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Glossary

Print and personalization glossary

The key terms that come up with print files, stickers and apparel printing. Each entry has a short definition and a link to a longer guide.

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Files
Bleed, trim size, DPI, CMYK, PDF/X
Cutting
Cut line, CutContour, kiss cut
Printing
DTF, DTG, sublimation, screen printing
Selling
Web to print, mockup

All terms

Bleed Bleed is extra artwork beyond the cut line, usually 2–3 mm on each side, which prevents white edges after trimming. Safety margin The safety margin is a zone inside the cut line, usually 3–5 mm, where texts and logos are not placed, because the cut may shift. Trim size Trim size is the product size after trimming, e.g. 210 × 297 mm for A4. The print file is the trim size plus bleed on each side. Cut line The cut line is the path along which a product is trimmed or cut by a plotter. In sticker files it is saved as a separate colour, most often CutContour. CutContour CutContour is the name of the spot colour used in a file to mark the plotter cut line. The RIP does not print this line, it passes it on for cutting. Kiss cut A kiss cut cuts only the sticker vinyl without cutting the liner. The sticker stays on the sheet and is peeled off like from a pad. DPI DPI (dots per inch) is the number of dots per inch in print. Print viewed up close needs about 300 DPI, and pixels are calculated as px = mm ÷ 25.4 × DPI. CMYK CMYK is the colour model of printing inks: cyan, magenta, yellow and black (K). Print files are prepared in CMYK because some screen colours (RGB)… Pantone Pantone is a system of spot colours mixed from ready inks and identified by numbers, e.g. PANTONE 186 C. It is used when a brand colour must be… ICC profile An ICC profile is a file describing how a device or paper reproduces colour. Converting RGB to CMYK with a profile (e.g. ISO Coated v2 / FOGRA39)… PDF/X PDF/X is a family of ISO standards for print PDFs. PDF/X-1a requires CMYK and flattens transparency, while PDF/X-4 keeps transparency and allows RGB… Outlined text (curves) Outlined text is lettering converted to vector shapes. It looks the same on every computer and needs no font, but can no longer be edited as normal text. Overprint Overprint is a setting where an element prints on top of the colour below instead of knocking a hole out of it. It is used e.g. for black text and the… Mockup A mockup is a visualisation of a design on a product photo, e.g. a print on a T-shirt or mug. It shows how the product will look, but it is not a print… Web to print Web to print is selling print online, where the customer designs the product on a website and the system turns the design into a print file linked to… DTF DTF (Direct to Film) is a print made on transfer film, coated with adhesive powder and transferred to fabric with a heat press. It works on cotton,… DTG DTG (Direct to Garment) is inkjet printing directly on fabric, best on cotton. It suits single pieces and multicolour artwork. Sublimation Sublimation is printing with a dye that turns into gas under heat and penetrates polyester fibres or a polymer coating. It is used on light polyester,… Screen printing Screen printing pushes ink through a screen with a stencil onto the material. Each colour needs a separate screen, so it pays off for larger runs. Large-format printing Large-format printing is printing on formats larger than about A2, e.g. banners, posters, vinyl and fabric, on machines with roll widths from about 1 to…

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