Papermaking (In a Nutshell) = Wood + Water + Energy

Chopped logs are taken to the paper manufacturer where they are rinsed and then soaked to separate the fibres (pulped). This watery pulp is then spread on wires to drain the water so the fibres can start bonding together. This is then pushed through heated rollers over and over again to turn it from pulp into huge sheets of paper. Then these beautiful sheets go through various processes to turn them into the required finished product for their end use (like brochures ,books, bags, stationery and newspaper)

International Standard Paper Sizes

Acrobat PDF Viewer

A free download from Adobe to view, print and collaborate on PDF files
Go to:www.adobe.com/products/reader

Artwork

The production of your design, print ready artwork is produced by qualified and skilled graphic designers who will charge an agreed fee or an hourly rate.

Bleed

Printing that extends to the edge of a sheet or page after trimming. (ie: no white borders)

Binding

Collating such as saddle stitching, burst, perfect, wire or coil binding, folding and trimming.

CMYK (4cp or 4 colour process)

CMYK stands for cyan, magenta, yellow, and key, or black. These are the four colours of ink used in the traditional printing method. The three colours, plus black, roughly correspond to the primary colours, from which can be mixed colours across the colour spectrum. For special colours see PMS below.

Embossing

To press an image into the paper so it is raised when seen from the other side.

EPS file

Encapsulated post script, a recognised file format used to transport post script from one program to another. Usually you will need to have illustration software to open an eps file.

Foiling

This is a method of printing that releases foil from it's backing when applied with a heated die.

Formecutting

Bending a knife's edge to a desired shape to make a form. Just like a cookie cutter. This is done by a specialist.

FTP Site

A website address (supplied with login details) to quickly and easily transfer files that are too big to email.

Gatefold

Folding your brochure so that both outer sides fold towards the middle. It's done in the bindery.

Gloss stock

Paper coated with a fine clay to make it glossy and easier to write on. Printing on gloss stock needs longer to dry. Also known as coated paper. Important note: PMS colours specify if they are for coated or uncoated papers to ensure the correct colour is reproduced in printing.

GSM (grammage)

Paper weight (grams per square metre) Letterhead is around 100gsm, business cards around 320gsm.

Landscape

Width x height (portrait is height x width)

Matte

Uncoated paper. Dries more quickly than gloss paper. Important note: PMS colours specify if they are for coated or uncoated papers to ensure the correct colour is reproduced in printing.

Overprint

To print an image over a previously printed sheet ie: a letterhead with the same logo but lots of different addresses or a generic catalogue then overprinted with different contact details.

PDF

Portable Document Format. A universal file format developed by Adobe that preserves all the fonts and formatting used to create it, that everyone can see. Download for free from www.adobe.com/products/reader

Photoshop

A recognised world wide graphic design program designed by Adobe and ideally used only by experienced, skilled graphic designers.

Printing Plate

The metal plate inserted into the printing machine that carrys the image to be transferred to the paper. One plate for one colour. ie: a 4 colour process print job requires a cyan plate, a magenta plate, a yellow plate and a black plate.

Portrait

Height x width (Landscape is width x height)

Printing methods

• Offset - printing system that transfers ink from a plate, to a blanket, to sheets of paper, instead of directly from plate to paper.
• Digital - printing directly from a computer to the printer (ie no plates but that means no special pms colours, it's all out of 4cp) Ideal for short run requirements. Limited to oversized A3 size.
• Screenprint - printing by using a squeegee to force ink through an assembly of mesh fabric and a stencil.
• Large Format - Digital printing onto practically any substrate (timber, vinyl, synthetics) at any size
• Web - High speed printing onto rolls of paper rather than sheets, used where very high quantities are required.

Process colour

One of the 4 process colours - Cyan, Magenta, Yellow or Black

Proof

Test sheet reproduced from your supplied artwork. Used as final client approval before printing.

PMS

Pantone Matching System - the world renowned standard colour matching system. Every colour has a number so regardless of how the artwork is set up or what the paper stock is the finished print colour is matching.

QuarkXpress

A computer application (managed by Quark) used primarily to produce any kind of layout, from flyers to complex page layouts required by magazines, newspapers, catalogs, and similar printed materials.

Resolution

The sharpness of an image relating to the dots per inch in that image. The more dots, the sharper the image. Also known as line screen.

Saddle stitch

To bind together by stapling. The pages of the brochure are put on a 'saddle' and stapled.

Satin

A dull finish on a coated paper (between a matte and gloss look)

Score

To crease by machine

Stock

The type of paper or material chosen for your print job

Trim

The size of the finished print job - your graphic designer will show trim marks in their design of the job and you will see these on your proof. Applied to make sure the finished size is correct.

UV Coating

Liquid applied to a print job which is bonded and cured with UV lighting. Provides a very high gloss finish similar to gloss lamination but can be applied on individual areas on the page - also known as spot varnish.

Varnish

A varnish applied over a print job to stock cracking, marking and to seal solid colours. A varnish requires its own plate in the printing machine. Can be gloss or matte. Also known as machine varnish.