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Glossary of Things You Should Know When Designing with Print on Demand

Affiliate Marketing - A type of marketing where a business rewards individuals or other companies for bringing in customers through referrals.
Alpha Channel - A component of an image that represents transparency levels.
Amazon Merch - A POD service by Amazon that allows users to design and sell custom apparel, with Amazon handling production and shipping.
Aspect Ratio - The ratio of the width to the height of an image or screen.
Bitmap - A type of raster graphic made up of pixels arranged in a grid.
Bleed Area - An extra margin around the edges of a print design that ensures the design extends to the edge of the product after cutting.
Blur - A design effect that softens the edges of an image or text.
Bonfire - A platform for creating and selling custom apparel through fundraising campaigns or direct sales.
Branding - Creating a unique identity for a product or company, including the name, logo, and overall image, to attract customers.
CafePress - A POD service that allows users to create and sell custom merchandise, including clothing, accessories, and home goods.
Clipping Mask - A method of using one layer to define the visible boundaries of another layer.
CMS (Content Management System) - Software used to create, manage, and modify digital content, often for websites and blogs.
CMYK - A color model used in printing that stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (Black), which are the primary colors used in color printing.
Color Fastness - The ability of fabric to maintain its color without fading when exposed to conditions like washing or sunlight.
Color Gamut - The range of colors that can be reproduced by a device or within a specific color space.
Color Profile - A set of data that defines how colors are represented in a digital file, ensuring consistent color output across different devices.
Contrast - The difference in luminance or color that makes objects distinguishable.
Conversion Rate - The percentage of website visitors who take a desired action, such as making a purchase or signing up for a newsletter.
Crop - Trimming the edges of an image to focus on a specific area.
Custom Packaging - Packaging designed specifically for a product, often featuring branding and unique designs to enhance the customer experience.
Customer Service - Assistance and support provided by a company to its customers, helping resolve issues and answering questions.
Design Tool - Software or online tools that allow users to create and customize designs for POD products.
Digital Printing - Printing methods that use digital files, like PDFs, to produce images on various media, such as paper or fabric.
Direct to Garment (DTG) - Printing directly onto clothing using a special inkjet printer, similar to how a paper printer works but for fabric.
DPI (Dots Per Inch) - A measure of a printer's resolution, indicating the number of individual dots a printer can produce in a linear inch.
Dropshipping - A way to sell products without keeping them in stock. When someone buys an item, the seller orders it from another company that ships it directly to the buyer.
E-commerce Platform - Software that helps businesses create and manage their online stores, handling sales and inventory.
Eco-friendly - Products or practices that do not harm the environment, often involving sustainable materials and methods.
Emboss - A design effect that gives text or images a raised, 3D appearance.
Embroidery - A method of decorating fabric by stitching designs with thread, often used for logos on hats, jackets, and other apparel.
Etsy - An online marketplace where people can buy and sell handmade, vintage, and unique items, often used by POD sellers.
Fulfillment Center - A warehouse where products are stored, packed, and shipped to customers for online stores.
Garment Pre-Treatment - Preparing fabric before printing, often using chemicals to ensure the print adheres well and lasts longer.
Gooten - A POD service that provides printing and shipping solutions for e-commerce businesses, offering a wide range of products.
Gradient - A gradual blend between multiple colors.
Graphic Design - The art of creating visual content, such as logos, posters, or website layouts, to communicate messages.
Heat Press - A machine that uses heat and pressure to transfer designs onto materials like T-shirts or mugs.
Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV) - Material used to create designs that can be cut and then heat-pressed onto fabrics, often used for T-shirts.
Hex Code - A six-digit code used in HTML and CSS to represent colors.
Inkthreadable - A POD service based in the UK that offers printing and fulfillment for various products, including clothing and accessories.
Inventory Management - Supervising stock items to ensure there are enough products to meet demand without overstocking.
Kerning - Adjusting the spacing between characters in a font.
Layers - Different levels at which you can place an artwork element on top of each other in a design software.
Lead Time - The amount of time it takes from the start of a process until its completion, such as the time from placing an order to receiving it.
Leading - The space between lines of text.
Margin - The difference between the cost of making a product and its selling price, which determines profit.
Marketing Strategy - A plan to promote and sell products or services, including tactics like advertising and social media.
Merchandising - The activities involved in promoting and selling products, such as how items are displayed in a store or advertised.
Mockup - A visual example of a product, like a T-shirt with a design, used to show what the final product will look like.
Mockup Generator - A tool that helps create realistic images of products with custom designs, used for marketing and previews.
Niche Market - A small, specialized segment of the market focused on specific customer needs or interests.
Opacity - The transparency level of an image or color.
Order Management - The process of tracking and fulfilling customer orders from the time they are placed until delivery.
Overlay - A graphic or image placed over another, often with some level of transparency.
Packaging - Materials used to protect and contain products during shipping and storage, often designed to be appealing and functional.
Palette - A set of colors used in a design.
Pantone - A standardized color matching system used in various industries to ensure color consistency and accuracy.
Pixel - The smallest unit of a digital image, often appearing as a tiny square of color.
Plastisol Ink - A type of ink used in screen printing that sits on top of the fabric, creating a durable and vibrant print.
PPI (Pixels Per Inch) - A measure of image resolution on a screen or digital file, indicating the number of pixels per inch.
Print File - A digital file containing the design to be printed, usually in formats like PNG, JPEG, or PDF.
Print on Demand (POD) - A printing method where items like books or T-shirts are only made after someone orders them, so there's no need to keep large amounts in storage.
Print Quality - The clarity, detail, and color accuracy of printed materials, affecting their overall appearance.
Printful - A popular POD fulfillment service that integrates with e-commerce platforms, handling printing, packing, and shipping.
Product Customization - Allowing customers to personalize products to their liking, such as adding their name or choosing specific colors.
Profitability - The ability of a business to make a profit, meaning it earns more money than it spends.
Quality Control - Checking products to ensure they meet specific standards and are free from defects.
Raster Graphics - Images made up of tiny dots called pixels, which can become blurry when enlarged.
Rasterize - Converting a vector graphic into a raster image.
Redbubble - An online marketplace where artists can upload their designs to be printed on various products and sold to customers.
Resolution - The clarity and detail of an image, measured in pixels per inch (PPI) or dots per inch (DPI).
Return Policy - Rules set by a retailer about how and when customers can return purchased items for refunds or exchanges.
RGB - A color model used for digital displays that stands for Red, Green, and Blue, which are the primary colors of light.
ROI (Return on Investment) - A measure of how much money you earn compared to how much you spend on an investment.
Scaling - Expanding a business to handle more work, customers, or products without losing quality.
Screen Printing - A printing technique where ink is pushed through a mesh screen onto fabric, creating bold and durable designs.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) - Techniques used to make a website show up higher in search engine results, making it easier for people to find.
Shipping Carrier - A company that transports goods from sellers to buyers, such as UPS, FedEx, or the postal service.
Shipping Label - A label attached to a package with important information like addresses, package contents, and a tracking barcode.
SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) - A unique code given to each product in a store to help track inventory and manage sales.
Smart Object - A layer in Photoshop that contains image data from raster or vector images, allowing for non-destructive editing.
Social Media Marketing - Using social media platforms to connect with potential customers, promote products, and build a brand.
Society6 - A platform where artists can sell their designs on a wide range of products, including home decor and accessories.
SPOD (Spreadshirt Print on Demand) - A POD service by Spreadshirt, offering fast production and shipping for custom products.
Sublimation - A printing process that uses heat to turn dye into gas, which then embeds into materials like fabric, creating vibrant designs.
Sustainability - Practices that avoid depleting natural resources, ensuring long-term environmental health.
TeePublic - A POD platform where artists can upload their designs to be printed on T-shirts, hoodies, and other apparel.
Teespring (now Spring) - A POD platform where users can create and sell custom apparel and other products, with Teespring handling production and shipping.
Template - A pre-designed layout that you can customize with your own content.
Thumbnail - A small image that represents a larger one.
Transfer Paper - Special paper used to transfer designs onto fabric or other materials using heat and pressure.
Typography - The style and appearance of printed text.
Vector Graphics - Digital images made of paths defined by mathematical formulas, allowing them to be resized without losing quality.
Vectorize - Converting an image from raster (pixel-based) to vector (path-based) format.
Vignette - A reduction of an image's brightness or saturation at its edges compared to its center.
Vinyl Cutting - A process where a machine cuts designs from sheets of vinyl, which can then be applied to products using heat or adhesive.
Water-based Ink - A type of ink used in printing that is environmentally friendly and creates soft, breathable prints on fabric.
White Label Products - Items made by one company but sold under another company’s brand name.
Zazzle - An online marketplace offering customizable products where users can create designs and sell them on various items.