Graphics Central Inc - Think BIG... Print BIG!

Compression: the term used for how a file reduces its file size foot-print or quality by method of algorithmic formulas relative to the compression software or method.

Calendar Vinyl: known more in the industry as a short term or economy vinyl. The manufacturing process is mixed, heated and then flattened by the progressively squeezing and stretching of the vinyl into a flat sheet. The results are not as consistent or thin as its alternative cast vinyl.

Cast Vinyl: also known in the industry as a premium high performance vinyl. The manufacturing process is mixed, poured and then heat is applied for the liquid evaporation of the solvents used resulting in a very thin even material.

DPI & Resolution: Dots Per Inch Resolution. This term relates to how many pixels or dots an image contains within an inch print measurement. Standard offset printing resolution is recommended no less than 300 dpi at print size. Large Format printing resolution can be in the neighborhood of 80-150dpi for a good quality result.

EPS: Encapsulated PostScript; an extension of the PostScript graphics file format developed by Adobe Systems. An eps file contains the important printer information requirements to printing an image.

Flatbed: A direct-to-substrate printer which can be either belt driven or fed into the machine by a flat surface bed which the substrate is rested upon to preform the the printing process. Flatbed printers are commonly used in the Ultra-Violet printing process.

FTP: File Transfer Protocol; a software protocol of exchanging information between computers over a network or internet.

Halftone: a process in which gradation of tone in an image is conveyed by first photographing the image through screen to break up continuous tones of the image into minute, closely spaced dots. A halftone example would be a percentage of a full ink fill. i.e. 50% Cyan coverage.

MegaPixel: term commonly used when referencing a digital camera's quality of photographed image. A mega pixel is determined by the pixel width multiplied by the pixel height and divided by 100,000.

PDF: Portable Document Format; a format in which documents can be viewed on multiple computers by use of a pdf viewer and not the native software used to create the original document.

PMS/Pantone: a set of standard colors for printing, each of which is specified by a single number.

Pigment ink: an ink which is made up of water based pigment of a color. Pigment ink doesn't typically withstand the harsh outdoor environments relating to direct sun exposure.

Router cut: the term used for a cut-to-shape type finished printed product which utilizes a spinning bit or vibrating knife to achieve a finishing size.

Pixel: a single dot in an image which is not vector, the dot contains the information necessary to display on a computer monitor or printer.

Proportional Scale: common term used for the equal height and width enlargement of a print file which would not result in a skewed enlargement.

Rasterize: to flatten a layered file or parse the vector and pixel based digital information to create a flat pixel based image.

Ratio / Scale: the term used in design which indicates the proportional scale of a graphic image. 1:2 scale would result in a half size digital file or 1 inch = 2 inches ratio.

Resolution: the quality of a digital image based on pixel width and height to make up that image. Digital photographic images are always pixel based.

RIP: a computer or process which contains software that converts digital postscript files into a programming language that a printer can then use to print a file

Solvent Ink: an ink which is liquid solvent based which actually melts into the substrate before it is air and heat dried.

Spot Color: a color referenced in the Pantone color chart.

Substrate: a layer of material, often one of a number of parallel layers one upon another. Commonly referenced in printing as the primary surface board for which ink is applied to.

Trap: the term used in printing where to colors are overlapped so the appearance is that they are touching. If a trap is not used in 4cp printing, the color shifts which may apply to the printing process between two or more colors results in a separation of the two colors.

Ultra-Violet Inks: printing inks which reside on the surface of a substrate and remains its liquid state until ultraviolet light is applied.

Vector Art: digital artwork which is compiled of computer generated lines which do not result in a jagged edge when printing. Vector art is typically much smaller in file size requirements and can be enlarged to any size without loosing quality or resulting in a low resolution print.