Graphic Design Terms and Definitions

Browse graphic design terminology used for print and digital deliverables. Look up terms like CMYK, bleed, DPI, vector vs raster, kerning, and Pantone. Related service: Graphic Design.

Resolution: Detail Level of an Image

Resolution describes the amount of detail in an image, usually expressed as pixel dimensions and the effective PPI at a given size. Read moreabout Resolution: Detail Level of an Image

LPI: Lines Per Inch in Halftone Screening

LPI (lines per inch) describes the density of a halftone screen used in printing, measured by how many halftone lines fit in one inch. Read moreabout LPI: Lines Per Inch in Halftone Screening

PPI: Pixels Per Inch in Image Files

PPI (pixels per inch) describes how many pixels from an image file are used to fill one inch of physical space when printed or placed in layout. Read moreabout PPI: Pixels Per Inch in Image Files

DPI: Dots Per Inch in Print Output

Dots per inch (DPI) describes how many ink dots a printer places within one inch when reproducing an image. Read moreabout DPI: Dots Per Inch in Print Output

Slug Area: Print Production Notes Space

The slug area is an extra space outside the trim and bleed used for print production information like job notes, color bars, and registration details. Read moreabout Slug Area: Print Production Notes Space

Crop Marks: Guides for Trimming Print

Crop marks are thin lines placed outside the artwork area to show the printer where the final trim should occur. Read moreabout Crop Marks: Guides for Trimming Print

Bleed: Printing Beyond the Trim

Bleed is the extra printed area that extends past the final cut line, so your design still reaches the edge after trimming. Read moreabout Bleed: Printing Beyond the Trim

Color Gamut: The Range of Reproducible Colors

A color gamut is the range of colors a device or color space can reproduce, such as a monitor, printer, or a defined space like sRGB. Read moreabout Color Gamut: The Range of Reproducible Colors

ICC Profile: Color Management Standard

An ICC profile is a color management file that describes how a device or color space reproduces color, so software can convert colors predictably. Read moreabout ICC Profile: Color Management Standard

LAB: Perceptual Color Space

CIELAB color space (LAB) is a device-independent color space designed to be more aligned with human vision, using L for lightness and a/b for color channels. Read moreabout LAB: Perceptual Color Space

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