Glossary

Blank: A die cut sheet envelope shape before it is folded.

Bleed: When the printed image extends pas the edge of the envelope.

Booklet: A side seam envelope with flap on the long side.

BRE (Business Reply Envelope): An envelope printed with the return address and indicia.

Catalog: A large center seam envelope with flap on the short side. Also known as Open End.

Commercial: General term to describe most business style envelopes.  This is open side with diagonal seams.

Corner Copy: A return address and logo on the upper left hand corner.

Cross Cut: Envelopes cut so that the paper grain is perpendicular to the paper side seam fold. 
This makes the envelope more difficult to fold.

Diagonal Seam: Two side flaps joined with the back flap so that the seams run diagonally on the back of the envelope.

FIM (Facing Identification Markings): Printed vertical bars on the top right corner of the envelope for post office machines to read.

Flexo (Inline): A form of printing using flexible rubber plates on rotary press.  Printing and folding are done complete in one operation.

Halftone: Picture with gradations of tone, formed by dots of varying sizes in one color.

Glassine: A biodegradable, semitransparent paper sometimes used for window patch.

Grain: The direction most of the fibers lie on the sheet of paper.

Gripper Edge: The leading edge of paper as it passes through a printing press or folder.

Indicia: Printed postal permit on upper right hand corner of envelope.

Inside Tint: Printed design on the inside of the envelope.  Used for added opacity or graphic interest.

Jet Printing (Offset): Printing press setup to print on already manufactured envelopes.  Avails fast, high quality turnaround.

Jogged: Process using vibration to register a stack of paper.

Kraft: A paper grade made from unbleached, bleached or colored wood pulp by the sulfate process.  Most commonly used the manufacture of Catalog or Booklet envelopes.

Latex Seal: A rubber-based adhesive for self-seal envelopes.  Adhesive is placed on the flap and back of the envelope. 
When the two strips of latex gum are pressed together, they create a bond which seals the envelope.

Offset Paper: Also known as text or book paper.  Designed to be used in printing by lithography.

Perfecting: Refers to printing on both sides of the envelope on a single pass through the Jet Press.

Perforation: Creating a line of small dotted holes into a piece of paper to make tearing easy.

Regular: An envelope with no window.

Remittance: An envelope with a large flap, approximately the same size of the envelope.

Remoistenable Seal Gum: The envelope becomes permanently sealed when moisture is applied to the gum.

Side Seam: Envelope configuration with two narrow side seams and a square back panel.

Split Seal Gum: Remoistenable Seal Gum that is split where the flap overlaps the diagonal seams.

Tint: Printing on the inside of the envelope to increase opacity for security.

Web: Envelope is manufactured using a continuous roll of paper where cutting and folding is done on one machine.

Zip Strip Seal: Uses self-adhearing strip of gum applied to the flap and protected with a strip of coated release paper.