CMYK
CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (Key), which are four main ink colors that will be used in most printing. Those colors are formed by the layered tiny dots to become the color and image that we see on the printing material. This is the industry standard for printing products from brochures and business cards to posters and magazines.
Bleed
Bleed means the extra margin of space around the design that extend past the trim line, it's usually about 1/8 inch (3mm). It is for ensure the printing pieces is cut to size and will not left any unwanted white edges. This is especially important for designs with background colors or images that reach the edge of the page, which if without of the bleed, a slight cutting shifts during production could leave visible gaps.
Trim Size
Trim size means the final size of the printed piece after all cutting and finishing is done, such as if you're designing a flyer that will be 8.5" x 11", then that is your trim size.
Print Run
In book printing, the term print run means the total number of copies of a book printed at one time. For example, if a publisher want 1,000 copies to be printed for a single order at once, then the print run is 1,000.
Paper Grain
Paper grain is the way how fibers line up naturally in a sheet of paper, it just like wood has a grain, so does paper. Therefore, when folding or binding along the grain will ensure a smoother and cleaner process, but binding or folding against the grain can cause cracking, wrinkling, and therefore reduces the quality of printed items.
Paper Grain FAQ
Q1: What’s the difference between grain long and grain short?
Grain long means the paper fibers run along the longest edge of the sheet, but grain short means they run along the shortest edge, which different types of grain will affect how the paper will be folded and bound.
Q2: Why does the grain direction matter in book printing?
It matters because folding or binding against the grain can cause the paper cracks or unevenness, but bind or fold align the grain with the spine makes the book stronger and neater.
Q3: How do I know if my paper is grain long or grain short?
You can try to gently bend the paper both ways, whichever direction bends more easily is the grain direction.
Pantone(PMS)
Pantone is a standardized color matching system used in printing and design to ensure color consistency across materials and devices, and each Pantone color is identified by a unique code, which makes it is very important for the color accuracy of the printing product.
Signature
What does signature mean in book printing?
In book printing, a signature is a group of pages printed together on a large sheet of paper, then folded, trimmed, and bound to use as a section of the book; you can think of it as a booklet within a book. A typical signature might have 8, 16, 32, or 64 pages, depending on the size and layout. Multiple signatures are combined during binding to create the full book, and this method helps printers produce books efficiently, maintain proper page order, and ensure smooth page turns.
Signature FAQ
Q1: Why are signatures used in book printing?
Signatures help to keep the pages in the right order and make it easier to bind books in an accurate and efficient way.
Q2: How many pages are usually in a signature?
Common signature sizes include 8, 16, 32 or 64 pages, depending on the printing press and the book’s final size.
Q3: Can I customize the number of pages in a signature?
It's possible, but most printers prefer standard sizes to reduce waste and keep costs down, which means custom sizes might cost more.
Coated Paper
Coated paper is a kind of paper with a smooth surface that makes colors and images look brighter and clearer. It’s covered with a thin layer that is similar to clay or gloss, which can prevent the ink from soaking in too much. This kind of paper is a great choice for printing photos, magazines, brochures and other things that need a fine appearance. In addition, the coated paper comes in different finishes, like glossy, matte, or satin, depending on the style you want.
Coated Paper FAQ
Q1: What is the main benefit of using coated paper?
Coated paper makes colors and images look sharper and more vibrant by preventing ink from soaking into the paper.
Q2: What types of finishes are available for coated paper?
Common finishes include gloss (shiny), matte (dull), and satin or silk (a balance between the two).
Q3: What is its common weight?
Coated paper typically ranges from 80 gsm to 350 gsm. Lighter weights (like 100–150 gsm) are used for flyers and brochures, while heavier weights (200–350 gsm) are used for covers and postcards.
Matte Art Paper
Matte art paper is coated but has a dull, non-reflective finish, it has a smooth touch and is a great paper choice to print images with soft colors and minimal shine. It is commonly used for high-end brochures, posters, or art books; it offers a refined look while still producing sharp images.
FAQ for Matte Art Paper
Q: What is matte art paper used for?
It’s often used for magazines, catalogs, posters, or art books where you want good image quality without glare.
Q: What finishes does matte art paper have?
It has a smooth, non-glossy surface that slightly softens the color and reduces reflections.
Q: What is the common weight of matte art paper?
Typical weights range from 105 gsm to 300 gsm depending on the project's needs.
Dowling Paper
Dowling paper is an uncoated paper that is often used for novels, notebooks, and office printing. It has a soft, slightly textured feel and is easy to write on, which is similar to book paper and has excellent readability.
FAQ for Dowling Paper
Q: What is Dowling paper commonly used for?
It’s mainly used for books, reports, and educational materials that requires great readability and comfort.
Q: Can you write on Dowling paper?
Yes, it’s very suitable for writing because it’s uncoated and absorbent.
Q: What is the common weight of Dowling paper?
The common weight are 70, 80, 100, 120gsm, and it depends on how thick or durable you want the paper to be.
Offset Paper
Offset paper is an uncoated paper commonly used for writing, textbooks, notebooks, and letterheads, which is great in absorbing ink and provides a natural look as well as suitable for both printing and handwriting.
FAQ for Offset Paper
Q: What is offset paper mainly used for?
It’s used in textbooks, office documents, notebooks, and anything that needs writing or printing on both sides.
Q: Can it handle inkjet or laser printing?
Yes, offset paper works well with both types.
Q: What is the common weight of offset paper?
Standard weights range from 60 gsm to 120 gsm.
Folding
Folding in book printing is the process of bending large printed sheets into smaller sections called signatures. These folds organize the pages in the correct order before binding. A single large sheet may be folded once (to make 4 pages), twice (8 pages), or more, depending on the layout. Folding is essential for producing booklets, magazines, catalogs, and hardcover books. It ensures the pages are grouped properly, reduces trimming waste, and makes the binding process faster and more accurate—especially for saddle stitching or Smyth sewn binding.
Folding FAQ
Q1: Why is folding important in book printing?
Folding arranges pages into correct order and groups them into signatures for easier and cleaner binding.
Q2: What types of folds are used in book production?
Common folds include half fold, letter fold, and parallel fold. Multiple folds create 8, 16, or 32-page signatures.
Q3: What kind of printing products usually apply folding?
Folding is essential for producing booklets, magazines, catalogs, and hardcover books. It ensures the pages are grouped properly, reduces trimming waste, and makes the binding process faster and more accurate, which especially for saddle stitching or Smyth sewn binding.
Calendering
Calendering is a finishing process, the paper will pass through a series of heated rollers to make the surface smoother and glossier. This process improves the paper’s printability by tightening the fibers and enhancing ink holdout and therefore provides sharper images and finer details.
Calendering FAQ
Q1: Why is calendering used in paper production?
It improves the smoothness and glossiness of paper, which helps achieve sharper print quality and better color consistency.
Q2: Is calendering done on all types of paper?
No, it’s mostly done on coated papers for premium printing jobs, which uncoated papers like offset paper are usually not calendered.
Q3: What printing items are usually applied to calendering?
Calendering is commonly used for coated papers in magazines, brochures, and high-end prints. The degree of smoothness can vary depending on how many times the paper passes through the rollers and how much pressure is applied.
Proof
A proof refers to a sample version of a printed project created before the final print run, which allows authors, designers, or clients to review how the book is going to look like, and checking for issues in layout, color accuracy, image quality, margins, and content. Proofs helps to discover any mistakes before mass production begins, and can be printed digitally or via offset, depending on the final production method.
Folio
What does folio mean in the world of book printing?
In book printing, a folio refers to the page number printed on each page of the book, it usually located at the top or bottom margin.
Folio FAQ
Are folios printed on every page?
Not for every book, sometimes the designers might not apply folios on chapter title pages, blank pages, or full-spread images for aesthetics purposes.
What's the difference between folio and drop folio?
A folio is the general term for a page number. A drop folio specifically refers to a page number placed at the bottom of the page.
Landscape
In book printing, the term landscape refers to the orientation of a page or book, where the width is longer than the height, which it can apply to any printing content that can benefits from wide-format visuals or side-by-side comparison.
Landscape FAQ
Q1: How is landscape format different from portrait format?
Landscape format has a horizontal layout where the width is longer than the height, but the portrait format is vertical with the height longer than the width.
Q2: When is landscape orientation commonly used?
It’s often used for photo books, portfolios, art books, calendars, and presentations that benefit from or needed a wider visual effect.
Q3: Can both hardcover and softcover books be printed in landscape format?
Yes, it can be applied to both hardcover and softcover books depending on the design and purpose.
Portrait
In book printing, the portrait refers to the vertical orientation of a page or book, where the height is longer than the width.
Portrait FAQ
Q1: How is portrait format different from landscape format?
Portrait format is vertically oriented, with the height longer than the width, but landscape format is horizontally oriented, with the width longer than the height.
Q2: What types of books commonly use portrait layout?
Portrait layout is used in novels, textbooks, manuals, journals, and most standard printed books.
Q3: Can portrait format be used for both softcover and hardcover books?
Yes, portrait format is suitable for both softcover and hardcover books and it is the most frequent orientation that used in book printing.
Justification
Justification means aligning text to ensure both the left and right sides of a paragraph are straight and even, which makes the page look neat and formal.
Justification FAQ
Q1: What is text justification used for?
Justification creates clean, even edges on both sides of the text block to give books and documents a formal, professional look.
Q2: Is justification better than left alignment?
It depends on individual's needs. The justification looks neater but it might create uneven spaces between words. Left alignment is more natural for reading and has consistent word spacing.
Q3: Where is justified text most commonly used?
Justified text is widely used in books, magazines, newspapers, and official reports where a professional and good appearance is needed.
DPI
DPI refers to a measurement of how many tiny dots of ink a printer can place in one inch of paper, the higher DPI is, the sharper and more detailed the printed image appears. For example, 300 DPI is the standard for high-quality printing like books, photos, and magazines. Lower DPI such as 72 or 150 might look fine on the screen but it is going to be blurry or pixelated when printed.
ISBN
ISBN also known as International Standard Book Number, each book will have one of their own unique ISBN number for identification purposes, which it will help people to easily find a book through this number.
Watermark
A watermark is a light mark or pattern that’s built into paper when it’s made, which normally it's only clear in visual when you hold the paper up to the light. Watermarks are used to show the paper is real or special. They don’t affect printing and often used in fancy books, certificates, or other important documents.
Watermark FAQ
Q1: Can you see a watermark on every page?
Yes, if the paper has a repeating watermark then it will appear on every sheet and is visible when held against the light.
Q2: Does a watermark affect the printing process?
No, watermarks are embedded into the paper and do not interfere with ink, printing, or readability.
Q3: Why are watermarks used in books?
They add a touch of quality and security, showing the paper’s origin or adding authenticity to limited editions or official prints.