Home 9 Glossary

Glossary of Terms

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A

Adhesive

What is an Adhesive?
Adhesive is any non-metallic substance that is capable of holding materials together in a functional manner that resists their separation. The most common forms of adhesive are glue, cement, mucilage, and paste.

Annex 11

What is Annex 11?
Annex 11 is part of the European GMP Guidelines that defines the scope and limitations for computerised systems used by organizations in the pharmaceutical industry. Annex 11 defines the criteria under which electronic records and signatures are considered to be managed. It acts as a checklist for European regulatory agencies to establish the requirements for computerised systems for pharmaceutical products and medical devices.

Learn more about GlobalVision’s Certifications & Compliance.

Annotation

What is an Annotation?
An Annotation is a note or comment that serves as extra information associated with a document or project.

Artwork

What is Artwork?
Artwork is a printing matter which is placed on a product’s packaging material. It generally includes graphics, logos, barcodes, and product information. Packaging Artwork plays an essential role in communicating with the customer and contributes to the overall branding of a company.

See also: Branding

Learn more about Artwork Creation

Aseptic Packaging

What is Aseptic Packaging?
Aseptic Packaging is a specialized packaging process in which food, pharmaceuticals, and other products are sterilized separately. The products are then inserted into the packaging container in a sterile environment. Aseptic Packaging prevents microorganisms from entering a package, producing shelf-stable products that do not need refrigeration.

See also: Medical Packaging

Audit (Quality)

What is an Audit?
An Audit is a quality review process that evaluates a quality system with the intention of improving it. The purpose of an Audit is to provide management with information on how effectively the company controls the quality of its products and processes.

See also: Audit Trail

Audit Trail

What is an Audit Trail?
An Audit Trail is a regulatory requirement in manufacturing that refers to a security-relevant chronological record that provides documents evidence of a sequence of activities that have affected an operation, procedure, or event.

See also: Audit

B

Barcode

What is a Barcode?
A barcode is a method of representing data in a visual, machine-readable form. It consists of numbers and a pattern of parallel lines of varying widths that are printed on a product’s packaging for the purpose of identifying a product.

Learn more about GlobalVision’s Barcode Inspection.

Barcode Reader

What is a Barcode Reader?
A Barcode Reader is an optical scanner that can read printed barcodes to decode the data contained in the barcode. The reader will then send the data to a computer where it can be logged.

Learn more about GlobalVision’s Barcode Inspection.

Bar Width Reduction

What is Bar Width Reduction?
Bar width reduction or BWR is a method for adjusting the graphics design file of a barcode to compensate for press gain. Press gain or ink spread is one of the most common causes of poor barcode performance.

Batch Number

What is a Batch Number?
A Batch Number is a numerical code that is printed on the drug label that allows the history of its production to be traced. It allows manufacturers or suppliers to identify the batch in which the product was produced. If the product is not made in a batch, then the code should enable the date and place of manufacture to be identified.

Bleed

What is Bleed?
Bleed is printing that goes beyond the edge of where the sheet will be trimmed. The bleed is the part on the side of a document that gives the printer a small amount of space to account for the movement of the paper and design inconsistencies. Artwork and background colors often extend into the bleed area.

Braille

What is Braille?
Braille is a writing system used by people who are visually impaired. Braille is written with characters that are represented by patterns of raised dots that are felt with the fingertips to form words.

Learn more about GlobalVision Braille Inspection

Branding

What is Branding?
Branding is a market practice where a company creates a unique name, symbol, or design that distinguishes itself from other sellers. It is a way for companies to establish a unique image and position in the eyes of their consumers.

See also: Brand Integrity

Learn more about Ensuring Brand Integrity Through Digital Proofreading

Brand Equity

What is Brand Equity?
Brand Equity is the value a company gains by having a well-known brand name. The value is usually determined by consumer experiences and perception of the brand. Brands with a high Brand Equity are believed to be superior in quality and reliability.

See also: Brand Integrity

Learn more about Ensuring Brand Integrity Through Digital Proofreading

Brand Integrity

What is Brand Integrity?
Brand Integrity is the way consumers perceive a brand through its products, services, images, and reputation. When a brand loses its integrity, its meaning and value to consumers are diminished.

See also: Brand Equity

Learn more about Ensuring Brand Integrity Through Digital Proofreading

C

Calibration

What is a Calibration?
Calibration is a process that measures the accuracy of an instrument compared to a known standard. The standard is a device with known accuracy. If an instrument or device deviates from the known standard, the instrument must be adjusted to fit within specified limits.

Carton

What is a Carton?
A carton is a box or container commonly used in packaging. It is usually made of paperboard or corrugated board. Cartons are often used for food, pharmaceuticals, hardware, and many other types of products.

CFR Part 11

What is CFR Part 11?
Title 21 CFR Part 11 is the part of Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations that establishes the United States Food and Drug Administration regulations on electronic records and electronic signatures.

Learn more about GlobalVision’s Certifications & Compliance.

Change Request

What is Change Request?
A Change Request is a document that calls for the adjustment of a product or system. It often arises when a client or project manager wants an addition or alteration to the agreed-upon specifications of the project.

Compliance

What is Compliance?
Compliance is a set of legal, technical, and corporate requirements that a brand or manufacturer must comply with in order to produce and market products.

See also: Compliance Check

Learn more about GlobalVision’s Certifications & Compliance.

Compliance Check

What is a Compliance Check?
A Compliance Check is the review of a process, product, or project to determine if it complies with the requirements of a technical, legal, or corporate manufacturing regulation. Compliance Checks are commonly conducted to ensure product safety, health safety, and environmental impact.

Learn more about GlobalVision’s Certifications & Compliance.

Contract Packaging

What is Contract Packaging?
Contract Packaging is the complete process of assembling a product or good into its final finished packaging. It occurs when one company hires another company (the contract packager) to produce its packaging. A Contract Packaging company may have specialized equipment and expertise needed for a particular packaging operation.

Learn more about the Journey of the Package Printing Process.

Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP)

What are the Current Good Manufacturing Practices?
The Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) are the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) formal regulations regarding the design, monitoring, control, and maintenance of manufacturing processes and facilities. CGMP is the main regulatory standard for ensuring pharmaceutical quality and ensures that the identity, strength, quality, and purity of drug products by requiring that manufacturers of medications adequately control manufacturing operations.

D

Declaration of Ingredients

What is a Declaration of Ingredients?
A Declaration of Ingredients is the label quantity, in percentage terms, of an ingredient or category of ingredients used in the manufacturing or preparation of a product. The ingredients are listed in order of predominance, with the ingredients used in the greatest amount first, followed in descending order by those in smaller amounts.

Dieline

What is a Dieline?
A Dieline is a package template that ensures proper layout for a printed product. It is a diagram that shows all the cut lines and folds of a package in a flattened form. It is usually placed into the graphic's computer file as a separate layer for sizing and orientation purposes.

See also: What is a Dieline in Printing and Packaging?

Die Cutting

What is Die Cutting?
Die Cutting is the process of using a die to cut through materials such as paper and card on a die press to create a custom shape or size.

Digimarc Barcode

What is a Digimarc Barcode?
A Digimarc Barcode is an advanced barcode that can be applied to any print or packaging material. It links interactive content, like product information, when scanned with an enabled scanner or mobile device. It contains the same information as a UPC barcode but is generally undetectable by the human eye.

Learn More about Digimarc Verify for GlobalVision.

Digital Printing

What is Digital Printing?
Digital Printing is the process of printing from a digital-based image directly to a variety of media. Digital printers are most commonly either inkjet or dry toner-based printers and are best used for items that require high amounts of detail, and orders of a smaller quantity.

Directions for Safe Use

What are Directions for Safe Use?
Directions for Safe Use describe how a product must be handled and used to avoid causing any harm to the consumer. These often include specific instructions on storing and disposing of the product and can usually be found on the packaging or insert of a product.

F

FDA Recall

What is an FDA Recall?
An FDA Recall refers to a company or manufacturer’s removal or correction of a product that the FDA considers to be in violation of its laws. FDA Recalls can occur when the FDA deems a product to be defective or possibly harmful to consumers.

Learn more about staying compliant with FDA requirements.

Flatbed Scanner

What is a Flatbed Scanner?
A Flatbed Scanner is an optical scanner with a flat, glass surface used to hold a sheet of paper for scanning. The scanner captures all elements of the document and does not require any movement of the document. Flatbed scanners are effective scanners for delicate materials such as vintage photographs, papers and other documents that are fragile.

Learn more about GlobalVision’s Scanners for Print Inspection.

Flexography

What is Flexography?
Flexography is a form of printing that utilizes a flexible relief plate. It is often referred to as ‘surface printing’, ‘rotary printing’ or ‘modern letterpress printing’, and is commonly used for printing on packaging and other uneven surfaces. Flexography is often used with many different kinds of substrates to produce things such as printed paper, food and beverage labels, and other types of products.

G

Ghosting

What is Ghosting?
Ghosting is an offset printing defect characterized by the appearance of faint replicas of printed images in undesirable places. It can also refer to a faint reproduction of an image without actual ink transfer.

Glue Dots

What are Glue Dots?
Glue Dots are double-sided, pressure-sensitive adhesive dots used in various applications. They are a clean and safe alternative to hot glue, liquid glue, and tapes. They are used to assemble packaging and lightweight materials.

Gravure Printing

What is Gravure Printing?
Gravure Printing is the process in which the image to be printed is etched into the printing plate, and the ink is transferred directly to the paper. This type of printing is primarily used for long runs of high-quality multicolor printing.

GS1 Barcode

What is a GS1 Barcode?
GS1 is an organization that develops and maintains standards for barcodes. GS1 stands for Global Standards One and is used to encode information such as product numbers, serial numbers and batch numbers.

Learn more about GlobalVision Barcode Inspection.

H

Hickey

What is a Hickey?
A Hickey is a small spot or imperfection that appears in print on images or flat tints. These defects are usually caused by a particle or other source of debris attaching itself to the printing plate and come in two forms. Void hickeys are blank, unprinted spots in a printed area. Doughnut hickeys are solid printed areas surrounded by a circular unprinted area.

Learn more about GlobalVision Print Inspection.

I

In-Line Quality Control

What is In-Line Quality Control?
In-Line quality control refers to inspections that are built into the production line. These inspection points inspect for the quality of the production procedure.

Learn more about Off-Line vs. In-Line Inspections.

Inkjet Printing

What is Inkjet Printing?
Inkjet Printing is a type of computer printing that recreates a digital image by propelling droplets of ink onto paper and plastic substrates. Inkjet printers are the most commonly used type of printer and range from small inexpensive consumer models to expensive professional machines.

Installation Qualification (IQ)

What is Installation Qualification (IQ)?
Installation Qualification (IQ) is a documented process that verifies that a product has been properly installed. For this verification to occur, all aspects of a facility, utilities, and equipment that affect product quality must adhere to approved specifications.

Learn more about the IQ, OQ, PQ and Their Impact on Quality Control.

ISO

What is ISO?
ISO stands for The International Organization for Standardization. It is an independent, non-governmental organization that facilitates world trade by providing common standards among nations. These standards range from manufacturing to technology, and aid in the creation of products that are safe, reliable, and good quality.

Learn more about GlobalVision’s Certifications & Compliance.

ISO 9001:2015

What is ISO 9001:2015?
ISO 9001:2015 is a company-level standard created by the International Organization for Standardization that specifies requirements for a quality management system of an organization. Organizations use the standard to demonstrate their ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements. It is the most popular standard in the ISO 9000 series and the only standard in the series to which organizations can certify.

Learn more about GlobalVision’s Certifications & Compliance.

ISO 17351:2013

What is ISO 17351:2013?
ISO 17351:2013 is a document that specifies the requirements for the application of Braille to the labelling of pharmaceutical and medicinal products in the European Union.

See also:Braille

Learn more about GlobalVision Braille Inspection.

ISO 9001

What is ISO 9001?
The ISO 9000 family of quality management systems is a set of standards that helps organizations ensure they meet customers and other stakeholder needs within statutory and regulatory requirements related to a product or service.

Learn more about GlobalVision’s Certifications & Compliance.

L

Labeling

What is Labeling?
Labeling is a part of branding that enables product identification. It is printed information that is bonded to the product for recognition and provides detailed information about the product. Customers can easily make decisions about a product after seeing the label.

Linear Barcode

What is Linear Barcode?
A Linear Barcode is a one-dimensional barcode made up of lines and spaces of various widths that create specific patterns to encode data. The UPC is the most common type of Linear Barcode and if often found on consumer goods.

Learn more about GlobalVision Barcode Inspection.

M

Medical Packaging

What is Medical Packaging?
Medical Packaging is a sterile packaging that holds and protects medical or pharmaceutical products. Medical packaging must conform to the standards required to maintain the sterility of products until the point of use.

See also: Aseptic Packaging

N

Net Contents

What are Net Contents?
Net Contents are the amount of the consumable product of the trade item contained in a package, as declared on the label, which may include: net weight, volume, count, units, etc. It is calculated by subtracting the weight of any container or packaging from the total weight of the item.

Nutraceuticals

What are Nutraceuticals?
Nutraceuticals are pharmaceutical alternatives that are used as dietary supplements and to treat and prevent diseases. Nutraceuticals provide some medical and physiological benefits but are not tested and regulated to the extent of pharmaceutical drugs. They are generally referred to as ‘health products’.

Nutritional Facts Label

What are Nutritional Facts Label?
A Nutritional Facts Label is a label required on most packaged food in many countries, showing what nutrients are in the food. Labels are usually based on official nutritional rating systems.

O

Off-Line Quality Control

What is Off-Line Quality Control?
Off-Line inspections are quality control processes that include removing a sample from the production line and inspecting it manually or with automation technology. With off-line inspection, printing components are removed from the line throughout the run.

Learn more about Off-Line vs. In-Line Inspections.

Offset Printing

What is Offset Printing?
Offset printing is a commonly used printing technique in which the inked image is transferred from a plate to a rubber blanket, then to the printing surface. When used in combination with the lithographic process, which is based on the repulsion of oil and water, the offset technique employs a flat image carrier.

Operational Qualification (OQ)

What is Operational Qualification (OQ)?
Operational Qualification (OQ) is a process in the development of a product or equipment that verifies that the functionality of a product is as desired. It acts as a review of start-up, operational, maintenance, safety, and cleaning procedures where applicable. Each function is tested to ensure that it operates within stated limits.

Learn more about the IQ, OQ, PQ and Their Impact on Quality Control.

P

Package Integrity

What is Package Integrity?
Package Integrity is a package’s ability to preserve and protect its contents from physical, microbial, and chemical threats. Physical tests are often conducted to validate that packaging integrity has been maintained throughout the entire packaging process.l, which may include: net weight, volume, count, units, etc. It is calculated by subtracting the weight of any container or packaging from the total weight of the item.

Packaging Automation

What is Packaging Automation?
Packaging Automation is the process of packaging a product without human assistance. Packaging Automation can be as simple as automatically sealing cartons to a complete packaging line. Packaging Automation is used by many companies to improve efficiency and eliminate bottlenecks in the production process.

Pantone Color

What is Pantone Color?
Pantone Colors are color codes that stand for a specific shade. The Pantone Color Matching System is largely a standardized color reproduction system. By standardizing the colors, different manufacturers in different locations can all refer to the Pantone system to make sure colors match without direct contact with one another.

Learn more about GlobalVision Color Inspection.

Performance Qualification (PQ)

What is Performance Qualification (PQ)?
Performance Qualification Performance Qualification (PQ) is the process of verifying that a product, system, or piece of equipment performs under simulated real-world conditions. The PQ is the final step in the qualification process is an essential part of maintaining ongoing production quality.

Learn more about the IQ, OQ, PQ and Their Impact on Quality Control.

Pharmacode

What is Pharmacode?
A Pharmacode is a barcode standard used in the pharmaceutical industry as a packaging control system. Also known as Pharmaceutical Binary Code, it can store numeric data from 3 to 131070. Pharmacodes are designed to be readable despite printing errors. They can be printed in multiple colors as a check to ensure that the remainder of the packaging is correctly printed.

Learn more about GlobalVision Barcode Inspection.

Pre-flight

What is Pre-flight?
In printing, Preflight is the process of confirming that the digital files required for the printing process are all present, valid, correctly formatted, and of the desired type. It is a standard procedure in the printing industry to prepare the files and ensure that they are ready for the correct printing.

Prepress

What is Prepress?
Prepress is the term used in the printing and publishing industries for the processes and procedures that occur between the creation of a print layout and the final printing. The prepress procedure includes the manufacturing of a printing plate, image carrier or form, ready for mounting on a printing press, as well as the adjustment of images and texts or the creation of a high-quality print file.

Press Sheet

What is a Press Sheet?
In printing, a Press Sheet is a full-size sheet of the actual paper which will be used for a particular job on the printing press. It includes blank stock and printed sheets.

Pressure-Sensitive Labels

What are Pressure-Sensitive Labels?
Pressure-Sensitive Labels are identifier labels with adhesive glue behind them. They represent about 80% of all labels on the market. Also known as self-adhesive, they only require light pressure to adhere to packaging components.

Primary Display Panel (PDP)

What is the Primary Display Panel (PDP)?
The Primary (or Principal) Display Panel is the area on the packaging that is reserved for branding and important information. It is the first aspect of the packaging that the consumer will see and usually contains the brand, name of the product, and net quantity/volume/weight statement.

Primary Packaging

What is Primary Packaging?
Primary Packaging is the packaging in direct contact with the product itself. It is sometimes referred to as the ‘Inner’ or ‘Consumer’ Packaging. The main purpose of primary packaging is to protect/preserve the product and inform the consumer in a retail space.

Printing Plate

What is a Printing Plate?
Printing plates are thin, flat sheets of metal commonly made from aluminum. They are used in printing products like business cards, catalogs, and brochures. An image is burned on the plate using a high-intensity light. When exposed to light, an image is transferred to paper or fabric using ink and will only reflect the image on the plate.

Printer’s Proof

What is a Printer’s Proof?
A Printer’s Proof is a preliminary version of a printed piece. It provides a close representation of how the piece will appear when printed. Proofs are created to ensure that the client and printer are in complete agreement on the desired outcome before going to the press.

Project Management System (PMS)

What is a Project Management System (PMS)?
Project Management System is a system that helps businesses plan, organize, and manage the resources needed to complete projects. It is used to manage time, resources, people, control costs, and monitor project progress from beginning to end.

R

Rasterize

What is Rasterize in Photoshop?
Rasterizing a layer means you are converting a vector layer to pixels. When a vector format is rasterized you can see the pixels on the outer edges of shapes instead of a clean line. The format changes how your layer is displayed as well as the editing capabilities allowing you to directly edit any group of pixels within the layer.

Revision

What is a Revision?
A Revision is a change or update that is made to a product, document or project. Its primary purpose is to improve the previous version.

S

Screen Printing

What is Screen Printing?
Screen Printing is a printing technique where a mesh is used to transfer ink onto a substrate, except in areas made impermeable to the ink by a blocking stencil. Fabric and paper are the most commonly screen-printed surfaces, but with specialized inks, it's also possible to print onto wood, metal, plastic, and even glass.

Secondary Packaging

What is Secondary Packaging?
Secondary Packaging is the packaging that holds together individual units of a good. Also known as ‘Outer’ Packaging, it is designed to deliver mass quantities of the product to the point of sale or consumer. It is also used for branding purposes.

Separation

What is Separation?
Separation is the process by which original artwork is separated into individual color components for printing. To print full-color photos with an offset printing press, the photo must first be separated into the four basic ink colors: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. Each single-color layer is then printed separately one on top of the other to create infinite colors.

Spectrophotometer

What is a Spectrophotometer?
A spectrophotometer is a device for measuring light intensity by measuring the wavelength of light. The most common application of spectrophotometers in the printing industry is the measurement of light absorption to measure color on smooth or matte surfaces.

Learn more about GlobalVision Color Inspection.

Spot Color

What is a Spot Color?
In offset printing, spot color or solid color is any color generated by ink that is printed using a single run, whereas a process color is produced by printing a series of dots of different colors.

Statement of Identity

What is a Statement of Identity?
A Statement of Identity is a requirement on every food label. It states the common or usual name of the food and must be placed on the Primary Display Panel (PDP) as well as any alternate panels.

T

Thermal Printing

What is Thermal Printing?
Thermal Printing is a digital printing process that produces a printed image by selectively heating coated thermal paper when the paper passes over the thermal print head. The coating turns black in the areas where it is heated, producing an image. Thermal Printing is an easy and efficient method of printing that is becoming increasingly popular in commercial enterprises.

Trapping

What is Trapping?
Trapping is the technique that is used to compensate for the registration issues of successive colors or images. It ensures that there are no ugly gaps or overlaps in the printed result.

V

Validation

What is Validation?
Validation is the analysis of data gathered throughout the design and manufacturing of a product to confirm that the products meet a predetermined standard. Validation also ensures that production maintains the desired level of compliance at all stages.

Learn more about GlobalVision’s Certifications & Compliance.

Varnish

What is Varnish?
Varnish is an overcoating applied to a printed piece following production. It is typically added for aesthetic reasons or to protect the printing from wear and tear. Varnish that is applied to an entire printed surface after printing is called overprint varnish; varnish that is applied only to certain portions of a printed surface, primarily for aesthetic reasons is called spot varnish.

W

Warning Statement

What is a Warning Statement?
A Warning Statement is a specific declaration that covers the degree of risk a product can have on the health and safety of the consumer. It is usually visible on a product’s packaging and contains information like ingredients or allergens that can cause harm to the consumer.

Acronyms

Acronyms
AIM: Automatic Identification Manufacturers
ANSI: American National Standard Institute
API: Application Program Interface
DDS: Detailed Design Specification
DI: Data Integrity
DPI: Dots Per Inch
EAN: Originally European Article Number and now used to denote International Article Number and the International Article Numbering Association.
EAN-8: Short form, 8-digit version of the International Article Number.
EAN-13: Full 13-digit version of the International Article Number.
EMA: European Medicines Agency
FDA: Food and Drug Administration
FRS: Functional Requirement Specification
GAMP: Good Automated Manufacturing Practices
IQ: Installation Qualification
IQ, OQ, PQ: Validation Document
LDAP: Lightweight Directory Access Protocol
OQ: Operation Qualification
PI: Packaging Insert
POC: Proof Of Concept
PQ: Performance Qualification
QR: Quick Response (a type of barcode)
ROI: Return on Investment
SDK: Software Development Kit
SKU: Stock Keeping Unit
UPC: Universal Product Code (a type of barcode)