6. Glossary of Common Terms | v.20210625
6.1 Black, Border
Border black is the name of the CMYK color LongPack suggests for black borders on cards. This border black color is very consistent and more easily matched between print runs. The color formula for border black is: C: 40%, M: 0%, Y: 0%, K: 100%.
6.2 Black, Pure
Pure black is the name of the CMYK color LongPack prefers for black text, icons, and the UPC symbol. The color formula for pure black is: C: 0%, M: 0%, Y: 0%, K: 100%.
6.3 Black, Rich
Rich black should be avoided for text, small icons, and the UPC label. Rich black’s color formula is generally any combination of CMYK that looks like black.
6.4 Bleed
Bleed is the zone outside of the trim/cut area. It is art that is printed beyond the trim line so that it can be cut off. This prevents unprinted white edges from showing up on printed components.
6.5 Color, CMYK
The CMYK color model (process color, four color) is a subtractive color model used in color printing, and is also used to describe the printing process itself. CMYK refers to the four inks used in color printing: cyan, magenta, yellow, and key (black).
6.6 Color, RGB
The RGB color model is an additive color model in which red, green, and blue are added together in various ways to reproduce a broad array of colors. The name of the model comes from the initials of the three additive primary colors. Not all colors in the RGB colorspace can be reproduced in CMYK.
6.7 PPI
PPI stands for Pixels Per Inch, and pertains to the resolution of an image. It is a metric that measures how much visual data is contained within a graphic. All images within files submitted to LongPack must be at least 300ppi, the industry printing standard.
6.8 Dielines
A dieline is a vector graphic used to convey to a machinist how to create a punch out. It can also be used by graphic designers to assist in the proper layout of a document that will be diecut.
6.9 Margin - (a.k.a. Inner Bleed / Safe Zone)
A margin is the zone between the trim/cut area and the content/art. The margin prevents the art from being trimmed off of the document and the eye from tracking drift. In some instances, the margin is the border.
6.10 Overprint
Overprinting refers to the process of printing one color on top of another in reprographics. Overprinting allows the printer to create crisp text and avoid visual drift.
6.11 Raster
An image or text made of individual pixels (not vector format). Raster graphics can be shrunk but not enlarged. Photoshop is a program that generates raster graphics.
6.12 Trim Size
The trim size is the final size of your component after the bleed has been trimmed off.
6.13 Vector graphics
Vector graphics use mathematical formulas to describe shapes in computer graphics. Vector graphics are based on Bézier curves that allow the user to shape the graphic. Vector graphics can be infinitely scaled. Illustrator is a program that generates vector graphics.