Printing Terminology

Date:2009-8-24 16:11:00

Below is a list of definitions for some rigid (set-up) box terminology:

Base - The lower portion of the box that normally holds the item.

Basewrap - The paper being laminated to the base of the PAPER BAG.

Blank - The unfinished cardboard base or lid of the box still flat.

Box - A complete base and lid.

Caliper - Refers to the thickness of the cardboard used for the PAPER BOX.

Closing - Placing lids on the base of the box.

Cotton - A special non-tarnishing fiber that lies in the base of the box to protect and enhance the value of the product in the box.

Deboss - A process similar to hot stamping where your logo or design is slightly pressed into the paper without any hot stamping foil.

Die Cutting - The process of cutting the shape of your box out of a larger piece of cardboard. Boxes are formed using die cutting instead of scoring normally on larger runs.

Emboss - A process similar to hot stamping where your logo or design is slightly raised on the paper without any hot stamping foil.

Filler - Products such as foam, cotton, or pads that are normally placed in the base of the box.

Foam - A filler that normally has a simulated velvet laminated on top to provide the highest perceived value for the product in the box. Foam can also be die cut to hold high-end jewelry products such as rings or other fine jewelry.

Hot Stamping - The process by which a logo or your identity is transferred to the paper of the box through heat, pressure, and special stamping foils. This process is preferred over Printing when you want a single vibrant color or glossy look to your logo and is perfect for shorter runs.

Lid - The upper portion of the box that fits on top of the base of the box.

Lidwrap - The paper being laminated to the lid of the box.

Master Packing - The process of placing smaller corrugated cartons into a larger corrugated carton. For example, many of our boxes are packed 100 in to a corrugated carton, then five of these cartons are placed in one master carton of 500 boxes total.

Neck - A piece of cardboard that is normally inserted into the lid of the box to provide more room (or clearance) for the item in the base of the box.

Nest - When a smaller box is placed inside a larger box normally to save freight costs and space. This also sometimes refers to the process of nesting lids or bases when they are stacked inside each other in a zigzag process.

Pack - The process of having to insert into the base of the box, then placing the completed box into a corrugated carton.

Pad - Normally refers to a filler for a box that consists of a piece of cardboard laminated with a simulated velvet. The cardboard is then normally die cut to hold various jewelry items such as earrings, necklaces, or bracelets.

Palletize - Placing several corrugated cartons of completed boxes on a wooden structure (normally 40" x 48" and about 6" high). This facilitates the movement of the completed boxes in your facility.

Platform - A folded piece of cardboard that is normally placed in the base of the box to support a product such as a gift certificate. A 2-sided platform has two legs which keep the platform raised and a 4-sided platform has four legs which keep it raised.

Printing - The process by which graphics or your identity is transferred to the paper of the box through offset printing. This process is preferred over hot stamping when you have a multi-color logo or complex graphics. Also because of set-up costs, this process is sometimes preferred over hot stamping for very long runs.

Ribbon - A decorative item that can be placed around a box to keep it shut.

Score Line - The center of the line formed where a box bends. The size of a box is normally measured from score line to score line.

Scoring - The process of using a series of knives to cut or create grooves in the cardboard so that it may bend to form a box. Boxes are formed using scoring instead of die cutting normally on shorter runs.

Shrinkwrap - Wrapping a roll of plastic around palletized cartons to keep them all in place. This can also refer to the process of placing plastic around an individual box and placing into a heat tunnel to shrink the plastic over the box.

Telescope - Describes a box where the lid height is the same as the base height.

Thumbhole - Usually a half-moon cut made in the sides of the lid to facilitate its removal from the base of the box.

Tightwrapping - The process of covering the lid or base of the box tightly with a piece of paper covered in adhesive.

Turn-in - The portion of the paper which wraps on the inside of the box. Normally extends about 3/8" down each side of the box. When you are using a platform that does not come up that high, you can ask for a longer turn-in to be used (such as 1/2" turn-in).

Tray - Just the base of the PAPER BOX.

Vac form insert - A plastic insert normally with a flocked surface used to hold the product in the base of the box.