typically made of waxed coated board. May be used in the packaging of food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and hardware.

Checks
A written order instructing a bank to pay upon its presentation to the person designated in it, or to the person possessing it, a certain sum of money from the account of the person who draws it.

Crop Marks
(Also known as Trim Marks) Lines printed in the corners of your publication sheet or sheets of paper to show where to trim the paper to final size.

Custom Printing
The document to be printed is designed and provided by the customer.

Die Cut
Areas of the document that are partially or completely cut, shaped (as in rounded corners on a business card), or cut out in a variety of shapes.

Die Cutting
A process by which a steel blade is used to punch out the desired shape.

Duotone
A common printing technique by which a halftone is printed in two colors, most often black and another color.

Easelbacks
A back by which a flat object (such as a framed picture) may be made to stand upright or suitably inclined usually by means of a tab or prop made fast with the back above and pulled out at an angle below.

Emboss
A design or bas-relief impression that is stamped with or without using inks or metal foils.

Embossing
The molding and reshaping of paper by the use of special metal dies and heat, counter dies, and pressure to produce a raised image on the paper surface.

Envelopes
A flat or expandable paper, poly or glassine material, used to enclose a letter or document. Usually rectangle in shape and with a flap that can be folded over and sealed.

Film Lamination
The application of thin, transparent plastic sheets to one or both sides of a sheet of paper, providing scuff resistance, waterproofing, and extended use. It is available in gloss, satin, or matte finishes.

Foil Stamp
The application of pigment or metallic foil to paper where a heated die is stamped onto the foil, making it adhere to the surface, leaving the design of the die on the paper. Foil stamping can be combined with embossing to create a more striking 3D image.

Hang Tags
A tag attached to a garment or other piece of merchandise that includes information about the manufacturer or designer, the fabric or material used, the model number, care instructions, and sometimes the price.

Invitation
A written request inviting someone to go somewhere or to do something.

Label
An adhesive-backed paper or synthetic material that is attached to an object to give information about it.

Laid Finish
A type of paper having a ribbed texture imparted by the manufacturing process.

Linen Finish
A text paper finish with a pattern simulating the look of linen cloth.

Luggage Tags
Tags traditionally attached passenger luggage to identify the owner.

Mail Fulfillment Service
Inline folding, inserting, presorting, addressing, metering, and sealing of direct mail.

Menu
A list of dishes available in a restaurant.

Metallic Ink
Ink containing metal powder that has a shiny reflective appearance.
Metallc Paper
Paper coated with finely flaked metal to give the effect of metallic surface. (Paper comes from the manufacturer fully covered)

Offset Printing
A commonly used printing technique in which the inked image is transferred from a plate to a rubber blanket, then to the printing surface.

Pantone/Spot Color
Any color generated by an ink (pure or mixed) that is printed using a single print unit.

Paper Finish
The density of surface treatment of paper.

Perfect Binding
A binding process where the folded signatures of a book are held together and attached to a cover by a flexible adhesive, creating a visible outside spine.

Plastic Coil
(Also known as Spiral Bind) A durable, flexible type of spiral binding. Documents open flat and offer 360 degree rotation of pages. (Durable and available in multiple colors.)

Pocket Folder
A folding cover or holder, typically made of stiff paper or cardboard, for storing loose papers.

Programs
Sheets or booklets giving details of items or performers at an event or performance.

RGB/CMYK
The color space of red, green, and blue. These are the primary colors of light that computers use to display images on your screen. An RGB file must be translated into cyan, magenta, yellow, and black in order to be printed on a press.

Saddle Stitch
Binding by a stitch of thread or a wire staple passed through the fold of a magazine or booklet.

Scratch Off
A card, often made of thin paper-based card for competitions and plastic to conceal PINs, where one or more areas contain concealed information which can be revealed by scratching off an opaque covering.

Smooth Finish
Paper with no specially manufactured texture.

Spot Varnish
A varnish that is put on only a portion of the page. It can be gloss or dull and is used to highlight or emphasize a photo or text, or can be used as a subtle design element.

Stamp
The molding and reshaping of paper by the use of special metal dies and heat, counter dies, and pressure to produce a sunken image on the paper surface.

Stationery
Paper that is used for writing letters and that usually has matching envelopes.

UV Coating
Surface treatment or effect which is cured by ultraviolet light. Gloss or matte UV can be flood coated or spot coated. (This image has a spot gloss UV on a matte film lamination.)

UV Coating with Texture
A very shiny and durable high-gloss coating applied to printed material. Applied as a liquid, then cured with ultraviolet light. May be applied overall or as a spot coating.

Watermark
A translucent mark or image that is embossed or printed onto paper during the papermaking process. It is visible when the paper is held up to the light.

Wire-O Binding
(Also known as Wire Binding) Continuous series of double wire loops run through slots that have been punched in the binding edge of a booklet. Documents will open completely flat and allow for 360-degree rotation of the pages.