Pantone colour

The brand name of a colour matching system produced by Pantone, Inc of the USA. A large range of inks are specified and identified by number to produce standard results across the industry.

A reference such as PAN199 indicates a colour in the Pantone range, in this case a bright red. In a colour swatch book the number PAN199C would indicate how the colour looks when printed on Coated or glossy stock. PAN199U indicates how the same ink appears when printed on Uncoated or matt stock. Sometimes the difference can be quite dramatic.

It is worth remembering that Pantone inks provide a much greater range of colours than can be achieved using CMYK. This is important if trying to match work printed in four colour process with that printed in special colours.

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PDF

Invented by Adobe Systems, Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) is a publicly available specification used by standards bodies around the world for secure, reliable electronic document distribution and exchange.

As an open file format specification, PDF is available to anyone who wants to develop tools to create, view, or manage PDF documents.

Preserve the look and integrity of your original documents - Adobe PDF files look exactly like the original pages and fulfil requirements for electronic filing and document security.

Anyone can open Adobe PDF documents on any system, regardless of the software platform, the original application, or the availability of specific fonts using free Adobe Reader software.

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Postscript

This page description language is a programming language optimised for printing graphics and text. In the jargon of the day, it is a page description language.

The main purpose of PostScript was to provide a convenient language in which to describe images in a device independent manner. This device independence means that the image is described without reference to any specific device features (e.g. printer resolution) so that the same description could be used on any PostScript printer (say, a LaserWriter or a Linotron) without modification. In practice, some PostScript files do make assumptions about the target device (such as its resolution or the number of paper trays it has), but this is bad practice and limits portability.

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Pre-mastering

Process to convert the data representing audio or a CD-ROM application into the data to be stored on the CD. For PC CD-ROM’s it will involve adding the ISO 9660 file structure data. Also refers to creating a disc image for a DVD-Video, DVD-Audio or DVD-ROM title, where the file system is Micro UDF.

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Q Wallet - (also known as Lancing Pack - for CDs)

The Q Wallet is a card wallet with an additional flap over the opening of the wallet. The disc is protected from both sides and can have a thumb cut or crescent cut on the disc panel which helps make removing the disc easier. The variation of panels is endless and it depends on the number of discs it needs to hold and the amount of graphics needed to display. Q Wallets can also be finished with a pocket to hold a booklet or insert with additional product information.

See Q Wallet or Lancing Pack for more details.

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Raster artwork/raster images

Raster images can be used to store all kinds of artwork including photo images, line art and text. Raster images are made up of pixels in a grid. Pixels are picture elements; tiny dots of individual colour that make up what you see on your screen. All these tiny dots of colour come together to form the images you see.

The typical computer monitor has 72 or 96 pixels per inch, depending on your monitor and screen settings. Images that are to be used in print should have a resolution of 300dpi.

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RGB

Stands for Red, Green and Blue channel. Artwork set to RGB most is mainly used for screen purposes/graphics software.

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Sandisk

A brand name of Flash memory.

For more information, see our product page on Flash memory.

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Screen printing

Silkscreen printing is not an industry standard on CD packages any longer. The silkscreen can be produced at 85 and 100 line screen. This is the traditional tactile-surfaced, somewhat grainy-imaged disc you've maybe seen over the years.

The process involves the ink being transferred to the printing surface by being squeezed through a fine fabric sheet stretched on a frame. The screen carries a stencil which defines the image area. It comes into its own when printing to difficult or unusual surfaces such as clothing or plastic objects. It is often referred to as silkscreen printing although the screens are generally made from artificial fibres.

Silkscreen is the best option when the colours you need are metallic, bright or fluorescent. Silkscreen also produces 4 colour CMYK printing as well, but not with the clarity and colour accuracy of offset.

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SD memory cards (Secure Digital)

Secure Digital or SD cards are a type of Flash memory deemed newer and a more advanced format than MMC Flash Memory. If you have no other reason to choose between the two options, it is recommended to choose SD. The image below shows two examples of SD cards.

For more information, see our product page on Flash memory.

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Shaped Discs - Cut CD

The shaped or ‘cut CD-ROM’ is the ultimate promotional CD. A shaped CD is a CD-ROM cut in to either a bespoke shape to match the artwork or to emulate the shape of an object (see the fish example).

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Slider Pack

The Slider Pack is made from high quality card and has a double draw opening system. On opening the integrated sliding drawers reveal the CD and booklet. As standard the Slider Pack will hold one CD and a booklet. However, the design can be custom designed to various shapes and sizes. The Slider Pack has a fully printable outer sleeve. The pack can also house a variety of print inserts, such as an A5 size booklet.

See CD Slider Pack or DVD Slider Pack for more details.

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Slimline Jewel Case

There are 2 types of Slimiline Jewel Cases - the maxi single - that holds the J card. The standard slimline - holds a booklet in the front - but has no spine. Both cases are only 5mm thick and unlike the Standard Jewel Case the disc tray is not removable and are made up of two pieces rather than three. Available in a variety of colours such as black, white, red, green and blue and more. The Standard Slimline Jewel Case can hold a 2page/1panel insert or up to a 14page booklet.  The Maxi Single houses a J card as standard which shows print on both sides when folded.

See CD Slimline Jewel Case or DVD Slimline Jewel Case for more details.

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SmartMedia

SmartMedia is a flash memory card standard owned by Toshiba. An example is shown below.

For more information, see our product page on Flash memory.

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Spot UV Varnish

A method of adding a gloss finish to printed surfaces. The advantage of UV varnishing is that it is similar to printing an extra colour and can be applied to selected areas to produce special effects. The UV refers to the Ultra-Violet lamp under which the varnished sheets pass for rapid drying.

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Stud Pack

Similar packaging to a digipak - a double walled printed outer but unlike a digipak the stud pack uses a foam stud or spider to firmly secure the disk in place. Depending upon quantity we are able to offer lots of variations, to include multiple panels, multiple studs/spiders. The stud pack can also be made in a variety of sizes, the standard being CD/ DVD size, but A5 available. A security tear strip seal can be added. We are able to glue booklets into a stud pack of up to 16 pages.

See CD Stud Pack or DVD Stud Pack for more details.

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Super Jewel Case

The standard super jewel case has exactly the same dimensions as the standard jewel case but with rounded corners. the flip tray version comes ready assembled and there is also a slim version. As well as the standard Super Jewel Case which can hold one or two discs, there is also a flip tray, multi and a slim version. Booklets of up to 50 pages can be used in the front of the Super Jewel Case however the rear insert is a separate paper part, with three folding edges creating spines on three sides. 

See Super Jewel Case for more details.

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Super King Jewel Case

The Super King Jewel Case is the successor to the original Jewel Case. It has many improvements over the standard jewel case, such as a new and patented hub for one or two discs, rounded corners, stronger hinges, a new locking clasp and visibility to artwork on all four spines. As well as the standard Super King Jewel Case which can hold one or two discs, there is also a flip tray and a slim version. The Super King Jewel Case can hold from a single sheet to booklets up to 32 pages thick with visibility to artwork on all four spines. We can offer screen printing directly onto the case.

See Super King Jewel Case for more details.

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TIFF images

(Tagged Image File Format) - TIFF images are resolution dependent. Resolution refers to the number of pixels in an image and is usually stated as DPI (dots per inch) or PPI (pixels per inch). TIFF images are displayed on your computer screen at screen resolution: 72 or 96 ppi. However, when printing TIFF images your printer needs much more image data than a monitor. In order to render a TIFF image accurately, the typical desktop printer needs 150-300 ppi.

If you are supplying artwork to us, we recommend that all images have a resolution of 300dpi.

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Transflash

A type of memory made by Sandisk. Micro SD memory is based on a version of this.

For more information, see our product page on Flash memory.

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Trigger Packs - (also known as Ejector Cases)

The Trigger Pack is also know as an Ejector Case. They are lightweight and virtually unbreakable and have a unique trigger mechanism which when pushed ejects the CD half way out. Push it back in and the locking arms snap it securely in place. Trigger Packs are available in a wide range of colours including blue, black, green and red. The standard Trigger Pack holds one CD. There is also a booklet version that allows the front cover to hold a printed booklet of up to 8 pages.

See Trigger Packs or Ejector Cases for more details.

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