1. A4 Paper: ISO paper size 210 x 297mm used for Letterhead. 

A4 paper is the equivalent of letter-size paper (8.5″ x 11″) used in the United States. A4 size paper is used in most parts of the world, including Europe. It’s also known as “European letter size.” It is essential to become familiar with ‘A’ sizes, including A3 (European tabloid), because it is more commonly used than American sizes outside of the US.

2.Bleed: Printing that extends to the edge of a sheet for page after trimming. 

A full bleed gives a document a professional look unless a border is intentional. It is necessary to add bleed marks to a digital document when saving it. Otherwise, when the media is trimmed, it will be smaller than the desired size, and text or other images too close to the edge will get cut off. 

3.Crop Marks: Lines near the edge of an image indicating portions to be reproduced. Also called cut marks tic marks. 

Crop Marks are crucial for accurate document sizing from a digital source. As critical is ensuring that the paper size used to print is larger than the document size. Otherwise, the size reduces to fit the paper. The terms “cut marks” and “tic” are new to me. I will keep those terms in mind. 

4.Dog Ear: A letter fold at the side of one of the creases, an indentation occurs. 

As cute as Dog Ear sounds, during the printing process, it is a problem. When the paper folds over on one side as it exits the printer, it generally means there is a problem with the finisher of a printer. Not only can dog-ear paper cause printer jams, but it will also never lie flat, which will cause an unprofessional look and will make it difficult to trim accurately. 

5.Matte Finish: Flat (not glossy) finish on photographic paper or coded printing paper. 

I prefer smooth textured matte paper when I print. I feel it creates a texture that is true to the image. I also like how it feels when I hold it. The ink or toner used usually produces a semi-gloss glare which is a nice contrast on matte paper. In my opinion, gloss ink on gloss paper creates too much reflection and causes a distraction to the printed media. 

6. Printing: A multiple use term that covers all printed materials and even some digital attributes too.

7.Print Media: Much of what you design, create will be used not only within print media but also within digital media. The term print media has a broad definition. Historically this term relates to the device, vehicle that carries your creativity to the public, which includes (but is not limited to) newspapers, newsletters, magazines, books, brochures, and advertising material.

8.Print Production: The actual process used to convert your creative files into a deliverable product. It is composed of pre-media/pre-press, production, and post-production stages.

9.Digital Print: Printing or publishing digital-based images without the use of a plate. Digital print can also use a priority of papers and substrates.

10.Analog Print: Printing that occurs with the use of a plate and often when the files arrive in non-digital formats.

11.Relief printing: A family of printed methods where a printing block, plate, or matrix that has had ink applied to its surface, but not to any recessed areas, is brought into contact with paper. Relief printing includes woodcut, linocut, and metal cut objects.

12.Intaglio (gravure) printing: A family of printmaking techniques in which the image is incised into a surface, known as the matrix or plate. The increased line of area holds the ink. Normally, copper or zinc plates are used as a surface, and the incisions are created by action, engraving, drypoint, aquatint, or mezzotint.

13.Screen (porous) printing: ink is brushed or squeezed to a stencil image on a fine screen onto paper or other services such as metal, glass, or textile. The screen holds the image area, which may carry either pictorial or typographic material.

14.Planographic Printing: Printing from a flat service, as opposed to a raised surface (as with relief) or increased surface (as with intaglio printing).

15.Flexography Printing: A form of printing process which utilizes a flexible relief plate. It is known as a modern version of letterpress, evolved with high-speed rotary functionality, which can be used for printing on almost any type of substrate, including plastic, metallic films, cellophane, and paper.

16.Letterpress Printing: A form of relief printing that uses a printing press. It is one of the oldest forms of printing and uses metal letters that are pressed into the media.

17.Substrate (print) Print that is constructed on specific textures such as plastic, glass, textiles, and other non-paper surfaces.

18.Tyvek: A nonwoven material made from high-density polyethylene fibers that are durable against elements and tear resistance. It’s used for FedEx and UPS envelopes as well as commercial packaging.

19.Platen: A platform that is made from flat metal or wood plates. It has many purposes in printing and manufacturing. It causes an impression against a medium such as paper. It is also performed as a roller for a printer.

20.Pre-flight: The process of confirming that all digital files and analog media are correctly allocated before continuing to the printing or webpage process. It’s an industry standard that included a checklist to ensure all elements are correct.

21.RGB: A color model that refers to three colors, Red, Green, and Blue, that when combined, creates correct colors for digital screens such as computer monitors and televisions.

22.CMYK: A color model that includes four colors, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black, that are used for printed color images.

23.Pantone Color: A color matching system that is utilized around the world. It employs a numbering system to identify colors so printers may accurately print the correct colors.

24.Coated Paper: Paper that has been treated to heighten colors on a gloss surface. The inks do not absorb into the paper rather, it settles on the surface.

25.Uncoated Paper: A matte paper that absorbs ink into the paper, which gives the image a warmer appearance.

26.White Paper Dummy: A print prototype that includes all specs of the finished print on a blank stock without any printing to ensure accuracy.

27.Hard Proof: A printed simulation of what the final print will look like. It’s used for monitoring a print request before it is mass-produced.

28.Soft Proof: A digital render using a monitor to preview the outcome of a print before it’s printed physically.

29.Offset Printing: A printing technique in which the ink image is transferred from a plate to a rubber blanket and then to the printing surface. It’s repeated for each color that is used.

30.Perfect Binding: A form of bookbinding where the documents are adhered using glue and presents a thin book spine.Lenticular Printing: A printed method that, when the image is viewed at different angles, the objects either look 3-D or change their appearance.

31.Lenticular Printing: A printed method that, when the image is viewed at different angles, the objects either look 3-D or change their appearance.

32.Specialty Printing: All gravure and flexographic operations print a design or image. The idea of using something more than just the traditional print process to enhance direct mail or other print pieces.

33.Varnish Color: A coding applied to printed pieces during or after printing. A varnish is typically added to a piece to enhance to look or protect a piece from scuffing or scratching due to handling or contact with moisture or chemicals.

34.Color Correction: Any method such as masking, dot-enhancing, re-etching, and scanning, used to improve color.

35.Enamel: A term applied to coated paper or a special coated material or paper.

36.Paper– A thin sheet produced by mechanical or chemically induced processes.

37.Density– (ink) The appropriate thickness of a layer of printed ink. Color absorption onto a substrate and the amount of light reflecting from it.

38.Emboss– Pressing an image into the paper with pressure so it lies above the surface.

39.Grade– Distinguishing between different printing papers and specific characteristics, including category, class, finish, or brand.

40.Opacity– The percentage of light allowed to be absorbed by a sheet.

41.Folding: A procedure that is commonly done after printing and cutting. It is achieved using special devices called folders, which fold the material either off-line or in-line, depending on the present and design plan. Folding is usually done to create maps, magazines, newspapers, newspaper inserts, brochures, etc.

42.Scoring: this is the creation of a crease in a piece of paper that will allow it to fold easily and result in a better-looking line. This is achieved by creating a ridge in the paper with an indentation device, and that ridge is where the fold line will occur.

43.Jagging: to give a slight shake or push to; nudge the paper together so all sheets align evenly.

44.Paper Engineering: A branch of engineering that deals with the usage of physical science and life science in conjunction with mathematics as applied to the converting of brought Materials into useful paper products and co-products.

45.Bindery: sheets of paper are fashioned together to make books and other embellishments that enhance a print project and make it attractive to hold.

46.Die Cut: The process of using a specialized machine and tools to cut paper and other soft substrates into decorative shapes or patterns using a steel cutting die.

47.Edge Printing: The printed process that reaches the very edges of a book. Historically, this process was adapted to emphasize the importance of the publication.

48.Embossing: The process of impressing an image in relief to achieve a raised surface.

49.Debossing: The process of passing an image into paper so it lies beneath the surface.

50.Foil Stamping: Foil film is available in a variety of colors, finishes, and effects. The die is heated and stamped using pressure, sealing a thin layer of foil to the paper or substrate.

51.Additive Color: Colors that are created by mixing different amounts of light colors, primarily red, green, and blue. Mixing different amounts of red, green, and blue produces three secondary colors: yellow, cyan, and magenta.

52.Workflow: The sequence of steps involved in moving a job from the beginning to the end of a working process. A few examples involved are preflight, color management, formatting, and print setup. The process helps to alleviate problems that can occur at any time during a live print job.

53.PURL: (personalized uniform resource locator) Is a unique web address created for a specific target of a marketing campaign. A unique web address renders an individual landing page or microsite for the target.

54.Thermography: A post-print process of creating raised areas of print or image on paper. The resinous powder is applied to the wet surface of the ink and fused by heat, or infrared radiation.

55.Drill: paper or ring or comb binding. It’s also used for a three-hole paper process.

56.Hexachrome: 6-color process printing, adding green and orange inks to the traditional cyan, magenta, yellow and black. 

57.Loop Stitching: Similar to saddle stitching, but the wire is developed into a circular loop sticking out beyond the spine, developed to be inserted onto a ring binder.

58.Thermography: A post-print process of producing raised areas of print or images on paper. 

59.Elasticity: This is the term used for when a printed product doesn’t lose its form when it’s outstretched.

60.Opacity: The quality of the paper defines its opaqueness. 

61.Reel: A continuous length of paper wrapped around a cylinder.

62.Kerning: In typography, this is the process of adjusting the visual spacing between characters.

63.Silk Paper:  A stock that has a low surface sheen and provides excellent ink-to-paper contrast. Colors appear brighter and more defined.

64.Bulk: The thickness and feel of a piece of paper.

65.UV Curing: A drying method that uses light instead of heat. 

66.UV Varnish: A thin UV coating that is applied to a printed sheet for protection and appearance. 

67.Satin Finish: A smooth and soft finish over the paper.

68.Creep: The moving or shift that happens to the margins in a document when pages are folded during the finishing operation of a booklet. 

69.Aqueous Coating: A clear coating is used to shield printed pieces to create a high-gloss surface to improve durability. 

70.Gripper: Special grips inside printers that hold the paper in place during print.