Glossary of mailing and printing terms

• A — C
• D — F
• G — L
• M — O
• P — Q
• R — Z

PAF (Postcode Address File):

A data file containing the exact address of every property to which post can be delivered. The program which uses the data can correct addresses, allocate postcodes and DPS suffixes. It can also replace existing addresses with the Royal Mail preferred address format.

Paper sizes:

ISO paper sizes (plus rounded inch values):

'A' Range:

The 'A' Range is the finished trimmed size of paper.

'B' Range:

The 'B' range is used for special applications, such as oversize documents and posters.

'C' Range - Envelope Sizes:

Connected to both envelopes and folders, the 'C' range allows 'A' sized items to be inserted.

American Quarto:

American Quarto is normally used by USA based companies and is generally stated in inches.

ISO Sizes - Untrimmed Stock

SRA Sheet Sizes:

Known as the supplementary range, this sheet size offers greater flexibility in allowing for bleed, machine handling and finishing.

RA Sheet Sizes:

The 'RA' range allows for a 5% waste when finally trimmed. This range is not widely stocked due to the limitations in application.

Classic Series:

Pantone:

A colour matching system. A ‘Pantone’ colour is one where the mixture of basic colours is based on a specific formula. Therefore the specification of one of the 1000+ Pantone colours will lead to consistency of colour from more than one printer/supplier.

Parcelforce:

Company which delivers parcels through the UK. Parcelforce services are available to Mailing Houses on contract. Parcelforce belongs to the Post Office Group.

Perf:

Perforation

Periodicals:

A class of mail consisting of magazines, newspapers, or other publications that are issued throughout the year at regular, specified intervals.

Personalisation:

In Direct Mailing this term indicates that the letter/brochure/coupon or similar item sent out has been, in some way, made personal to the recipient. For example a letter addressed to ‘Dear ….’ or a coupon which has the name and address of the contact.

Personalised Laser Letter:

A document printed from a laser printer where each page has some form of personalisation such that each one is unique.

Point:

A typographical unit of measure equal to approximately 1/72” (0.0138”).

Polybag:

An envelope made of polythene, either printed with a design or plain (transparent). Usually with a strip of self adhesive glue at the flap for sealing.

Polybagging:

The act of inserting items into a polybag.

Polywrapping:

A method where a piece of flat polythene is wrapped around a mailing piece and sealed. Usually cheaper than polybagging

Portrait:

A ‘view’ of a publication where the shorter side is at the top as it is looked at naturally.

Post Town:

The Post Town in an address is the town where Royal Mail has the nearest distribution depot from which mail is delivered by the postman.

Postcodes:

The series of letters and number which codes an address. Postcodes can cover a number of properties as well as a single destination. Postcodes are made up of Region (MK) District (42) Sector (7) Group (UA).

PPI (Postage Paid Impression):

The symbol printed on mailing envelopes or polythene film to indicate that the postage is being paid through an account.

Pre-cancelled Stamps:

Stamps cancelled by printing across the face before they are sold to mailers.

Pre-sort:

The process by which a mailer prepares mail so that is sorted down to the finest extent required by the Post Office.

Presstream:

A service to publishers for the distribution of Magazines and Journals. Identical to Mailsort in preparation and distribution, but on a different scale of charges. Companies wishing to use this service have registered with Royal Mail and are required to conform to ‘rules’ regarding the proportion of Advertising to Editorial content.

Pressure Sensitive Continuous Feed Labels:

Pressure sensitive type labels, peel off a backing and stick onto another surface, such as a mail piece. Continuous feed means the label pages are attached to each other and are fed through the printer by pin holes.

Print Finishing:

When a printing press has completed the actual printing there are still a number of steps before the finished product is ready. Cutting to size, making up the sections in page order, stapling or perfect binding etc. The process is called print finishing.

Process Colours:

The 4 basic colours for printing half tone images. Magenta, Cyan , Yellow and Black. (Black is technically not one of the process colours but is included here for convenience).

Profiling:

Profiling is the action of applying selection criteria to a database. For example in a Lifestyle database selecting prospects with an income of over £30,000 living in a house worth over £250,000 in London and the Home Counties.

Proof:

The term used to describe a sample of printing before the final production takes place.

Proportional Spacing:

The spacing of characters in a line where the space occupied by a character is proportional to the width of that character, as opposed to fixed spacing where every character occupies the same amount of space regardless of its actual width.

Psychographics:

These are characteristics, habits, attitudes, lifestyle and behaviour patterns that can help you identify your audience, or eliminate names of those who aren’t.

Purge:

The process of eliminating duplicates and/or unwanted names from one or more lists.

QMP (Quality Standard for Mail Production):

A standard required by Royal Mail in association with the Direct Marketing Association for recognition the service provided to direct mailers is of the highest standard. It is awarded to companies whose key staff have passed stringent examinations in Royal Mail products, preparation and presentation requirements and both the legal and voluntary code practices of the mailing industry. Check that your mailing house is approved!

Quarter-Fold:

A type of fold where a piece gets folded in half, and then in half again. Both folds are in the same direction.