Fantastapack Packaging Glossary

Fluting of height 4-5mm.

Typically used for sealing packages, adhesive tape products consist of a base (such as plastic or paper) and glue (adhesive).

Fluting of height 2.1–3mm.

Bleed refers to the areas of the print that extend beyond the edge of the cut or fold lines of your packaging. Bleeds allow you to run artwork to the edge of a page.

A substance or object capable of decomposing by biological means.

A box describes a variety of containers and receptacles, typically with a flat base, sides, a bottom, and a lid.

Fluting of height 3.2–4mm

Bleed refers to the areas of the print that extend beyond the edge of the cut or fold lines of your packaging. Bleeds allow you to run artwork to the edge of a page.

The CMYK color model is the most common method for colors to be built on a digital press. CMYK uses four different pigmented inks—Cyan (C), Magenta (M), Yellow (Y), and Black (K).

Paper made with a layer of clay on top of fibers.

Connected packaging, or smart packaging, refers to packaging capable of direct communication with a smart device through integrated technologies.

A company that specializes in combining and processing raw materials to create new products.

Corrugated is made from paper made of cellulose fibers, consisting of fluting with a liner on both sides. Corrugated is used for heavy-duty applications such as shipping boxes, retail displays, etc.

A corrugated board consists of one or more sheets of fluted paper adhered to one or more liner papers.

Custom packaging refers to unique packaging solutions tailored to meet a brand’s specific requirements for a product.

The process of cutting shapes through a die made from steel rule applied with a hydraulic or mechanical press.

A direct printing process, where a print-ready artwork file is electronically transferred from a computer directly to the press and then printed onto the desired material. Digital presses transfer four or more ink colors (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black) simultaneously, producing full-color prints without using print plates.

The process of storing and transporting finished goods from the point of origin to the end retailer or consumer

ECT is a measure of the compressive strength of a corrugated board or how much weight a box could hold above it before it is crushed.

Fluting of height 1–1.8mm.

Fluting of height 0.75mm

Corrugated material is available in different wall thicknesses, known as flute size. Depending on the customer’s packaging needs, each flute size has a unique function or purpose, ranging from A-flute (the largest) to F-flute and below (micro flutes).

Flexible material (often made of paper or foil) is used to form packaging for items such as bags, pouches, or envelopes.

A rotary relief printing process uses print plates to manually transfer the image onto the desired substrate. The plate features raised molds that depict the desired artwork. Ink is applied to the raised areas of the plate, which then rotates on a cylinder at high speeds to transfer the image to the substrate.

A type of protective packaging material with unique shock-absorbing properties. Foam can be made from various substances and customized to fit a product’s specific design.

Full truckload (FTL) refers to the transportation of products or finished goods that requires a full truckload.

The process of receiving, processing, and distributing orders from the warehouse or point-of-origin to the end retailer or consumer.

An adhesive used for securing objects or materials together.

Graphic design is the practice of creating and arranging graphical and textual elements for visual communication. Graphic design comprises various fields and specializations, such as print and web design.

Inner dimensions of a box or package, usually expressed as L (length) x W (width) x H (height).

A type of packaging solution made of a material such as corrugated or foam used to divide a box into different sections. Inserts are designed to limit the movement of contents inside the box to minimize product damage.

A list of raw materials, finished goods, or other supplies held in a warehouse or distribution center.

Just-in-time (JIT) is an inventory management method in which raw material, finished goods, or supplies are only purchased or manufactured when required to reduce warehousing space and minimize waste.

A paper and paperboard material made from virgin wood pulp treated by the sulfate process, resulting in a natural brown appearance.

A piece of paper, plastic film, or other material adheres to packaging or a product for marking and identification purposes.

Layers are the different levels at which one can place an object or image file in a graphics software, such as Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop.

The inner and outer facing of corrugated board.

A system of techniques and activities to improve supply chain efficiency and minimize waste in the manufacturing process.

The process of printing decorative graphics onto a paper liner board with offset lithography and then laminating the printed liner board onto a backing board (such as corrugated).

Less than truckload (LTL) refers to the transportation of products or finished goods that do not require a full truckload.

The process of planning and managing the flow, storage, and distribution of raw materials, finished goods, and supplies from the manufacturer to the end consumer.

Outer dimensions of a box or package usually expressed as L (length) x W (width) x H (height).

A print technology that uses metal or aluminum plates to transfer an image onto a rubber “blanket” and then applied onto a sheet of paper or corrugated. With offset print, the ink is not transferred directly onto the substrate.

A void-filling solution that can be used to block or separate lightweight products.

The assembling and securing of individual items on a platform to be moved or stored.

A physical location or area where a sale transaction between a customer and retailer is finalized.

The working model of a package and/or structural design before it enters full production.

The packaging container in direct contact with the product.

Quick Response Code is a 2D barcode that can be scanned by smart devices.

Paper made from extracting used paper fiber.

A shipping container designed for the end-user to reuse and ship the contents back to the manufacturer or to another destination.

In graphic design, the resolution is the amount of pixel detail in an image.

A physical in-store display used to promote a specific product.

Due to the movement of the printing presses and materials during the print process, shift refers to the acceptable amount of error during printing. Digital print production has an industry standard acceptable shift of up to 1/8".

The process of cutting down a large, corrugated sheet into smaller sheets for print production.

The process of procuring raw materials, finished goods, and services as a part of the supply chain.

The process of designing custom packaging tailored for a specific product or purpose.

The integrated network of vendors, suppliers, and technologies used to produce a product and all its related components and distribute it to the end consumer.

Packaging produced with manufacturing practices or materials with the intent of reducing or minimizing environmental impact.

The total cost of producing a single unit.

A type of loose-fill packaging material, such as packing peanuts or recycled paper, used to fill up empty space in a package and support product protection.

A designated space where raw materials or manufactured goods are stored until they are ready for production or distribution.