Adhesive:
The glue substance applied to the back as a pressure-sensitive material for adhesion to surfaces.

Address Labels:
            These self-adhesive labels can be printed on laser or inkjet printers. Small labels are great for the 
            return address.

All-temperature:
The type of pressure-sensitive adhesive designed for use at both room and colder temperatures.

Application Temperature:
Temperature of a substrate or label material at the time the label will be applied.

Bar code:
One of several machine-readable codes used at retail, manufacturing, and shipping levels.

Bleed:
When the ink coverage of the copy runs beyond the cut edge of a label.

Butt cut:
A label made with square corners and no spacing between labels.

Carrier width:
Measurement of the liner or backer from edge to edge of the label or roll.

Circle Labels:
            self-adhesive labels are commonly used for jars, price labels and product labels
 
Clear Coat:
A varnish. A coating that protects the printing and the surface of a pressure-sensitive label from abrasion, sunlight, chemicals, moisture, or a combination of these.

Cold temperature:
Refers to adhesives designed for application and performance at colder temperatures above freezing.
 
Color changes:
Refers to the wash-up and changeover of ink colors within a production run.

Color matches:
Refers to the mixing of ink colors to match a specific color requirement or PMS (Pantone Matching System) standard.

Color proof:
A pre-press color prototype typically supplied from laser, color print, color key, chromalin or press proof to approve prior to production.

Copy:
The printed image and/or wording on a label.

Core Plug:
Metal wood or compressed paper pulps which are driven into the paper core of the finished roll to prevent crushing or the damaging of the core.

Coupon label:
A coupon made as a pressure sensitive label which can be applied to a surface and subsequently peeled off and redeemed as a dry coupon with no adhesive to the touch. Also called an IRC (instant redeem coupon).

Cut marks:
The lines on the outer edges of artwork and plates that show where the actual cut of the label will be.

Die:
The tool that cuts the shape of the label (often available in a label maker's tooling inventory).

Die cut:
Refers to the cut that produces a label shape. In rectangles, it distinguishes rounded corners from the square corners common to butt cut labels and is a requirement for automatically applied labels.

Die line:
The outline of the die cut; often required to match artwork properly to the finished shape.

Direct thermal:
Imprinting process using heated pins to strike specially coated paper to produce an image.

Exact repeat:
Usually means a label reorder to the exact specifications as previously followed without change.

Face material:
Top layer of a label construction sometimes also called the substrate (i.e. paper, foil, mylar, vinyl, etc.)

Fanfold:
Finishing labels with a perforation and zigzag fold so that it can be imprinted or used as continuous.

Fanfold length:
The distance from perforation to perforation on a fanfolded label.

Flexo:
The flexographic process of printing that uses round printing cylinders and cutting dies and requires roll materials into the press. It runs thin, fast-drying inks and raised-surface plates at high speeds.

Four-color process:
The print combination of magenta, cyan(blue), yellow, and black in dot patterns called screens, to produce a variety of graphics, images, or photos in all the color shadings desired.

Freezer temp:
Refers to pressure-sensitive adhesives designed for application and performance below 32°F.

Gloss:
            permanent adhesive are for use on laser printers and photocopiers (not inkjet) Gloss labels are used when
            a more decorative superior finish is needed or if the labels need to be wiped clean. The paper gloss labels
            are not fully waterproof but can be considered splash proof
 
Gradient:
The variation of printed dots from lighter to darker as a single or in multiple colors.

Halftone(s):
The use of dots to create a lighter-shaded version of a base color.

Inhibitor:
A substance which slows down chemical reaction. Inhibitors are sometimes used in certain adhesives to prolong its life or storage.

Label length:
The label's dimension from one side to the other in the direction of the pull of the roll.

Label width:
The label's dimension from one side to the other in the direction from one edge of the roll to the other.
 
Lamination:
The process of combining one or more surfaces together to accomplish a particular purpose.

Laser stock:
Face material, often paper, required when using heat and toner to produce an image.

Latex-impregnated:
Face material with rubber additive to improve moisture and weather resistance, and flexibility.

Liner:
The silicone-coated base material used to facilitate release of the adhesive coated face while holding it together during printing, die cutting and automatic application.

M:
Represents 1000 in the printing industry.

Matrix:
The waste face material around the die cut edges of a label that is stripped away and discarded.

Neon:
            Labels in bright fluorescent colors such as magenta, yellow, green or orange
 
Nylon:
A strong plastic which can be used as a film with high oil and gas resistance, or used as filament in strapping tapes, with high impact resistance.

Opaque adhesive:
Also called "greyback" or "block-out" used to eliminate any show- through of previous printing.

Overlaminate:
The application of a clear material (usually a lacquer coating, film, or UV) for appearance or protection.

Pattern adhesive:
The application of adhesive in a striped pattern for the purpose of a specific construction.

Peelable Labels:
             Temporary labels that can be removed at a later time
 
Perforation:
A series of cut and uncut areas used to aid in tearing, folding, or some other facilitation.

Permanent:
Common term for pressure sensitive adhesives designed to give a permanent or lasting bond.

Piggyback:
A multi-layered material made to allow for the secondary use or positioning of the label.

Pin feed:
Relates to the tractor-feed marginal holes required by certain impact imprint systems.
 
Plate:
The raised surface, usually of photopolymer or rubber, which transfers the ink to print an image.
 
PMS:
Pantone Matching System of color standards and matching, indicated by a universal number given to each specific color and shade.

Positive print:
Refers to any image that is created by the raised surface of a plate, like a rubber stamp. (See Reverse print)

Registration:
The correct placement of all colors and copy within a label or one color to another.

Release:
The chemical bond of the face to the liner allowing for proper converting, application and adhesion.

Removable:
A type of adhesive that is designed for clean removal from a surface(s).

Repositionable:
Refers to the Post-It™ type of adhesive allowing for easy release and reapplication to most surfaces.
 
Reverse print:
The reverse of Positive print (above), where the raised plate prints ink all around the desired image.
 
Screens:
Any dot pattern used to produce various concentrations of color such as process, halftones, or gradients.

Shelf-Life:
Storage life. The period of time during which a product can be stored under specified conditions and still remain suitable for use.

Tamper resist:
Labels created in any combination of fashions to defeat removal after application or indicate evidence of tampering with package integrity.
 
Thermal transfer:
Imprinting process that uses heated pins against a transfer ribbon to image a paper or film substrate.
 
Tints:
Solid ink coverage on a label.

Tool/Tooling:
Refers not only to cutting dies but also other mechanicals such as cylinders, sheeters, blades, punches, etc.

UV:
Stands for "Ultraviolet" which is a method of curing inks, coatings and laminations by ultraviolet light.

Waterproof:
A relative term applied to papers which have been heavily treated or laminated to resist moisture.