Glossary

Glossary

Colours

• RGB colour space
  

   - These are the colours you see on screens: computers, televisions or smartphones. The abbreviation comes from the English words: Red, Green, Blue.
   - Important: RGB files are not suitable for print. We print in the CMYK system. If you send an RGB file, the machine will automatically convert it to CMYK, and the colours may differ significantly from what you see on your monitor.

• CMYK colour space
  

   - This is the colour system used in printing. The abbreviation comes from the English words: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black.
   - All print files must be prepared in CMYK colours.

• ICC profile / colour profile
  

   - This is a set of data that tells the printer how to interpret and reproduce a given colour on paper.
   - Preferred profiles:
    - For colour printing: Coated FOGRA 39.
    - For black-and-white printing: Gray Gamma 1.8 or Gray Gamma 2.2.

Quality and graphic elements

• Resolution (DPI)
  

   - This defines how many dots fit within one inch (DPI = Dots Per Inch). The higher the resolution, the sharper and more detailed the image.
   - For print, the minimum resolution is 300 DPI.

• Bleed
  

   - This is the area of the design that extends beyond the final trim edge.
   - Why is it needed? It ensures that, after trimming the sheet, the colour or graphic reaches the very edge. Without bleed, small production shifts may cause unattractive white strips to appear at the edges.

• Fonts not converted to outlines or not embedded
  

   - Always embed fonts in the PDF file or convert them to outlines (that is, into vectors). If you use a non-standard font, there is a risk that it will be automatically replaced with another default font or not printed at all.

Tools and technology

• Proof
  

   - This is a test print of your work that serves as the colour reference for the entire print run.
   - Remember that monitors display colours differently than paper. A proof helps ensure that the colours in the final print will be exactly as expected.

• Vectors
  

   - These are graphics built using geometric shapes such as lines, curves and circles.
   - Vectors can be scaled to any size without loss of quality. They are ideal for logos and simple graphics.

• Raster
  

   - This is a printing technique that creates an image from very small dots. When you look at a print from a normal distance, the dots blend together, creating the impression of continuous colours and tones.

• Bitmap
  

   - This is a digital image made up of a grid of small square points called pixels, each assigned a colour, together forming the complete image.
   - Unlike vectors, bitmaps lose quality and become “pixelated” when enlarged too much.

• PDF/X-1a
  

   - This is a professional PDF file standard created specifically for print.
   - What does this standard enforce?
    - Automatic font embedding.
    - Use of the CMYK colour space.
    - Flattening, or removing, transparency.

   - Using this standard in graphic design software automatically adjusts the file to most of our requirements.