Glossary beginning with C

Glossary of Print Terms

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C

CMYK

This is an acronym for the four process color inks used in 4-color printing: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black. Although the K commonly stands for black it does not have to. K is for "Key" plate. The Key plate holds the detail for the printed image, in 4-color printing this is usually black ink.

Coated Paper

Coated paper is paper which has been coated by a compound to give the stock certain unique qualities, including weight, surface gloss, smoothness or reduced ink absorbency. Coatings can be designed purely for aesthetics, for durability, or to create food-safe packaging. Printing on coated paper can give your piece added brilliance and character.

Color Bars

The strip of little colored squares on a press sheet or plate. These bars are a guide for pressmen to measure the amount and density of ink needed.

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Register Marks

The printed marks used to align color separations for printing so that each color registers with each other. These marks are printed using all the color separations of process printing so pressmen can check and adjust the alignment of each plate.