Glossary of terms from A to Z

Understand materials, technology and sign production.

A practical overview of terms used in sign production, printing, graphics, materials and processing. Find out what technical terms mean, which technologies are used and what different materials are suitable for.

A

ABS edge: Plastic edging used to cover the sides of chipboard and MDF components. It is supplied in decors matching the board. In our cutting centre we use Hranipex edges in 0.5, 1 and 2 mm thicknesses.Edge banding
Acrylic (Plexiglas): A plastic known as PMMA, available in clear, opal and coloured versions. It is used for illuminated signage, 3D letters, displays and interior elements. It is usually processed by cutting, milling, laser cutting and bonding.
Aluminium composite panel (ACP, e.g. ALUBOND): A lightweight sandwich material made of two aluminium layers and an inner core, also known by the trade name ALUBOND. It is used for advertising boards, cladding and information systems, usually in thicknesses of 2, 3 and 4 mm. It is processed by cutting, milling and, with the right type, bending. For exterior and construction applications, choosing the right core is important.

B

Backlit material: Material designed for backlit advertising. Light passes through the printed surface and makes the graphics stand out. It is used in city lights, light boxes and other backlit applications. It is available as special papers, films and fabrics.
Banner (PVC tarpaulin): A flexible material for making advertising banners and large-format advertising. Common weights are approximately 440–510 g/m². The edges can be welded or reinforced and fitted with metal eyelets. It is used indoors and outdoors.
Bigboard: A large-format advertising structure, often located along main roads and traffic routes. The standard size is 9,600 × 3,600 mm. The graphics can be printed on BlueBack paper, PVC banner or self-adhesive film, depending on the type of structure and the length of the campaign.Advertising space rental
Billboard: An outdoor advertising structure with a standard size of 5,100 × 2,400 mm. The graphics are usually printed on BlueBack paper of approximately 115–150 g/m². For long-term campaigns, PVC banner or self-adhesive film can be used if the structure allows it.Advertising space rental
Bleed: Artwork extending beyond the final size of the printed piece to prevent white edges after trimming. A 3 mm bleed is often used for standard print; for large-format production it depends on the technology and finishing method.
BlueBack paper: Special billboard paper with a blue back that prevents older advertising from showing through. The usual weight is approximately 115–150 g/m². It is used mainly for pasting billboards and for short- to medium-term outdoor campaigns.
Bookbinding: The way individual pages are joined into a book, catalogue or brochure. Common methods include saddle stitching, perfect binding and hardcover binding.

C

Carcass: The load-bearing structure of a cabinet – sides, bottom, top and back. Doors, drawers and fittings are mounted on the carcass.
City light (CLV): An advertising display case, usually internally lit, located at public transport stops, in cities and shopping centres. The usual poster format is 1,185 × 1,750 mm. City light/backlit paper, often 140–150 g/m², or a suitable backlit film is used.Advertising space rental
CMYK: The colour model used in four-colour printing. It consists of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y) and black (K). Unlike RGB, which is used for screens, it works with colours applied to the printing material.
CNC machining: Computer-controlled processing of materials, for example by milling, drilling or cutting. It is used in the production of furniture, advertising structures and precise components made of wood, plastics or other suitable materials.
Collating: Arranging printed sheets or book signatures in the correct order before finishing a book, catalogue or brochure.
Colour profile (ICC): A data profile describing the colour reproduction of a specific device or colour space. It helps convert colours between monitor and print and achieve consistent results.
Colours 4/0, 4/4: Indicates the number of printing colours on the front and back. For example, 4/0 means four-colour printing on one side only, 4/4 means double-sided four-colour printing.
Compact board: A board made entirely of layers of high-pressure laminate. It is resistant to moisture, impact and heat, so it is used for worktops, window sills and sanitary areas.
Contour cutting: Cutting printed graphics along a defined path. It is used for stickers, logos, labels and shaped advertising elements. The cut is prepared in the graphic file as a separate vector line.
Corporate identity (CI): The consistent identity of a brand or company. In sign and advertising production it mainly concerns its visual part (corporate design): logo, corporate colours, typography and the rules for their use. It ensures a consistent brand look on advertising materials, vehicles, buildings and digital media.
Creasing: Making a crease in paper or cardboard before folding. It reduces the risk of the surface layer cracking and helps create a precise fold. It is used for packaging, invitations, envelopes and folded print.
Crop marks: Marks in a print file indicating the final size of the printed piece. They help with accurate trimming. They are usually used together with bleed.
CTP (Computer to Plate): A technology for producing printing plates directly from digital data. It is used in offset printing and removes the need for the traditional film step.
Custom-shaped component: A component that is not rectangular – for example with a radius, chamfer or cut-out. The shape is made by CNC milling; we edge custom shapes with a Festool CONTURO handheld edge bander.Custom components for joiners
Cutting plan: The layout of individual components on a board before cutting. The aim is to use the material efficiently, reduce waste and keep the dimensions and decor direction.Panel cutting

D

Decor: The surface pattern of a laminated board or edge – plain colour, woodgrain or stone effect. With woodgrain decors the grain direction is important and is already taken into account in the cutting plan.
Density: The optical density of printing ink or a printed area. It is measured with a densitometer and helps check print consistency.
Die cutting: Shaped cutting of paper, cardboard or other material. It allows the production of packaging, labels, display elements and printed pieces in unusual shapes.
Digital printing: A technology that prints directly from a digital file without making traditional printing plates. It is suitable for small and medium runs, personalised printing and jobs with frequent changes to the artwork.
DPI (Dots per Inch): The number of printed dots per inch (25.4 mm). It describes the resolution of a printing device. For the resolution of digital photos, the unit PPI is more accurate.
Drilling components: Preparing holes for hinges, dowels, fasteners and shelf supports so that the furniture can be assembled straight away.Drilling and hole preparation
DTP (Desktop Publishing): Digital preparation of documents and graphics for print. It includes typesetting, image editing, colour settings and creating correct print data.

E

Eco-solvent printing: Inkjet printing using solvent-based inks intended for compatible materials. It is used mainly for stickers, advertising films, banners and wraps. For some applications additional lamination is recommended.
Edge banding: Applying an edge to the side of a component to protect the board from moisture and damage and to complete its look. We edge straight components on an edge banding machine and custom shapes with a Festool handheld edge bander.Edge banding
Embroidery: Decorating textiles with an embroidery machine – for example a logo on T-shirts, sweatshirts, caps or workwear. It is durable and looks high-quality.Corporate apparel and merchandise
Engraving: Creating text, marks or decorative designs on the surface of a material. It can be done mechanically or by laser, for example for information plates, product marking and promotional items.

F

Fittings: Functional furniture elements: hinges, runners, lift mechanisms, handles and fasteners. We are an authorised dealer of Häfele fittings.
Folding: Folding printed paper into the required format. It is used for flyers, brochures, manuals and leaflets. Common types include single fold, accordion fold and roll fold.

G

Grammage: The weight of a material per unit area, expressed in g/m². For example, office paper is usually 80 g/m², business card stock approximately 300–350 g/m² and PVC banners often 440–510 g/m².
Graphic design: The visual development of a brief before production. It includes composition, texts, colours, photos and the layout of graphic elements with regard to the final format and production technology.

H

Halftone (screen): A way of reproducing an image using dots or picture elements. In printing it makes colour gradients and shades possible. Various types of halftone screens are used in the printing industry.
HPL: High-pressure laminate – a thin, very durable decorative layer. It is used for the surfaces of worktops, furniture and heavily used areas.

I

Illuminated signage: An advertising element with its own lighting. It can be illuminated letters, logos or light boxes. It often uses LED technology, and the structure can be made of aluminium, acrylic or other suitable materials.Illuminated and non-illuminated signage
Imposition: Arranging pages on a press sheet so that after printing, folding and trimming the pages are in the right order. It is used mainly for brochures, catalogues and books.
Imprint: A set of publishing and technical details about a publication. It can include information about the publisher, printer, year of publication and other details.

K

KAPA board: A lightweight board with a foam core and surface cover layers. It is used for indoor advertising boards, exhibition displays and graphic panels. Common thicknesses are 3, 5 and 10 mm.

L

Label: A printed paper or film element used to mark a product. It can be self-adhesive, paper, plastic or made of special materials depending on durability requirements.
Lamination: Applying a protective film to printed material. It can be matt, gloss or textured. It protects the print from mechanical damage and, depending on the film, from other external influences.
Large-format printing: Printing for producing large advertising and graphic applications. It is used for banners, billboards, wraps, wallpaper and advertising boards. The choice of technology depends on the material, size and required durability.Print and large format
Laser cutting: Precise cutting of material with a laser beam. It is suitable, for example, for acrylic, wood or some metals, depending on the type of machine. Not all materials are suitable for laser processing.
Latex printing: Large-format digital printing using mainly water-based inks with a polymer component. It is used for films, banners, wallpaper and other compatible materials. The ink is dried and cured with heat during the process.
LED advertising: Advertising that uses LEDs for lighting or displaying content. It is used for illuminated lettering, logos, light boxes and digital screens.Illuminated and non-illuminated signage
Logotype: The graphically designed name of a brand that forms part of its visual identity. It can stand alone or be combined with a graphic symbol.

M

MDF: A board made of fine wood fibres. It has a homogeneous structure and is easy to mill and lacquer, so it is used for lacquered doors and shaped components.
Melamine-faced chipboard: Chipboard with a surface of resin-impregnated decorative paper. The most widely used material for the carcasses of kitchens, wardrobes and furniture. The usual thickness is 18 mm.Panel cutting
Mesh banner: Perforated PVC mesh that partly lets air through. It is used for large-format advertising on buildings, fences and structures. Common weights are approximately 270–370 g/m², depending on the specific product.
Milling: Machining material with a rotating tool. It is used for shaped cutting, making holes, grooves and edge profiling. In sign production it is often used for plastics, wooden boards and composite materials.
Mock-up: A physical or digital model of a product before final production. It is used to check dimensions, appearance, construction and function. It helps reveal errors before the whole order is produced.
Mounting (lamination onto board): Bonding two or more materials together across the whole surface with adhesive. For example, gluing printed paper onto cardboard, board or a rigid panel. It is used in the production of packaging, advertising panels and displays.

O

Offset printing: An indirect printing technology in which ink is transferred from the printing plate via a rubber blanket onto paper. It is particularly suitable for larger runs of catalogues, flyers, magazines and other printed materials.
One Way Vision (OWV): Perforated self-adhesive film used mainly on windows and glazed surfaces. It shows advertising on one side and allows a partial view from the other. The final effect also depends on lighting conditions.

P

Pad printing: A technology for transferring ink onto an object using a flexible pad. Suitable for printing smaller products, promotional items and some uneven surfaces.Promotional items
Panel saw: A machine for precisely cutting panel materials – chipboard, MDF, plywood or worktops – into components of the required size.Panel cutting
Pantone (PMS): A standardised colour identification system often used in corporate identity. It allows the required shade to be specified precisely. Not all Pantone colours can be reproduced identically with standard CMYK printing.
Pixel: The smallest addressable picture element of a digital raster image. The number of pixels together with the final size affects how sharp a photo looks in print.
Plotter (cutting plotter): A device for precisely cutting films and other compatible materials according to digital data. It is used for producing stickers, lettering, wraps and contour cutting.
Polymeric film: Self-adhesive PVC film with polymeric plasticisers, usually more dimensionally stable than monomeric film. Suitable for medium- to longer-term applications on flat or slightly curved surfaces according to the manufacturer's specification.
POS / POP advertising: Presentation elements at the point of sale, such as stands, displays, product shelving, price tags and eye-catchers. Their purpose is to make a product visible and support sales.
PPI (Pixels per Inch): The number of image pixels per inch at a given image size. For quality print viewed up close, approximately 300 PPI is often used; for large-format advertising much less may be enough.
Print run: The number of pieces produced in one print job. When choosing the technology it affects the unit price, production method and whether digital or offset printing is more economical.
Print-ready PDF: A PDF file prepared according to the requirements of a specific printing technology. It should have the correct size, properly embedded fonts and graphics and, where needed, bleed or crop marks.
Proof: A test print used to check the artwork and, where relevant, colours before final production. For reliable colour checking it must be produced and assessed under controlled conditions.
PUR adhesive: Polyurethane adhesive for edge banding. It creates a thin, strong joint that is more resistant to moisture and heat than standard hot-melt adhesives. We use it in clear or white.Edge banding

R

RGB: A colour model using red, green and blue light components. It is used mainly for monitors, phones and digital screens.
Roll-up: A portable advertising stand with a roll-up mechanism. After use, the graphic retracts into the base. Common widths are 85 and 100 cm; the graphic is usually about 200 cm high depending on the model.Print and large format

S

Screen printing: A printing technology in which ink passes through the open areas of a printing screen. It is used for printing on textiles, plastics, promotional items and other materials.
Self-adhesive film: Film with an adhesive layer used on advertising boards, shop windows, vehicles and interior surfaces. Depending on production and properties, there are for example monomeric, polymeric and cast films.
Sign installation: Installing advertising boards, illuminated lettering, films or structures. It includes fixing, positioning and, where needed, electrical connection. The installation method depends on the substrate, dimensions and safety requirements.
Solid wood: Furniture or a component made of natural wood, not of engineered board. When processing it, the natural movement of the wood must be taken into account.
Spot UV varnish: Varnish applied only to selected parts of a printed piece, for example a logo or title. It creates a glossy or tactile contrast and is used for premium business cards, packaging and catalogues.

T

Typesetting: Arranging texts, images and other graphic elements on a page. It includes setting the typography and layout and preparing the final form of the document.

U

UV printing: A digital technology using inks cured by ultraviolet light. It allows printing on a variety of rigid and flexible materials. Some machines can also print white ink or varnish.

V

Vector graphics: Graphics made of mathematically defined lines, curves and shapes. They can be enlarged without losing sharpness. Suitable for logos, film cutting, CNC production and preparing large-format advertising.
Vehicle wrap: Applying self-adhesive film to a vehicle. It can be advertising branding, a partial wrap or a full wrap. For complex shapes, cast films designed for wrapping are mainly used.Vehicle wraps
Veneer: A thin sheet of natural wood glued onto a core board. It offers the look of solid wood with lower weight and better dimensional stability.

W

Worktop: The top surface of a kitchen unit or work table. It is made mainly of melamine-faced chipboard, compact board or solid wood.

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