Demystifying design: print jargon
I was asked if I could write a post explaining some of the terms used in print design. If I’ve missed anything, you can always ask me! I welcome your questions and will do my best to answer or find someone who does!
Print design
3D cover is a three dimensional version of your cover produced using specialist software to create the effect of bulky book or epub cover on a tablet frame which you can use for marketing purposes.
ALLi is the excellent Alliance of Independent Authors which provides support for authors who wish to self-publish. I am an endorsed partner member whose services and prices have been approved by their committee.
Bleed is an image area around a page that allows for the printing press movement. It’s usually 4mm and when looking at images for cover, I make sure there is a bleed area.
Book cover means the front cover, spine and back cover. Front cover is just that, and an ebook cover is only ever the front cover as ebooks do not have back covers.
Brief is the project information. I ask all clients to complete one after a discovery call. It’s the most important part of the project as it forms the schedule, creative deas and cost.
Concept design is an example of layout, pages or a cover that shows you what the design could look like based on the brief. I usually include several concept designs so there is a selection from which you can pick and choose. Ideally, this is set using your text and images. It is not a pitch. I ask clients to agree on the concept design before rest of the design work starts. I can provide concept design files on payment of the invoice if you would prefer to place typesetting elsewhere.
Contract is part of the standard working practice. No work starts before the contract is signed. Here’s more on the process.
Copyright is law. Permission is required for all images to be printed or used in any product if they are not taken by you. You can read more about this on my website here.
DPI or dots per inch, is a measure of the resolution of a printed document or digital scan. The higher the dot density, the higher the resolution of the print or scan. Typically, DPI is the measure of the number of dots that can be placed in a line across one inch, or 2.54 centimeters. If an image is low quality it will print poorly but I will let you know before press so we can explore solutions.
Endmatter (sometimes referred to as endlims) is the material following a book’s main text, such as appendix(es), endnotes, glossary, bibliography, and index, in that order.
Endsheets are also known as endpapers or end leaves, are decorative pages at the beginning and end of hardcover books that are used to glue the inside pages (known as the book block) to a hardcover.
Extent is the number of pages in a mutiple page document. Most types of binding require books to be printed with interior page counts in multiples of four. This is because the pages of your book will be printed on large sheets, called parent sheets. The sheets either hold 8, 16, or 32 pages, depending on the size of your book. These numbers are all multiples of four to ensure you won’t be left with any blank pages when the parent sheets are folded.
Font is the type applied to the text such as Garamond. All fonts have a licence and are not supplied with any files as the licence needs be bought by the client.
Gutter is a term used to describe space. The inside margins closest to the spine of a book or the blank space between two facing pages in the center of a newsletter or magazine is known as the gutter. The gutter space includes any extra space allowance needed to accommodate the binding of books, booklets, pamphlets, brochures, newspapers, and magazines. The amount of gutter needed differs depending on the binding method. An alley is a space between columns of text on one page, like in a newspaper, that is used in page layout.
Page plan is the order of pages. Your book will follow the same interior page count style you’d find in any novel, children’s book, or similar printed text. Page 1 always starts on the right side and each side of the sheet counts as one page. So, when you flip page 1 over, you’ll find page 2 on the back (now on the left-hand side). Page 3 is on the right, and when you flip it over, page 4 will be on the left, 5 on the right, and so on. If your printed project contains any blank pages, they will still factor into your overall page count. If a chapter finishes on a right-hand page (an odd-numbered page), you can add a blank page directly after it so the next chapter still begins on a new right-hand page. Read more about page plans here.
PDF proof is a portable document file (PDF) and most computers has pre-installed software to open these. You can also download Acrobat Reader from Adobe which is completely free. The PDF I send to you will contain your print design and you can use Acrobat Reader ‘s comment tools to add your notes to the file. Save them and return to me. Click here to read more about the tools in Acrobat Reader.
PDFX is the printers PDF file. It’s called PDFX to show it’s been made technically correct to your chosen print suppliers specifications as all printers have their own requirements.
Permission is required for most text quotes in books. You can use extracts of a copyright work for purposes of parody, caricature or pastiche, provided that the amount of the original which is being used reasonable and appropriate, you use no more than necessary and provide a suitable credit. More here from the Society of Authors. Note that Hello Lovely is indemnified under the terms of the contract [25].
Pitch is a term used to describe a process where a designer may work for free to win work. Hello Lovely does not provide pitch work but if you want to get to know me take a look around the website. You can book a 15-minute chat on my contact page right here.
Point is the unit of measurements used in type. A point is 0.35m of a millimetere.
Printed proofs. You can print out my PDF files but I do not send printed proofs to clients as it’s not great for the environment. I’m happy for you to mark up printed proofs and I’m SFEP trained and understand BSI proofreading marks if you use them. You don’t need to know them to work with me though!
Printer means a commercial printer like KDP, Ingram Spark or Langham Press. If I mean a desktop printer, I’ll write this.
Printers specification. To complete a file and sent it to press I will require your printers specifications. I can contact your printer for them or you can ask and send to me. This information may include paper weight (the thickness of paper alters the depth of a book spine), finishes for the covers, if crop marks needs to be included for the body pages of a book or multiple page document and any other technical requirements.
Soft proofs or printers proofs are proofs provided by the printer to check. I can do this for you or you can do this. They should match the proofs that I have sent to the printer and this is the purpose of the check. It’s not the time to request changes unless absolutely critical.
Template design is often used by low-cost design providers to speed up workflow and lower costs. Canva also use templates. Hello Lovely only provides bespoke design so your work is original.
Typeface is the font + the size and style such as Garamond, Bold 14 point.
Typesetting happens after the concept design when the look of the document is agreed. The text and images are supplied and these are flowed into the template by the designer or typesetter and styled. I only provide typesetting when I have created the concept design. This is because the quality of some templates hasn’t been reliable but I can fix templates if you’ve had problems.
Takeaway
When I quote for design work I include different terms and stages depending on the project. I’ll cover website and branding terms in later posts. If you’d like to get a notification of when they are released then my newsletter is a great place to keep in touch. You can sign up to that by clicking here.