The Ultimate Printing and Apparel Glossary

Welcome to the ASAP PM Printing and Apparel Glossary. Whether you are prepping artwork for a custom t-shirt run, ordering corporate promotional items, or setting up files for commercial printing, navigating industry terminology can be challenging.

Use this guide to master the terms, avoid common file errors, and ensure your final product looks exactly as intended.

Artwork Terms
Commercial Printing Terms
Apparel Terms
Promotional Product Terms

🎨 Artwork, File Preparation & Design Terms

Mastering these terms will help you avoid file rejection and ensure your designs print crystal clear.

.AI (Adobe Illustrator File)

An .AI file is a proprietary file format developed by Adobe for representing single-page vector-based drawings. Because they are vector-based, .AI files can be scaled infinitely without losing quality, making them the industry standard and preferred format for custom printing, screen printing, and promotional item branding.

  • Pro Tip: Always expand your fonts to outlines before submitting an .AI file. 

Bleed

Bleed is a printing term that refers to artwork or background color that extends beyond the trim edge of the page. Printing with a bleed ensures that no unwanted white margins appear at the edge of the sheet after it is cut to its final size. The standard industry bleed for commercial printing is 0.125 inches (1/8″) on all sides.

Crop Marks (Trim Marks)

Crop marks are thin lines printed in the corners of a sheet of paper to indicate exactly where the paper should be trimmed or cut down to its finished size. They prevent critical text or design elements from being accidentally cut off.

DPI (Dots Per Inch)

DPI is a measure of spatial printing resolution, indicating the number of individual dots of ink a printer places within a one-inch space. For high-quality, crisp commercial printing, artwork files should have a minimum resolution of 300 DPI at full output size. Lower DPI images (like standard 72 DPI web graphics) will look blurry or pixelated when printed.

.DST File Extension

A .DST file is a specialized, industry-standard data format used by commercial embroidery machines. It contains specific stitch commands, coordinates, and density settings that tell the machine exactly how to sew a logo onto apparel. Standard vector artwork must be “digitized” into a .DST file before production can begin.

.EPS (Encapsulated PostScript)

An .EPS file is a versatile vector file format used for high-resolution graphics. Because it supports scalable vector shapes and text, it is highly recommended for logos, large-format banners, and vehicle wraps.

.JPEG / .JPG File Extension

A .JPEG is a compressed raster image file format composed of pixels. While perfect for websites and digital photography, JPEGs are generally not ideal for commercial print branding or screen printing. Scaling up a JPEG causes pixelation (blurriness), and they do not inherently support transparent backgrounds or vector paths.

Vector vs. Raster Artwork

  • Vector Artwork: Built using mathematical paths and shapes (e.g., .AI, .EPS, or vector .PDF). It can be scaled infinitely from a business card to a billboard without losing sharpness. Required for screen printing and promotional products.

  • Raster Artwork: Built using a fixed grid of pixels (e.g., .JPEG, .PNG). If expanded beyond its original size, it becomes blurry and jagged.

🖨️ Commercial Printing & Binding Terms

Essential terms for business stationery, corporate printing, marketing collateral, and packaging.

C1S and C2S Paper Stock

  • C1S (Coated One Side): Paper stock that has a smooth, glossy coating on only one side, leaving the other side uncoated and easy to write on. Ideal for postcards and greeting cards.

  • C2S (Coated Two Sides): Paper stock coated on both sides, providing a premium, uniform finish. Perfect for brochures, flyers, and catalog covers.

Carbonless Paper (NCR)

Carbonless paper (frequently referred to as NCR, or “No Carbon Required”) is a chemically treated paper designed to transfer handwritten or struck impressions from the top sheet to the sheets beneath it. It eliminates the need for messy blue carbon sheets.

CMYK Color Model

CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (Black). It is the standard four-color ink spectrum used in commercial digital and offset printing. Digital screens use light (RGB) to display colors, whereas printing presses mix physical CMYK inks.

  • SEO Note: To ensure color accuracy, always convert your design files from RGB to CMYK before saving.

Coated vs. Uncoated Paper

  • Coated Paper: Has a surface sealant (matte, satin, or gloss) that restricts how much ink is absorbed. Colors appear brighter, sharper, and more vibrant.

  • Uncoated Paper: Has a porous texture that absorbs ink deeper into the fibers. It features a non-glare finish that is easy to write on, making it the perfect choice for letterheads and envelopes.

Collate

To collate means to gather individual printed sheets or sections together in a pre-determined, chronological order. For example, collating ensures that multi-page manuals, programs, or carbonless form sets are neatly stacked in pages 1, 2, 3 sequence before binding.

Die Cutting

Die cutting is a specialized finishing process that uses a sharp, custom-shaped steel blade (a “die”) to cut paper, cardstock, or plastics into unique shapes that cannot be achieved with a standard straight guillotine cutter.

  • Common Uses: Custom pocket folders, rounded corner business cards, and unique packaging.

Digital Printing

Digital printing is a modern manufacturing method where digital files (like PDFs) are sent directly to high-production printing presses without requiring physical plates. Unlike traditional copying, modern digital printing offers near-offset quality, making it incredibly cost-effective for short production runs, fast turnarounds, and variable data printing (like personalized direct mail).

Embossing & Debossing

  • Embossing: Using a metal die to press a design upward out of the paper surface, creating a raised, three-dimensional texture.

  • Debossing: The reverse of embossing; pressing a design down into the material, creating a recessed, indented impression.

Offset Printing

Offset printing (or offset lithography) is a traditional printing process where ink is transferred from a metal plate to a rubber blanket, and then onto the paper. It represents the gold standard for high-volume commercial production, offering unmatched color precision (including Pantone matching) and a lower per-unit cost on large print runs.

Scoring

Scoring is the mechanical process of pressing a clean crease line into thick paper or heavy cardstock. Creating a score compresses the paper fibers, allowing the sheet to fold smoothly and sharply without cracking or tearing the printed paper coating.

👕 Custom Apparel & Wearables Terms

Understand the technology and terminology behind custom apparel, corporate uniforms, and streetwear.

Discharge Printing

Discharge printing is a screen printing technique used on dark-colored 100% cotton garments. Instead of printing a heavy layer of plastic ink on top of the fabric, a specialized water-based discharge ink bleaches out the garment’s original dye and replaces it with the desired color. This results in an incredibly soft, “zero-feel” print after the first wash.

DTF (Direct-to-Film) Printing

DTF printing is an advanced digital decoration method where a full-color design is printed directly onto a specialized clear film. A heat-activated adhesive powder is applied, cured, and then the design is heat-pressed onto the garment. DTF is highly durable, handles complex gradients perfectly, and can be applied to almost any fabric type, including polyester, cotton, and nylon.

DTG (Direct-to-Garment) Printing

DTG printing functions similarly to an inkjet office printer but is engineered specifically for apparel. It sprays specialized water-based inks directly into the garment’s fabric fibers. DTG is the premier option for complex, photo-realistic designs or multi-color graphics with low order minimums.

Screen Printing (Silkscreening)

Screen printing is the classic, time-tested method of apparel decoration. It involves creating a stencil (or “screen”) for each color in a design and pressing thick plastisol or water-based inks through the mesh directly onto the fabric. It offers exceptional wash durability and vibrant color saturation, making it the most cost-effective solution for bulk t-shirt orders.

Sublimation Printing

Sublimation is a digital printing process that uses heat to permanently fuse dye deep into the chemical fibers of polyester fabrics. Instead of sitting on top of the fabric, the ink becomes part of the material. The result is a vibrant, full-color graphic that will never crack, peel, or fade over time—commonly used for athletic jerseys and performance wear.

🎁 Promotional Products & Signage Terms

Definitions to help you navigate custom corporate gifts, trade show giveaways, and outdoor displays.

Foil Stamping

Foil stamping is a premium branding method where a heated metal die presses a thin layer of metallic or pigmented foil permanently onto a surface (such as leather, notebooks, or thick paper). It leaves a reflective, high-end metallic finish that catches the light.

Pad Printing

Pad printing is a unique printing process used to transfer a 2D image onto a 3D, irregularly shaped object. A silicone pad picks up ink from an etched plate and conforms to the shape of the item to stamp the design. This is the go-to method for branding rounded or textured promotional items like custom pens, golf balls, water bottles, and electronics.

Wide-Format (Large-Format) Printing

Wide-format printing refers to any print production utilizing specialized roll-fed or flatbed inkjet printers that support print dimensions from 24 inches up to several feet wide. It utilizes weather-resistant inks to produce high-impact graphics over large surfaces.

  • Common Uses: Vinyl banners, tradeshow displays, retail window graphics, yard signs, and vehicle wraps.