Office Express - Envelope and Printing Terms

Envelope Terms Explained

Adhesives: Latex: Latex is made from a rubber based material and is used for self-seal envelopes. It is applied to both the seal flap and the back of the envelope and will only stick to itself.
Adhesives: Peel and Seal: Peel and eal adhesive is applied to the seal flap and is covered by a strip of paper making this a self sealing flap
Adhesives: Standard Gum: Standard envelope flaps are treated with a remoistenable adhesive that is activated by water. This is the standard for all commercial and invitation envelopes.
Baronial Envelope: A Baronial type of envelope has a large pointed flap. This envelope is used for social events: announcements, greeting card and invitations.
Bleed: A Bleed is an image or printing that extends pas the edge of the envelope or paper. Envelopes that require a full bleed must be printed before the envelope is folded.
Bond: Bond paper is a grade of paper often used for letterheads and matching envelopes. Bond paper is known for its strength and low opacity.
Booklet Envelope: A Booklet envelope is a large open side (flap on long edge of envelope) envelope that is often used for catalogs, annual reports and brochures. Booklet envelopes can often be used in automatic inserting machines.
Business Reply Envelopes: A Business Reply Envelope is specially printed to Postal Service specifications to allow the envelope to be mailed without prepaying postage. Postage is collected when the envelope is delivered to the sender. Often used to gather contact information from customers.
Brightness: Paper Brightness refers to the light reflecting properties of the paper. The more light that is reflected from the paper the brighter it seems.
Catalog Envelope: A Catalog Envelope is also refered to as an open end envelope and has its flap on the short side of the envelope. Catalog envelopes are useful for mailing catalogs, calenders and large brochures.
Coin: Coin envelopes are small open end envelopes that are useful for holding coins or business cards.
Commerical Envelope: A Commercial Envelope generally refers to 6 3/4 envelopes, #9 Envelopes and #10 Envelopes with our without windows. Commercial envelopes have open sides.
Corner Card Printed Envelope: Corner card Printed Envelopes refer to any printed envelope where just the addressess return name and address information is printed in the upper left corner of the envelope. Name and address envelopes or Corner Cards can have the text printed in almost any color.
Facing Identification Mark (FIM): FIM is a pattern of vertical bars printed in the upper right of the envelope face to the left of the postage area. It is used to help the Postal Service identify which way an envelope is facing in the machine.
Finish: Finish refers to the surface of the paper which includes smoothness, gloss, absorbency and texture. Paper can be coated or uncoated, smooth or textured, soft or hard. Aslightly textured surface, such as vellum, can appear of higher quality that the smooth finish of a standard white wove paper.
Insert Size: Insert size refers to the inside size of an envelope. For an easy insert an envelope should be about 1/2" wider and 1/4" higher than the insert.
Inside Tint: Inside Tint is a design that is printed on the inside of the envelope. This is used to increase the opacity of the envelope for security resasons. Window envelopes that are used to mail checks often have an inside lining to increase the security of the envelope.
Kraft Paper: Kraft paper has a coarser finish that a wove and are stronger than a standard envelope grade.
Laid Finish: Paper that has a Laid finish will have a lined appearance.
Offset Paper: Offset Paper is also known as book paper and can be either coated or uncoated. Known for its strength and lack of curl. Can be vellum or smooth finish.
Postnet: Postal Numeric Encoding Technique (POSTNET) is a barcode used to encode the zipcode onto an envelope. This allows for rapid machine sorting of envelopes.
Text Paper: Text paper is a high quality paper made from wood pulp and/or cotton fibers. This is a very high quality paper and often is produced in colors as well as white.
Wove Paper: Wove paper has a uniform surface and no discernible marks. Its has a soft smooth finish and is the most widely used paper for envelopes.

SHOP BY STYLE

SHOP PRINTING

Printed Envelopes

SHOP BY TYPE