Glossary
Packaging glossary
A packaging glossary of the terms printers, box makers and designers use, explained in plain English. Each entry gives a short definition and links to the page or guide that covers it in more depth, from dielines and greyboard to foil stamping, MOQ and shipping terms.
3
- 3D mockup
- A rendered image of the finished box built from the dieline and artwork, used to check the design before print. More on 3d mockup →
B
- B-flute
- A corrugated flute of about 3 mm that gives more crush strength than E-flute, used for heavier shipping boxes. More on b-flute →
- Barcode (UPC/EAN)
- A machine-readable product code. UPC is used mainly in North America and EAN elsewhere; numbers are issued by GS1. More on barcode (upc/ean) →
- Bleed
- Extra artwork, usually 3 mm, that runs past the cut line so no white edge shows if the cut moves slightly. More on bleed →
C
- CMYK
- The four process ink colours (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) used to print full-colour artwork. More on cmyk →
- Collapsible rigid box
- A rigid box with hinged walls that folds flat for shipping and storage, then opens into a solid box. More on collapsible rigid box →
- Corrugated board
- Board made from a fluted paper layer glued between liners. It is light and strong, used for mailers and shipping boxes. More on corrugated board →
D
- DDP
- Delivered Duty Paid: the seller covers shipping, import duties and taxes to the buyer's door. More on ddp →
- Debossing
- Pressing a design into the surface so it sits recessed. More on debossing →
- Die cutting
- Cutting printed sheets to shape with a sharp steel rule die that matches the dieline. More on die cutting →
- Dieline
- The flat outline of a box or label that shows where it is cut, folded and glued. Artwork is placed on the dieline so every panel lines up. More on dieline →
- Digital printing
- Printing straight from a file without plates. Suited to short runs and versioned designs. More on digital printing →
- Digital proof
- A PDF of the final artwork on the dieline, with colours, copy and finishes marked, approved before printing. More on digital proof →
E
- E-flute
- A thin corrugated flute, about 1.5 mm, with a smooth print surface. Common for printed mailer boxes. More on e-flute →
- Embossing
- Pressing a design up from the surface so it stands raised and can be felt. More on embossing →
- EVA insert
- A foam insert cut with cavities that fit the product exactly. Common in rigid gift and electronics boxes. More on eva insert →
- EXW
- Ex Works: the buyer collects the goods from the seller's premises and handles all transport and export steps. More on exw →
F
- FOB
- Free On Board: the seller delivers the goods onto the ship at the named port; the buyer takes over cost and risk from there. More on fob →
- Foil stamping
- Pressing metallic or coloured foil onto the surface with a heated die, for logos and accents. More on foil stamping →
- Folding carton
- A box printed and cut from a single sheet of paperboard that ships flat and is folded into shape, like most retail cartons. More on folding carton →
- FSC
- Forest Stewardship Council certification for paper and board from responsibly managed forests. More on fsc →
G
- Greyboard
- Dense, rigid recycled board, usually 1.5 to 3 mm thick, used as the core of rigid boxes and wrapped in printed paper. More on greyboard →
- GSM
- Grams per square metre: the weight of paper or board. Higher GSM usually means thicker, stiffer material. More on gsm →
- Gusset
- A folded side or bottom panel that lets a bag or pouch expand. More on gusset →
I
- Insert
- The part inside a box that holds the product in place, made from EVA foam, card, pulp or fabric. More on insert →
K
- Kraft board
- Unbleached brown paperboard with a natural look, often chosen for eco-minded brands. More on kraft board →
L
- Lamination
- A thin film, gloss or matte, bonded over print to protect it and change its finish. More on lamination →
- Lead time
- The time from approved artwork to finished goods ready to ship. More on lead time →
- Lid and base box
- A two-piece rigid box: a base and a separate lid that slides over it. More on lid and base box →
M
- Magnetic closure box
- A rigid box with a hinged lid that closes on hidden magnets. More on magnetic closure box →
- Mailer box
- A corrugated box with a roll-end tuck front that ships on its own and opens like a gift. More on mailer box →
- MOQ
- Minimum order quantity: the smallest number of units made in one order. Our rigid boxes start at 500. More on moq →
- Moulded pulp
- Paper fibre pressed into a shaped tray. A plastic-free option for inserts and protective packaging. More on moulded pulp →
O
- Offset printing
- A printing method that transfers ink from plates via a rubber blanket, giving sharp, consistent colour on long runs. More on offset printing →
P
- Pantone
- A matching system of premixed spot colours, used when a brand colour must be exact across runs. More on pantone →
- Pressure-sensitive label
- A self-adhesive label on a backing liner, applied by hand or machine. More on pressure-sensitive label →
R
- Rigid box
- A box made from thick greyboard wrapped in paper or fabric. It does not fold flat and is used for premium and gift packaging. More on rigid box →
S
- Safe area
- The zone inside the cut line where text and logos stay, so nothing important is trimmed or lost in a fold. More on safe area →
- SBS board
- Solid bleached sulphate: a bright white paperboard with a smooth surface, used for premium folding cartons. More on sbs board →
- Shrink sleeve
- A printed plastic film that shrinks with heat to wrap a container's full shape. More on shrink sleeve →
- Sleeve
- A printed band that slides over a box or tray to add branding or information. More on sleeve →
- Soft-touch lamination
- A matte film with a velvety feel, applied over print for a premium hand feel. More on soft-touch lamination →
- Spot UV
- A glossy varnish applied only to selected areas, so they shine against a matte background. More on spot uv →
- Stand-up pouch
- A flexible bag with a bottom gusset that lets it stand on a shelf. Common for coffee, snacks and supplements. More on stand-up pouch →
T
- Tuck end box
- A folding carton closed by tuck flaps at each end; the standard retail carton. More on tuck end box →
V
- Volumetric weight
- A shipping weight based on box size rather than actual weight; carriers charge whichever is higher. More on volumetric weight →
W
- Window patch
- A die-cut opening covered with clear film so the product is visible through the box. More on window patch →
- Wrap paper
- The printed or coloured paper glued around the greyboard of a rigid box. More on wrap paper →
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