Packaging & Printing Glossary

Short, clear definitions of terms used in packaging pricing and production. Each term has its own page with an example.

Die-line (Blank): The die-line (blank) is the cutting template a box covers when laid flat, including all panels, fold lines and glue flaps. Material consumption and area come from this layout; it varies by box model.
Printing Methods (Flexo/Offset/Digital): Packaging uses three main methods: flexo (for corrugated, high volume-few colours), offset (high quality, coated/carton), digital (low volume, many variants, no plate cost). The cheapest method depends on quantity and colours.
Bristol Board: Bristol is a single-ply, smooth-surface board of medium-to-high grammage, common in cosmetic and gift boxes, business cards and packaging.
Flute Type: Describes the size of the flutes in corrugated board. E flute is thin (~1.5 mm) with a smooth print surface, B (~3 mm) balances print and strength, C (~4 mm) gives high stacking strength, and BC double-wall (~7 mm) offers the highest strength.
Desi (Volumetric Weight): Desi is a parcel's volume expressed for shipping charges. Formula: Desi = (Width × Length × Height) ÷ 3000 (cm). Billing uses the greater of desi and actual weight.
Waste (Fire): Waste is the share of material that cannot be used in production, driven by cutting layout, print make-ready and how the order width fits the material. It is applied as a multiplier on cost (e.g. 8% waste = ×1.08).
Grammage: Grammage is the weight of a paper or board per square metre (g/m²). It is the core variable driving packaging cost: material cost = area × grammage × price per kg.
Grey Board (Duplex): Grey board has a grey back and a printable coated front, at medium-to-high grammage. It is used as the carrier body in wrapped rigid boxes and as the economical option in folding cartons. Cheaper than bristol, thicker and sturdier than coated paper.
Cutting Die (Bıçak): A cutting die is a steel-blade assembly set into a wooden base that gives the box its shape. It is a one-off cost and is not charged again when the same box is reordered.
Profit Margin (vs Markup): Profit margin is the share of the selling price kept as profit. Two calculations exist: margin (share of the selling price) and markup (share of cost). Unit price = variable cost ÷ (1 − margin); the same percentage as markup gives a lower price.
Printing Plate (Klişe): A printing plate carries the image in flexo and similar printing. Each colour needs its own plate, so the one-off plate cost rises with the number of colours.
Coated Paper (Kuşe): Coated paper has a smoothed, glossy or matte surface that gives high print quality. It is common in box wrapping and labels. Matte and gloss coated paper usually cost the same.
Lamination: Lamination is coating a paper/board surface with a protective, decorative film or another material. Matte lamination gives a soft texture, gloss lamination gives vivid colour.
Imposition (Montaj): Imposition is planning how many units are laid out most efficiently on a print sheet. Good imposition lowers waste and reduces unit cost.
MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity): MOQ is the lowest order quantity at which a manufacturer can recover one-off costs (die, plates, setup). Below it, the unit cost stops being economical.
Corrugated Board: Corrugated board is a high-strength packaging material made by gluing a fluted (wavy) paper between flat liners. The flute type (B, C, E, BC) determines strength and cost.
Sleeve: A sleeve is an open-ended paper/board band slipped over a box or product. It serves as the outer shell in slide (drawer) boxes and as a print/branding surface on single items. Being one piece, it is economical.
Cellophane (Lamination): Cellophane/lamination is a thin plastic film applied to a printed surface, matte or gloss. It protects the surface, enriches the look, and adds a separate cost line.
Rigid Box: A rigid box is a non-folding premium pack made by wrapping printed coated or specialty paper over a fixed body of thick grey board. It is used for phones, cosmetics and gifts. It costs more than a folding carton because it needs more material and labour.