We understand not everyone speaks our language and sometimes terminology in the print industry can be overwhelming. esmark finch is all about making things a little more simple for you, our customer. That’s why we have created this simple dictionary: to help you understand the most common terminology used. If you’re looking for further direction around your packaging requirements we’ve also produced an innovative packaging guide. Of course we also have team members on hand with a high level of expertise and experience. So you have many channels to choose from for direction.

1. PRINT & PACKAGING DICTIONARY

2. haugh Business & Technology Park, Dublin 17, D17 XD90, Republic of Ireland
Email info@esmarkfinch.ie Web esmarkfinch.ie
er 481309 VAT Number IE 9745784 W Directors J. Mullane, D. Halton, N. Candon, R. Cedeño.
PS
9000
TM
CERTIFICATION
EUROPE
ISO
9001
TM
CERTIFICATION
EUROPE
Our objective is to be BEST IN CLASS in everything we do.
Esmark Finch is an innovative organisation providing creative & graphic design,
print & packaging, vehicle graphics & conversions combined with a comprehensive
list of online services through our unique software platform ODS. Our state of the
art 15,000 sq. foot premises is located conveniently close to the M1 and M50
motorways.
Esmark Finch can offer our clients access to premium technologies and
machinery that are unique to the marketplace.

3. The Tecpro Building, IDA Clonshaugh Business & Technology Park, Dublin 17, D17 XD90, Republic of Ireland
Telephone +353 (0)1 894 7910 Email info@esmarkfinch.ie Web esmarkfinch.ie
Company Registration Number 481309 VAT Number IE 9745784 W Directors J. Mullane, D. Halton, N. Candon, R. Cedeño.
We understand not everyone speaks our language and sometimes terminology
in the print industry can be overwhelming. esmark finch is all about making
things a little more simple for you, our customer. That’s why we have created
this simple dictionary: to help you understand the most common terminology
used.
If you’re looking for further direction around your packaging requirements
we’ve also produced an innovative packaging guide. Of course we also have
team members on hand with a high level of expertise and experience. So you
have many channels to choose from for direction.
PRINT & PACKAGING DICTIONARY

4. haugh Business & Technology Park, Dublin 17, D17 XD90, Republic of Ireland
Email info@esmarkfinch.ie Web esmarkfinch.ie
er 481309 VAT Number IE 9745784 W Directors J. Mullane, D. Halton, N. Candon, R. Cedeño.
ARTWORK
All original copy, photos and illustrations that are intended for printing.
BLEED
Image or colour that extends beyond the trim edge a finished printed piece. A 3mm to 5 mm
additional bleed is standard.
CMYK
Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black (CMYK) are the four primary printing inks that make up any
full colour printing job. Also known as the four process colours.
COATED PAPER
Paper with a coating of clay and other substances that improves reflectivity and ink holdout.
We use two types of coated paper: silk and gloss.
COATING
Applying a UV varnish coating to printed or unprinted board in 3 different finishes: matt,
satin or gloss.
PRINT PACKAGING DICTIONARY

5. The Tecpro Building, IDA Clonshaugh Business Technology Park, Dublin 17, D17 XD90, Republic of Ireland
Telephone +353 (0)1 894 7910 Email info@esmarkfinch.ie Web esmarkfinch.ie
Company Registration Number 481309 VAT Number IE 9745784 W Directors J. Mullane, D. Halton, N. Candon, R. Cedeño.
PRINT PACKAGING DICTIONARY
CROP MARKS
Lines near the edges of an image indicating area to be cut. Also called cut marks.
DIE CUT
Any operation in which a tool /a die is used to cut a shape, or hole, into a variety of substrates;
or to cut a shape into a material that can’t be achieved with a guillotine.
DIE CUTTING FORME
Tooling device for cutting irregular shapes and apertures, scoring, stamping, embossing and
debossing.
EMBOSS
To press an image into paper so it lies above the surface.
ESTIMATE
Document that states what a job will probably cost, Also sometimes worded as a quotation
and tender.

6. haugh Business Technology Park, Dublin 17, D17 XD90, Republic of Ireland
Email info@esmarkfinch.ie Web esmarkfinch.ie
er 481309 VAT Number IE 9745784 W Directors J. Mullane, D. Halton, N. Candon, R. Cedeño.
FINISHED SIZE
Size of product after production is completed, as compared to flat size. Also called trimmed
size.
GLUED
A process of converting a flat die cut carton or sleeve to a finished glued product.
GRAIN DIRECTION
Predominant direction in which fibers in paper become aligned during manufacturing. Paper is
identified as either grain short (grain is parallel to paper’s short side) or grain long (grain is parallel
to paper’s long side).
GUSSET
The fold in the side or bottom of the pouch, allowing it to expand when contents are inserted.
VARNISH BLANKET/PLATE
Re-usable vinyl piece used to apply varnish onto printed or unprinted sheets.
PRINT PACKAGING DICTIONARY

7. The Tecpro Building, IDA Clonshaugh Business Technology Park, Dublin 17, D17 XD90, Republic of Ireland
Telephone +353 (0)1 894 7910 Email info@esmarkfinch.ie Web esmarkfinch.ie
Company Registration Number 481309 VAT Number IE 9745784 W Directors J. Mullane, D. Halton, N. Candon, R. Cedeño.
HEAT-SEAL COATING
An adhesive coating applied to a packaging material that is capable of being thermo
activated by heat and pressure to form a bond.
IMAGE AREA
The actual area on the printed matter that is not restricted to ink coverage.
IMPOSITION
Imposition consists in the arrangement of the printed product’s pages on the printer’s sheet,
in order to obtain faster printing, simplify binding and reduce paper waste.
KEYLINE
The outline of a flat print used for positioning and planning the artwork to match up with the
die-cutting process.
PRINT PACKAGING DICTIONARY

8. haugh Business Technology Park, Dublin 17, D17 XD90, Republic of Ireland
Email info@esmarkfinch.ie Web esmarkfinch.ie
er 481309 VAT Number IE 9745784 W Directors J. Mullane, D. Halton, N. Candon, R. Cedeño.
PRINT PACKAGING DICTIONARY
LAMINATE
A protective film layer that maximizes strength, durability and other barrier properties after
the printing process. Comes in two varieties of finishes: matt and gloss.
PMS NUMBER
The Pantone Matching System is the universally accepted colour definition system. Colours
can be blended or individually specified to match a specified Pantone reference colour
exactly.
PROOF
A visual piece either printed or online that is created to reveal errors or flaws. A printed proof
is to record how a printing job is intended to appear when finished. Can be either digital (soft
proof) or full finished proof (hard proof).
PREPRESS
Preparation work carried out prior to the commencement of printing. For example the
creation of artwork, keyline or blanket creation and machine set ups.

9. The Tecpro Building, IDA Clonshaugh Business Technology Park, Dublin 17, D17 XD90, Republic of Ireland
Telephone +353 (0)1 894 7910 Email info@esmarkfinch.ie Web esmarkfinch.ie
Company Registration Number 481309 VAT Number IE 9745784 W Directors J. Mullane, D. Halton, N. Candon, R. Cedeño.
PROTOTYPES
Blank mock ups of your packaging for testing with your product or as marketing, samples,
focus groups, photo shoots or marketing campaigns.
SCORE
To compress paper along a straight line so it folds better. Also called a crease.
SKUS
Variants of the same product type with sometimes a unique identification number or
description.
SLEEVE (O RING SLEEVE )
Sleeves can be used as a slip to cover a box or a food tray. They can also be used for a
wrap around for other products. As they have open sides it gives you a clear unobstructed
view of your products.
UV COATING
Liquid applied to a printed sheet then bonded and cured with ultraviolet light.
PRINT PACKAGING DICTIONARY

10. haugh Business Technology Park, Dublin 17, D17 XD90, Republic of Ireland
Email info@esmarkfinch.ie Web esmarkfinch.ie
er 481309 VAT Number IE 9745784 W Directors J. Mullane, D. Halton, N. Candon, R. Cedeño.
At esmark finch we produce a wide range
of boxes, trays and sleeves. As this can get
a bit technical, let us have a look at some
packaging terminology…
BOOK STYLE BOX
DISPLAY BOX
REVERSE TRUCK END
TUCK TOP SNAP LOCK BOTTOM
SEAL END
Reverse Tuck End
Book Style Box Tuck Top Snap
Lock Bottom
Display Box Seal End
BOX TYPES
Maximum sheet size: 571 x 359mm, maximum artwork size: 559 x 343mm

11. The Tecpro Building, IDA Clonshaugh Business Technology Park, Dublin 17, D17 XD90, Republic of Ireland
Telephone +353 (0)1 894 7910 Email info@esmarkfinch.ie Web esmarkfinch.ie
Company Registration Number 481309 VAT Number IE 9745784 W Directors J. Mullane, D. Halton, N. Candon, R. Cedeño.
SLEEVE
ROLL END TRAYBAG BOX WITH AUTO BOTTOM
SIMPLEX TRAY
TUCK TOP AUTO BOTTOM
FOUR CORNER TRAY WITH LID
DISPENSER BOX
STRAIGHT TRUCK END
GABLE TOP WITH AUTO BOTTOM
SIX CORNERS TRAY
FOUR CORNERS TRAY
PILLOW BOXSleeve
Roll End tray Six Corners Tray
Simplex Tray
Pillow Box
Dispenser Box
Gable Top with
Auto Bottom
Bag Box with Auto Bottom Four Corners Tray
Four Corners Tray
With Lid
Straight Tuck End
Tuck Top Auto Bottom
Maximum sheet size: 571 x 359mm, maximum artwork size: 559 x 343mm

12. haugh Business Technology Park, Dublin 17, D17 XD90, Republic of Ireland
Email info@esmarkfinch.ie Web esmarkfinch.ie
er 481309 VAT Number IE 9745784 W Directors J. Mullane, D. Halton, N. Candon, R. Cedeño.
h Business Technology Park, Dublin 17, D17 XD90, Republic of Ireland
ail info@esmarkfinch.ie Web esmarkfinch.ie
The Tecpro Building, IDA Clonshaugh Business Technology Park, Dublin 17, D17 XD90, Republic of Ireland
Telephone +353 (0)1 894 7910 Email info@esmarkfinch.ie Web esmarkfinch.ie