Packaging words in plain English
Bleed
Extra artwork that extends 3 mm past the cut line so the edge is never white if the cut shifts.
Caliper
The thickness of paperboard.
CMYK
Cyan, magenta, yellow and black: the four inks used in full-color printing.
Corrugated
Board made from a fluted layer between flat liners. Used for mailers and shippers.
Debossing and embossing
Pressing a design into the board (deboss) or raising it (emboss).
Dieline
The flat plan of a box showing cut and fold lines.
E-flute and B-flute
Corrugated profiles. E-flute is thin (about 1.5 mm) and prints well. B-flute is thicker (about 3 mm) and protects more.
Foil stamping
Pressing a thin metallic film onto the board with heat.
Greyboard
A dense board used for rigid boxes, usually 2 mm thick.
Lamination
A thin plastic film applied to a printed surface. It can be matte, gloss or soft-touch.
MOQ
Minimum order quantity.
SBS
Solid bleached sulfate, a smooth white paperboard that prints the truest colors.
Spot UV
A glossy varnish applied to part of a design.
Tuck end
A carton with flaps at each end that tuck in to close.