Game and Printing Glossary
4-color-process - The process of combining four basic colors to create a printed color picture or colors
composed from the basic four colors (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black). Often abbreviated as "4cp" or "4/4". The latter refers to a sheet of paper printed in color on both sides. "1/1" would be a sheet printed in one color both sides.
A
abstract strategy game - A game with no theme. For specifically among aficionados of abstract games, the term is often limited to two players (to avoid petty diplomacy issues), perfect information (i.e. no randomness) often with minimal theme.
Ameritrash - A catchphrase for "American style boardgames". In general, this means games that emphasize a highly developed theme, player to player conflict, and usually feature a moderate to high level of luck. Examples of classic Ameritrash games include Axis & Allies, Dune, and Cosmic Encounter.
Aqueous coat - A coating applied at press time to seal the ink on the paper. Slightly cheaper than UV coating, but less usually less glossy or waterproof. Most coatings are available in matte or gloss finishes.
Accordion fold - Bindery term, two or more parallel folds which open like an accordion.
B
Banding - Method of packaging printed pieces of paper using rubber or paper bands.
BGG - A short form used when referring to the website BoardGameGeek.Big Box Retail - Stores like Walmart and Target as opposed to smaller, independent stores and chains.
Bleed - Printing that goes to the edge of the sheet after trimming. To insure this, your artwork will need to extend a fraction of an inch (1/8" to 3/8") past the edge of the sheet.
BPA - Acronym for Boardgame Players Association (see http://www.boardgamers.org).Bulk pack - Boxing printed product without wrapping or banding.
C
C1S or C2S - Paper that is coated on one side (C1S) or two sides(C2S). Occasionally, you will see a reference to "C3S", which is a C1S sheet of paper with a half coat on the second side. Imagigrafx uses the terms C3S and "C1S Plus" to refer to "C3S".
Case Pack - Refers to how many games are packed in a shipping carton. The standard for board games is six games per shipping carton.
chit / counter Small, usually square piece of cardboard that represents a unit or a game element. Commonly found in wargames. The terms chit and counter are often used interchangably.CMYK - Cyan/Magenta/Yellow/Black. Refers to the color scheme used to create print artwork. All print artwork should use a CMYK color scheme.
Coated Stock -A clay coated printing paper with a smooth finish. Coated stock really makes colors "pop".
Collate - A finishing term for gathering paper in a precise order.
collectible game -a game where the pieces (usually cards or miniatures) are sold in randomly sorted packages. The purchaser usually does not know which cards/miniatures they are buying.Color matching system - A system of formulated ink colors used for communicating color. See also PMS.
Comb bind - To plastic comb bind by inserting the comb into punched holes.
Common Back - On cards, refers to one side of the cards printing exactly the same. Poker cards have a common back. Trvivial Pursuit cards do not. See also Uncommon back.
Common Bleed - Refers to a bleed that is the same color on all sides of the piece. Common bleed is most important on cards. See also Uncommon bleed.
Crop marks - Printed lines showing where to trim a printed sheet.
D
D6 - Common abbreviation for 'six-sided die'. Similarly D8 refers to 'eight-sided die'. d10, d12, and d20 are also common terms. A pair of six-sided dice is sometimes called 2D6. These abbreviations are most common in RPGs and wargames.Die (1) - Singular for dice.
Die (2) -Metal rule or imaged block used to cut or place an image on paper in the finishing process.
Die cutting - Cutting images in or out of paper. In games, die cut sheets are often used for move pieces, coins, or counters.
Die lines - Simple line art used to help layout your artwork correctly. We prepare them for you to insure that your art will fit boxes, boards and cards correctly.
Distributor - A company that buys your games and then resells them, usually to retailers. Distributors buy large quantities, but expect to recieve a large discount in price. Most commonly used in the Hobby Market and by Independent toy stores. Big box retailers do not use distributors.
Double-Double Rule - A rough guide to figuring out the wholesale and retail price of your game based on the manufacturing cost. If your game costs $5 to manufacture, then double the price to get the wholesale price of the game ($10). Double it again to get the retail price ($20).
E
Emboss - Pressing an image into paper so that it will create a raised relief.
end-game - The final time period in a game, which will usually determine the victor. Strategies during this period often vary slightly from strategies used during the earlier portion of the game.Euro-style/Euro-game - A common term for a style of game originated in Germany and growing in popularity in the U.S. Euro-style games involve less luck and more strategy than mass market games.
F
FLGS - Acronym for "Friendly Local Game Store". This represents a "brick and mortar" game store as opposed to an on-line establishment, and normally will also exclude large (and hence less friendly) stores like Target and Wal-Mart.
Fulfillment - Sending an order to a customer. Often confused with Distribution. A Distributor buys and then re-sells your games. A fulfillment operation stores and ships games that you own.
G
Gang - Getting the most out of a printing press by using the maximum sheet size to print multiple images or jobs on the same sheet. A way to save money.
gateway game - A game with simple rules that are easy to teach non-gamers in order to attract new players into boardgaming as a hobby.German game - See Euro-style/Euro-game.
Gloss - A shiny look reflecting light.
Grain - The direction in which the paper fiber lie.
Grippers - The metal fingers on a printing press that hold the paper as it passes through the press.
GSM (gsm) - Grams per square meter. A measure of paper density, and by inference, thickness. GSM is used in China and Europe. In the U.S., most printers use "points" to measure thickness. See also Point.
H
Hobby Market - Usually refers to independent or small chain stores that specialize in niche market games like Dungeons and Dragons. It is much easier to get started in this market than in the mass market. See also FLGS.
I
ISBN Number -The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a 10-digit number that uniquely identifies books and book-like products published internationally. If selling games into large retail book chains, this may be required.
J
K
Kiss die cut - To cut the top layer of a pressure sensitive sheet and not the backing. Also refered to as "kiss cut".
L
M
Magenta - Process red, one of the basic colors in process color.
Makeready - All the activities required to prepare a press for printing.
Mass Market - Major retailers like Target, WalMart and Toys R Us. A difficult market for small game comanies to sell into, but very profitable if they can crack the threshold.
mass market game - A game often sold by mass market retailers, like WalMart, and designed to appeal to a wide audience. Games from Hasbro and Mattel are in this category.Matte finish - Dull paper or ink finish.
Meeples - "Meeples" is a term that describes anthropomorphic playing pieces in games, originally used to describe those used in Carcassonne. It is now more broadly used to refer to nearly any pawn or figure in a game.
N
Niche Market - A small market segment. While "small" sounds bad, it can be quite profitable. Good examples are the hobby market, Christian market, Educational market, etc.
O
Offset paper - Term for uncoated book paper.
Overrun or overs - Copies printed in excess of the specified quantity. (Printing trade terms allow for + - 10 % to represent a completed order.).
P
Pallet - Also called a "skid". A 48" x 40" wood platform used to ship product. Storage and shipping costs are often determined by the number of pallets stored/shipped.
Pantone Match Service (PMS) - A selection of pre-mixed colors using exact formulas. Also referred to as a "Spot Color".
Party Game - A game designed for lots of social interaction with light rules. Think Pictionary and Apples to Apples.
Perfect bind - A type of binding that glues the edge of sheets to a cover like a telephone book, Microsoft
software manual, or Country Living Magazine.
Pips - The spots on dice.
Playing Card Stock (PCS) - Paper with an opaque black layer sandwiched in between two regular layers of paper. Stands up well to repeated shuffling, but can be pricey. Imagigrafx normally uses PCS in 10.5pt and 11.5pt stocks when quoting PCS.
Point (pt) - For paper, a unit of thickness equaling 1/1000 inch (.001"). for typesetting, a unit of height equaling 1/72 inch. Common card thicknesses are 10 point or 12 point, for instance.
Process colors - Cyan (blue), magenta (process red), yellow (process yellow), black (process black).
Q
R
RPG - Abbreviation for Role-Playing Game, in which a gamemaster creates a progressive storyline and other players control the characters within the story. Example: Dungeons & Dragons
S
Score - A crease put on paper to help it fold better. (Also, a way to get points in games!)
Self-cover - Using the same paper as the text for the cover.
Shipper - A heavy corrugated card board box or shipping carton.
Saddle stitch/Side stitch- Binding by stapling along one side of a sheet.
Spot Color - An ink premixed to a certain color rather than using CMYK inks to make the color. Useful if you want to match a specific color or if you need a metallic ink, etc.
Spot varnish/Spot UV - Coating applied only to a particular area on the sheet. Used to highlight a specific part of the printed sheet.
sprue - The manufacturing material that is still attached to game bits when they are taken from the packaging for the first time. Usually refers to injection-molded plastic pieces.
T
Tuck Box - Box made from a single sheet of heavy paper with a flap that tucks into the top (or bottom). Most often used for card games.
U
Uncoated - A paper that does not have a coating on it. See also "offset paper".
Uncommon Back - When the back of each card in a set is unique. Usually, in a trivia game.
Uncommon Bleed - When an image or color is not the same on all sides of a card or other sheet.
UPC Code - A Universal Product Code. Used by retailers to track merchandise for inventory and pricing. You can buy these singly for your game.
UV Coat - Liquid laminate bonded and cured with ultraviolet light. Environmentally friendly. It can sometimes be too glossy or slippery for game cards, in which case, an aqueous or water-based coat is recommended.
V
W
Wire-O binding - A method of wire binding books along the binding edge that will allow the book to lay flat using double loops.
XYZ
Sources:
Game terms: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/wiki/page/Glossary
Print Terms: http://www.printusa.com/glos.htm