Graphics Canada Expo

Attendees, exhibitors & solutions

Who this event is for

Industry trends

Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.

Hotel tiers

A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.

Local transport

Get around the city with these convenient transport options.

Frequently asked

Glossary

1

Offset lithography

A planographic printing process where ink transfers from a plate to a blanket and then to the substrate; widely used for high-volume commercial print, books and packaging.

2

Digital printing

Production printing directly from digital files without a printing plate, typically using electrophotographic or inkjet engines for short runs, proofs and variable data.

3

Wide-format inkjet

Large-sheet inkjet printing used for signage, banners, vehicle graphics, exhibition displays and décor, often with UV-curable, latex or solvent inks.

4

Flexography

A relief printing process using flexible plates and fast-drying inks, common in labels, flexible packaging, corrugated board and some newspaper production.

5

Rotogravure

An intaglio process using engraved cylinders to print long-run packaging, catalogues and magazines with consistent colour on a wide range of substrates.

6

Screen printing

A stencil process that forces ink through a mesh screen; used for textiles, signage, labels and specialty effects such as thick-film inks.

7

Prepress

The file preparation stage before printing, covering layout, imposition, colour separation, proofing and plate or direct-to-press preparation.

8

Computer-to-plate (CTP)

A prepress workflow that images printing plates directly from digital files, removing film and improving registration and consistency.

9

Colour management

The use of profiles, measurement devices and standard viewing conditions to keep colour consistent across monitors, proofers, presses and substrates.

10

PDF/X

An ISO standard PDF subset designed for reliable print file exchange, embedding fonts and colour data while restricting features that can break prepress workflows.

11

G7

A colour calibration method that targets grey balance and tonal consistency across different print processes and substrate conditions.

12

Substrate

Any material that receives print, including paper, paperboard, film, vinyl, textile, foil and rigid board.

13

GSM

Grams per square metre, the metric measure of paper or board weight; higher GSM generally means a heavier, thicker sheet.

14

Basis weight

A North American paper weight measure expressed in pounds per ream for a specific sheet size; it is not directly interchangeable with GSM.

15

Caliper

The thickness of paper, board or film, often measured in microns or thousandths of an inch and important for folding, feeding and binding.

16

Die-cutting

A converting process that cuts, scores or perforates a substrate with a shaped steel-rule die, used for cartons, labels, displays and specialty shapes.

17

Folding carton

A paperboard package printed, die-cut, creased and glued into a three-dimensional shape for retail, food, cosmetic and consumer goods.

18

Perfect binding

A book binding method where pages are glued into a square spine, common for catalogues, directories, softcover books and thick magazines.

19

Saddle stitching

A binding method that staples wire through the fold of a booklet, used for brochures, programmes, magazines and low-page-count catalogues.

20

Case binding

A hardcover binding method where a sewn or glued text block is attached to a rigid case, used for books, yearbooks and premium publications.

21

Foil stamping

A decorative process using heat and pressure to transfer metallic or pigment foil onto a substrate, often combined with embossing.

22

Embossing and debossing

Relief processes that raise or recess an image or pattern in paper or board using matched dies, adding tactile and visual depth.

23

Variable data printing

Digital printing that changes text, images or codes from piece to piece for personalisation, versioning and targeted direct mail.

24

Web-to-print

An online ordering and workflow system that lets customers configure, proof and submit print jobs, often linked to production MIS and e-commerce.

25

Print MIS

A management information system for print estimating, job costing, scheduling, inventory, purchasing and production tracking.

26

UV curing

Instant curing of inks, coatings and adhesives with ultraviolet light, producing durable, high-gloss or specialty effects.

27

Latex printing

A water-based inkjet process using latex binders, common for signage, vehicle graphics and wallcoverings where odour and durability matter.

28

Finishing

Post-press operations such as cutting, folding, stitching, binding, laminating, foiling, embossing and packing.

29

Imposition

The arrangement of pages on a press sheet so they fold, cut and bind in the correct order.

30

Bleed

Extra image or background area extending beyond the trim line so cutting tolerances do not leave white edges.

31

Registration

The precise alignment of multiple colour plates or print heads so images and colours land in the correct position.

32

Spot colour

A premixed ink used for a specific brand or decorative colour, often matched to a standard system such as Pantone.

33

Process colour

Four-colour printing using cyan, magenta, yellow and black inks to build a wide gamut of colours.

34

Pantone Matching System

A standardised spot-colour matching system used by designers, printers and ink makers to specify and reproduce brand colours.

35

Imposition proof

A proof showing the full press sheet layout so operators can check page order, folds, cuts and registration before plating or printing.

36

Colour proof

A contract or soft proof used to approve colour, content and layout before production, ideally calibrated to the intended press and substrate.

37

Substrate qualification

Testing how a paper, board, film or specialty stock performs on a specific press, ink and finishing line before committing to a production run.