Glossary

BOARD

against the grain

Folding or feeding paper at right angles to the grain direction of the paper.

beater dye

Paper or board in which dye has been added into the beaker producing a sheet with consistent color throughout its thickness

blank

The unfinished cardboard base or lid of the box still flat.

pasted board

Chip boards which have two or more lighter weight boards glued together to forma a thicker sheet.

stained board

A board in which stain is applied to only one side of a chip board side.

chipboard

Made from recycled paper products and virgin Kraft. Material is ground and combined with other materials in a beater to form pulp. The pulp is then spread on a screen to remove excess water.

Decoration

blind embossing

A design which is stamped (raised) without metallic leaf or ink, giving a bas-relief effect.

deboss

Debossing is a process similar to hot stamping where your logo or design is slightly pressed into the paper without any hot stamping foil.

emboss

Embossing is a process similar to hot stamping where your logo or design is slightly raised on the paper without any hot stamping foil.

foil

A thin layer of metal applied to paper or board to make metallic papers or to a mylar carrier for hot stamping.

hot stamp

A printing method in which metalized or pigmented foils are applied to a sheet with a heated metal die or plate.

thumbcuts or thumbholes

A semi-circular or other shape cut made in sides or ends to facilitate removal of lid from base or contents from base.

Design

cad/cam

Acronym for Computer Assisted Design/Computer Assisted Makeup or Manufacturing.

cmyk

Acronym for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black - subtractive primary colors. Printing colors for "4-color process" color reporduction.

keyline

In artwork, an outline drawing of finished art to indicate the exact shape, position and size for such elements as halftones, line sketches, cut and fold lines, etc.

Paper

coated paper

Paper with a surface coating which produces a smooth finish. Surfaces vary from eggshell to glossy.

deckle

In papermaking, the width of the wet sheet as it comes off the wire of a paper machine. The Deckle Edge is the untrimmed feathery edges of paper formed where the pulp flows against the deckle.

embossed finish

A texture applied to paper or light weight board after the manufacturing of the sheet. Textures often resemble another material (i.e. Wood, cloth, leather, etc.).

embossing

A process in which paper is pressed between metal dies to create an image in relief. Used as overprinting, with foil, or on blank paper (called Blind Embossing).

Plastic

pvc

Poly Vinyl Chloride: a clear plastic used for making lids. Printing

Printing

bleed

On a printed sheet, an extra amount of printed image which extends beyond the trim edge of the sheet or page.

break for color

In artwork and composition, to separate the parts to be printed in different colors.

hairline register

Register within plus or minus 1/2 row of dots.

letterpress

A printing method in which ink is transferred from a metal plate directly to a sheet of paper or board.

match print

A type of color proof for offset printing in which film positives for each of the printing plates are fused together.

offset printing (lithography)

A printing method in which ink is transferred from a plate to a smooth rubber "blanket" roller that transfers the image to paper (or paperboard).

off-press proofs

Proofs made by photomechanical or digital means in less time and at lower cost than press proofs.

press proofs

In color reproduction, a proof of a color subject made on a printing press, in advance of the production run.

proofing

Any of a number of ways of testing art work and/or structure before final plates or tooling is made.

chokes and spreads

Overlap of overprinting images to avoid color or white fringes or borders around image detail (also called "trapping").

coating

A protective layer added to a printed sheet including varnish, u.v. coating, peroxylin, nitro cellulose, acrylic, etc.


  • Film Lamination
  • This coating is the finest coating applied to printed board or fine paper. Although it is not recommended for textured stocks, film lamination adds durability to the printed sheet and allows for constructions that would not be possible with unlaminated paper. There are several different degrees and weights of matte and gloss film laminations available.


  • Aqueous Coating
  • A water-based coating that is applied to seal the entire sheet, creating a smooth finish that is available from matte & satin to gloss.


  • Varnish
  • A coating that is applied for protection to a printed sheet. Varnish is available in different finishes & tints and can be applied to specific areas to create subtle effects or to coat the entire sheet. Clients should note that varnish has a tendency to slightly yellow a printed sheet.


  • UV Coating
  • A high gloss liquid coating that is applied off line as a screened process. Although UV coating appears quite glossy, it is not as durable as film lamination.


  • Acid Etching
  • This process is an application of an acid-based varnish to a gloss laminated product that introduces areas of matte to the glossy product.

varnish

A coating applied give a smooth glossy or matte finish.

Production

bundling

Wrapping a number of finished boxes together in paper, for shipment or storage.

case maker

Machine used to produce turned edge panels or folders.

combination die

A plate or die which applies foil and embosses at the same time.

corner cut

Removing the waste material from a scored board blank or wrap blank which is typically all four corners.

cutscore

In die-cutting, a sharp edged knife, usually several thousandths of an inch lower than the cutting rules in a die, made to cut part way into the paper or board for folding purposes.

die cutting

The process of using sharp steel rules to cut special shapes for labels, boxes and inserts from printed sheets or embossed papers. Die-cutting can be done on flatbed or rotary presses. Rotary die-cutting is usually done inline with the printing.

mitre

see corner cut (wraps only).

nesting

Placing trays or covers of the same size, generally for shipping, or boxes of varying sizes, one within another.

poly bag

Clear plastic bag.

steel rule die

A die in which a steel rule for cutting, creasing, or scoring is held in place by grooves cut in plywood.

Structural Attributes

base

The lower portion, or the receptacle portion of a set-up box.

easel

Support attached to a box or other items (i.e. picture frames, display cards) to sustain an upright position for display.

flange

A protruding rim, edge, rib or collar, as on a wheel or a pipe shaft, used to strengthen an object, hold it in place, or attach it to another object.

flap lid

A lid that has no sides or ends and is hinged to the box base. Also called a panel lid.

folder or panel

A panel is a flat piece of board without folds. A folder is a group of two or more panels hinged together.

hinge

The method used to attach a lid to a base. Also refers to area that bends on a folder.

insert

Any construction of chipboard or other material (Vac Form, Foam, etc.) placed or attached into a box to hold product.

lid or cover

The top, or covering portion of a Set-Up or Rigid Box.

lid support or ribbon stop

Tape or ribbon that is used to hold hinge lid in position when box is open.

loose wrapping

Process of covering a lid with paper on a wrapping machine or by hand, with the adhesive applied so as to adhere to the edges only.

master carton

A carton that is used to pack and ship smaller cartons within.

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 box is closed.

partitions or dividers

Slotted or folded pieces of boxboard fitted together to form a series of compartments to be placed in a base without being attached or glued into a base to isolate a section.

skeleton

A set up base or lid which is not wrapped.

sleeve

A tube with both ends open. It could be plain or wrapped.

slide box

Box in which the lid is the form of a shell into which the base is inserted at the side or end.

spine

The back of a bound book connecting the two covers or in box making, the back of a slipcase

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 and the lid fits over the base ("full telescope"). When the depth of the lid is more or less than the height of the base, the lid depth should be stated separately. Thumbcuts are recommended unless it will be a loose fit.

tight wrapping

This is the process of covering the base, lid or tray with paper on wrapping machine, or by hand, wraps usually being in one piece and with the entire surface covered with adhesive.

tip

A rectangular wrap applied to finish wrapping a box or to cover the turn in of a folder.

tray

A receptacle to which no lid is made. turn in The part of the wrap which ends up on the inside of the box.

turned edge

A folder, tray, or case on which the edges of the board are covered by the wrap vs. raw edge.

turn-in

The portion of the paper which wraps on the inside of the box.

Style

rigid paper box

A chipboard paper box of rigid construction formed, or "set-up", ready for use; it is usually wrapped as distinguished from a folding carton or a corrugated shipping container.

slipcase

A case into which a book or binder slides into usually significantly deeper than its width. Receptacles for other purposes of similar proportions and structure.