Optimising settings for a printer/ink/media combination to known specifications, in order to achieve accurate and consistent reproduction of the final print.

Total thickness of a film or paper measured in µm (micron = thousandth of one millimetre) or mil (thousandth of an inch).

Liquid substance in which ink pigments are suspended or dyes are dissolved. The carrier can be aqueous, solvent or eco-solvent and evaporates after printing.

Description of the colorimetric response of a digital device through the creation of an ICC profile.

Signal that describes hue and saturation, difference between 2 colours of equal brightness.

Commission International de l’Eclairage, an international organisation that developed colour definition standards, endorsed by Adobe Systems.

Colour Look Up Table, a correspondence chart for converting colours from one device to another, such as from RGB (on screen) to CMYK (to be printed), compensating for the output characteristics of each device.

Colour Management System, a software/hardware set up that creates colour profiles to describe and correct colour representation in a chain of devices to ensure predictable, accurate colour reproduction.

Subtractive colour coding system used in inkjet printers for combining primary colours (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black) to produce a full colour image.

Inkjet receptive layer on a film or paper that fixes inks.

Puckering or warping of an image after printing due to uneven surface, excessive humidity or oversaturation of ink.

Application of a clear self-adhesive film (PVC or polyester) to protect a print or other substrate. May contain UV-filters and uses pressure sensitive adhesives. Cold lamination is appropriate when heat would adversely affect the substrate. The surface finish of the lamination film will determine the appearance of the print: gloss film for crisp colours, satin for a silky shine, matt for non-reflective applications. Prints must be completely dry before lamination.

Substances such as dyes and pigments that make up the colours in inks.

Optical device that measures colour values of reflected or emitted light by filtering into red, green and blue.

System extensions (CMS) developed by Apple Computer that manage the colour description of different devices working together.

The range of colours that can be reproduced by a digital device.

Coordination and control of colour representation in a chain of input, display and output devices.

See ’ICC Profile’.

Process of creating separate patterns of films for each colour component (one for each of cyan, yellow, magenta and black) for printing.

Process where ink is forced through a printing nozzle at a steady flow. The droplets are electrically charged and either directed onto a substrate or deflected away into a collection system.

Cutting around outlines of a printed image on a self-adhesive media with a printer capable of ’print-and-cut’.

A measure of the ratio of brightness between the lightest and the darkest areas in an image.

A process whereby a portion of an image is removed, usually from the outside of the image, to eliminate unwanted areas.

Bending that occurs spontaneously at the edges of a media when laid on a flat surface. May be caused by atmospheric humidity or by over-saturation with ink.

The “blue” colour in 4-colour CMYK printing which is commonly know as process cyan.