G - Printing Terminology and Facts

GSM

Grammes per square metre.  Standard measurement of paper weight.

GLOSS COATED PAPER

An art paper which has a polished surface coating to give an even, shiny finish.  Gloss papers are in essence exactly the same as matt, or silk papers, but have more pressure applied during the ‘polishing’aspect of manufacture (known as calendaring) to give the smoother, more shiny finished surface.

GLOSS VARNISH

A varnish applied to printed sheet to protect against scuffing and marking, giving a gloss finish.

GRAINING

A process used to apply an overall textured finish to printed sheets using engraved granite rollers to impress the required image in to the sheet.  A similar finish can be applied to specific areas of a sheet using standard embossing.

GUSSET SPINES

A type of spine used on die cut folders to give variable capacity on pockets etc.  Made up of three separate creases, a gusset spine has a ‘W’ shaped profile.