Glossary of Olee Creative Terms
Below find a glossary of terms for more information on our products services. If you have any questions please visit Contact Us.
1st Surface: When referring to glass, it is the surface that is in front of you when you view it.
2nd Surface: When referring to glass, it is the “back” surface of the glass when you are viewing it from the front.
ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act
Buried Print When a printed graphic is buried under a laminate for protection.
Bury Art: A term used to indicate how to charge for art. If buried, the art charge is included in the price of the job, and not shown up front.
Clear Coat, Top Coat: A coating that protects the printing and the surface of a graphic from abrasion, sunlight, or chemicals.
Color Match: To match digital or screen print ink to a sample.
Conformability: The ability of a graphic to yield to the contours of a surface—curved or rough.
Delamination: The separation of a material into layers in a direction approximately parallel to the surface.
Die Cut or Plotter Cut: A term used to describe how a graphic is contour or perimeter cut. The graphic can be thru cut, or kiss cut.
Digital Printing: A method of printing in which the ink is dispersed through print heads directly onto substrates. Art files are sent to the printer via a computer and the graphic is direct printed onto the vinyl substrate or sheet of acrylic.
Flamed Polished Edge: A method of “melting” the edge of Plexiglas that gives a glass like finish.
Getty: A photo sharing site where stock images can be purchased.
Hand Trim: To finish trim an item by hand—no tooling or plotter cutting required.
Hidden Hardware: Acrylic keyhole cubes used to mount artwork or signs with no visible hardware. These generally stand off 1” from the wall surface.
iStock: A photo sharing site where stock images can be purchased.
Kiss Cut: When only the face material is cut, using a thermal die or a plotter cutter. The backing is left intact.
Lamination: Two or more materials bonded together.
Overlap: When one decal is applied to a substrate and another connects into it with a slight overlap where the two join.
Pair: Any item that is purchased as a “mirror image” or a “left and a right” should be made as a pair.
Pick: The process of removing the image from the design, leaving in the background material of a die cut or plotter cut graphic. This is a “reverse” image.
Piece: Any item that is bought as an individual graphic.
Plexi: Plexiglas, a name brand of Acrylic. Clear plastic that is used to make decorative panels and artwork.
Plotter Cut: A method of cutting a graphic using a file and a machine with a knife blade.
Premask (P/M): A low tack material used to temporarily hold a decal in position for application after the matrix and the liner have been removed, allowing precision positioning of a decal.
Permanent Adhesive: Designed to adhere permanently to the substrate. If used on drywall, wall damage will occur at time of removal.
Prototype: A mock up or sample done as close as possible to the actual production piece. Usually for a customer’s approval before production order is entered.
Register: The exact corresponding placement of successively printed images and/or die cut pressure-sensitive labels.
Release Liner (backing paper): The stock used to protect the adhesive and to keep it from sticking to objects before the graphic is to be installed.
Removable Adhesive: Allows graphic to be removed with no adhesive residue up to 2 years after application.
Reverse print or cut: When the image is left blank (the stock color shows through)and the background is flooded with color. Also could be considered a negative image.
Rolls Roller: A machine used to laminate materials together, and to apply graphics to signs and substrates.
Screen Printing: A method of printing in which the ink is forced through a design on a taut screen, on to the object to be printed.
Set: Any item that is purchased as more than one different piece per combination.
Shelf Life/Storage Life: The period of time during which a product can be stored under specified conditions and still remain suitable for use. Normal shelf life for finished graphics is two years.
Shutterstock: A photo sharing site where stock images can be purchased.
Standoffff Hardware: Hardware used to attach signs or artwork to the wall. Generally available in a variety of diameters, and from 1” to 4” in depth.
Substrate: The surface to which a graphic is applied.
Tack: The degree of “stickiness” of an adhesive. That property of a pressure-sensitive graphic which causes it to adhere to a surface instantly without external pressure for better contact.
Tactile: When referring to ADA signage, it is the raised lettering on the front sign surface for the visually impaired.
Thru Cut: When both the face material and the liner is cut to create a graphic. Also called a “cookie cut.
Up Front Art: A term used to indicate how to charge for art. If up front, the art charge is shown as an itemized cost on the quotation.
VHB Tape: Strong tape with a permanent acrylic adhesive, used to hang signs on drywall and block wall.
Void: A space or gap between different colors or bands of a stripe or graphic.
Weed: The process of removing excess material from the background of a die cut or plotter cut graphic. This yields a “positive” image.
