From bleed to GSM, CMYK to perfect binding — a plain English guide to print terminology.
Print has its own vocabulary. Not knowing the terminology leads to costly mistakes. This glossary covers the terms most likely to come up when briefing a UK print supplier.
Paper and materials
GSM: Grams per square metre — paper weight. 80gsm is copy paper; 350gsm is a business card. Silk: Coated paper with semi-gloss finish. Most common general-purpose coated stock. Uncoated: Natural feel, takes ink into the paper. More recyclable. FSC: Forest Stewardship Council certification.
Colours and printing
CMYK: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key (black) — the four inks in standard commercial printing. Pantone: Standardised colour matching system for exact brand colours. 4/4: Full colour both sides.
Artwork and files
Bleed: Artwork extended 3mm beyond the trim edge. Crop marks: Lines indicating where to trim. Print-ready PDF: PDF with embedded fonts, CMYK colours, bleed and crop marks.
Finishing
Lamination: Plastic film on the surface. Makes paper unrecyclable. Perfect binding: Flat-spine binding for paperback books. Saddle-stitched: Stapled through the fold — most common for catalogues.
Shop related products
All printed on FSC certified stocks by our verified eco supplier network.
Eco business cards, printed sustainably
FSC certified card, vegetable-based inks, UK printed. From £19.
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