Print Industry Glossary: 100+ Terms for Business Owners

A comprehensive reference of 100+ print industry terms every business owner should understand when ordering custom stickers, labels, signs, vehicle graphics, and printed materials. Knowing these terms helps you communicate clearly with your print provider and get better results.

Related: Custom Stickers & Labels Resource Centre | Shop Stickers | Vehicle Graphics

Adhesive
The glue layer on the back of stickers, labels, and decals. Types include permanent (sticks and stays), removable (peels off clean), and repositionable (can be adjusted during application). Adhesive strength, temperature range, and surface compatibility vary by product.
Bleed
The area of a design that extends beyond the final trim line, typically 1/8 inch (3 mm) on all sides. Bleed ensures that when the piece is trimmed, there are no unprinted white edges. Always include bleed in your print-ready files.
BOPP (Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene)
A plastic film commonly used for product labels. Offers excellent clarity, moisture resistance, and tear resistance. Available in clear, white, and metallic finishes. The standard material for food and beverage labels.
Calendered Vinyl
Vinyl film manufactured by pressing PVC compound through rollers. More affordable than cast vinyl but thicker (3-4 mil) and less conformable to curves. Best for flat or slightly curved surfaces. Typical outdoor life: 3-5 years.
Cast Vinyl
Premium vinyl film made by casting liquid PVC into a thin sheet (2 mil). More conformable, dimensionally stable, and longer-lasting than calendered vinyl. Required for vehicle wraps with compound curves. Typical outdoor life: 7-12 years.
CMYK
Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key (Black) — the four ink colours used in full-colour printing. All printed materials use CMYK ink combinations to reproduce the full colour spectrum. Design files should be in CMYK colour mode for accurate colour reproduction.
Colour Gamut
The range of colours a printing system can reproduce. CMYK has a narrower gamut than RGB (screens). Some vibrant colours visible on screen cannot be exactly reproduced in print. Pantone spot colours can extend the printable gamut.
Contour Cut
See Die-Cut. Cutting a printed piece along the contour of the design rather than in a standard shape.
Crop Marks
Small lines printed at the corners of a design indicating where the piece should be trimmed. Also called trim marks. Standard in print-ready PDF files. Not visible on the finished product.
Debossing
A finishing technique that presses a design into the surface of a material, creating an indented (below-surface) impression. The opposite of embossing. Used on thick card stock, leather, and some packaging materials for a premium tactile effect.
Die
A custom-shaped cutting tool used to cut printed materials into specific shapes. Steel rule dies are used for short runs; rotary dies for long runs. The die shape determines the final outline of a die-cut sticker or label.
Die-Cut
A sticker, label, or printed piece cut to a custom shape using a die or digital cutter. Any shape is possible — logos, text outlines, product shapes. Die-cut stickers have a more professional appearance than standard rectangles or circles.
Digital Printing
Printing directly from a digital file without plates or screens. Includes inkjet and laser/LED printing. Cost-effective for short to medium runs (1-10,000 pieces). No setup fees, supports variable data. Our primary production method for stickers, labels, and signs.
DPI (Dots Per Inch)
A measure of print resolution. Higher DPI means finer detail. Standard for commercial printing is 300 DPI. Images below 150 DPI will appear noticeably pixelated in print. Screen images are typically only 72 DPI and are not suitable for print without upscaling.
DTF (Direct-to-Film)
A printing method where designs are printed onto a special film, coated with adhesive powder, and heat-transferred to garments or other surfaces. Produces vibrant, durable transfers on any fabric colour. Increasingly popular for custom apparel and textile applications.
Dye-Sublimation
A printing process where heat converts solid dye directly to gas, which permeates polyester fabrics or specially coated substrates. Produces photographic-quality, permanent images. Used for fabric banners, flags, and polyester garments.
Eco-Solvent Ink
A mild solvent-based ink used in wide-format printing. Produces durable, outdoor-rated prints on vinyl and other media without the harsh odour of traditional solvent inks. The standard ink type for vehicle graphics, outdoor banners, and signage.
Embossing
A finishing technique that raises a design above the surface of the material using a die and counter-die. Creates a dimensional, tactile effect. Common on business cards, letterhead, and premium packaging.
EPS (Encapsulated PostScript)
A vector file format commonly used for logos and print-ready graphics. EPS files can be scaled to any size without quality loss. Along with PDF and AI, EPS is a preferred format for print production.
Finishing
Post-printing processes that complete a printed piece. Includes cutting, laminating, folding, binding, mounting, grommeting, and hem-and-pocket for banners. Finishing affects both the appearance and durability of the final product.
Foil Stamping
Applying metallic foil to a printed piece using heat and pressure. Available in gold, silver, copper, holographic, and coloured foils. Creates a premium, eye-catching metallic finish. Used on business cards, packaging, and certificates.
Full Bleed
A design where ink coverage extends to the very edge of the trimmed piece with no white border. Requires bleed in the artwork file. Full-bleed printing produces a more professional, finished appearance.
Gang Run
Printing multiple different jobs together on the same sheet to maximize efficiency and reduce cost. Standard practice for commercial sticker and business card printing. Slight colour variation between gang-run jobs is normal.
Gloss Lamination
A shiny, reflective protective coating applied over printed material. Enhances colour vibrancy and provides a premium look. More fingerprint-prone than matte. Common for stickers, postcards, and product labels.
Grommet
A metal eyelet inserted through a banner or sign for hanging. Standard grommet placement is every 24 inches along banner edges. Essential for outdoor banner installations to prevent tearing.
Hem and Pocket
A finishing method for banners where the edges are folded over and sewn to create a reinforced hem, with a pocket at top and/or bottom for a pole. Standard for pole banners and retractable banner stands.
Kiss-Cut
A cutting method that cuts through the vinyl or paper face but not through the backing material. Creates stickers that peel easily from a backing sheet. Compare with die-cut, which cuts through all layers. Kiss-cut sticker sheets allow multiple stickers on one backing.
Lamination
A clear protective film applied over printed graphics. Available in gloss, matte, satin, and soft-touch finishes. Protects against UV fading, scratches, moisture, and chemical exposure. Essential for outdoor stickers, vehicle graphics, and floor graphics.
Large Format Printing
Printing on media wider than standard commercial sizes, typically 24 inches and above. Used for banners, signs, posters, vehicle wraps, wall murals, and trade show graphics. Our wide-format printers handle media up to 54 inches wide.
Matte Finish
A non-reflective, flat finish on printed materials. Reduces glare and gives a softer, more subdued appearance than gloss. Easier to write on. Fingerprint-resistant. Popular for premium stickers, labels, and packaging.
Mil
A unit of measurement equal to one-thousandth of an inch (0.001"). Used to measure vinyl thickness. Calendered vinyl is typically 3-4 mil; cast vinyl is typically 2 mil. Thicker vinyl is more durable but less conformable.
Offset Printing
A traditional printing method using plates to transfer ink to a rubber blanket, then to the substrate. Best for very large runs (10,000+) where the plate setup cost is amortized. Produces consistent, high-quality colour at scale.
Opaque
Not allowing light to pass through. Opaque vinyl or labels completely hide the surface underneath. Important when applying light-coloured labels over dark surfaces or covering existing graphics.
Overlaminate
A clear protective film applied over printed graphics, separate from built-in lamination. Used to add extra UV protection, scratch resistance, or a different finish (gloss over matte, for example) to printed output.
Pantone (PMS)
Pantone Matching System — an industry-standard colour reference system. Each PMS colour has a unique number ensuring consistent colour reproduction across print providers. If your brand colours have Pantone numbers, provide them for the most accurate colour matching.
PDF (Portable Document Format)
The preferred file format for print-ready artwork. PDF preserves fonts, colours, layout, and resolution exactly as designed. Always submit print files as PDF/X-1a or Press Quality PDF at 300 DPI with CMYK colours and bleed included.
Perforation
A line of small holes or cuts in paper or vinyl that allows a section to be easily torn off. Common for tear-off tabs on flyers, tickets, and coupon sections of direct mail pieces.
Proof
A preview of the final printed piece for approval before production. Can be a digital proof (PDF) or a physical proof (printed sample). Always review proofs carefully for spelling, colours, and layout before approving. We provide digital proofs on all orders.
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
The plastic material used to make vinyl films, rigid sign substrates (Sintra), and NFC card bodies. PVC is durable, waterproof, and versatile. Available as flexible film (vinyl) or rigid sheet (for signs and displays).
Raster Image
An image composed of pixels (dots). Photographs and most screen graphics are raster images. Raster images have a fixed resolution and become blurry when enlarged beyond their native size. Common formats: JPEG, PNG, TIFF. Compare with vector.
Resolution
The amount of detail in an image, measured in DPI (dots per inch) for print. 300 DPI is standard for commercial printing. 150 DPI is acceptable for large-format signage viewed from a distance. 72 DPI (screen resolution) is not suitable for print.
RGB
Red, Green, Blue — the colour model used by screens (monitors, phones, TVs). RGB has a wider colour gamut than CMYK. Designs created in RGB must be converted to CMYK for print, which may result in some colour shifts. Always design for print in CMYK.
Safe Area
The inner zone of a design where all important text and graphics should be placed. Typically 1/8 inch (3 mm) inside the trim line. Content outside the safe area risks being trimmed off during production.
Screen Printing
A printing method where ink is pushed through a mesh screen with a stencil of the design. Excellent for solid colours, opacity, and durability. Cost-effective for medium-to-large runs of 1-3 colour designs. Common for garments, signage, and industrial labelling.
Sintra
A brand of rigid PVC foam board used for signs and displays. Lightweight, rigid, and waterproof. Available in various thicknesses (1mm to 19mm). Common for indoor signs, point-of-purchase displays, and real estate sign riders.
Soft-Touch Lamination
A premium matte lamination with a velvety, tactile feel. Creates a luxurious texture that invites touch. Popular for high-end business cards, packaging, and premium sticker products. More expensive than standard gloss or matte lamination.
Spot UV
A glossy UV coating applied to specific areas of a printed piece (rather than the entire surface). Creates contrast between matte and gloss areas, drawing attention to logos, text, or design elements. A premium finishing technique for business cards and packaging.
Static Cling
A vinyl material that adheres to smooth surfaces (especially glass) using static electricity rather than adhesive. Completely removable and reusable with no residue. Ideal for window signs, oil change stickers, and temporary promotions.
Substrate
The material being printed on or applied to. For stickers: vinyl, paper, polyester. For signs: aluminum, coroplast, PVC, wood. For banners: vinyl, mesh, fabric. Substrate choice affects durability, appearance, and cost.
Transfer Tape
A clear adhesive film used to transfer cut vinyl letters or graphics from their backing to the application surface. Applied over cut vinyl, pressed onto the surface, then peeled away, leaving the vinyl in place. Essential for applying multi-piece vinyl lettering and decals.
Trim Line
The final edge of a printed piece after cutting. Artwork should include bleed beyond the trim line and keep important content within the safe area inside the trim line.
UV Coating
A liquid coating applied to printed materials and cured with ultraviolet light. Creates a hard, glossy, protective finish. More durable than lamination for certain applications. Available as flood (entire surface) or spot (selective areas) coating.
UV-Resistant Ink
Inks formulated to resist fading from ultraviolet sunlight exposure. Essential for any outdoor signage or graphics. Our eco-solvent and UV-cured inks are rated for 3-7 years of outdoor exposure without significant fading.
Variable Data Printing (VDP)
Digital printing technology that changes elements (text, images, barcodes) from piece to piece in a single print run. Used for personalized labels, sequential numbering, unique barcodes, and customized direct mail pieces.
Vector Image
An image defined by mathematical paths rather than pixels. Can be scaled to any size without quality loss. Essential for logos and text in print production. Common formats: AI, EPS, SVG, PDF. Always provide logos as vector files when possible.
Vinyl
See PVC. In the sign and sticker industry, "vinyl" refers to flexible PVC film used for stickers, decals, vehicle graphics, banners, and wall wraps. The most versatile material in commercial printing and sign-making.
White Ink
A specialized ink used to print white on clear or dark substrates. Standard CMYK printing has no white ink — white areas are simply unprinted (showing the substrate). White ink adds cost but is essential for printing on clear vinyl or dark materials.
Wide Format
See Large Format Printing. Printing on media wider than standard commercial sizes.

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