Print Industry Jargon Buster

If you’ve ever ordered printed packaging, labels or other printed materials, you may have come across terminology that sounds like a completely different language.

From GSM and CMYK to die-cutting and litho, the print industry has plenty of technical terms that can be confusing if you don’t work with printing every day.

At Midland Regional Printers, we work with businesses across a wide range of print and packaging projects, so we understand that not everyone will be familiar with the terminology.

That’s why we’ve put together this simple print industry jargon buster, explaining some of the most common printing terms you’re likely to come across.

CMYK

CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key (Black).

These four colours are used in the standard four-colour printing process to create a wide range of colours on the finished printed product.

If you’ve ever been asked to supply artwork in CMYK, this is why.

RGB

RGB stands for Red, Green and Blue.

It is primarily used for digital screens, such as computers, phones and televisions.

RGB and CMYK produce colour differently, which means a colour that looks one way on your screen may appear slightly different when printed.

For professional printing, artwork will generally need to be prepared using the appropriate colour settings for the printing process.

DPI

DPI means Dots Per Inch.

It refers to the number of individual dots that can be placed within one inch when printing.

Generally, a higher DPI can allow for greater detail and sharper printed images, although the correct resolution depends on the type of artwork and printing process being used.

GSM

GSM stands for Grams per Square Metre.

It is a measurement commonly used to describe the weight of paper or board.

For example, a lightweight paper will generally have a lower GSM, while a heavier board will have a higher GSM.

GSM can be an important consideration when choosing materials for packaging, printed products and other applications.

Bleed

Bleed is the area of artwork that extends beyond the final cut or trim line.

It gives the printer a small amount of extra artwork to work with when the finished product is cut to size.

Without sufficient bleed, you can potentially end up with unwanted white edges around the finished print.

Crop Marks

Crop marks are small lines placed around the outside of a printed document or piece of artwork.

They indicate where the finished product should be trimmed.

Proof

A proof is a representation of what the finished printed product is expected to look like.

Proofing gives you an opportunity to review artwork, layout and other details before the full production run begins.

This can be particularly useful for important packaging projects where consistency and accuracy are essential.

Lithographic Printing

Lithographic, or litho, printing is a traditional commercial printing process that uses printing plates to transfer an image onto the chosen material.

It is often suited to larger production runs where consistency and efficiency are important.

At MRP, lithographic printing forms part of our wider range of printing capabilities.

Digital Printing

Digital printing involves printing directly from a digital file without the need to create traditional printing plates.

It can be particularly useful for shorter production runs, personalised work or projects involving multiple versions.

Digital printing also allows businesses greater flexibility when they don’t require very large quantities.

Flexographic Printing

Flexographic, or flexo, printing uses flexible printing plates to transfer ink onto a range of materials.

It is widely used within the label and packaging industry and can be suitable for larger production volumes.

The most appropriate printing method will depend on factors such as the material, quantity, artwork and requirements of the finished product.

Die-Cutting

Die-cutting is a process used to cut printed materials into a specific shape.

Rather than simply cutting something into a standard rectangle, a custom die can be used to create bespoke shapes and designs.

This is particularly important for packaging, where cartons, sleeves and other products often require precise shapes and folds.

Embossing

Embossing creates a raised effect on the surface of printed material.

It can be used to highlight particular elements of a design, such as a logo, pattern or text, and can add texture and dimension to the finished product.

Foiling

Foiling involves applying a metallic or specialist foil to selected areas of a printed product.

It can be used to create eye-catching details and add a premium feel to packaging, labels, greetings cards and other printed materials.

Varnish

Varnish is a coating applied to printed material to provide a particular finish or level of protection.

Depending on the desired result, varnishes can create different effects, including gloss or matt finishes.

They can also be used selectively to draw attention to specific areas of a design.

Die Line

A die line is a digital representation of where a packaging product will be cut, creased or folded.

It is an important part of packaging design because it helps designers and printers understand how the flat artwork will translate into the finished three-dimensional product.

CAD

CAD stands for Computer-Aided Design.

Within packaging, CAD allows designs to be created and developed digitally before the physical product is manufactured.

It can help businesses explore different packaging structures, dimensions and configurations before committing to production.

Creasing

Creasing creates a defined line in paper or board to make it easier to fold accurately.

This is particularly important for packaging products such as cartons, where precise folds are required to create the finished structure.

Substrate

A substrate is the material that is being printed onto.

Depending on the project, this could include different types of paper, card, board, labels or other specialist materials.

Choosing the right substrate can have a significant impact on the appearance, performance and suitability of the finished product.

Registration

Registration refers to how accurately different colours or elements of a print job line up with one another.

Good registration is particularly important when producing detailed artwork or packaging where precise positioning is required.

Print Run

A print run refers to the quantity of a particular item being produced during a production job.

For example, if a business orders 10,000 product labels, the print run would be 10,000 labels.

The size of the print run can influence which printing process is most appropriate and the cost per unit.

Finishing

Finishing refers to the processes that take place after the main printing stage.

This can include processes such as cutting, creasing, folding, gluing, embossing, foiling and applying specialist coatings.

Finishing can have a major impact on both the appearance and functionality of the finished product.

Why Does Print Terminology Matter?

You don’t need to be a printing expert to order printed products.

However, understanding some of the basic terminology can make conversations with your printer much easier.

It can also help you make more informed decisions about materials, finishes, artwork and production methods.

At MRP, we believe the process should be straightforward for our customers. Our team can talk you through the technical side of your project, explain the options available and help you find the right approach for your requirements.

Whether you’re looking for printed packaging, product labels, greetings cards or another print solution, we can support you from the initial consultation and design stages through to printing, finishing and fulfilment.

Get in touch with the MRP team and we’ll be happy to talk you through your next project.