Today, let’s take a look at some commonly used terms in packaging and printing.
1. DPI DPI stands for "dots per inch" and measures printer resolution. The higher the DPI, the better the print quality. Professional results usually require at least 300 DPI, while web images generally need 72 DPI.
2. CMYK CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black. In print design, colors are defined by the percentages of these four colors. For example, black in CMYK is represented as 0-0-0-100. In contrast, display devices (such as computer monitors) typically use RGB to define colors.
3. Offset/Lithographic Printing Most printing companies use offset printing to produce large volumes of high-quality documents. Although the equipment and setup costs are relatively high, the printing process itself is cost-effective. This printing method involves applying ink to a metal plate with an etched image, transferring it to an intermediate surface such as a rubber blanket, and then onto paper by pressing the paper onto the intermediate surface. The equipment is a multi-station (up to eight) press that can print and/or coat up to six colors on paper or fast-moving rolls.
4. Digital Printing Digital printing has a higher cost and lower quality compared to offset printing, but it is suitable for small runs and saves time. Digital printing eliminates many mechanical steps involved in traditional printing processes, including film production, color proofs, manually assembling pieces, and creating plates.
5. Screen Printing Screen printing produces clean, sharp images and text. In most cases, the setup cost is very affordable, making it an excellent choice for small-batch printing. This method can print on a variety of materials, including fabrics, corrugated packaging, and plastics. Businesses using pre-made or stock packaging can benefit from this printing method. Its versatility makes it ideal for branding and marketing materials like T-shirts and mugs.
6. Embossing Embossing is a graphic design technique used to create raised patterns on paper without ink. In this technique, characters or logos are raised from the paper, and the embossing can be felt when printed.
7. Spot Varnish Spot varnishing highlights specific parts of a printed piece. In spot varnishing, only a portion of the page is coated with varnish. Choosing gloss or matte can enhance or emphasize photos or text or serve as a subtle accent. Spot varnishing requires special plates. It can be considered an extra color, similar to any varnish. Controlling spot varnishing is almost as easy as controlling spot colors; it can be solid or patterned. Using tones can create special effects with the varnish.
8. Hologram A hologram is a 3D image created with lasers on a special glass plate, which is then used to emboss the image onto metal foil. Holograms are widely used in packaging because they are seen as symbols of high quality and look visually stunning. They have a shiny, color-changing layer that can be customized with logos to make your brand stand out. Designers use holograms to enhance brand images, attract attention, and refresh old packaging. They are commonly used in printing, gift packaging, laminating, and marketing stickers.
9. Golden Foil Stamping Foil stamping is a printing technique that uses heat to transfer metallic foil or ink onto a surface. This method can be used on various materials like plastic, rubber, leather, fabric, and paper. It's a clean process since it doesn't involve messy inks. The technique involves placing metal dies into a press, adding foil, and then stamping the design. Common materials for the dies include magnesium, brass, and steel. The depth of the mark, the number of marks, and other details can be adjusted based on your needs and budget.
10. UV Coating UV coating is often used in packaging to give it a premium look. It comes in high-gloss and matte finishes. Spot UV coating applies a shiny or matte coating to specific areas of a product to highlight design features. For small logos, spot UV coating can create a striking effect. It also enhances the look and feel of clothing tags. This method saves time, improves quality, and is better for the environment.
11. 4-Color Process Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (CMYK) are the four ink colors used in full-color printing. This method is also called four-color printing. Black is made from mixing cyan, magenta, and yellow inks, but this mix often produces a muddy dark color. So, black is added as a separate ink to improve contrast and detail in prints.
12. PANTONE Color System (or PMS) The Pantone Color System is used to specify and mix colors. It provides designers with a palette of over 700 colors and offers printers formulas for producing these colors. This is a method for specifying precise universal colors, avoiding the variability present in four-color process printing. 13. Bleed or Bleeding Edge When a page or cover design extends to and beyond the edge of the paper, it is referred to as "bleed." In print design, patterns or color blocks must extend beyond the edge of the page. The pattern or color block is printed on a larger sheet of paper and then trimmed to the desired size.
14. Crop Marks Crop marks, also known as trim marks, are lines that appear at the corners of a publication page to indicate where the printer should cut the paper. Commercial printers use them for bleed, extending the image and color of the page to the edge of the paper. Most printers cannot print to the edge of the paper, so they print on a larger sheet and then trim it to the correct size, using crop marks to define the trim location.
15. Die Line The "die line," also known as the "cut line," is a template used in packaging and printing to ensure the final layout of the packaging is correct. This flat version of the template marks all folds and cuts of the packaging on a single chart. Die lines are used to create various types of packaging, including pocket folders, envelopes, boxes, and more, designed by graphic designers or die-cutters.
These are some of the commonly used terms in packaging and printing. Do you have any additions? Let me know in the comments.
