Packaging Glossary - Industry Terms & Definitions

ARTWORK - Creative design and visual preparation for packaging production and printing processes.

BOARD - Paperboard material used as substrate for packaging manufacturing and printing applications.

C/1/S - Paperboard coated on one side for improved printing surface and visual quality.

CAD SAMPLE - Machine-cut prototype blank used to test packaging design before full production run.

CALIPER - Measurement of paperboard thickness typically expressed in points or thousandths of inch.

CARTONS - Folding paperboard boxes used for product packaging, shipping, and retail display applications.

CCNB/CRB - Clay coated newsback or clay recycled back paperboard with coated printing surface.

CELLO WINDOW - Clear film material applied to packaging window for product visibility and protection.

CLAMSHELLS - Hinged plastic packaging that opens and closes like a clamshell for product protection.

CMYK - Four-color printing process using cyan, magenta, yellow, and black ink combinations.

COATINGS - Protective finishes including UV, aqueous, blister-resistant, grease-resistant, and freezer-resistant applications.

COLOUR PROOF - Pre-production color simulation for design approval before full manufacturing and printing run.

COMBO RUN - Multiple packaging items printed together on single sheet for production efficiency gains.

CTP - Computer-to-plate digital thermal platemaking technology eliminating traditional film-based plate production process.

CUSTOM BLISTER PACKAGING - Thermoformed clear plastic packaging sealed to printed backing card for product visibility.

DEBOSSING - Creating recessed or depressed image effect on paperboard through pressure and dies.

DIE CUTTING - Precision cutting of printed packaging using custom steel-rule dies for specific shapes.

DIE LINE - Technical drawing showing cut, fold, and perforation lines for die-cutting packaging production.

EMBOSSING - Creating raised three-dimensional image or texture effect on paperboard through pressure.

FOIL STAMPING - Applying metallic or pigmented foil using heated die to create premium decorative effects.

FREEZER BOARD - Moisture-resistant coated paperboard designed for frozen food packaging and cold storage applications.

FULFILLMENT/CO-PACKING SERVICES - Assembly services including blister packaging, sealing, shrink-wrapping, and product pack-out operations.

INK JETTING TECHNOLOGY - Digital printing technology for variable data including date codes, batch numbers, and markings.

INSERTS - Printed or molded components placed inside packaging for product support and information.

LAYOUT - Arrangement of design elements and multiple items on printed sheet for production.

NUMBER UP - Quantity of individual packaging pieces arranged on single printed production sheet.

OFFSET LITHOGRAPHY - Commercial printing process transferring ink from plate to rubber blanket to paperboard.

QR CODES - Quick Response codes for product tracking, identification, and marketing with high-capacity data storage.

RFID & SENSORMATIC TAGGING - Electronic security tags embedded in packaging for theft prevention and inventory tracking.

SBS - Premium white paperboard made from bleached chemical pulp for high-quality packaging applications.

SCREEN - Tint or percentage of solid color used in printing for lighter shades.

SKIN BOARDS - Specialized backing boards for skin packaging including chipboard, coated, and recycled varieties.

SKIN PACKAGING - Transparent plastic film heated and vacuum-sealed tightly over product onto backing board.

SPOT COLOUR - Custom-mixed ink color specified by Pantone or other matching system standards.

STOCHASTIC SCREENING - Frequency-modulated digital screening process for enhanced detail and sharper printing quality reproduction.

TANDEM RUN - Sequential production of multiple packaging items printed consecutively on same press run.

UPC CODES - Universal Product Codes for product identification, inventory management, and retail scanning purposes.

VACUUM FORMING - Thermoforming process using vacuum pressure to shape heated plastic over mold forms.

WAREHOUSING - Climate-controlled storage facility for packaging inventory, materials, and finished goods before shipment.