Healey Disc Manufacturing / Client Resources / Terminology

1. Barcodes : Universal Product Codes (UPC). No two barcodes are alike. Composed of vertical lines and numbers that are used to identify the product when scanned by a computer. Back to top of page

2. Basecoat : Term used to denote a colour applied and cured on a CD before the other colours are applied. Most of the time, basecoats are white. The purpose of the basecoat is more or less the same as in any painting scenario. The basecoat allows consistent colour, brightness, and serves as a background to graphics. Back to top of page

3. Bleed : Extra area of image on your artwork that extends 1/8 of an inch past the crop mark. Acts as a safety incase the printer cuts outside of the crop mark. Back to top of page

4. Booklets : Used to display artwork graphics and can consist of several pages that are stapled like a magazine and inserted into standard packaging. Back to top of page

5. Capacity : (DATA CAPACITY) The amount of information that can be stored on media. A CDs capacity is 654.7 Megabytes (Mb), or 74 minutes and 30 seconds. Back to top of page

6. CD-R : Is short for "CD-Recordable". Recordable CDs are WORM (Write Once, Read Multiple) media that work just like standard CDs. The advantage of CD-R over other types of optical media is that you can use the discs with a standard CD player. The disadvantage is that you can't reuse a disc. Back to top of page

7. CD-ROM Drive : Hardware (machine) that reads the data from a CD ROM disc. Back to top of page

8. CD Traycard : Used to display artwork graphics and is inserted into a standard CD jewel box. Note cassettes do not have traycards. Back to top of page

9. Colour Separation : In process printing, the artwork must first be separated into the 4 base colours before proceeding to film and press. Most good graphic programs have this ability built in, however, you should take care to prepare your graphics correctly where appropriate. Back to top of page

10. Digital Audio : Any source of audio, which has been converted to a digital form. CD-quality audio is audio sampled at 16-bit resolution and is the Red Book standard in the audio industry. Back to top of page

11. Digital Data : Information that has been stored in digital form. Back to top of page

12. Digital Printing : The term used to describe any printing technique which does not involve the generation of film to print (as in offset printing). Generally, digital printing uses high end inkjet, laser and other printing presses. Back to top of page

13. Digital Proof : The term describing a more efficient mechanism for reviewing final artwork before proceeding to press. Digital proofs are appropriate for all printing and silkscreening except where accurate colour reproduction is an important goal. In these cases, other proofing mechanisms may be required. Back to top of page

14. Film Separations : Film separations are used to create the image to be printed on inserts, CD and cassette labels. Back to top of page

15. Glass Master : The starting point of the CD replication process. A large glass disc that is coated with a photosensitive material that is then bombarded with laser light to encode the date. Exposing the glass master creates a 'father'. Back to top of page

16. Gradient : A transition between one colour and another, or one shade of a colour and another, or one density of a colour and another. Back to top of page

17. Injection Molding : A mold (containing the 'stamper') is injected with melted plastic under pressure. Once cooled and removed as a solid, it becomes a clear plastic disc. The impression from the stamper is transferred to the plastic disc. Back to top of page

18. Inner Hub : The area from the inner hole on a CD to the area where the mirror band begins. The inner hub's main purpose is for easy handling by machines and people. Back to top of page

19. Inserts : Used to display artwork graphics and can consist of several panels that are folded into standard packaging. Back to top of page

20. Jewel Box : Industry accepted plastic CD case. Back to top of page

21. Label : Printing that appears on the actual CD. Printed using either screen, pad or offset printing methods. This term is also used for the paper labels found on vinyl records. Back to top of page

22. Master : The final recording that is to be used as a source for the mastering process. Usually in DAT format. When referring to a CD-ROM master, it is the disk image that has been written to a Pre Master CD, Exabyte tape of 4mm DAT tape. Back to top of page

23. Mastering : The formatting of audio, computer data, or both. The information is encoded and written to a Pre-Master CD. Different encoding options will be used, depending on the final format (CD-DA, CD-ROM, etc.) Back to top of page

24. Mirror Band : A slightly lighter area of a CD in which information is not stored but reflective material extends. It is located between the inner hub and the main information area on the CD. Back to top of page

25. Mixed Mode : A CD that contains different information on separate tracks. Most common form places computer information in track 1 and audio information in the subsequent tracks. Back to top of page

26. Offset Printing : A printing technique which is more efficient at higher volumes, it involves the use of film and plates to print on the target surface. Back to top of page

27. Process Printing : The combination of 4 base colours (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) to produce any colour in the colour spectrum. Otherwise known as CMYK. Back to top of page

28. Registration : The ability to place the target image in a precise location on the target surface. A tight registration is important so that no spacing appears between two adjacent colours on the CD or other printed material. Back to top of page

29. Registration Mark : Guidelines that should appear in artwork and film to guide the press operator on setting up overlapping or adjacent colours. Back to top of page

30. Selection number : A selection or catalogue number is used for tracking purposes at the manufacturing plant as well as at the retail level. Most numbers consist of 3 letters and 3 numbers (ABC-123). Back to top of page

31. Silkscreening : In layman's terms, painting the CD with a graphic image using film to generate screens in which the paint is pressed through. Back to top of page

32. Spot Colour : A single colour appearing in artwork i.e. put your finger on a spot and name the colour. All artwork can be printed as either a spot or process colour. For richer colours, combinations, gradients, or vivid images, process printing is more appropriate. For all other situations, spot colour printing and silkscreening is more appropriate. Back to top of page

33. Stacking Ring : A raised ring on recordable CDs which allows spacing between two CDRs when stacked on top of each other. The stacking ring presents limitations during the silkscreening process. Back to top of page

34. Stamper : A part created by plating onto the 'mother' in the electroforming process. It is used in the injection molding process to create the clear plastic discs. Back to top of page

35. Template : A blank artwork design to be used as a container and guide when preparing your artwork. Back to top of page

36. Track : Each indexed piece of music on an audio CD. There is usually only one track on a CD-ROM, unless it is mixed mode then it will contain one track of computer data as well as several audio tracks. A CD can contain up to 99 tracks. Back to top of page

37. Track List/Log Sheet : A list of start times and duration should be supplied with your master so that the mastering engineer knows exactly what is on your tape. Back to top of page

38. Trapping : Ensures colors stay within the lines during the film output process. Back to top of page

39. Turnaround time : The estimated time it will take to complete your project once all the materials have been submitted. Back to top of page

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