Common Layout and printing terms

(These will be on the SkillsUSA certification test that is your final.)

accordion fold Parallel folds in a print piece, each folding in the opposite direction than the one before it so that the entire piece folds and unfolds like an accordion, but probably won’t sound like one.

bleed A term used in printing to describe the ink reaching the very edge of the paper. A "full bleed” is when the ink reaches the edge on all sides of the page. The design of the page has to go beyond the borders so that the printer can trim the excess off.

duotone When two ink colors are used in the reproduction of an image. These colors are usually black and a Pantone color, but it can be any two colors used together to recreate a black and white image that normally just used black ink. Along these same lines, there can be more colors than two, but the more colors, the more muddy and brownish the entire image becomes.

registration The fitting of two or more images to be in exact alignment with each other or one another. This is very important in the printing process when more than one ink is involved. For example, with a full color printout, there are four separate print plates, each having its own ink (CMYK). Each printing plate has a different coverage area that contributes to the overall image being printed. If printing plates aren’t in proper registration, the image will appear fuzzy or muddy.

Baseline - the line on which the bases of capital letters sit.

Bleed - layout, type or pictures that extend beyond the trim marks on a page. Illustrations that spread to the edge of the paper without margins are referred to as 'bled off'.

Caption - the line or lines of text that refer to information identifying a picture or illustration.

Column inch - a measure of area used in newspapers and magazines to calculate the cost of display advertising. A column inch is one column wide by one inch deep.

Column rule - a light faced vertical rule used to separate columns of type.

Compose - to set copy into type.

Concertina fold - a method of folding in which each fold opens in the opposite direction to its neighbour, giving a concertina or pleated effect.

Column inch - a measure of area used in newspapers and magazines to calculate the cost of display advertising. A column inch is one column wide by one inch deep.

Column rule - a light faced vertical rule used to separate columns of type.

Compose - to set copy into type.