Glossary

The 4 base colours used in 4 colour process printing, or full colour printing. Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black.  Cyan = blue, Magenta = red.

The process by which an image is depressed into the substrate (plastic). Generally achieved by a mixture of heat and pressure.

A printing process that using metal plates etched with the desired image. These plates (blocks) are heated and press a piece of coloured foil onto the product. The heat transfers the the foil onto the product.

 

Colour printing can be achieved by various printing methods:

Offset Printing: A commonly used technique in which the image is transferred (or ‘offset’) form a plate to a rubber blanket, then to the printing surface. The modern “web” process feeds a large reel of paper, or sheets of plastic through a large press machine in several parts, typically for several meters, which then prints continuously as the paper / plastic is fed through.   This process is ideal for creating full colour / photographic quality images on large production runs.

Screen Printing: Is the process of using a mesh based stencil to apply ink onto a substrate, whether it be t-shirts, posters, stickers, vinyl, wood or other material.  This process is best suited to 1, 2 or 3 spot colour logos.

Digital Printing: A method of printing from a digital based image directly onto a variety of media. It usually refers to professional printing where small-run jobs are printed using large-format and/or high-volume laser or inkjet printers. Digital printing has a higher cost per page than traditional offset printing methods, but this price is offset by avoiding the cost of all the technical steps required to make printing plates. It also allows for on-demand printing, short turnaround times, and even a modification of the image (variable data) used for each impression.

 

Pantone Matching System is the international printing, publishing and packaging colour language.  The Pantone formula guide provides an accurate method of selection, specification, communication, reproduction, matching and control of solid Pantone Matching System colours.  Printing inks in Pantone colours are available pre-mixed, or can be faithfully reproduced / matched using the Pantone guide’s mixing formulas. Each colour is identified by a unique Pantone name or number – the PMS number.  click here to view PMS colour chart   Please note however, that colours displayed here are being generated by your computer monitor, and may NOT be a TRUE representation of the PMS colour.  Computer monitors generate colours in RGB (Red, Green and Blue) and can achieve over 16million colour subtlties. Only around 1200 PMS colours are available.  Always refer to a Pantone Book to view TRUE colours.

The common abbreviation for polypropylene material. Polypropylene is a non-toxic material and contains NO chlorine, cadmium or other heavy metals. It is an environmentally responsible material that is 100% recyclable.

 

 

What is a Vector Image?

 

Vector images are made up of lines and curves joined together via anchor points set by mathematical calculations.

Advantages: infinitely scalable without impacting quality.

Apply exact colour values
(PMS, CMYK, RGB). Easy to edit.

Export to bitmap. Perfect for logos, illustrations, setting type, line drawings, and graphics.

File sizes are typically smaller when compared to bitmap files.

Disadvantages: not a photo editing program.

Handy tip: A vector image performs and behaves like an infinitely expandable rubber band. The edges will always remain sharp.

 

 

 

What is a Bitmap Image? 

Bitmap images are made up of tiny coloured pixels/dots arranged to a grid (dpi: dots perinch).

Bitmap images are resolution dependant.
High resolution: 300dpi – photo realistic.
Low resolution: 72dpi – online use.

Advantages: photographic quality.

Photoshop
editing tools/features/filters allowing for artistic freedom and spectacular realistic results.

Disadvantages: when scaling, pixels are added or removed, resulting in pixelation and lower
image quality.

 

(Extracted from “Tips for Production Ready Artwork eBook” by Martey Daley Graphic Design

www.martydaley.com.au

 

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