Printing...

Do you know what GSM means? 

Do you know what the DPI of an image is?

Do you have any idea about paper sizes? 

Want to know more?

RED-i Design has put together a list of ten printing terms we think are handy to know. 

Term One: Acid-free paper

Acid-free paper is made from pulp containing little or no acid, so it resists deterioration from age. 

Term Two: Back-to-back

Back-to-back refers to a document that is printed on both sides of a page. Each side is counted as a single page.

Term Three: Bleed

The bleed is the additional print area around a document to allow the image or colour to run off, (or “bleed off”) the edge of the finished article. The additional area is then trimmed off once the job is complete.

Term Four: Composite

The composite is the arrangement of type, graphics, and other elements on a page ready for printing. When dispatching print-ready files to a printer, we always include a composite so they can clearly see how the files should look.

Term Five: DPI (resolution)

An acronym for dots-per-inch - the number of dots that fit horizontally and vertically into a one-inch measure. The more dots per inch the more detail is captured and the sharper the image will print. The general rule-of-thumb is 300dpi for offset print and 72dpi for online.

Term Six: GSM

Paper weight is expressed as GSM (or grams / square metre). The higher the number, the heavier the stock.  70gsm - what your newspaper is printed on, 80gsm - photocopier paper, 250gsm - a board stock used for book covers. 

Term Seven: Margin

A margin is the imprinted space around the edge of the printed material.

Term Eight: Paper sizes

In the ISO standard paper size series each successive size has half the area of the previous size.

A0 = 841 x 1189 mm, A1= 594 x 841 mm, A2 = 420 x 594 mm, A3 = 297 x 420 mm, A4 = 210 x 297 mm, A5 = 148 x 210 mm, A6 = 105 x 148 mm and DL = 210 x 99 mm. 

Term Nine: Proof

A proof is a test sheet made to reveal errors or flaws, and record how a printing job is intended to appear when finished. 

Term Ten: Dot gain

Dot gain is a phenomenon in printing and graphic arts whereby printed dots are printed bigger than intended. This happens because of the viscosity of ink and its ability to spread through the paper as it is soaked in. Dot gain varies with paper type - uncoated paper stock like newsprint paper shows the most dot gain.