Abrasion - Marking or damage that can occur to the surface of a printed piece caused by friction or rubbing with adjacent items, usually resulting from shipping. Also referred to as 'rubbing'.

Aliasing - The appearance of jagged distortions in curves and diagonal lines in computer graphics because the resolution is limited or diminished.

Aqueous Coating - A water based protective coating applied on a press to protect the printed surface and provide visual appeal. Aqueous coating provides excellent smudge resistance and is available in many flavors, such as gloss, satin, dull, soft touch, etc.

Basis Weight - Weight in pounds of a ream (500 sheets) of paper cut to a standard size for that paper grade.

Blanket - A rubber surfaced fabric that is clamped onto a cylinder of an offset printing press. The image to be printed is transferred from the printing plate to this blanket, and then transferred to the paper stock.

Bleed - The amount of printed image that extends beyond a score or cut line in order to reduce the chance of misregistration.

Bitmap - A specific file type, usually associated with artwork or photos that is made up of pixels. Images are "mapped" directly from corresponding bits in memory, hence the name. Examples are TIFF, Paint, and PICT.

CAD - Short for Computer Aided Design. Refers to the use of a computer and, usually, a cutting table to design and create samples of cartons or other items.

Caliper - The thickness of paperboard represented in thousandths of an inch. May also be referred to as 'point'. 20 pt. equals 20 thousandths of an inch thick.

Carton - A container made from paperboard. It is short for 'folding carton'. There are many different types, such as straight tucks, reverse tucks, autobottoms. The word carton does not refer to corrugated boxes, rigid setup boxes, or shipping containers.

Channel - There are two kinds of channels, color and alpha channels. Color channels are the fundamental building blocks of color images while alpha channels are created from selections.

Chipboard - A very low quality paperboard made from waste paper. For use where strength of material or quality of finished product does not really matter. Most chipboard is brown or gray in color.

Clay Coated Board - A high grade paperboard, usually well suited for printing and converting into cartons. The clay coating refers to the fine kaolin clay surface of the paperboard. Various types include SBS (Solid Bleach Sulfate), CCK or SUS (Clay Coated Kraft or Solid Unbleached Sulfate), and CCN (Clay Coated Newsback).

CMYK - A method of representing color based on the standard printing inks of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. This is also known as 4-color process. Printing these colors on top of another will create a full color image.

Coating - A liquid that is applied to the surface of a sheet in order to protect it. Coatings are usually referred to differently than varnishes, as coating tend to protect the surface and age better than varnish. Examples are UV or Aqueous coatings.

Color Balance - Maintaining the ink film thickness to a uniform ratio so that an unwanted variance or bias is avoided.

Continuous Tone - Image in which colors and shades of gray smoothly merge into the neighboring colors or shades, instead of producing distinct, sharply-outlined areas of color or shade. Camera-film photographs are continuous tone images but the digital photographs are not. Almost all printing processes (except the Iris system and dye sublimation technology) are non-continuous tone. Also called contone.

Contract Proof - A proof that will be used as a final agreement between a printer and a customer about the representation of an image to be printed.

Crease - The effect of pressing a steel rule into paperboard via a die cutting machine creates a crease or score in the paper. This crease is how the carton folds into shape.

Crop - To eliminate part of an image.

Curve - A line graph that controls the ratio of input to output values for grayscale values in an image. A curve is often used to control the brightness and contrast of images and is used to adjust the distribution of grayscale values in individual color channels to accomplish color correction.

Deboss - An image that is depressed into the surface of paperboard. Opposite of 'emboss'.

Die - A tool used to process a printed sheet. Usually made of wood, it contains steel rule and is used on a machine to cut cartons out of the paperboard. The word 'die' can also refer to foil stamping 'dies' and embossing 'dies', and other tools used in finishing.

Digital Printing - Can refer to many different types of ways of reproducing an image on a printed sheet, but for the most part represents a way of producing this printed piece without using printing plates. Can do variable data, customizing each print with individual data.

Direct Imaging Press (DI) - Not a true digital press, as it still uses printing plates. These plates are imaged on the press however, which is different from a conventional press where the plates are imaged in a separate area. Cannot do variable data without remaking plates.

Dither - Dithering is the approximation of a color by a software program when it cannot reproduce the required color for whatever reason. The software averages the colors it can reproduce and substitutes. Dithering also occurs when a display monitor attempts to display images specified with more colors than the monitor is equipped to handle.

Dot Gain - The increase in the size of halftone dots that occurs when an image is printed. If not compensated for, dot gain often results in images that print too dark.

Dots Per Inch - A measure of the resolution of a screen image or printed page. Dots are also known as pixels. The typical screen display is 72 dpi, a laser printer can print at 300 dpi, and a plate setter can print at 2400 dpi or more.

Drawdown - A sample of a specific ink, usually on the stock to be run for the job.

Drytrap - Printing over dry ink, as opposed to printing over wet ink. This is accomplished by either running the sheets through a second time or energy curing the inks inline. Drytrapping offers more flexbility and better ink hold out than wet trap, but can cost more.

Dull Finish - Sometimes also referred to as 'matte'. Dull varnishes and coatings do not add any gloss to the printed sheet. Creates non-glare surface which increases readability.

Dust Flaps - The small flaps that extend from the sides of the opening on a carton, and turn down into the opening before the tuck closure. Like the name implies, they help keep dust out and sometimes are part of the locking mechanism for the tuck itself.

Emboss - An image that is pressed into the backside of the paperboard, so that it is raised above the surface. Opposite of 'deboss'.

EPS file - Encapsulated PostScript file. A picture file format supported by Adobe Systems and third party developers. It allows PostScript data to be stored and edited and is easy to transfer between Macs, PCs, and other systems. Will output only to PostScript devices.

Flexography - A printing process in which very fluid, fast drying ink is transferred to a roll or web stock via a raised rubber printing plate.

Flood Coating - To coat the entire sheet with one particular coating type.

Foil Stamping - The process of transferring a foil to a sheet by pressing a heated die against the foil, which is against the sheet. The heat from the die causes the foil to release from its backing and transfer to the sheet in the shape of that die.

Font Files - Files containing information used in the creation, display and printing of type characters. There are several font file architectures including PostScript and TrueType. PostScript font files are the preferred font files to use for PostScript printing.

FTP - Short for File Transfer Protocol. A standard developed to browse directories and transfer large files over TCP/IP networks utilizing either password authentication or anonymous access. Much more reliable than e-mail to transfer large files, which usually hits space limitations.

Gang Run - A printing run where different items are placed on the same sheet so that the setup costs are spread over multiple cartons, usually in an attempt to lower cost. Quality and lead times can sometimes suffer as a result however as the lowest common denominator becomes the rule for the entire sheet.

Gloss Finish - Available in UV, Aqueous, or varnish, gloss refers to the shine, sheen, or luster of the printed surface. UV usually provides the highest gloss, followed by aqueous, and then varnish.

Glue Flap - Structural element of a folding carton used for the application of glue to adhere one panel to another.

Gradation - The gradual shading of one color tint into another lighter or darker tint.

Grain - The direction in which the pulp fibers are arranged in a sheet of paper. Grain direction is important in the design of folding cartons as tear strength is greater across the grain. For the most part, grain should run across the longest scores.

Gravure - An intaglio printing process in which a cylinder is etched with cells in the shape of an image. These cells are filled with ink and the ink is transferred by the rotary action of the press to the sheet. Typically used for very large runs as the cylinders can be very expensive.

Gray Balance - The printing of cyan, magenta, and yellow to produce a gray with no bias or tendency towards a particular hue.

Gray Map - A chart, usually a histogram, which shows the distribution and frequency of the grayscale value in an image.

Gray Component Replacement (GCR) - A color separation process that uses black for the neutral gray portion of color instead of the cyan, magenta and yellow equivalent. The advantage is that variability should be reduced during printing as the press is not always trying to balance the cyan, magenta and yellow inks to maintain a neutral gray.

Gray Stabilization - The ability to maintain neutral gray during the reproduction process.

Halftone - Because printing presses and laser printers cannot produce gray, the reproduction of a continuous tone image, such as a photograph, is processed through a screen that converts the image into dots of various sizes to provide the illusion of gray.

Hard Proof - A color proof made on physical paper, often to be used as a 'contract proof'. Whereas a PDF or other proofs only viewable on a monitor are referred to as 'soft proofs'.

Heat Seal - The process of adhering one surface to another through the application of heat, pressure, and time. Typically a heat seal coating is involved. Blister cards are often heat sealed.

Hickey - A spot on a printed sheet, usually from dirt or bits of paper getting stuck on the printing plate or blanket.

Highlight - The lightest area of an image.

Histogram - A chart with highlight, mid-tone and shadow sliders that displays the frequency and distribution of grayscale values in an image. A histogram is often used for setting the highlight and shadow points in an image.

HSV - Hue, Saturation, and Value are used to describe the color of a pixel. Hue is the basic color determined by its frequency or wavelength of light. Saturation is controlled by the amount of white color added to the basic color. Value is the grayscale value or amount of black added to a pixel.

Image Resolution - The number of pixels per unit area in an image. Should be expressed as ppi (pixels per inch) and not dpi (dots per inch) which refers to output resolution.

Ink Balance - The interaction of the properties of the printing inks to produce a neutral gray.

Inkjet - A method of printing that uses miniscule jets to squirt droplets of ink onto a substrate.

Intaglio - Method of printing in which the image is etched below the printing surface. Gravure is a common example.

JDF - Job Definition Format. A term for the automation of information via XML standards of certain production data in a printing environment.

Kraft - Paperboard made from virgin fibers; natural kraft is light brown and exhibits very good stiffness.

Layer - A discrete portion of an image physically isolated from other portions of an image. Layers can be easily moved and manipulated separately from other layers.

Lenticular Printing - The process of printing flat images on special plastic so that the finished piece can display motion and depth. This specialized process is achieved via customized software that weaves together images that are then separated and printed on lensed plastic.

Linearization - Adjusting a scanner so that it accurately reproduces the grayscale values it captures.

Litho Laminated - Usually a single face corrugated board laminated with a preprinted top sheet to form a complete double-face structure. Also, micro-flutes, like E or F-flute board laminated with a lightweight label stock to form a printed package.

Make-Ready - Preparations in the process of setting up a manufacturing run.

Mask - A portion of an image isolated through selection that can be protected from image alterations. Similar to an unsaved channel.

Midtone - The tonal values that fall midway between highlights and shadows.

Neutral Gray - Any level of gray with no apparent color bias or hue.

Neutralization - Adjusting a scanner and/or an image so that neutral portions of an image will be captured as neutral.

Offset Printing - The printing process of transferring an image via a metal plate to a rubber blanket, and then to the sheet. Usually referred to as 'offset lithography'.

Output Resolution - The dots per inch (dpi) of the output device.

Overprint - To print something over a previously printed sheet.

Pallet - A materials handling item. Usually made of wood or plastic, pallets are used to stack other items on to allow for ease of movement throughout a plant.

PDF - Portable Document Format. A platform, OS, and application independent document format that allows for the viewing and printing of PostScript based documents without requiring the use of their native applications.

Pixel - Basic building block of a bitmap image.

Pixel Depth - The number of bits per pixel in an image. The pixel depth controls the number of shades of gray an image contains.

PMS - Pantone Matching System. A proprietary method of accurately describing colors across different media using preprinted swatches.

Point - Can be two things. 1) A term used to describe the thickness of paperboard. One point equals one thousandth of an inch. 2) A unit of measurement used to specify type sizes.

PostScript - A computer language developed by Adobe Systems. PostScript allows a programmer to create complex pages using a series of commands. Text and graphics can be controlled with mathematical precision.

Preflight - The testing and preparation of a digital file before it is sent to print. Pre-flighting chores can be streamlined considerably by the use of a preflight utility.

Quartertone - Dot percentages that are near 25% printing dot size.

Raster Image Processor, or RIP - A device or program that translates the instructions for a page in a page description or graphics output language to the actual pattern of dots (bit map) supplied to a printing or display system.

Registration - The positioning of one process onto another. Registration can affect how the printed sheet looks if the colors do not line up correctly. Registration can affect the die cutting, if the die does not line up correctly to the print.

Resolution - The sharpness of an image, sometimes quantified as dots per inch, or DPI.

RGB - Red, Green, Blue; a method of displaying color video by transmitting the three primary colors as three separate signals. Also, RGB refers to a method of specifying color by its component proportions of red, green, and blue.

SBS - Solid Bleached Sulfate. A particular type of board well suited for printing. Made from virgin fiber, the sheet is white throughout and exhibits very good strength and has an excellent printing surface. Very high quality.

Score - A crease made in paper to facilitate the folding of the paper along that line without cracking or breaking.

Scanner - Electronic device used to digitize images.

Screen Angles - The angles at which halftone screens are overlayed with each other. The most common angles are black 45, magenta 75, cyan 105, and yellow 90.

Setup Box - A stiff paperboard box, usually laminated with a label, and delivered 'setup' and ready to use. These are rigid boxes and do not ship well, as they take up a lot of space in shipping containers because they do not knock down flat like folding cartons.

Shadow - The darkest areas of an image.

Soft Proof - A proof that is viewed on a monitor, as opposed to a 'hard proof'.

Spot Coating - The process of coating a particular area of a sheet, as opposed to 'flood coating'.

Stiffness - The resistance of board to deflection from an external source, usually measured in taber units. Grain direction can affect a cartons stiffness as well as material chosen.

Tear Strip - A device incorporated into a package to help in opening the package or to provide a security function for the package by deforming the package when opened.

TIFF - Tagged Image File Format. A file format for desktop computers used as an intermediary file format for both color and black and white images. TIFF is used to transfer documents between applications and computer platforms.

Tone - A color characteristic, describing its shade or lightness quality.

Transparency - The fourth characteristic, in addition to HSV, used to define a pixel. The transparency of a pixel determines the amount of background that shows through that pixel.

Unsharp Mask - A software tool used to enhance the sharpness or focus of an image by selectively increasing the contrast between adjacent pixels along edges in an image.

UV Coating - Ultraviolet Coating. Cured with ultraviolet radiation, these coatings offer excellent gloss, rub, and chemical protection and come in many different gloss levels and tactile ranges, such as raised or sandpaper feel.

UV Inks - These are inks that are cured with uv energy, instead of drying with heat energy like conventional inks. Advantages are no drying times as they are cured instantly and provide a very hard printed surface for good rub protection and the ability to be processed on many different types of substrates like foils, plastics, etc.

Variable Data - Any specific data that is not part of a static page and changes form to form or page to page.

Varnish - A protective liquid applied to a press sheet via a press, varnishes offer many different looks such as tinted, dull, gloss. Varnishes do tend to yellow over time.

Vector/Outline - A type of file, typically line art and logos, that is created out of lines rather than dots. These files are very easily scalable. Vector images added to Photoshop images are rasterized or converted into pixels.

Waterbase Coating - Same as aqueous coating.

Wet Strength Board - Usually kraft type material, specially treated to resist moisture. Often used in food packaging for freeze/refreeze cycles and beverage carriers.

Wet Trap - Printing an image, whether ink or varnish, over wet inks.