Printing Terms Explained: Collate, Bleed, GSM, CMYK, Proof
Quick answer: Collate means arranging the pages of a multi-page document into complete, ordered sets. Bleed is artwork that extends past the cut line so no white edge shows. GSM is paper weight in grams per square metre. CMYK is the four-ink colour process. A proof is a sample you approve before the full run. The sections below define every term you are likely to meet on a Nepali printing quotation.
"What is collate in printing" is one of the fastest-rising related searches in the Nepal Google Trends data (about +300%), and readers also ask what relief printing and stencil printing mean. Printers use many short words. This page gives each one a short, accurate definition and a link to the full guide.
Print setup terms
Substrate. The material being printed on: paper, card, corrugated board, plastic film, fabric, metal or glass.
Trim size. The final size of the item after it is cut. A4 is 210 × 297 mm and A5 is 148 × 210 mm (ISO 216).
Bleed. Extra artwork, normally 3 mm, extending past the trim line so that cutting does not leave a white edge.
Safe zone (margin). The area inside the trim, normally at least 5 mm, where text and logos should stay so they are not cut off.
Crop marks. Small lines outside the page that show where to cut.
Imposition. Arranging several pages on one large sheet so that when it is folded and cut the pages fall in the right order.
Pagination. The page order and numbering of a multi-page job.
Dieline. The flat outline of a box, bag or label showing cuts and folds. See custom packaging boxes.
Colour terms
CMYK. Cyan, magenta, yellow and key (black), the four inks used to print full-colour images. See CMYK vs Pantone.
RGB. Red, green and blue light used by screens. Colours may look different when converted to CMYK.
Spot colour (Pantone). A premixed ink used for a precise brand colour.
Rich black. A deep black made from several inks, used for large black areas.
Registration. How exactly the colours line up on the paper.
Colour proof. A sample showing how colours will print.
Paper terms
GSM. Grams per square metre: paper weight. Higher GSM is heavier and usually thicker. See the paper GSM guide.
Coated and uncoated. Coated paper (art paper) has a smooth surface that keeps ink bright. Uncoated paper is more absorbent and easier to write on.
Grain direction. The direction of the paper fibres. Folding against the grain can crack heavier stocks.
Finishing terms
Lamination. A thin plastic film bonded to the surface for protection and a matte, gloss or soft-touch look. See lamination and spot UV.
Spot UV. A glossy coating applied to selected areas.
Foil stamping. Metallic foil pressed onto selected areas with heat.
Embossing and debossing. Raising or pressing a design into the paper.
Die-cutting. Cutting a shape with a metal blade, used for boxes, labels and cards.
Scoring and creasing. Pressing a line so card folds cleanly.
Binding. Joining pages: saddle stitch, perfect binding, spiral, hardcover. See book printing in Nepal.
Process terms
Collate. Arranging the pages of a multi-page document into complete, ordered sets when several copies are printed. With collation on, a printer finishes one full set before starting the next. In a print shop, collating also means gathering printed sheets in order before binding.
Offset printing. A plate-based process that transfers ink to a rubber blanket and then to paper. See how offset printing works.
Digital printing. Printing directly from a file with no plates. See the digital printing guide.
Plate. A thin metal sheet carrying the image for one colour in offset printing.
Makeready. The setup time and sheets used to adjust a press before the production run.
Variable data printing. Changing text, numbers or codes on each copy from a spreadsheet.
Relief printing. Printing from a raised surface that is inked and pressed on paper; woodcuts and letterpress are relief methods.
Stencil printing. Printing by pushing ink through cut openings in a stencil; screen printing is a stencil method. See screen printing.
Flexography. Printing with flexible relief plates, widely used for packaging. See flexographic printing.
DTF. Direct to film, a transfer method for apparel. See DTF explained.
Sublimation. Dye transfer by heat onto polyester or coated items.
Quality and approval terms
Proof. A sample to approve before production. A digital proof is a PDF; a hard proof is a printed sample.
DPI (dots per inch). The resolution of an image. Photos should be about 300 dpi at print size.
Overs. Extra copies printed to allow for waste; the quantity delivered can differ slightly from the quantity ordered, so confirm the printer's policy.
Run length. The number of copies in a job.
Frequently asked questions
What does collate mean when printing?
It means printing multiple copies of a multi-page document in complete sets, page one to the last page, then repeating. Without collate, the printer prints all copies of page one, then all copies of page two.
What is the difference between bleed and trim?
Trim is the final cut size. Bleed is the extra artwork beyond the trim edge.
What is a quotation spec?
It is the set of facts a printer needs to price a job: size, paper, colours, finish, quantity and delivery. See how to request a printing quotation.
Where can I learn the A-series sizes?
See the ISO 216 paper-size reference.
Ask your printer in plain words
Use this glossary to brief a printer. Contact Thankyooou with your specification, or start with what is printing.
Sources
- ISO paper sizes — Markus Kuhn, University of Cambridge — A4 and A5 trim sizes.
- Collating — Merriam-Webster — dictionary definition of collating.
- Google Trends, Nepal, "printing", exported 11 November 2026 — "what is collate in printing" and "what is relief printing" among rising queries.