aqueous coating

A water-based, durable, protective coating that provides a high-gloss or matte finish to printed material. Because it is water-based, aqueous coating is considered to be one of the more environmentally friendly compared to other types of coatings.

blind embossing

An emboss on a material that is without ink or color.

CMYK/four color process/process color/full color printing

A color profile used in printing. CMYK stands for cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. CMYK is also referred to as "four color process printing" (as opposed to spot or one color printing). The four colors represent four ink colors that overlap to create a spectrum of colors that you see in printed materials.

coated/coating

A coating seals in the printed material, while providing a finish.

deboss

A design that is indented into a surface that is tactile and dimensional (concave).

die-cut

A custom specialty cut out.

digital printing

Modern printing methods that uses laser and ink-jet printing. The printing is done directly from an image file sent to the printer without the use of plating.

direct to board

"Direct to board" is a specialized process in which printing is done directly on a heavy, weighty surface. Direct to board jackets are printed directly onto the surface of the packaging.

emboss

A three-dimensional design raised up from the material's surface that is tactile and dimensional (convex).

etch

To carve a design into the surface of something.

film lamination
Sandwiching and sealing printed material between layers of plastic film.

finish

A surface treatment applied to printed material that seals it in and while providing a particular look and feel.

flexi (disc)

Flexible paper thin vinyl with spiral grooves playable on a standard turnable. Used for books and learning materials, musical, political, religious, theatrical promotional materials, or within printed publications such as magazines and zines.

foil stamp(ing)

Metallic foil transferred onto a surface through the use of heat.

full color printing

Also known as "four-color-process" (CMYK) or "process" printing.

full bleed

Full bleed refers to a margin allowance for colored backgrounds or images continue to the edge of the printed product. The colored backgrounds or images continue on (or "bleed") past the trim marks to the full bleed margin. Having a full bleed allows for a margin of error when trimming the printed material. The standard margin for full bleed is 0.125" outside of the trim marks.

gatefold

A gatefold folds down to the size of any standard size single record jacket. Printed interior panels. One or two pocket styles. Discs are housed within sleeve pockets located on the outer edges of the gatefold jacket. Other gatefold albums house discs within inner edges of the sleeves. These sleeves pockets are referred to as "wallet-style".

gloss finish

A high luster print coating.

inner Fold

A single scored crease that creates a hinge within a single sheet.

jacket

A jacket is a term used in reference to the outermost cardboard covering a vinyl record, CD, or laser disc.

jacket flat

A flat printed board with jacket cover art that serves as an in store promotional for the release of a record.

matte finish

A finish that is without any shine or reflective properties.

mylar sleeve

A protective clear polyester sleeve.

LP

LP is the abbreviation for "long play" (as in, a long playing record). It is a full record album.

Old Style®

Old Style® refers to a type of jacket unique to Stoughton Printing Co. Jacket artwork is printed on a sheet which is then glued (or "tipped-on") onto blank packaging stock.

offset printing

Offset printing is a high-volume printing technology in which an image is burned onto a metal plate and then transferred (offset) from the plate to a rubber blanket or roller. From there, it is then transferred to the material being printed on. Offset printing is also known as "offset lithography".

OTJ

The bbreviation for "open through jacket"—a record jacket with a pocket open through the left and right sides. There can be more than one pocket in an open through jacket.

outer spine

The square edge of a jacket (typically the left side as you face the front). Two sets of scored creases that create a hinge on the interior side of a gatefold. The spine width (the distance between the crease sets) can vary. Label text usually printed with in the confines of the exterior of the outer spine typically reading from top to bottom.

stock (paper or card)

The paper used in printing. Also used in reference to the material of which paper is made.

paperboard

Paperboard broadly refers to thick, paper-based material. Paperboard is thicker than paper. Paperboard can be of recycled material and is generally thicker than 0.010 inches or 51 pounds per 1000 square feet. It is often used in packaging.

perfect bound

Book binding in which a layer of adhesive holds the pages and cover together. Often used in books, magazines, and catalogs.

proof

A printed proof is a trial sheet of what the printed material will look like before production. Proofs are made to be checked and corrected before production takes place.

RGB

A color profile that stands for red, green, blue. These three colors are used in screen displays and combine to create a spectrum of colors that you see in the monitor.

saddle stitch

A form of bindery in which the creased edge (spine) stapled through a layer of pages. Often used in binding magazines, brochures, or pamphlets.

satin finish

A finish that has a soft sheen, a soft luster a glow of reflected light. (as opposed to being glossy or reflective).

score

Applying indentation, pressure onto material as to create an even, flexible crease for folding.

sleeve

A sleeve is a plastic or paper covering that directly houses and protects the record disc. Sleeves can be then inserted into a record jacket or box.

slick

The printed image content that is embedded within the pressed transparent vinyl to make a "picture disc".

spot color/ PMS spot

A spot color is a custom mixed ink color used in printing. They are essential to precise color matching. Metallic, fluorescent, tints of spot color can also be used depending on the desired effect. The most popular matching system in the U.S. is The Pantone Matching System or PMS.

tip-in

Tip-in is a page that is inserted within bound inner fold of a booklet (usually loose-leaf).

tip-on

A printed sheet bound (usually glued) to the blank structure of the packaging.

trifold

a single sheet printed on both sides and folded into thirds, altogether resulting in six panels (three panels, front and back).

uncoated

Printed matter that is without an added coat or finish.

UV coating

A UV coating is a process in which the printed surface material is cured by ultraviolet radiation to create a finish. The process is also used to protect the material from harmful exposure to UV light. UV coatings utilize a high intensity UV coatings vary from high gloss to matte finishes. UV coatings can be applied in specified areas (spot UV) or over an entire surface (flood UV). UV can print on coated or uncoated substrate.

varnish

A varnish is a coating that provides a gloss, satin, or matte finish. Varnishes can cover and protect the entire printed material (flood varnish) or it can be used to highlight certain areas (spot varnish). In printing, a coating unit is used for flood varnishes and a plate is created for spot varnishes.

violator

Violators are stickers that are applied directly to the exterior of music packaging (or its shrink wrap) to announce something about the music or packaging content. They are applied over the packaging design scheme therefore their design "violates" the design that they are adhered to (thus the term "violator").