Glossary

 
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  • Accommodation Card: Used for out of town guests needing to make reservations for lodging.
  • Accordion fold: A sheet of paper folded twice to give the invitation an accordion or three-fold look.
  • At Home Cards: These cards are sent out to announce when the couple will be home from their honeymoon and of their new address.
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  • Blind Embossing: A special printing technique where the image or type is etched into a metal plate. It is used to create a raised design by pressing the image into paper. It is called "blind" because the design or type is formed without ink or foil. This process is not recommended for small or elaborate images or for larger areas of copy.
  • Borders: A design framing the outside of the invitation.
  • Bright White: This is a pure, bright white.
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  • Calligraphy: A formal, hand written writing style.
  • Calling Cards: Personalized cards sent with a gift or left when making a social call.
  • Card: An invitation stock that does not fold.
  • Card with Wrap: An invitation stock that is surrounded with a wrap of vellum, translucent paper, rice paper, etc.
  • Centered: A copy position where the text is printed in the center of the card with equal space in the left and right margins.
  • Copy: All wording that composes the text of any printed item.
  • Cotton Paper: This is an extremely sturdy yet soft paper made from 100% cotton.
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  • Debossed Border: Border appears to have been embossed but impression is inset instead of raised.
  • Deckled Edge: Paper appears to have been torn/ worn on the edges.
  • Die: An engraved or etched piece of metal which makes an impression on the paper stock. Die is used in letterpress printing, foil stamping, embossing, and engraving.
  • Dimensions: The size and measurements of the card. Each item is measured width by height.
  • Direction/Map Cards: This is sent out with the invitation and reception card to show where the ceremony and reception will be held. Direction cards contain specific information while map cards show a map using main roads and landmarks.
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  • Ecru: This is a warm, creamy beige, ivory, off-white, or eggshell color meant to mimic the look of unbleached linen.
  • Engagement Announcements: Sent out to family and friends to announce an engagement and when it occurred.
  • Engraving: Type or images are etched into a copper plate; the plate is inked and wiped clean, leaving ink in the impressions. Each piece of paper is hand-fed into a press where the paper is forced against the plate, resulting in a raised, inked impression. The faint indentation on the back of the paper is a sign of fine engraving. Plates are typically provided with the order and can be reused.
  • Envelope Lining: An envelope lining is a decorative paper or tissue that lines the inside of the envelope.
  • Extra Run: This is when a printed item goes into a press more than once. For example, a note card may thermographed on the front and flat printed on the inside.
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  • Flat Cards: Single cards, or panel cards, are typically printed with a monogram or proper name on a thicker paper.
  • Flat Printing: Often used on multiple-page programs, flat printing can also be used on business letterhead; it's simply a matter of preference. The printing appears as a smooth impression. Flat printing is required when reproducing photographic halftones and highly-detailed artwork.
  • Flourish: Bold, sweaping movements added to embellish a letter or word. Graphic artists will flourish the letters that best complement your copy. Therefore, we ask that you order a flourished font only if you're willing to trust the artist's judgement.
  • Foil Imprint (Hotstamping): This is a process of bonding foil to paper stock or another item. The image is flat printed and is applied to the product with heat and pressure.
  • Foldover: Also known as a folder or note card. This is a folded card most often used for thank-you notes.
  • Font: The type style that is assigned to the text.
  • French Fold: This is when the invitation is folded twice, giving it four distinct panels.
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  • Gift Tags: GSmall flat or foldover cards with your name or company logo that you can send along to personalize gifts.
  • Glitter: Small pieces of light-reflecting decorative material. A paper or ink color with a slight sparkle.
  • Glossy Finish: A glassy or glazed look.
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  • Halftone: A reproduction of a photograph having highlights, shadows, and intermediate tones.
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  • Imagitation: A term invented by Stacy Claire Boyd, this process incorporates your personal photo into the design of your card during the printing process.
  • Informal: Also known as "thank-you note." A small foldover with a person's name or "Thank You" printed on the front. This can also be a flat card. These are used as an expression of gratitude for a gift received, a dinner or any other occasion.
  • Ink Color: Color chosen for printed wording and embellishments.
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  • Laserstripe: A pinstripe pattern used on envelope linings and paper.
  • Letterpress: Letterpress printing dates back to the mid-1400's. It is a centuries-old technique in which raised words and images are inked and pressed directly into paper, leaving a crisp debossed impression that is enhanced by the tactile qualities of the paper on which it is printed.
  • Logo: Similar to a motif, a logo is a design or drawing of a picture or a company name, product or service.
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  • Marble Pattern: A marble paper that uses a swirled or streaking effect with veins of colors to imitate marble.
  • Metallic: A metal reflective sheen; lustrous sparkling metal-based colors.
  • Mirri / Mira: This is a smooth reflective paper imitating a colored mirror.
  • Monogram: Monograms typically include first, middle, and last names or initials in an attractive design on stationery.
  • Moonbeam: A shimmering paper with a slightly rough texture.
  • Motifs: This is a printed symbol or pattern used to embellish invitations or stationery sets.
  • Moving Cards: A card sent to notify people that you have a new address or phone number.
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  • Note Cards: A small foldover card with a person's name or monogram printed on the front. It is most commonly used as thank-you card.
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  • Panel: This is when a center section of stock is sunken or raised and "framed" by a raised area of paper. It also refers to a tri-fold invitation, which has a left, middle, and right panel.
  • Panel Card: One sheet of thick stationery; also known as a flat card. These are used as stationary or invitations.
  • Pearlize: A frosted shimmering finish typically found on ink, paper or envelope linings. The process applies a luminous pearly finish to the invitation.
  • Photo Cards: A personal photo that is printed right onto a peice of stationery.
  • Place Card: This card is used to assign seating at the reception.
  • Program: An agenda or schedule provided in a booklet to let guests follow along with the sequence of events.
  • Proof: A Proof is a black/white fax or email sample of your product typeset by the manufacturer. Proofs are helpful for checking the actual type size, placement, spelling and wording. TWIO highly recommends a proof with every order.
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  • Reception Cards: Provides information about the time and location of the wedding reception and is most often sent along with the invitation.
  • Reflective: A mirror-like paper capable of reflecting light or images.
  • Reply Cards: Also called response cards, sent for the guest to formally reply with the names and number of people that will or will not attend. A return address is printed on the envelope and postage is usually included. A date is given for the guest telling them the latest date the card should be returned by.
  • Return Address: A return address with street, city,state and zip code printed on the back flap of the envelope.
  • RSVP: RSVP comes from the French expression "répondez s'il vous plait," meaning "please respond." When an RSVP is on an invitation, the guest invited must tell the host whether or not they will be attending the event.
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  • Sample Invitation: This is a sample of the paper that your product will be printed on. This is used to show the weight and color of paper of the product that you are ordering.
  • Save-the-Date Cards: These are usually sent four months to one year before the wedding to notify guests of the date. This is helpful for out of town guests making travel arrangements.
  • Seal 'n Send: An invitation that does not require an envelope and has a removable respond postcard.
  • Stardust: A soft and slightly sparkly material with sheen.
  • Suede: A fabric similar to suede leather with a soft, fuzzy surface.
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  • Thank-You Card: A Also known as an "informal," this is a small foldover or flat card with a person's name or "Thank You" printed on the front. These are used as an expression of gratitude for a gift received, a dinner or any other occasion.
  • Thermography: Thermography was created to imitate the look of engraved printing at a more economical price. Sometimes called raised printing, thermography is achieved when a powdered resin is applied to wet ink and heated to create a raised surface.
  • Translucent: Also known as Vellum, this is a soft, transparent paper, often laid over an invitation.
  • Two-Color Run: This occurs when a printed item requires two colors of ink to create the finished product.
  • Typestyle: A font or lettering style.
  • Typography: Typestyles set by designers and typesetters. When choosing a typestyle, the event or company it is representing should be considered.
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  • Vellum: A paper with a smooth finish.
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  • Wedding Announcement: These are typically sent to inform people of a marriage when they were not a guest of the wedding.
  • White: Light, pallid in color; having little or no hue
  • Within-the-Ribbon: These are also known as pew cards. This is reserved for family and close friends who are seated together in an area that has been reserved for them.