The WTTB Print Dictionary (A-Z)

Adhesive

Glues used to stick pages, covers or materials together. Adhesive is used in books, pads, folders and other print materials.

Artwork

Your design files are considered artwork. It is what we require you to upload in order for us to print.

Artwork Guide

A type: asset-hyperlink id: 2I8zi8kUTtoCwJN8xcaSoB that shows you bleed, safe zones and fold lines to ensure you position your design correctly for print.

Artwork Technical Check

Setting up artwork can be tricky. That's why we offer two levels of artwork checks to help avoid delays or rejections and ensure the best result.

Essential Check (Free) - A basic check to make sure your file meets the minimum requirements for printing.
Technical Check (Small Fee) - A more detailed review to spot potential issues and help you achieve the best possible print result.

Bespoke

A custom print job made to your exact requirements when a standard product option is not suitable. This extends to custom sizes, speciality stocks, tailored packing and more.

Binding

Binding is how the pages are held together. There are multiple methods of binding, for example, staples, glue, wire or thread.

Bleed

The bleed is additional design that extends past the edge of your artwork. This is important, because when your artwork is trimmed, there are no white edges.

Book Super Centre

WTTB's dedicated book page where you can find everything you need to know about our number one service.

Lamination

Lamination is a thin plastic film applied to printed material to protect it and enhance its look and feel. Common options include matt, gloss, and soft touch lamination.

Landscape

Landscape describes a page orientation where the layout is wider than it is tall. It is often used for presentations, images, and designs that need extra horizontal space.

Large Format

Large format, also called wide format or POS print, refers to printing for oversized items such as posters, banners, signage, and point of sale display materials. It is used when you need graphics produced at a much larger scale than standard sheets.

Leaflet Distribution

Leaflet distribution is a service where your printed leaflets are delivered to homes or businesses in a chosen area. It is used to target specific locations for local marketing and promotions.

Lithography

Litho print, is a traditional printing method where ink is transferred from plates onto paper, making it ideal for high volume runs and consistent high quality results. It is commonly used for magazines, brochures, and other large print quantities.

Low Resolution

Low resolution, or low res, describes an image that does not have enough detail for sharp printing, so it can look blurry or pixelated. For best results, print images are typically supplied at 300 DPI.

Orientation

Orientation describes how your artwork is set, either portrait which is taller than it is wide or landscape which is wider than it is tall.

For folded items, orientation refers to the flat artwork before folding, and artwork can be single sided or double sided depending on whether you are printing one side or both sides.

The WTTB Print Dictionary (A-Z)

Print Dictionary (A-Z)

Straightforward definitions of the print terms you will see when ordering with WTTB, including file setup, binding, CMYK and Scodix finishing.

Adhesive

Glues used to stick pages, covers or materials together. Adhesive is used in books, pads, folders and other print materials.

Artwork

Your design files are considered artwork. It is what we require you to upload in order for us to print.

Artwork Guide

A type: asset-hyperlink id: 2I8zi8kUTtoCwJN8xcaSoB that shows you bleed, safe zones and fold lines to ensure you position your design correctly for print.

Artwork Technical Check

Setting up artwork can be tricky. That's why we offer two levels of artwork checks to help avoid delays or rejections and ensure the best result.

Essential Check (Free) - A basic check to make sure your file meets the minimum requirements for printing.
Technical Check (Small Fee) - A more detailed review to spot potential issues and help you achieve the best possible print result.

Bespoke

A custom print job made to your exact requirements when a standard product option is not suitable. This extends to custom sizes, speciality stocks, tailored packing and more.

Binding

Binding is how the pages are held together. There are multiple methods of binding, for example, staples, glue, wire or thread.

Bleed

The bleed is additional design that extends past the edge of your artwork. This is important, because when your artwork is trimmed, there are no white edges.

Book Super Centre

WTTB's dedicated book page where you can find everything you need to know about our number one service.

Embossing

Embossing is a finishing technique where a design is pressed from underneath to raise it above the surface, creating a textured 3D effect. It is often used for logos, titles and details on premium print.

Endpapers

Endpapers are the sheets at the front and back of a hardback book that connects the text block to the inside of the cover. They add strength to the binding and can be left plain or printed for extra impact.

Eyelets

Eyelets are small metal rings fitted into a banner or sign to reinforce holes for tying, hanging or fixing in place. They help prevent tearing and make the finished piece more durable.

Gloss Paper

Gloss paper is a smooth, shiny paper finish that makes colours appear brighter and more vibrant. It is often used for photos, flyers, and marketing materials where you want strong colour impact.

Grain Direction

Grain direction is the way the paper fibres are aligned within a sheet. Folding with the grain helps the paper bend cleanly and reduces the risk of cracking, especially on thicker stocks.

Grammage (GSM)

Grammage, measured in GSM, is the weight of paper per square metre and is used to indicate how thick and sturdy a sheet will feel. A higher GSM usually means a thicker, heavier stock.

Gutter

The gutter is the inner margin next to the binding where two pages meet in a booklet or book. Keeping important text and details out of the gutter helps ensure they stay visible after binding.

Guillotine

A guillotine is a cutting machine used to trim printed sheets to their finished size with a clean straight edge. It is used for precise trimming during production.

Hemming

Hemming is when the edges of a banner are folded over and reinforced to strengthen them and help prevent tearing. It is often used on large format prints to improve durability and finishing.

Hickey

A hickey is an unwanted spot or mark on print caused by dust or debris on the press, which stops the ink from laying down cleanly. It is most commonly associated with litho printing where tiny particles can transfer onto the sheet during a run.

Imposition

Imposition is the layout of pages on a print sheet so they end up in the correct order and orientation after folding, binding, and trimming. It ensures the finished booklet or book reads properly from start to finish.

InDesign

InDesign is an Adobe design program used to create print ready layouts such as books, brochures, and magazines. It is commonly used because it handles pages, typography, and export settings suited to professional printing.

Ink Set-Off

Ink set off is when wet or slow drying ink transfers from one printed sheet onto another, leaving unwanted marks. It is more common in litho printing and can happen when sheets are stacked before the ink has fully dried.

Lamination

Lamination is a thin plastic film applied to printed material to protect it and enhance its look and feel. Common options include matt, gloss, and soft touch lamination.

Landscape

Landscape describes a page orientation where the layout is wider than it is tall. It is often used for presentations, images, and designs that need extra horizontal space.

Large Format

Leaflet Distribution

Leaflet distribution is a service where your printed leaflets are delivered to homes or businesses in a chosen area. It is used to target specific locations for local marketing and promotions.

Lithography

Low Resolution

Make-Ready

Make-ready is the setup process carried out before a print run begins, where the press is adjusted and test sheets are checked for colour, alignment, and quality. Once make ready is complete, the job can be printed consistently.

Merchandise

Merchandise, also called promotional products or branded merchandise, refers to printed branded items that are not paper based, such as mugs, clothing, and bags. These products are used for marketing, giveaways, and brand awareness.

Micron

A micron is a unit used to measure material thickness, commonly for plastics such as PVC and vinyl. It helps indicate how thick and durable a sheet or film will be.

NCR Paper

NCR paper is a carbonless paper that creates duplicate copies when you write on the top sheet. It is commonly used for order pads, invoices, and delivery notes.

Numbering

Numbering is a print feature where each item is given a unique sequential number, often used for tickets, vouchers, and forms. It helps with tracking, security, and record keeping.

Orientation

Orientation describes how your artwork is set, either portrait which is taller than it is wide or landscape which is wider than it is tall.

For folded items, orientation refers to the flat artwork before folding, and artwork can be single sided or double sided depending on whether you are printing one side or both sides.

QR Codes

A QR code is a scannable square code that lets people use a phone camera to open a website or access digital content from a printed item. WTTB offers CAMIcodes, which work in a similar way to connect print to online content such as landing pages, menus, downloads, or contact details.

RGB

RGB is a colour mode used for screens that mixes red, green, and blue light to create colour. Because printing uses inks rather than light, RGB colours can shift when converted to CMYK for print.

Registration

Registration is how accurately different colours line up during printing so the final image looks sharp and correct. Poor registration can cause coloured edges or a blurred effect where colours do not align.

Rich Black

Rich black is a darker, more saturated black created by combining black ink with one or more CMY inks. It is often used for large solid areas to give a deeper black than using black ink alone.

Round Corners

Round corners are a finishing option where sharp corners are trimmed into a smooth curved shape. It gives a softer look and can help reduce corner wear on items handled often.

Text Pages

Text pages are the inner pages of a book that contain the main content. They are supplied separately from the cover when the job uses a split PDF setup.

Text Paper

Text paper is the stock used for the inner pages of a book or booklet. It is chosen for readability, feel, and how it handles ink across large page counts.

Thread Sewn

Thread sewn is a binding method where pages are stitched together in sections before being attached to the cover. It creates a stronger, longer lasting book and allows it to open more easily.

Trim Line

The trim line is the boundary showing where your artwork will be cut to reach the finished size. Anything outside the trim line is removed during cutting, so key content should stay inside it.

Typo

A typo is a spelling or typing mistake in your text or numbers. Checking for typos before printing is important because they will appear on every finished copy.

Uncoated Paper

Uncoated paper is a stock with a natural non shiny surface and a more textured feel than coated papers. It is easy to write on and gives print a softer, more muted look.

UV Varnish

UV varnish is a clear coating applied to print to add protection and a glossy finish, then cured instantly using UV light. It can be applied overall or to selected areas for extra impact.