Printing terms can be confusing, especially if you don’t use them every day. Whether you’re reviewing packaging proofs or sitting in on a press check, it’s easy to get lost in the lingo. This guide breaks down frequently misunderstood printing terms so you can feel more confident asking questions, giving feedback, and getting the results your brand needs.
Corona Treatment
What it means:
Corona treatment is a surface modification process used on non-porous substrates like films. Essentially, it increases the material’s surface energy so that inks adhere better.
Why it matters:
Without it, your ink may bead up or flake off. Therefore, it’s a critical step, especially in shrink sleeves.
Trapping
What it means:
In printing, trapping involves creating a slight overlap between adjacent colors or elements to avoid visible gaps due to minor registration shifts on press.
Why it matters:
That tiny overlap can be the difference between a crisp label and one that looks misaligned.
Stepping
What it means:
Stepping is the process of duplicating your design multiple times across the width of a printing plate or digital layout to match die-cutting and substrate width.
Why it matters:
This technique maximizes efficiency and material usage while aligning with tooling and die lines. As a result, you save both time and materials.
Spot Color vs. Process Color
Spot Color:
These are pre-mixed, solid inks (think Pantone or PMS colors) used for precise brand color consistency.
Process Color:
This uses a combination of CMYK inks to create a wide range of colors or images via blending.
Common confusion:
Designers may assume CMYK can replicate brand colors perfectly, but there are limits. Spot colors offer tighter control, which is especially important for logos and critical brand elements.
Distortion
What it means:
In shrink sleeve printing, distortion refers to manipulating artwork in the prepress phase so that, once the film shrinks to fit a container, the design looks normal.
Why it matters:
If you don’t pre-distort the artwork, your logo might end up warped or unreadable after application.
Anilox Roller vs. Plate Cylinder
Anilox Roller:
A ceramic roller that meters and delivers a precise amount of ink via engraved cells.
Plate Cylinder:
Holds the actual printing plate that transfers the inked image to the substrate.
Common confusion:
Many assume the anilox does the printing. In reality, it’s the inky middleman.
Turn Bar
What it means:
A device used in web (roll-to-roll) printing that flips the material over or changes its direction while it’s moving through the press, without cutting or stopping the web. It allows you to print on both sides of the material (front and back) in a single pass.
Why it matters:
The turn bar isn’t part of the print station itself, which means it’s often forgotten. Still, it’s essential for two-sided and adhesive side printing.
Surface Varnish (Shrink Sleeves)
What it means:
On shrink sleeves, typically all ink is printed on the subsurface of the film, meaning it’s reverse printed so that it is on the inside of the sleeve. When surface varnish is applied to the outside of the sleeve, it adds a tactile finish like matte, grit, or a raised texture effect.
Why it matters:
Surface varnish is the part your customer sees and touches. It’s a key element of shelf appeal.
Understanding these printing terms goes beyond the pressroom—it empowers designers, marketers, and brand owners to make smarter decisions about packaging. The more you know, the better you can communicate your vision and get the results your brand deserves.
Need help translating your brand into print? We speak fluent “printer”, so you don’t have to.
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