Packaging and prepress activities often include a lot of jargon and industry-specific terms that stakeholders don't always understand.
This is because there's no alternative to a technical term or phrase most times. That's why we've included all the terminologies related to packaging and prepress in this guide.
Let's dive into the ultimate guide of packaging terms:
A
Accordion fold
Two or more parallel folds that open like an accordion.
Acetate
A transparent sheet placed over an artwork to indicate where a second color must be placed.
Aliasing
Jagged curves on a bitmap image’s edges. The converse where an image’s edges are smoothed out is called an anti-alias.
Align
The act of lining up type or graphic material using a horizontal or vertical reference.
Alley
The space between columns on a page.
Alpha channel
A grayscale image of a layer that represents the transparency (or opacity) of colors.
Alteration
Any change made by the customer after submitting the copy or artwork to the printer. This is also called customer’s alteration.
Aqueous coating
A water-based coating — gloss, satin, or matte — used to protect the printed surface.
Archive
A drive or storage containing all the files associated with the label.
Artwork
Any original design – type, photos, lettering, etc. — intended for printing. Also called as artwork packaging.
Refers to the method of creating, approving, producing, and storing artwork files on a centralized system, essential for efficient packaging management. This process ensures seamless coordination and collaboration among teams throughout the packaging project.
Assembly
Refers to the final assembly process of a product. During the process, the product undergoes several packaging services such as collating, filling, gluing, labeling, bagging, shrink wrapping, bag sealing, blister sealing, display, inspection, and bulk mail preparation.
B
Backup
A duplicate copy of the file made in case the original is lost.
Banding
A printing defect that causes parallel breaks (stair steps), bands, or streaks to appear in the dot pattern instead of a smooth color gradation.
Banner
A large headline printed across the whole width of the page.
Bar code
A graphic pattern of vertical bars and spaces that can be read using an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) instrument.
Base color
Background color on which other colors are printed.
Baseline
An imaginary line on which characters or graphics are aligned.
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Bevel
Softened edges which aren’t perpendicular to the container face for safety purposes. It’s commonly used to improve the appearance and tactile quality of containers, creating a sleek and polished look.
Bitmap
Also called raster images, these are a collection of bits and pixels. Bitmap graphics are only two colors in their most basic form: black and white.
Blanket
A fabric-reinforced rubber sheet used to transfer the impression from the printing plate to the paper.
Bleed
Image or text that extends off the edge of the label. t's the space until where the color is allowed to continue right up to the edge of the board.
Blind embossing
Embossed forms that don’t use ink or foil. It's a method of stamping (raising) a design element such as a logo, without the use of metallic leaf or ink. It involves placing the sheet of paper between two dies and applying pressure to create the effect.
Blister packaging
Securing a product between a preformed dome or bubble (usually transparent plastic) and a paperboard surface or carrier where attachment may be by stapling, heat-sealing, or gluing.
Blow molding
A fabrication method in which a warm plastic hollow tube is placed between two halves of a mold and forced into the shape of the mold by using air pressure.
Board grain direction
The orientation of fibers of a carton board found by bending it. The direction with the least resistance is the running grain direction.
Box blank
A flat cardboard piece cut and scored, ready to be joined with other pieces to make a box.
Box style
A category used as a descriptor regardless of box size or construction.
Branding
The process of creating a unique name and image for a product in the consumers' mind, mainly through packaging and a consistent visual language.
Brand guidelines
A style and composition guide which governs the look and feel of a brand.
Brand manual
The visual representation of what your brand conveys. It covers fonts, style of the logo, grammar, tone, and point of view. It clearly defines the rules to achieve consistent branding.
Bulk
In printing, this term refers to the thickness of the paper.
Bubble pack
Type of cushioning process that is made by trapping air between two layers of plastic to protect wrapped products.
C
Calibration
Adjusting a scanner, monitor, or output device to provide a more accurate display and reproduction of images.
Caliper
The thickness of a sheet of board, measured in microns.
Carton
Any box style that can be folded and shipped.
Cardboard carton
A carton board container used to package a variety of products.
Choke
To overlap adjacent colors to make up for small errors in printing press alignments. In a choke, a lighter color surrounds a darker color.
Clipping path
An outline made of vectors used to "clip" an image from its surroundings without changing the image itself. Images with clipping paths are saved as EPS files.
CMYK
Refers to a color model where the letters stand for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (K).
Color correction
Changing a scanned image's color settings to nearly resemble the original to fix issues with the original image or cover-up faults.
Composite
Color separation file containing all color information. It can be combined or divided into individual color plates for printing.
Color Management System
A system ensuring that colors remain consistent regardless of device or medium used to apply or display the colors.
Color mockup
A full-color rendering of a product’s packaging created for promotional purposes that enable the client to inspect and perfect the design before production.
Color separation
Refers to the process where an image is separated into component colors for multi-color print production.
Corrugated packaging
Packaging made from a combination of two sheets of paper called liners glued to a corrugated inner medium called fluting.
Creasing
A process where a die is used to create creases in a material so that it can fold with ease.
Crop marks
Lines used to show the printer where to trim the paper. Also called trim marks
Cut and crease
A process where a die is used to cut printed materials into desired shapes and creasing them to provide accurate fold lines.
Crop marks
Horizontal and vertical lines that indicate the edge of the printed piece.
Corrugated fiberboard
An industry term for cardboard boxes.
Curl
This refers to the distortion of a sheet due to differences in structure or coatings from one side to the other, or absorption of moisture on an offset press.
Combination die
A plate or die which applies foil and embossed at the same time.
Collapse
Contraction of the walls of a container (e.g., upon cooling) leading to permanent deformation.
Consumer persona
Also known as a buyer persona, this is a detailed semi-fictional representation of an ideal customer. The personas are based on market research and real data about existing customers, such as demographics, behavior patterns, motivations, and goals.
Color palette
The choice of colors used in designing the packaging range. Primary color palettes have 2-3 colors that represent the core of the brand. Secondary color palettes showcase complementary/supporting colors to the primary palette.
Copy
Typewritten pages, word-processing files, typeset galleys or pages, and sometimes source materials (text and graphics) used in a publication.
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D
DAM (Digital Asset Management)
DAM is a software tool that is used to store and manage all artwork and packaging designs in one place, making it easy to access them at any given time.
Deboss
An image pressed into a board so that it lies below the typical viewing surface.
Densitometer
A tool that measures the ink's density.
Die
A metal (often brass) stamp having a pattern, lettering, or design etched onto it that is used for embossing or stamping packages.
Digital asset
A digital asset is any content or file stored digitally, such as images, videos, documents, or artwork designs, that holds value for a brand.
Digital printer
An industrial scale-press with the ability to print in multiple colors simultaneously.
Digital proof
An image created without film to mimic the appearance and color of an image created using the printing machine.
Dingbat
Any of the various typographic ornaments, such as the bullet (•), that are used to emphasize or decorate text.
D-MAX
An indicator of how dark of a tone a display, printer, or ink can generate.
Dot gain
The expansion of a halftone dot's diameter during the pre-press and printing processes.
Downsampling
Reducing an image's digital size.
Dots Per Inch (DPI)
The industry-standard unit of resolution for phototypesetting machines, page printers, and graphics screens. Currently, the majority of page printers print at 300 dpi, graphics displays replicate 60 to 100 dpi, and typesetting systems print at 1,000 dpi or higher.
Direct print
This is a type of printing that penetrates the surface of the packaging, instead of a label or laminate that goes on top of the product.
Drip off matt/gloss
A printing finish that provides a spot-gloss finish and textured matt effect with high levels of detail. It uses standard inks and allows the application of gloss varnish via a plate followed by a matt varnish that creates a reticulation effect.
Drop test
A procedure used to test the safety of package contents during shipping.
Design direction
Combination of imagery, vectors, text, and colors in a mood board to suggest the visual style for a particular option. This stage follows the research stage and aids in brands visualizing.
Duo-tone printing
Printing with two distinct ink colors.
E
eCommerce packaging
Transit packaging designed to keep products safe when traveling from the online retailer to the purchaser.
Egg-box foam
A kind of packaging foam that has one flat side and one grooved side.
Embossing
Raising a design or lettering that has been printed on a card or sturdy paper using heat, pressure, and an uninked die.
Elements of design
This refers to the color, shape, size, space, line, value, and texture of a design.
Encapsulated Postscript (EPS)
Vector-based graphics or image file format required for high-quality printing.
EPS
This is a short form of the term encapsulated postscript. It's a common file format for exporting Illustrator files. It also contains a bitmap preview of the image as well as instructions written in the postscript language that describes how the object is to be printed.
Expanded (font)
A font in which the set widths of the characters are wider than the standard typeface.
F
Fill point
The level to which a container up to which it's usually filled or at which it has its nominal capacity.
Flute corrugation
The wave-like shapes that comprise the overall construction of corrugated boards.
Foil
Metallic material used for printing (blocking) the wording on the package.
Foil Stamp
To press a heated die onto a sheet of foil to release it from its backing and
adhere it to a substrate such as the packaging.
Fold
Bending and creasing a sheet of paper to form a printed product.
Font
A full set of characters in a specific typeface, at a specific point size, and in a specific style. A font also includes the design in various weights, such as bold or italic, and is more comprehensive and complicated to design than a typeface.
Font family
Collection of alphabets with varying weights or classes but similar styles.
Font weight
The font-weight refers to how thick or thin (bold or light) a font looks.
Format adaptation
Adaptation of a design from one format (for example, labels) to another (for example, mono cartons) is considered a format adaptation which includes the rearrangement of design elements and change of scale and ratios.
Four color process
Full-color printing that uses four constituent colors: Cyan, Yellow, Magenta, and Black.
Frosting
A crystalline finish or pattern on a glass surface.
Fulfillment center
A facility where products are picked, packed, and shipped after customer purchase.
G
Gamut
The total spectrum of colors that a specific color model, such as RGB, CMYK, or Lab, is capable of producing.
Ghosting
A printing error in which an image appears lighter on subsequent prints as a result of small blanket depressions left over from earlier picture sections. This can happen on an offset press or a letterpress rotary machine.
Gilding
Using a liquid adhesive and burnishing tools to adhere gold leaf to the packaging.
Glossy surface
A paper covering that is significantly more reflective than dull or matte paper. Also known as enamel paper and art paper.
Glossy prints
Prints created on high gloss photographic paper.
Glow
The opposite of shadow, it creates a surrounding highlight of an image. High radiance creates a soft glow while low radiance creates a hard, bright glow, such as a neon glow.
Gothic
The category of types without serifs and with uniformly thick strokes.
Gradient
A gradual transition of colors used to add depth, color the object, or render a shiny/ metallic look to a design element. A gradient is mostly linear (straight) or radial (fades from the center outwards). Web images that use gradient fills should be saved in jpeg format.
Grayscale
Application of black ink for print that simulates a range of tones where a grayscale graphic image appears to be black, white, and shades of gray, but it only uses a single color ink.
Grease resistant packaging
Packaging that has a special coating or a finish applied to it to repel grease, oil, and wax.
GSM
The term stands for Grams Per Square Meter that is the standard measure of board weight.
Gutter
The inside margins or gap between items is the gutter space allowance used to accommodate the unusable print area.
H
Hairline register
In printing, the term refers to the range that lies within plus or minus 1/2 row of dots.
Halftone
A pattern of dots is used to imitate different levels of color or shades of grey on a printing press. Although ellipses are the most common dot shape, they can also be square or spherical.
High-res, high-rez
Image with high resolution.
Hickey printing
Printing defects such as spots/ imperfections in printed items due to particles of ink or board fiber getting “trapped” onto the printing plate or blanket.
Histogram
Graph that shows the relative distribution of pixels of different densities.
Hot stamp
A printing method in which metalized or pigmented foils are applied to a sheet with a heated metal die or plate.
Hinge
Refers to the joint used to attach a lid to a base.
Heat-seal label
A label made of material coated on one side with a heat-seal coating, usually a thermoplastic resin.
I
Imposition
The positioning of printed pages such that, once the sheet has been printed on both sides, folded, and cut, the pages will appear in the right order.
Insert
Any shape of chipboard, vac-form, or foam placed or attached into a box to hold the product.
Inkjet printing
Non-impact printing where tiny drops of ink are formed into letters, numbers, or other configurations and sprayed onto the surface of the material to be printed.
Interpolation
The method that image editing software uses to fill in blank pixels when an image is enlarged or otherwise altered.
Adobe Illustrator
A vector program often used by designers to create logos and work on typography developed by Adobe Inc.
J
Job Definition Format (JDF)
An industry standard created to make it easier for applications and systems in the graphic arts sector to exchange information with one another. It complements PDF, the Portable Document Format.
While a PDF file describes the content of pages, a JDF describes what to do with those pages or the job that contains them.
Joint Photographics Expert Group (JPEG)
A type of image format saved using the method of lossy compression.
JPEG
The term stands for Joint Photographic Electronic Group. It is a common file format for full-color and black-and-white graphic images. JPEG images allow for more colors than GIF images and are usually smaller in size. Unlike GIF and PNG, JPEGs don't support transparent backgrounds.
Justify
A term for aligning text to both its left and right margins. This is accomplished by altering the word and character spacing so that each line of text ends at the same point.
K
Kanban
A factory scheduling method where an inventory management system controls the supply chain.
Kerning
Modifying the distance between two letters or characters in a text sentence.
Kiss cut
Refers to the process of laser-cutting the sticker while preserving the backing material.
Knock out
To completely remove all printing dots from a certain region, or to draw a border around an image and remove all surrounding dots.
Keyline
In artwork, an outline drawing of finished art to indicate the exact shape, position, and size for elements such as halftones, line sketches, cut and fold lines, and other design elements.
Kraft board
Refers to Coated Natural Kraft (CNK) that provides a combination of product protection and brand impression. Engineered from natural and recycled fibers, the kraft board offers high levels of elasticity and tear resistance.
L
Label
An informative document attached to the outer container. It includes information like product name, ingredients, manufacturers, directions for use, and more. Also known as packaging label.
Label panel
The area of the container where labels are attached. An invoice is frequently folded and fastened to this portion in protective packaging.
Labels, types of
Self-sticking, bar code, UPC, IBM, mylar, cloth, color, aluminum, wrap-around, spot, cling, sleeve, pressure sensitive, heat transfer, DOT, in-mold, expanded content, holographic, rotating, inverted vertical hanging, medical, shipping, international wordless, paper, booklet, production, inventory, and shrink labels. They can be customized with printing and decorating options.
Laminate
A film used to improve packaging quality.
Landscape (orientation)
A page or layout that is wider than its height.
Laser etching
A method of engraving in which a design, pattern, or text is engraved using lasers into a medium, such as foam.
Layout
The arrangement of words, images, and other elements to form a finished piece.
Leading
The line space, or white space, between lines of copy.
Length
Dimensions of a label across the web direction.
Line art
Black-and-white artwork with no gray areas. Pen-and-ink drawings, most graphic images produced with desktop publishing graphics programs, and positive halftones are treated as line art.
Lid or cover
The top, or covering a portion of a set-up or rigid box.
Line screen
The distance between the rows of dots in a printed halftone usually expressed in lines per inch. The higher the lines per inch, the greater the resolution.
Live area
The page area where you can safely place body copy or other vital elements without risking them being trimmed off.
Low-res, lo-rez
Low-resolution image.
Linerless label
Made without any liner, this is a single piece of material that is both a label and a liner. It is applied similarly to the standard self-adhesive labels. They are commonly used on fresh meat & poultry products as a replacement for sleeves.
Liners (also known as backing paper or carrier)
The material in which the label will be adhered to when delivered to the customer, ready for automatic application.
Lead time
The amount of time necessary for certain stages within a supply chain to be fulfilled, such as packaging production or product delivery.
Logo
A symbol, type, or design adopted by an organization to identify itself. Logos can be product-centric such as the Baskin-Robbins logo representing their 31 flavors, or experience-centric such as the Amazon logo that ensures customer satisfaction to buy everything from A to Z.
Logotype
A typography/font based logo brands adopt to represent its story and vision.
M
Machine glazed (MG)
A sheet of paper with a glossy texture on just one side.
Manilla
A sturdy brown paper that is used to make wrapping paper and stationery.
Margin
A blank area around the edge of page
Mark up
Refers to annotations or feedback added to artwork or design files during the review process, highlighting changes or revisions.
Mask
Covering a portion of an image on a printing plate or film to block light from reaching it.
Masking material
Any opaque paper or plastic used to mask off specific parts of a printing plate or a film.
Matte finish
A photographic or coated printing paper with a flat, dull finish.
Metallic ink
Any printing ink that results in a color finish that resembles metal, most frequently gold, silver, or bronze.
Midtone dot
The tones produced by dots in a photo or other image with coverage ranging from 30 to 70%.
Matt emulsion
A water-based finish that creates a flat finish with minimal sheen.
Matte finish
A dull paper finish without gloss or luster.
Metalized Polyester Board (Metpol Board)
Refers to a film that is laminated into a folding boxboard. The board can be printed and formed to create premium high-end cartons.
Master packs
A type of packaging designed to ship retail products to stores in shelf-ready packaging, typically made of corrugated fiberboard.
Master carton
A carton used to pack and ship smaller cartons.
Masstige
Mass-produced and relatively inexpensive goods marketed as luxurious or prestigious.
Master design
Main design composition with all visual elements as per the packaging design checklist adapted for various sizes or formats. A master design usually includes front of pack and back of pack designs both.
Mood board
An arrangement of images, materials, and text intended to evoke or project a particular style or concept.
Material palette
Similar to the concept of a color palette, a material palette is a collection of various materials used in a packaging output.
N
Nesting
Placing trays or covers of the same size, generally for shipping, or boxes of varying sizes, one within another.
Nesting containers
These containers are made with slanted side walls so that they can be stacked or nested inside one another when empty to save space.
Neck
A tray or collar inserted in a base to form a shoulder box, attached by adhesive, and extending above the base into the lid when the box is closed.
Negative space
In design, it is the space where there are no elements placed, and in artwork, it is the background.
Nomenclature
The devising or choosing of names for a brand/ product representing brand vision.
Nomar
A glueable, water-based coating that is abrasion-resistant.
O
Offset lithography
A printing process where a to-be-printed inked image is transferred (offset) first to a rubber layer before coming into contact with the board that takes up the inked areas.
Online proofing
Online proofing is the digital process of reviewing, annotating, and approving packaging or design files in real-time before final production. It ensures accuracy and compliance by allowing teams to catch errors, suggest revisions, and collaborate efficiently.
Open Press Interface (OPI)
A system that stores the high-quality version of a picture on the same server while automatically creating a reduced resolution version of the image for use in page layout. Prior to plating, the software automatically inserts the high-res version into the finished product.
Optical resolution
The highest resolution at which an image may be scanned without the use of digital guesswork or interpolation.
Organoleptic assessment
The test involves the assessment of flavor, odor, and appearance of a material.
Origination
All the graphical or text elements that are needed to put together and print the job. E.g, artwork, photography, and typesetting.
Out of gamut
Colors that can't be accurately reproduced in a color model.
Outline
Tracing of the outer edge of text or a graphic image. If the outline is feathered, then the effect is generally referred to as a glow.
Outline font
The outline font, often known as a printer font, is the type of font file that enables smooth printing of a font's curves and diagonals at any size.
P
Page layout
The complete process of putting text, graphics, and other components together to make a final page. Programs used frequently for page layout include QuarkXPress and InDesign.
Pantone Matching System (PMS)
A widely used system for describing ink colors with a numerical value that is understood by software, printers, other designers, ink houses, and customers.
Pantone reference
An international system that designates colors for printing reference.
Pearlescent finish
A type of finish that creates a shimmering effect. It's achieved by dispersing iridescent material into UV or water-based varnishes often used for luxury, high-end products.
Perforation
Running a series of cuts (often small and close together) into the board to allow the two sides to be separated.
Pica
Typographic measurement unit corresponding to ⅙.”
Pixel
The smallest component of a raster graphic. It’s a derivative of "Picture Element.”
Image source: Wikipedia
Plate setter
An image setter that prints directly onto printing plates rather than film.
Point
A measurement unit for type sizes. For instance, a pica has 12 points, while an inch has 72 points.
Portable Document Format (PDF)
Portable document format is a file type often used to send print materials to a print shop. It is also useful for the web when there are multi-paged documents, reports, and forms.
PostScript
Communication standard between high-end page layout programs and a desktop printer.
PostScript font
Standard font format for outline (printer) typefaces that can be used on multiple platforms.
Polyethylene (PET)
Used for high-speed applications and to provide a ‘no label' effect on Filmic labels
Printing plate
An anodized aluminum plate which has a light-sensitive coating applied. Once exposed (to the image) and developed, the image area is sensitized to receive ink. It's essential to realize that each color in a printing job requires a separate plate.
Proof
A printed sample of work to be checked for errors in the text, positioning, or quality of color reproduction.
POP display
Point of Purchase displays are used for product promotion.
PVC
Poly Vinyl Chloride is a clear plastic used for making lids.
Partitions or dividers
Slotted or folded pieces of boxboard fitted together to form compartments placed in a base without being attached or glued to the base to isolate sections.
Pad printing
Direct transfer of ink utilizing a pad where the operation is similar to that of a rubber stamp. It is used on small areas and to decorate points on odd-shaped containers.
Pouches
Films are joined together for stock and custom pouches to create a flexible package for liquids, including chemicals, food products, and beverages.
Pre-fill
Containers filled in advance before applying labels to them.
Packaging architecture
A formula of various ratios of the design elements which constitute the signature element for the package that will relate with users.
Packaging composition
The layout of all the design elements in a particular style and ratio, represented with line diagrams and shapes for initial stages of exploration.
Primary packaging
Primary packaging is the packaging in direct contact with the product itself. The main purpose of primary packaging is to protect and preserve, contain, and inform the consumer.
Process colors
The ink shades frequently used in color offset printing — CMYK, or Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black.
Adobe Photoshop
A design program used to create/edit raster (bitmap) images developed by Adobe Inc.
PNG
Portable network graphics format used for lossless compression and displaying images on the web. The advantage of .png is that it supports images with millions of colors and produces a transparent background without jagged edges.
Principles of design
The principles of design are unity, balance, contrast, economy, direction, emphasis, proportion, and rhythm.
PSD
Adobe Photoshop document/file extension.
Q
Quick printing
Printing that uses small sheetfed presses, called duplicators, and pre-cut sizes of bond or offset paper.
Unlike the metal printing plates used in commercial printing, which need to be turned into film first, these paper, plastic, or rubber printing plates are made straight from camera-ready copies.
Quad-tone
Similar to a duo-tone, but it has four ink colors instead of two.
R
Raster graphic
A computer image made up of several tiny pixels.
Reader's spreads
Pages ordered in the correct sequence for reading. Projects may be designed in reader's spreads, but before printing, the imposition software changes the page to printer's spreads. The printed document is then bound together and trimmed back into the reader's spreads.
Re-sample
Digitally resizing an image by increasing or decreasing the image resolution.
Resolution
Refers to the degree of detail of an image. A raster graphic's level of detail is measured in ppi, or pixels per inch, but is frequently referred to as dpi. The level of detail increases with resolution.
RGB
The RGB color model is an additive color model in which red, green, and blue light are added together in various ways to reproduce a broad array of colors.
Rich black
Black ink blended with different ink colors. Rich black formulations may contain four ink colors, such as 20% cyan, 20% magenta, 20% yellow, and 100% black, or two colors, such as 40% cyan and 100% black.
Raster image processing (RIP)
An instrument made to decipher PostScript files and produce a print-ready image.
Rosette
A desired little circle of dots created when two or more process color screens are overprinted at the proper angle, screen ruling, and dot shape.
Reversed-out
White text appearing on a black or color background that is either a solid or a tint.
Render
In design, rendering is a process of generating an image through a software program. That image is called as a render.
Royalty-free photos or images
Photos, graphic images, or other intellectual property that are sold for a single standard fee and may be used repeatedly by the purchaser.
S
Sans-Serif
Any font that lacks a serif. Also known as Gothic style.
Satin finish
A different name for coated paper with a matte or dull texture.
Scale
the percentage by which images and artwork are resized or enlarged to the ideal size for printing. For instance, a photo that is 8" × 10" should be scaled down to 4" x 5" to achieve a 50 percent scale down.
Scatter proof
The random placement of images on a proof to check for density and color balance before going to press.
Screen angles
The positions of the halftone screens in relation to one another to prevent moiré patterns. The most typical angles are cyan 105°, yellow 90°, magenta 75°, and black 45°.
Separation
The process of turning an image to CMYK for printing plates.
Serif
Typefaces that contain flared components at the ends of each segment of each letter are classified as serif.
Spot color
A particular color used in printing, in addition to the CMYK process colors. It's typically denoted by a Pantone number.
Spread
Refers to a reader's spread or a printer's spread.
Stochastic printing
A unique kind of printing that creates a continuous tone image using a random pattern of incredibly tiny dots scattered at various densities.
Standard Web Offset Proofing (SWOP)
A specific color proofing requirement.
Sleeves
A printed or plain sleeve that will slide over products to provide brand and product information.
SKU
Stock Keeping Unit generally refers to different packaging versions of related products.
Small run
A limited order of packaging, the minimum amount of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer.
Soft touch finish
A water-based product that achieves a matte finish that is soft to touch.
Special/spot color
In offset printing, a spot color is a special premixed ink that requires its printing plate on a printing press. E.g, a corporate logo contains a special blue and included in a Pantone brochure with photographs and text. This is termed as a five-color job. (CMYK (pictures + text) + special blue = 5 colors)
Stripper unit
As part of the cut and crease process, a stripper unit helps remove the waste board left after the die has punched the design through the board sheet.
Substrates
In printing, the substrate is the base material on which the designs will be printed on.
Shrink-wrapped
Products are wrapped in thin clear plastic. Then heat is applied, shrinking the plastic tightly over whatever it is covering.
Scoring
Making an impression or crease in a box to facilitate bending, folding, or tearing.
Slide box
A type of box with a shell-formed lid into which the base is inserted at the other side or end.
Seamless
Made in one piece without a joint.
Secondary packaging
A type of packaging that serves branding and logistical purposes along with protecting and collating individual units during storage. Commonly used by beverage, food, and cosmetic sectors for displaying primary packs on shelves.
Size adaptation
Adaptation of design from one size (For example Label for 200ml) to another (For example, a label for 500ml) is considered to be a size adaptation which includes a rearrangement of design elements and change of scale and ratios.
T
Transparency
A photographic positive in full color that has been created on transparent film.
Trapping
When preparing digital artwork, it is the process of overlapping adjacent colors to eliminate the white lines that could appear between them during the print process.
Trim
A cut that is made to the size specified by crop, register, or trim markings.
TrueType
A standard for outline fonts that was first created by Apple Computer in the late 1980s to compete with Adobe's Type 1 Font used in PostScript.
Typeface
A type family or font design name for its characters, such as Times New Roman.
Typography
The technique of arranging letters and text for printing upon a package. The study of the design of typefaces and how the type is laid out on a page to achieve the desired visual effect and convey the meaning of the reading matter is a part of typography.
Tint
A mixture of a color with white that reduces darkness.
Thumbcuts/thumbholes
A semi-circular or other shaped cut made in the sides or ends to facilitate the removal of the lid from the base or the contents from the base.
Tooling
Physical equipment used to create custom packaging elements such as a die or mold.
Tag line
A short, memorable phrase used with the brand logo and for marketing purposes.
Target audience
A target audience is a group of people identified as likely customers of a brand.
Tertiary packaging
Packaging that protects the product and the secondary and primary packaging. For example, when one orders an item from an online shopping site, the sealed cardboard box is the tertiary packaging.
Telescope box
A box in which the sides and ends of the lid are cut the same depth as the sides and ends of the base. Also, the lid fits over the base. Thumbcuts are recommended to avoid a loose fit.
Tamper resistant seal
A seal that cannot be opened without partially destroying the cap or otherwise showing evidence of tampering.
Tolerance
A specified allowance for deviations in weighing and measuring.
U
Ultra bold
Type characters heavier than bold characters. Also known as black type.
Uncoated paper
Any paper that hasn't been manufactured with a fine clay finish on it. Also known as offset paper.
Unit cost
The printing job's total cost, which includes both variable and fixed costs.
UV gloss
A gloss service treatment that is cured using ultraviolet radiation. This finish is a high-level gloss that dries instantly under UV lamps and is suitable for use on all board types.
UV
A high gloss liquid coating that is applied offline as a screened process. Although UV coating appears quite glossy, it is not as durable as film lamination.
UPC
Universal Product Code is a code printed on containers and other forms of packaging that provides information about the product for purposes of inventory control and retail pricing.
USP
Unique Selling Point is a feature or characteristic of a product, service that distinguishes it from others of a similar nature and makes it more appealing.
V
Varnish
A coating that applied for protection to a printed sheet. Varnish is available in different finishes and tints. It's applied to specific areas to create subtle effects or to coat the entire sheet.
Visual
A preliminary layout, indicating the general design and the position of the various elements.
Virgin board
A brown board that has not been bleached white or dyed another color.
Vignette
Image edge that has been altered to fade into the background subtly.
Variant adaptation
Designs adapted according to flavor, fragrance, or taste variants. It involves rearrangement of design elements and change of scale and ratios in addition to the creation of fragrance/taste/flavor related visual elements in a similar style as that of the master.
Vector graphic
A graphic image drawn in shapes and lines called paths. Images created in illustrator and freehand (graphic design software) are vector graphics. They are scalable and usually exported as bitmap images.
W
Web
An unbroken sheet of paper or paperboard.
Web press
A high-speed printing press that prints on a continuous roll of paper and is often used for high-volume runs.
Web direction
Direction of the web on the machine (always running from left to right)
Weight
The thickness or boldness of the letters and characters.
White space
A section of a printed object that is blank of graphics or text. (Also known as negative space.)
White lined chipboard
A grade of paperboard made from layers of waste paper and recycled fibers, it is composed of recycled grey matter with white coating layers over the top.
Width
Dimension of a label across the web direction.
The takeaway
When involved in packaging projects, don't get stuck on technical packaging terms, just bookmark this page. So, the next time you are unsure about a packaging term, you can use them as your cheat sheet.
