TERMS EXPLAINED
Amaray DVD Case
Most widely used format for DVD packaging. Comes in clear and black as standard. A range of other colours are also available on request.
Authoring
The process of creating a DVD video that can be played on a DVD player. This includes creating menu screens and the creation of the disc navigation.
Bleed (Artwork/Design)
An area (minimum 3mm) of image/artwork to be left around the outside of your final design to ensure that the artwork fits right to the edge of the page and that when the print is then cut and folded there are no white lines left around the edge of the printed material.
CD-R
Compact Disc Recordable. This is a special type of recordable CD. Information can be burnt onto the disc using a CD-R burner. They can be used as masters for manufacturing runs of CD's, cassettes and vinyl. They can also be manufactured in short runs.
Check Disc
First pressed DVD disc replicated from the glass master used for checking the file transfer from DLT or DVD-R master and used for content approval before manufacturing of discs.
CMYK / Process colours (Printing/Artwork/Design)
Cyan, magenta, yellow and black (CMYK) also known as the 4 process colours. The colour images on your printed parts are made by combining these 4 colours. Variations in percentages of each colour applied to a specific print area make up the full spectrum of colours.
CTP
(Computer To Plate). Printing plates made directly from digital artwork, omitting films from what has been the traditional printing process.
DMM
Direct Metal Master, an alternative format to using a lacquer when cutting vinyl.
Digital Proof
This is a digitally printed sample of your artwork produced from supplied High Resolution PDF files. These are used to ensure that the colours are accurate and that the correct fonts, text and images are all in place correctly. The printer will use these to colour match as accurately as is possible.
Digi Pack
Cardboard packaging format to hold CDs/DVDs with clear or coloured tray (s). Come in variety of styles (with pockets or slits to hold booklets) and can be finished in different styles (matt or gloss for example). See Special packaging section for further information.
DLT Master
Digital linear tape. The preferred master format used to replicate DVD.
DVD-R
DVD Recordable. This is a special type of recordable DVD. Information can be burnt onto the disc using a DVD-R burner. They can be used as masters (although DLT is a preferred fomat) for manufacturing runs of DVD's. They are more often used for duplication of DVD in short runs.
Encoding (video footage)
The process of converting visual footage to a digital format for authoring a DVD or creating an enhanced CD.
Enhanced CD CD disc which contains video as well as audio content to be played on a PC or Mac.
EQ'ing
An EQ is the balance of bass, middle and treble sounds at any point in an audio programme.
Exabyte Master (also see Redbook Master)
This is a master tape usually supplied by your mastering house/studio. It is a digital tape format and used for creating the glass master for replication.
FTP (site)
An online site that artwork can be uploaded to securely. We will issue you with your own ftp folder and secure login details. Avoids emailing large files or sending an artwork disc in the post so can often be a quicker way for artwork to be viewed and processed.
Glass Master
The 'stamper' created at the manufacturing plant from which all CD's & DVD's are replicated from. The glass master is a faithful copy of the audio or video master supplied.
ISRC Codes
Internationally recognised digital code for uniquely identifying sound and music video recordings. Added at the post mastering stage to a master. ISRC codes are available from the PPL (Phonographic Performance Limited – the UK Broadcast royalties collection society).
Jewel Case
Standard packaging format for CD albums. These are most commonly clear with either a clear or black tray. Other colours are available on request.
J-Card
Inlay that goes in maxi-single cases. (Standard single packaging)
Lacquer
For vinyl only. Lacquers are 'cut' by an engineer & supplied by a studio. They are then processed into metal work and finally into a stamper to press the vinyl.
Litho printing:
A printing method applied to paper parts and CD or DVD disc on-bodies. Uses metal plates and water to transfer ink onto a substrate usually via a series of cylinders. The preferred printing method for CD or DVD "5 colour picture discs" owing to the fine detail achievable.
Maxi Single Case
Standard packaging format for CD singles. These are clear and house a J-Card inlay (see above).
MCPS (Mechanical Copyright Protection Society)
The industry body responsible for collecting and distributing royalties to composers, songwriters and publishers for recording of copyrighted music onto many different formats.
Overs (Print)
All orders of printed parts (booklets, inlays, digi packs etc) include 10% overs. This covers any damage to print during the finishing and automated fulfilment processes.
Pagination
Also known as 'printers pairs'. In relation to artwork this is the laying out of the pages of the booklet to be printed in the correct way for folding. Even numbered pages are always down the left and odd numbered pages down the right.
PDF
Portable Document Format - the preferred format for artwork to be supplied and sent for approval.
PQ encoding
Reference points added at the beginning and end of audio tracks at the mastering stage to allow tracks and timings to be identified when the finished CD is played in a CD player.
PQ Sheet
CD's are written in what is known as Red Book Standard. As well as the music, other information is included on the disc including track numbers, track times, track names and ISRC codes. All of this information is printed out onto a PQ sheet when the CD is mastered and this information is used by an engineer at the CD plant to check against whilst making the glass master.
Redbook Master
Approved audio master created at post mastering stage to be used for CD replication at the pressing plant. This is the preferred format for audio masters.
Reprographics (Repro)
Covers all artwork file checking & amending, running of colour digital proofs, the creation of PDF's and print ready artwork files.
Resolution
Refers to the DPI (dots per inch) settings of your artwork. A DPI setting at 300 is standard for printing purposes, lower DPI settings will result in a poorer quality of print.
Silk screen printing:
A printing method applied to CD & DVD disc on-bodies, T-Shirts and in some cases paper or board usually using "Pantone" colours.
Ink is squeezed through a silk screen where non printed areas are protected from the ink by means of a "mask".
Spot/Pantone Colours
Special inks that are made up to achieve a specific colour. They are often colours that cannot be achieved using process colours i.e. metallic or fluorescent colours. Artwork should be clearly marked with a pantone reference number i.e. P485. Extra charges apply when using Pantone colours.
Test Disc (DVD-R)
Disc supplied for checking the content and navigation of DVD authoring before running a DLT master to replicate from.
'4/4' abbreviation (or variations of this type)
Terms used when printing material. Indicates how many colours are printed on each or any given side of your printed parts. For example 4/4 would be printed 4 colours on the front and 4 colour on the reverse. 4/0 would be printed 4 colours on one side only.
Amaray DVD Case
Most widely used format for DVD packaging. Comes in clear and black as standard. A range of other colours are also available on request.
Authoring
The process of creating a DVD video that can be played on a DVD player. This includes creating menu screens and the creation of the disc navigation.
Bleed (Artwork/Design)
An area (minimum 3mm) of image/artwork to be left around the outside of your final design to ensure that the artwork fits right to the edge of the page and that when the print is then cut and folded there are no white lines left around the edge of the printed material.
CD-R
Compact Disc Recordable. This is a special type of recordable CD. Information can be burnt onto the disc using a CD-R burner. They can be used as masters for manufacturing runs of CD's, cassettes and vinyl. They can also be manufactured in short runs.
Check Disc
First pressed DVD disc replicated from the glass master used for checking the file transfer from DLT or DVD-R master and used for content approval before manufacturing of discs.
CMYK / Process colours (Printing/Artwork/Design)
Cyan, magenta, yellow and black (CMYK) also known as the 4 process colours. The colour images on your printed parts are made by combining these 4 colours. Variations in percentages of each colour applied to a specific print area make up the full spectrum of colours.
CTP
(Computer To Plate). Printing plates made directly from digital artwork, omitting films from what has been the traditional printing process.
DMM
Direct Metal Master, an alternative format to using a lacquer when cutting vinyl.
Digital Proof
This is a digitally printed sample of your artwork produced from supplied High Resolution PDF files. These are used to ensure that the colours are accurate and that the correct fonts, text and images are all in place correctly. The printer will use these to colour match as accurately as is possible.
Digi Pack
Cardboard packaging format to hold CDs/DVDs with clear or coloured tray (s). Come in variety of styles (with pockets or slits to hold booklets) and can be finished in different styles (matt or gloss for example). See Special packaging section for further information.
DLT Master
Digital linear tape. The preferred master format used to replicate DVD.
DVD-R
DVD Recordable. This is a special type of recordable DVD. Information can be burnt onto the disc using a DVD-R burner. They can be used as masters (although DLT is a preferred fomat) for manufacturing runs of DVD's. They are more often used for duplication of DVD in short runs.
Encoding (video footage)
The process of converting visual footage to a digital format for authoring a DVD or creating an enhanced CD.
Enhanced CD CD disc which contains video as well as audio content to be played on a PC or Mac.
EQ'ing
An EQ is the balance of bass, middle and treble sounds at any point in an audio programme.
Exabyte Master (also see Redbook Master)
This is a master tape usually supplied by your mastering house/studio. It is a digital tape format and used for creating the glass master for replication.
FTP (site)
An online site that artwork can be uploaded to securely. We will issue you with your own ftp folder and secure login details. Avoids emailing large files or sending an artwork disc in the post so can often be a quicker way for artwork to be viewed and processed.
Glass Master
The 'stamper' created at the manufacturing plant from which all CD's & DVD's are replicated from. The glass master is a faithful copy of the audio or video master supplied.
ISRC Codes
Internationally recognised digital code for uniquely identifying sound and music video recordings. Added at the post mastering stage to a master. ISRC codes are available from the PPL (Phonographic Performance Limited – the UK Broadcast royalties collection society).
Jewel Case
Standard packaging format for CD albums. These are most commonly clear with either a clear or black tray. Other colours are available on request.
J-Card
Inlay that goes in maxi-single cases. (Standard single packaging)
Lacquer
For vinyl only. Lacquers are 'cut' by an engineer & supplied by a studio. They are then processed into metal work and finally into a stamper to press the vinyl.
Litho printing:
A printing method applied to paper parts and CD or DVD disc on-bodies. Uses metal plates and water to transfer ink onto a substrate usually via a series of cylinders. The preferred printing method for CD or DVD "5 colour picture discs" owing to the fine detail achievable.
Maxi Single Case
Standard packaging format for CD singles. These are clear and house a J-Card inlay (see above).
MCPS (Mechanical Copyright Protection Society)
The industry body responsible for collecting and distributing royalties to composers, songwriters and publishers for recording of copyrighted music onto many different formats.
Overs (Print)
All orders of printed parts (booklets, inlays, digi packs etc) include 10% overs. This covers any damage to print during the finishing and automated fulfilment processes.
Pagination
Also known as 'printers pairs'. In relation to artwork this is the laying out of the pages of the booklet to be printed in the correct way for folding. Even numbered pages are always down the left and odd numbered pages down the right.
Portable Document Format - the preferred format for artwork to be supplied and sent for approval.
PQ encoding
Reference points added at the beginning and end of audio tracks at the mastering stage to allow tracks and timings to be identified when the finished CD is played in a CD player.
PQ Sheet
CD's are written in what is known as Red Book Standard. As well as the music, other information is included on the disc including track numbers, track times, track names and ISRC codes. All of this information is printed out onto a PQ sheet when the CD is mastered and this information is used by an engineer at the CD plant to check against whilst making the glass master.
Redbook Master
Approved audio master created at post mastering stage to be used for CD replication at the pressing plant. This is the preferred format for audio masters.
Reprographics (Repro)
Covers all artwork file checking & amending, running of colour digital proofs, the creation of PDF's and print ready artwork files.
Resolution
Refers to the DPI (dots per inch) settings of your artwork. A DPI setting at 300 is standard for printing purposes, lower DPI settings will result in a poorer quality of print.
Silk screen printing:
A printing method applied to CD & DVD disc on-bodies, T-Shirts and in some cases paper or board usually using "Pantone" colours.
Ink is squeezed through a silk screen where non printed areas are protected from the ink by means of a "mask".
Spot/Pantone Colours
Special inks that are made up to achieve a specific colour. They are often colours that cannot be achieved using process colours i.e. metallic or fluorescent colours. Artwork should be clearly marked with a pantone reference number i.e. P485. Extra charges apply when using Pantone colours.
Test Disc (DVD-R)
Disc supplied for checking the content and navigation of DVD authoring before running a DLT master to replicate from.
'4/4' abbreviation (or variations of this type)
Terms used when printing material. Indicates how many colours are printed on each or any given side of your printed parts. For example 4/4 would be printed 4 colours on the front and 4 colour on the reverse. 4/0 would be printed 4 colours on one side only.