"The ABCs of Printing: A Simple Guide for the Entrepreneurs "

A
Absorbency: How much liquid the paper can soak up. If the paper absorbs too much ink, it can look wet or messy.
Absorption: The process of ink drying into the paper.
Acetate: A clear, thin plastic sheet often used for overlays.
Adhesives: Glues or sticky substances used to bind materials together.
Aqueous Coating: A clear, shiny layer applied to printed items for protection and a glossy finish.
Art Paper: Smooth, glossy paper with a special coating.
A, B, and C Series: Standard paper sizes (like A4) used worldwide.

B
Barcodes: Scannable codes used for product information.
Bespoke Printing: Custom printing tailored to specific needs.
Binding: The process of holding pages together, like in a book.
Blanket: A rubber sheet on printing machines that transfers ink to paper.
Bleed: When ink goes beyond the edges of the paper.
Bulk: The order quantity in thousands 5000 and more.
Bleach Card: A high-quality, bright white paperboard made from bleached pulp. It’s strong, smooth, and perfect for premium packaging, printing vibrant colors, and fine details. Commonly used for luxury product boxes, business cards, and food packaging.Famous brand use in Pakistani printing market is Ninbgo Fold,Century etc

C
C1S and C2S: Paper coated on one side (C1S) or both sides (C2S).
Caliper: The thickness of paper, measured in thousandths of an inch.
Carbon-Balanced Paper: Eco-friendly paper that reduces carbon emissions.
Chemical Resistance: How well printed materials resist damage from chemicals.
Coating: A protective layer added to paper to prevent smudging.
Color Bars: Test strips printed to check ink quality.
Color Separation: Breaking down colors for printing.
Creep: When margins shift in folded booklets.
Crop Marks: Lines showing where to cut the paper.

D
Damping: Adding water to printing plates before printing.
Debossing: Pressing a design into paper to create an indentation.
Die-cut: Cutting paper into specific shapes using sharp blades.
Digital Printing: Fast printing using lasers, ideal for small jobs.
Dot Gain: When printed dots appear larger than intended.
Dummy: A sample print to check before mass production.
Drip-Off: A printing effect where ink is partially removed or "dripped off" from certain areas of a design, creating a faded or gradient look. It’s often used for artistic or creative designs to give a unique, textured appearance.

E
Embossing: Creating raised designs on paper.

F
Finishing: Final touches like cutting and adding gloss.
Flexography: Printing on uneven surfaces like packaging.
Font: The style of text used in printing.
Foiling: A printing technique where metallic or colored foil is applied to paper using heat and pressure. It creates a shiny, eye-catching effect, often used for logos, text, or designs on premium packaging, invitations, and business cards.

G
Ghosting: A faint duplicate image on a printed page.
Gray Scale: A range of gray shades used in printing.
Guillotine: A machine for cutting paper accurately.
Glossy Lamination: A finishing process where a shiny, reflective layer is applied to printed materials. It enhances colors, adds vibrancy, and provides protection against wear and tear. Commonly used for brochures, business cards, and packaging to create a polished, high-end look.

H
Hickey: A small imperfection on printed materials.

I
Imposition: Arranging pages for printing and folding.
Ink Set-Off: When wet ink transfers to another sheet.

K
Kerning: Adjusting space between letters for better appearance.

L
Laminate: A plastic layer added for protection and shine.
Lithography: High-quality printing using plates.

M
Metallic Ink: Ink with a shiny, metallic finish.
Monochrome: Printing in one color or black and white.
Mylar Bags: Standup pouches with or without ziplock.

Offset Printing: A popular printing method where ink is transferred from a plate to a rubber blanket, then onto paper. It’s great for high-quality, large-scale printing like brochures, packaging, and newspapers. Known for its sharp images, consistent color, and cost-effectiveness for bulk orders.

P
Pantone Color: A universal color system for accurate printing.
Proofing: Checking samples to avoid errors.

R
Ream: 500 sheets of paper.
RGB: Colors used on screens, converted to CMYK for printing.                                    Royal Park Lahore: Asia's top printing market in lahore, Pakistan providing printing and packaging services worldwide.

S
Screen Printing: Printing using a mesh, often for fabrics.
Spot Color: Custom ink colors mixed for specific designs.

T
Trim: Cutting paper to its final size.
Typography: The style and layout of text.

U
UV Coating: A shiny, protective layer dried with UV light.

W
Watermark: A faint design visible when held to light.