Wednesday, May 22, 2019
Aqueous Coating (AQ):


We have two different batch sizes 28" x 20" or 40" x 28". Jobs with the same type and quantity are collected on the same batch. For example, all business cards and postcards 4/1 1k are collected and printed on the same batch.

The finishing department, which performs operations on the printed product after it has been printed. The bindery operations are as follows: Folding, Binding, Stitching, Scoring, Perforation, Die Cutting, & Envelope Converting.


Black can also be a problem for designers. This problem often occurs during RGB to CMYK file conversions, and is caused by RGB and CMYK's inability to recognize each others black values; a black color is represented as a "negative" value of "0,0,0" on the RGB color scale, whereas, a CMYK color scale represents black with a "positive" value (e.g. 75% Cyan, 40% Magenta, 40% Yellow, and 100% Black). This occasionally leads to a situation where a rich black color that was produced in RGB, is converted to a duller, watered down color in CMYK. Unlike CMYK, that generates a wide variety of black color through variant values of cyan, magenta, yellow and black, RGB is limited to a single "0,0,0" value. This doesn't mean that RGB can't generate rich black colors, but it does mean that you have less control over blacks, when they are printed out, or transferred from file to file, and from program to program. Converting into a CMYK color scheme gives designers more control over the black color that is ultimately produced. They are no longer limited to the "0,0,0" value of an RGB black. When creating blacks in CMYK, many designers make the mistake of setting the black on the CMYK scale to 100% and turning all the other color values down to 0%. This is not, however, the best way to create a "rich" black, and it will cause blacks to print in duller, less-vivid tones. To obtain a "rich" black color, we suggest that you set the CMYK value to: 75% Cyan, 40% Magenta, 40% Yellow, and 100% Black. Commands in Major Software Programs to Convert Your RGB files to CMYK Adobe PhotoshopImage/Mode/CMYK Adobe IllustratorFile/Document Color Mode/CMYK Color Microsoft Publisher 2000Tools/Commercial Printing Tools/Color Printing/Process colors (CMYK) Quark Xpress 4.1Edit/Edit Colors/Show Colors in Use/Highlight Color and click Edit. Then change model to CMYK and de-select Spot color.

Printed colors that extend past the edge of a page. To cut the job to its actual size the processor has to make sure the job gets printed with 1/8 of an inch bleed some jobs may require more than that. For example if the job is a business card (3.5" x 2") the file size with full bleed would be (3.75" x 2.25").

Border ExampleAn outline around graphics, text or edge of a sheet.

Refers to the percent of light reflected back from a sheet of paper as measured by a light meter reading. Contrast is reduced and highlights are not as strong when paper with a lower brightness is used for a printed piece. Papers have different brightness grades, for example Tango has 91 brightness, Balboa ha 90 brightness.

Bulk Mail:
Standard Mail or Third Class Mail.

C1S paper:
Paper coated on one side.

C2S paper:
Paper coated on both sides. Our 14pt and 16pt paper are examples of C2S. (AQ Coating or UV Coating are
seperate options and are not effected by this)

Card Stock:
Also called cover stock. Mostly heavyweight papers are called cards stock. The thickness of card stock is indicat­ed with point sizes such as 14pt, 16pt. Some people will also refer to 100lb gloss cover as a card stock.

Carrier Route:
The address to which a carrier delivers mail. In common usage, carrier route includes city routes, rural routes, highway contact routes, post office box sections, and general delivery units.


The primary colors used in 4-color printing. CMYK are used to reproduce full color on the printed sheet. CMYK also called PROCESS COLOR:
Cyan (Blue)
M: Magenta (Red)
Y: Yellow
K: Key (Black)

CMYK is made up of four colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black. In full-color process printing, CMYK is the standard method for offset printing. In the printing process, CMYK colors are measured by their subtractive/ reflective values; when the colored ink is applied to paper, the surface of the paper reflects some color and the non-reflective (that is, ab­sorbent) color is seen. CMYK colors are obtained by mixing the strengths of each color to produce a new color. The colors are mixed in percentages: 0% represents no color, whereas 100% represents a maximum use of color.

The mixture of clay materials that are applied to paper to improve the smoothness of the paper's surface and im­prove ink holdout during the printing process. Examples are Aqueous coating (AQ) and UV coating. UV coating adds a gloss finish to the product and also improves the vibrancy of the printed colors. Spot-UV can be applied to selected portions of the piece, while keeping the rest a matte finish.

Coding Accuracy Support System (CASS):
A service offered to mailers, service bureaus, and software vendors that improves the accuracy of matching to delivery point codes, ZIP+4 codes, 5-digit Zip Codes, and carrier route codes on mail piece. CASS provides a common platform to measure the quality of address matching software and to diagnose and correct software problems.

Prepress Department that imposes multiple jobs of the same type in a press layout, called a batch. Collecting is responsible for creating schedules that meet production deadlines and satisfy job turnarounds.

Collect on Delivery (COD):

Color Spectrum:
The CMYK process is not without its own drawbacks. One of the ma­jor difficulties of CMYK is its recognition of the color blue. When blues are converted into CMYK, they have a tendency to print in purple. This is because blues are very closely related to purples in the CMYK color scheme. To create a purple color in CMYK, there are two variations of color strengths: 80% cyan/90% magenta, and 100% cyan/100% magenta. To create a blue, very similar color strengths are applied: 100% cyan/60% magenta. Because the creation of purple and the creation of blue are so similar, any small error that occurs while creating the document, taking it to pre-press, or printing it out, can change the color from blue to purple. To prevent this color change, we recommend that you reduce the amount of Magenta in your file to increase the likelihood that the color will remain blue when printed. CMYK also has difficulty with dark reds. When dark reds are converted and printed, they have a tendency to print as dark browns. Like blues and purples, dark reds and dark browns have similar color percentages. Creat­ing a dark red in CMYK requires 100% magenta/100% yellow/60% black. Creating a dark brown requires 70% magenta/100% yellow/80% black. To keep your dark reds from printing as dark browns, we recommend that you reduce the amount of Black in them. The way that color is viewed on-screen can cause printing issues. A color will never print out to exactly to match its on-screen source. Colors vary from monitor to monitor, and different printers produce different color results. All these variables affect the printed outcome. To better avoid these problems, it is always preferable to view files in CMYK format. This will never be 100% accurate, but it will give you a better representation of your printed file. When using RGB and CMYK, it is important that you design, view and upload your files in CMYK. Most pro­grams will allow you to view your file in CMYK mode, and we have a list of instructions on how to use CMYK in most programs.

Color Types:
4:4 (4 over 4) - 2 sided full color on front and on back
4:1 (4 over 1) - 2 sided full color on front, black on back
4:0 (4 over 0) - 1 sided full color on front
5:0 (5 over 0) - 1 sided full color + either Silver, Metallic, Foil Worx or Akuafoil on front
5:1 (5 over 1) - 2 sided full color + either Silver, Metallic, Foil Worx or Akuafoil on front, black on back
4:5 (4 over 5) - 2 sided full color on front and full color + either Silver, Metallic, Foil Worx or Akuafoil on back
5:4 (5 over 4) - 2 sided full color + either Silver, Metallic, Foil on front and full color on back
5:5 (5 over 5) - 2 sided full color + either Silver, Metallic, Foil on front and on back

Color Proof / Epson Proof / Match Print:
An image, created by using color inks. Showing what the final printed product will look like. Color proofs are called Epson proofs and are a 80%-85% match with the final product.

Consecutive Numbering:
Numbering a form, or a series of printed material where the number changes sequentially from one to another. Example, if the first one has number 201, the second will get 202, the third would be 203 and so on.

Crop Marks (Guide Marks):
Crop Marks ex.Lines printed in the margin of sheet that indicates to the cutter and bindery where the finished product should be trimmed.

Die Cutting:
Die Cuttting ex.A specific shape like circle, star, etc (any designs that cannot be done by a straight cut) which is cut by a metal blade. Door hangers are a popular product which requires die cutting. For small quantities ask about laser cutting!

Direct Mail:

Dots Per Inch (dpi):
A measurement of resolution of input, output and display devices. 300 dpi means that when printed, each square inch of your image will contain 90,000 pixels (dots), the higher the dpi (the more pixels per inch) the more crisp the printed image will be. Our electronic (digital files) have to have a resolution of at least 300 dpi. Anything less than that is considered as low resolution and may appear blurry when printed.

Embossing ex.A process of imprinting an image by applying pressure to the back side of a material to change the surface, giv­ing it a three dimensional or raised effect. Embossing can be referred to as raised lettering. Here at 4over we DO NOT offer embossing or raised lettering.

Finished Size / Trim Size:
The size of a printed product after all production operations have been completed.

Operations to a document after it has been printed. The finishing operations could include bindery work such as, folding, trimming, binding, die cutting, inserting or any post press process that must be completed.

Flat Size:
The size of a printed product after printing and trimming but before any finishing operations that affect its size, such as folding.

The application of metallic gold or silver foil on paper using a heated die. The foil is adhered to the surface leav­ing the design of the die on the paper. Our Foil Stamp Printing adds a custom touch to your printed product by applying a thin film of metal to paper that creates a high grade, eye-catching result.


4-Panel Roll Fold:
4 panel roll fold ex.A type of fold where the piece is folded inward at one end and then folded inward again one or more times.

Accordion Fold:
Accordian fold ex.A sheet which has been printed on only one side then folded twice in right angles to form a W-shaped four page uncut section. We are able to fold up to 4 panel(8 page max). 5 panel(10 page)+ will be send out to get folded. Accordion folds are usually 100lb book papers. Such as, brochures and catalogue.

Double Gate Fold:
Double Gate fold ex.Single gate fold, with an additional fold on the center.

Double Parallel Fold:
Double Parallel fold ex.A type of fold where the piece is folded in half and then folded in half again. The folds are parallel to each other.

French Fold (quarter fold):
Fr. Qtr fold ex.A sheet which has been printed on one side only and then folded twice at right angles to form a four page uncut section.

Gate Fold:

Gate fold ex.

Half Fold:

Half fold ex. Is fold in half.

Half-Tri Fold:
half tri fold ex.A sheet is folded in half and then tri-folded.

Tri Fold:
tri fold ex.A fold where a three panel piece has both side sections folded inward, one on top of the other.

Z Fold:
z fold ex.A paper fold represented by back and forth folds into three panels.

Full Bleed:
Printing that goes to the edge of all four sides of the page.

Gloss Finish:
A coating on paper that provides a higher reflection of light, which results in a shiny appearance. Gloss coatings reduce ink absorption, which allows excellent contrast and color definition.

Gloss Paper:
Paper with a gloss finish, usually used for higher quality printing. Examples are 100lb gloss book, and 100lb gloss cover. Paper with a gloss finish, usually used for higher quality printing. Examples are 100lb gloss book, and 100lb gloss cover.

Grey Scale:
A strip of paper containing gray tones ranging from white to black. So gray scale refers to black and white printed material.


The thinnest possible line or space that is visible.

Head to Head:
Printing on the front and back of a sheet is setup so that the top of both sides is printed at the same end of the sheet. You would turn the sheet like the page of a book to read the reverse side.

head to toe ex.Printing on the front and back of a sheet so that the tops of each side are printed at opposite ends from each other. The top of one side is opposite the bottom of the other. You would turn the sheet over from top to bottom to read the reverse side. Also referred to as head-to-tail or tumble.

A spot on a printed sheet that appears as a small white circle with ink in the center, caused by particles such as dirt, dust, or bits of paper.

The printing of new copy on a piece that is already printed. Examples of imprinting are ink-jetting addresses on postcards after the actual card has been printed. Please note that we DO NOT imprint or inkjet on any paper with AQ or UV Coating. The only job that can be imprinted after printing is spot UV jobs and any jobs in this category, which are as follows: Spot UV on both sides, UV one side no UV on the other side, Spot UV on one side no UV on the other side. These jobs do not get UV or AQ coating after imprinting.

In House:
When a production process for a printed product is done within a facility and is not sent to an outsider, also referred to as in plant.

Ink Jet:
A printing technology in which liquid ink is sprayed through tiny nozzles onto the paper in a pattern of dots, forming the image on the paper. Jobs with AQ or UV coating cannot be ink jet printed.

A letter, card, or similar item placed inside another mail piece (host piece).

landscape ex.

Line Screen:
A transparent screen which has been etched with fine lines. It is used to convert a picture or photograph into a halftone dot pattern so that can be printed. We do our best to maintain the fidelity of your creative intent through the complex process of reproduction in print. While printing 200 lpi may be satisfactory, we have gone one huge step further with the adoption of Staccato (or FM) screening method that brings near photographic quality. Staccato eliminates halftone screen angles, rosettes, and screening moiré while preserving the desirable details in your artwork. Our Staccato screening process employs 20 micron dot size which is equivalent to 500 lpi.



Offset Printing: The transfer of an inked image from a plate to a blanket cylinder, which in turn transfers the image to the print­ing material as it passes between the blanket and the impression cylinder and pressure is applied. Also referred to

Open End Envelope:
open end envelope ex.

Open Side (Booklet) Envelope:
booklet ex.

Out of Register / Off Register:
out of register ex.When an image is not printing in the exact location that it is supposed to. When printing more than one color, if the colors do not line up properly, they are out of register.


Printing an image over an area that has already been printed. In printing process colors, one process color is printed over another creating a secondary color, which is a combination of two primary colors. Sometimes in the files that customers send us there will be overprinting issues. Such as type or logos not printing. Customers should be aware that we do not check for this and their overprinting situation must be evaluated before sending the files to us.

Overruns / Overs:
spoiled in the process of printing. For example if our batch is 1000 quantity batch we always overrun 150-200

Pantone Matching System (PMS):
pms book ex.A registered name for an ink color matching system used to compare, match and identify specific colors.

Paper Grain:
The direction in which the fibers line up during the manufacturing process. It is easier to fold, bend, or tear the paper along the same direction of the fibers. Cut sheet laser printers generally use long grain paper in which the grain runs parallel to the long side of the paper, resulting in better performance through the laser printer.

A printing press that can print on the front and the back of the paper in one pass through the press.


Creating a series of holes so that the paper can be torn more easily along the line that is formed. Postage stamps and tearoff cards are common products that require perforation.

pixel ex.The smallest unit of a digitized image created by a digital device, such as a computer, camera, or scanner. Pixel is short for "picture element." The more pixels per inch the better the resolution. On computer monitors, the display is divided into rows and columns containing thousands or millions of pixels. Each pixel is composed of three dots representing the three color channels of red, green, and blue light that are necessary for creating a color image on computer monitors and television screens. Because of their small size, the pixels appear to merge, simulating a continuous tone image, but when magnified they appear to be tiny square blocks of light, as shown in the illustration.

A metal or paper light-sensitive sheet that holds an image that has been photographically produced. During the printing process, the image area picks up ink, which is then transferred to a blanket and then to paper.

Payment for delivery service that is affixed or imprinted to a mail piece, usually in the form of a postage stamp, permit imprint, or meter stamp.

Authorization required to mail without affixing postage. A postage imprint, also referred to as an indicia (The imprinted area in the upper right corner of the mail piece that indicates postage payment), is used instead. An advance payment is made to the post office and postage payment is deducted from that deposit.

Presentation Folder:
We offer different kinds of presentation folders, Inner pocket with round cut corner: (1 or 2, left & right pockets are optional) Inner pocket with straight cut corner: (1 or 2, left & right pockets are optional) Business card slit, left or right is also optional.

The process by which a mailer groups mail by ZIP Code so that it is sorted to the finest extent required by the standards for the rate claimed. Generally, presort is performed sequentially, from the lowest (finest) level to the highest level, to those destinations specified by standard and is completed at each level before the next level is prepared. Not all presort levels are applicable to all mailings.

Press Check:
Printed sheets from the press that are pulled once all the makeready has been completed. The sheets are checked for quality and accuracy before authorization is given to go ahead with the full production run. Sheets may be pulled throughout the run to do press checks to assure that quality is being maintained. We DO NOT do press checks for customers.

Press Proof:
A proof that is produced on the press using the inks and paper specified for that order. We do not produce press proof unless we want to check color for a rejected job.

Press Run:
The total quantity of pieces printed during one printing.

Price Break:
The order quantity level at which the price of the paper or printed material goes down.

The department in charge of making customers' files "print ready".

A copy of the artwork representing the finished product. It is used for review and approval. Here at 4over we offer two types of proof.
1. PDF proof. PDF proof is an electronic proof. We charge $5.00 to send the proof via email.
2. Epson Proof. Is a printed proof, which also called hard copy proof it is a 80%-85% match with the final printed product and it is sent through mail for the customer to approve before the job is printed. The person in charge of sending the proofs to the customer is the person who is processing the orders.

Checking a proof for errors or discrepancies from the original copy.

Drilling of holes through a stack of paper. We use hole punching if a customer wants to have that on any printed piece. Applicable & popular sizes are 1/8" & 5/16". We can provide a different size, other than above mentioned, upon request.

A price, given by the printer or distributor, based on the specifications supplied for that product. We can give a price quote or any custom job.

Register Marks:
The printed marks used to align color separations for printing so that each color registers with each other.

The measurement of output quality expressed in pixels (dots) per inch on a computer monitor or dots per inch on printedmedia. For example, a monitor displaying a resolution of 800 by 600 refers to a screen capable of displaying 800 pixels ineach of 600 lines, which translates into a total of 480,000 pixels displayed on the screen. When referring to printed media, a 300 dpi (dots per inch) printer for example, is capable of outputting 300 dots in a one-inch line, which means that it has the ability of printing 90,000 distinct dots per square inch (300 x 300).

RGB ex.The additive primary colors, red, green and blue, used to display color in video monitors. Printing with a file in RGB color mode will produce a washed out appearance. 4over does not check files for RGB. That responsibility falls to the customer before submission of the files. The RGB color process and the CMYK color process work in opposite ways. An RGB color scheme forms color through an additive process; to obtain white, all 3 colors are added together, and to obtain black, all 3 colors are removed. In contrast, the CMYK printing process obtains white by omitting all color, and obtains black by using all four colors.One of the major benefits of RGB color is its capacity to produce many more colors than CMYK can. Unfortunately, RGB colors cannot be correctly converted into CMYK. People often find that a color, especially a neon color, created in RGB can't be converted correctly into CMYK but instead appears as an "out of gamut" color, which is usually dark and "muddy". To spot these color errors, and to prevent printing nightmares, it's imperative that all files are uploaded in CMYK format before any printing occurs.


Round Cornering:

round cornering ex.

Saddle Stitching:
The method of binding the pages of a section where the folded pages are stitched through the fold from the out­side, using a wire staple (stapling).

Samples of a completed job (a small quantity of the actual job) can be requested to be shipped to your billing ad­dress when drop shipping to your customer.

A crease applied, in a straight line, to a sheet of paper to allow it to fold easier and more accurately.
Based on our equipment we score any sizes between: 3" x 4" (min) to 11" x 17" (max) on 100lb book, 14pt & 16pt papers.
Score in half, is the most popular.

Set Up:

Shrink Wrapping:
A method of wrapping packages or products with a plastic film and then applying heat so that the wrap fits tight to the product. Shrink-wrapping is used to package a product in specific quantities and is also used for protec­tion purposes. It also adds some stability to the product when storing. Also referred to as plastic wrapping. We do not offer shrink-wrapping.


Skid / Pallet:
A wooden platform used to hold stacks of paper or cartons. Used to store or ship materials or finished products.


Cutting paper by the use of a cutting wheel. Paper may be slit into smaller sheets or a web of paper may be slit into narrower rolls. A slit can also refer to cuts made that do not divide a sheet. For example, on a presentation folder smaller diagonal slits can be made on the pockets where business cards can then be displayed.

Spiral Binding:


Spot Color:
Printing with one or more solid colors, generally black ink is used with the addition of other colors. It is used to add highlight and add color to a printed product without having to print with four-color process.

Stochastic Screening:
Images are converted digitally into screens made up of very small dots which are equal in size, but of variable spacing. The variable dot pattern eliminates many of the moiré patterns and allows for more than four colors to be used to represent an image. This is the primary aspect of high-fidelity printing. We do our best to maintain the fidelity of your creative intent through the complex process of reproduction in print. While printing 200 lpi may be satisfactory, we have gone one huge step further with the adoption of Staccato (or FM) screening method that brings near photographic quality. Staccato eliminates halftone screen angles, rosettes, and screening moiré while preserving the desirable details in your artwork. Our Staccato screening process employs 20 micron dot size which is equivalent to 500 lpi.

1.To assemble and combine film or negatives to produce the final film for plate making. This process is now done
electronically by many companies, bypassing the manual process altogether.
2. In reference to labels it is the removal of the matrix or waste material from around a pressure sensitive label after it has been die cut.

quantity for purposes of preparing mail to a qualify for discounted postage rates. Also see full flat tray, full letter

1. The process of cutting the product to its finished size. The excess that is cut off is also referred to as the trim.
2. Combining various roll sizes to be slit from a full width roll from the paper machine so that an acceptable percentage of the salable width will be used.

Turnaround Time:
The accumulated time between receipt of an order and completion of the finished product. We offer
different types of turnaround depending on the product, we have Next Day, 2-4 days, 5-7 days and 7-9 business
days turnaround.

The process of converting text into type used for printing.

Ultra Violet. The part of the spectrum where the wavelength of light is shorter than the wavelength of visible

UV Coating:
a uv coated jobs.

A thin, liquid protective coating, either matte or glossy, that is applied to the product. It adds protection and en­hances the appearance of the product. It can be applied as an all over coating or it can be applied as a spot coat­ ing.

The provider of a product or service. Also referred to as supplier.

Window Envelopes:
An envelope with a die cut opening that is intended to have information show through from the piece inside the envelope.

Work and Tumble:


Zipping is a way to compress electronic files A compressed file is considered "zipped."

ZIP Code:
identify a specific range of delivery addresses.

ZIP+4 Code:
A nine digit numeric code composed of two parts: (a) the initial code: the first five digits that identify the sec­
tional center facility and delivery area associated with the address, followed by a hyphen; and (b) the four-digit expanded code: the first two additional digits designate the sector (a geographic area) and the last two digits designate the segment (a building, floor, etc.) ZIP+4 barcode: A nine-digit POSTNET barcode consisting of 52 vertical bars. Also see Postal Numeric Encoding Technique.
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