Deep breath, and…

font
Another name for typeface.

image resolution
This is determined by how many pixels are used digitally to recreate an image. High resolution image files (suitable for print) should be at least 300dpi (dots per inch) at print size. Low resolution image files (suitable for on screen use) are between 72dpi - 120dpi at 100%.

COLOUR JARGON

spot colour
Any area of colour that is designated to be printed with a specific ink (for example, a Pantone colour), rather than being reproduced with process inks.

process colour
Colour produced in printing by combining the four CMYK inks, used for full colour printing.

cmyk
Cyan, magenta, yellow and black - these are the printers primary colours.

Pantone
An international printing colour system which provides an accurate method of matching and controlling colours.

rgb
Red,green,blue - colours are defined in this way for on screen use - for example, white is R:255 G:255 B:255.

indexed colour
A way of defining colour in an image from a specific colour pallette rather than from RGB values. Most commonly seen in .gif files used on the internet.

greyscale
a greyscale image is an image containly only black, white, and tints of grey.

bitmap
an image containing only pure black and white, with no tints of grey.

duotone
an image made from tints of two colours.

FILE FORMATS

.eps
Encapsulated Postscript - an image file containing all the information required to rip the file to print (this information can only be read and cannot be altered or added to unless the user has the relevant software).

.tif (tiff)
Tagged Image File Format - an image file that can be altered and extended.

.jpg (jpeg)
A compressed image file format most commonly used for photographs displayed on the internet.

.gif
An image file format that uses indexed colour rather than rgb or cmyk colour values. Popular on the internet due to small file size.

.pdf (Portable Document Format)
A MAC/ PC secure file. Documents created using a variety of different software packages can be easily converted to pdf format, retaining the appearance of the original. The pdf files can then be viewed on any platform using Acrobat Reader software. Pdf files can be used to send visuals and proofs digitally, as an alternative to printed proofs.

PDF files are commonly used on the internet to provide downloadable versions of printed documents.

PDF files can also incorporate interactive elements, navigation buttons, multimedia clips and so on. These features can be used to create quality digital presentations, portfolios etc

.ppt (powerpoint)
Powerpoint is part of Microsoft Office, and can be used to build interactive digital presentations.

.swf (flash)
Macromedia’s Flash software is a way of making animated web content. It can produce sophisticated web pages/effects, but the viewer needs to have the flash plug in downloaded to their web browser for the page to function.

PROOFING

digital proof
A digital proof reproduces a colour proof without the need of outputting film, these laser prints vary in quality (hi or lo res) but are usually of a greater accuracy than office laser printers. These proofs are relatively cheap.

chromalin proof
High quality and colour accurate printer’s proofing method. Chromalins are produced using light sensitive film which then becomes tacky upon exposure. Coloured powder is then dusted over the film and sticks to the image area. For each colour a separate film is used and built up in layers.

Wet proof
Produced from the final metal plates, printed onto the correct stock, this proof gives the truest and most colour accurate impression of a finished printed item. The increase of CTP makes this form of proofing cheaper, especially on jobs with a low number of pages. This option is the most expensive if changes are required, as usually new plates need to be produced.

PRINTING

bleed
Any printed area that extends over the edge of the page (ie where there is no margin) is described as ‘bled off’. There is usually a bleed of about 3mm on artwork to compensate for any slight irregularities in the trimming of the printed document.

GSM
Grammes per Square Meter (gsm2) - printing paper weight measurement.

gloss paper
A coated paper that has a reflective, smooth surface.

matt paper
A coated paper that has a duller surface which produces a flatter image/ colour with minimal glare.

silk paper
A coated paper that is somewhere in between matt and gloss art paper Premium quality coated paper.

uncoated paper
A general term for papers whose surface has had no mineral coating applied after the body paper is made. It usually feels less smooth and it is often possible to see the pitting within the surface texture. It is much more absorbent than the coated papers which affects the way printing inks dry. This affect leads to slightly differing colours when compared to coated papers. For more accurate matching, a different colour may need to be specified. Uncoated papers are good for writing onto and are used for stationery and documents that have forms for filling.