Glossary

Glossary

Print Techniques

• Offset Printing: A traditional printing method where ink is transferred from a metal plate to a rubber blanket and then to the printing surface (paper or cover material). It’s known for producing high-quality prints with sharp details and vibrant colors.
• CMYK: A color model used in color printing, standing for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (black). These four colors are combined in varying proportions to create a wide range of colors in print.
• Pantone Matching System (PMS): A standardized color matching system used by printers to ensure colors are consistent across different print jobs. Each color is assigned a specific code and mixed using predefined ink formulas.
• Spot Color: A specific color created using a single ink (rather than a combination of CMYK inks) to achieve precise color matching, often used for logos or branding elements.
• Single Color Printing: Printing using only one ink color, typically black or another single color chosen by the client. It’s cost-effective for simpler designs or when a specific color is desired.
• Two-Color Printing: Printing using two ink colors, often used for designs requiring a limited color palette or to enhance visual impact while remaining economical.
• Full-Color Printing: Printing using the CMYK color model to reproduce a wide spectrum of colors. Also referred to as four-color process printing, it’s suitable for complex designs and photographs.
• Digital Printing: A printing method where digital files are directly printed onto the paper or cover material. It’s suitable for short print runs and variable data printing.
• Letterpress: A traditional printing method where ink is applied to a raised surface (often metal type or polymer plates) and pressed into the paper. It creates a tactile impression and is known for its vintage aesthetic.
• Thermography: A printing process that produces raised printing similar to engraving by fusing powder to the ink with heat.
• Four-Color Process: Another term for CMYK printing, using four ink colors (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) to produce a full spectrum of colors.
• Color Separation: The process of dividing a full-color image into the four separate color values for CMYK printing.
• Die Cutting: A process where custom shapes are cut out of the paper or cover material using a sharp steel cutting die. It allows for unique shapes and designs beyond standard rectangular formats.
• Bleed: The area beyond the trim edge where artwork extends to ensure there is no white space when the printed piece is trimmed down to size.
• Resolution: The clarity or sharpness of an image or design, typically measured in dots per inch (dpi) for print. Higher resolution images produce clearer and more detailed prints.
• Finished Sample: A sample print of the artwork provided by the printer for review and approval before the final printing. It ensures accuracy in color, layout, and content.
• Soft Proof: A digital proof viewed on a screen that simulates what the final printed piece will look like. It helps in checking colors and content before printing.
• Hard Proof: A physical proof produced by the printer to show how the final print will look. It’s used to check color accuracy and overall quality before the entire print run.
• Press Proof: A proof made on the actual press that will be used for the final print run. It is the most accurate proof type but can be more expensive.
• Trapping: A technique used in printing to prevent gaps between colors by slightly overlapping adjacent colors.
• Knockout: The removal of background color or image beneath text or another image so that the text or image stands out.
• Overprinting: Printing one color on top of another. This technique is used to avoid white gaps between colors and for creating mixed colors.
• GSM (Grams per Square Meter): A measurement of paper weight, indicating the thickness and density of the paper. Higher GSM values indicate thicker, more durable paper.
• Lamination: A thin plastic film applied to the surface of printed materials for added protection and durability, as well as providing a glossy or matte finish.
• UV Coating: A liquid coating applied to the paper surface and cured with ultraviolet light. It enhances the appearance of printed materials by adding a glossy or matte finish and providing durability.

Binding Types

• Spiral Binding: Also known as coil binding, this method uses a continuous coil or spiral-shaped wire to hold the pages together. It allows for easy page turning and lays flat when opened.
• Wire-O Binding: Similar to spiral binding, Wire-O binding uses double-loop wires instead of a continuous coil. It provides a more professional look and allows pages to turn smoothly.
• Case Binding: A durable and high-quality binding method where the pages are sewn together in signatures, then glued and attached to a hardcover made of cardboard wrapped with cloth or paper.
• Perfect Binding: A popular method where the pages are stacked together, and the spine edge is ground off to create a rough surface. A strong adhesive is then used to attach a paper cover, creating a flat spine suitable for printing titles.
• Saddle Stitching: A binding method where folded sheets (signatures) are stapled together along the spine of the notebook or journal. It’s commonly used for booklets and thinner publications.
• Japanese Stitch Binding: A traditional binding method where folded sheets are sewn together along the spine with thread. It creates a decorative exposed stitch pattern on the spine.
• Coptic Binding: An ancient binding technique used for journals and sketchbooks. It involves sewing exposed binding stitches through the covers and pages, allowing the book to lay completely flat when open.
• Sewn Binding: A method where the signatures (folded sheets) are sewn together along the spine before being attached to the cover. It provides durability and flexibility, often used for high-quality notebooks.
• Post Binding: A binding method where pages are held together by metal or plastic posts that screw through holes punched along the binding edge. This allows pages to be easily added or removed.
• Hidden Wire Binding: Similar to Wire-O binding, but with the wire hidden inside the back cover, providing a clean and professional appearance.
• Tape Binding: A method where a strip of cloth or tape is wrapped around the spine edge of the pages and glued to the cover, providing a flexible and secure binding.
• Saddle Stitch: A binding method where folded sheets (signatures) are stapled together along the spine. It’s commonly used for booklets, magazines, and smaller publications.
• Perfect Binding: A binding method where the pages are glued together along the spine with a strong adhesive. A paper cover is wrapped around the spine, providing a flat surface for printing titles.
• Lay-Flat Binding: A binding method that allows the notebook to open completely flat, making it easier to write or draw across the entire page.

Cover Customizations

• Foiling: A process where metallic or colored foil is applied to the surface of the cover using heat and pressure, creating a shiny or matte design.
• Debossing: The technique of pressing a design into the cover material, creating a recessed impression. This adds texture and a subtle, elegant look to the cover.
• UV Printing: Also known as UV offset printing, this method involves using UV light to dry or cure ink as it is printed onto the cover material. It allows for vibrant colors and precise detail.
• Screen Printing: A printing technique where ink is pushed through a mesh stencil (screen) onto the printing surface. Each screen corresponds to one color in the design. Screen printing is known for its vibrant colors and durability, making it ideal for designs with solid, bold areas of color.
• Two-Color Screen Printing: An extension of the screen printing process that uses two separate screens, each for a different color. This technique allows for more complex designs with two distinct colors. The colors are printed one at a time, and precise alignment (registration) is essential to ensure the final design looks sharp and professional.
• Monogramming: Personalizing a notebook or journal cover with initials or a name, typically using foil, embossing, or printing techniques.
• Embossing: Similar to debossing, embossing raises the design above the surface of the cover material, creating a raised impression instead of a recessed one.
• Spot UV: A technique where a glossy UV coating is applied only to specific areas of the cover, creating contrast and enhancing certain design elements.
• Blind Embossing/Debossing: Embossing or debossing without adding foil or ink, creating a subtle, elegant design using only the texture of the material.
• Edge Painting: Painting the edges of the notebook pages or cover material with a solid color, adding a striking visual effect when the notebook is closed.
• Wraparound Cover: A cover design where the artwork extends from the front cover, around the spine, to the back cover seamlessly.
• Cover Die: A metal tool used to cut or emboss designs into the cover material. Custom dies can be created for unique shapes or patterns.
• Cover Embellishments: Additional decorative elements added to the cover, such as foiling, embossing, debossing, or spot UV coating.

Paper and Page Types

• Endpapers: The sheets of paper glued to the inside covers of a book, often used to add strength and aesthetic appeal.
• Dot Grid: A type of paper pattern used in notebooks, featuring a grid of dots that provides guidance for writing, drawing, or planning without being as obtrusive as traditional grid lines.
• Lined Paper: Paper with horizontal lines, typically used for writing text in a structured format.
• Blank Paper: Paper without any lines, dots, or grids, allowing for freeform writing, drawing, or sketching.
• Grid Paper: Paper with a grid of squares, often used for technical drawings, graphs, or designs requiring precision.
• Perforated Pages: Pages with a series of small holes or cuts along the edge, making them easy to tear out cleanly.
• Printed Inserts: Custom printed pages that can be added to notebooks for additional information, branding, or design elements.
• Planner Inserts: Pre-designed pages that can be added to a notebook or journal, such as calendars, to-do lists, and habit trackers.
• Custom Pages: Pages designed to meet specific needs or preferences, including custom layouts, printed images, or branding elements.
• Fully Printed Pages: Pages that are printed with designs or text across the entire surface, available in single-color, two-color, or full-color options.
• Paper Stock: The type and weight of paper used in the notebook, which can affect the feel, durability, and suitability for different types of writing or drawing.

Additional Features

• Bookmark Ribbon: A fabric ribbon attached to the spine of a notebook or journal, used as a bookmark.
• Elastic Closure: An elastic band attached to the cover of a notebook or journal, used to keep the book closed when not in use.
• Pocket: An additional feature inside the back cover of a notebook or journal, used to store loose papers and notes.
• Index Tabs: Tabs that protrude from the edge of the pages, used to mark and quickly access specific sections of a notebook or journal.
• Headband and Tailband: Decorative bands attached at the top and bottom of the spine of a hardcover book. They add a finishing touch and can reinforce the binding.
• Dummy Book: A blank, physical mock-up of a book, used to represent the size, shape, and weight of the final product.
• Gutter: The inner margin of a book where the pages are bound. Sufficient gutter space ensures the text or images are not lost in the binding.
• Signature: A group of pages that are printed on a single sheet of paper, folded, and sewn or bound together. Multiple signatures are combined to form the book block.
• Book Block: The collection of folded and sewn signatures before the cover is attached in a bound book.
• Soft Touch Coating: A coating that gives printed materials a soft, velvety texture. It provides a matte finish with a tactile, luxurious feel.

Ordering and Proofing

• Sample Pack: A collection of various print samples provided to customers to showcase different paper types, finishes, and printing techniques available.
• Print Run: The total number of copies produced in a single printing session. Larger print runs often reduce the per-unit cost.
• Lead Time: The time required from placing an order to the final delivery of the printed products. This includes time for proofs, production, and shipping.
• MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity): The smallest number of units that can be ordered from a printer. Different products and customization options might have different MOQs.
• Proof Approval: The process of reviewing and approving a proof before the print run begins. This step ensures that the final product meets the customer’s expectations.
• Turnaround Time: The time it takes to complete a print job from the moment the order is placed to when it’s ready for delivery or pickup.
• Color Matching: Ensuring that the colors in the final printed piece match the colors specified in the design file, often using systems like Pantone for accuracy.
• Print Specification (Spec): Detailed instructions provided to the printer regarding the print job, including dimensions, paper type, ink colors, binding method, and finishing details.
• Reprint: Producing additional copies of a previously printed job. This might occur if more copies are needed or if there was an issue with the original print run.
• Print On Demand (POD): A printing process where items are printed only when an order is received, reducing the need for large inventories.
• Pantone Swatch Book: A physical book containing samples of Pantone colors, used to select and communicate colors for printing.
• Die Line: The template that outlines where a print project will be cut, folded, or perforated. It’s used to ensure accuracy in the final product’s shape and layout.
• Calculator: A tool that allows customers to explore all main notebook customisations options and obtain quotes for different quantities.