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4+0 (Four over Zero): A printing term that refers to the outside of the package printed in full color and the inside without color.
4+1 (Four over One): A printing term that refers to the outside of the package printed in full color and the inside black and white.
4+4 (Four over Four): A printing term that refers to packaging that is printed in full color, inside and out.
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A
A/D (Analog to Digital): Refers to the conversion of analog sound waves to digital binary information as in a DAT (Digital Audio Tape) recorder.
Artwork: Source materials required for labels and packaging. This includes photographs, rendered artwork, fonts, etc. For screen printing, label artwork should be delivered to MMS on positive film, emulsion side up, one film for each color (i.e., CMYK). Be sure to include register marks in the center and on all four sides of the label.
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B
Barcodes: Universal Product Codes (UPC). A series of vertical lines and numbers that are unique to each individual product and identify it when scanned.
Bleed: In artwork or film, extra image area which extends beyond the trim line.
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C
Capacity (Data Capacity): The amount of data which can be stored on a given type of media. The capacity of a CD is 654.7 Megabytes (Mb), which is 335250 2k Sectors. This is equivalent to 74 minutes and 30 seconds. The track pitch and speed of rotation affect the amount of data than can be stored on a CD. It is possible to record more data on a CD than the normal capacity, but it isn't recommended.
CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read-Only Memory): A CD format that allows the storage of text, graphics, audio and video. The CD-ROM is similar to the CD-DA (Digital Audio), but the information is stored differently. An audio CD player can't play CD-ROMs, but CD-ROM players (such as the Apple CD-ROM players) can play CD-DA discs and can be connected to an external amplifier and/or headphones.
CD-ROM Drive: The machine or hardware used to read data from a CD-ROM disc.
CMYK: A method for combining primary pigments. The C stands for cyan, M for magenta, Y for yellow, and K for black. Many paint and draw programs can make use of either the RGB (Red, Green, Blue) or the CMYK model. RGB is used mainly for computer displays, while CMYK is used for printed color illustrations such as CD booklets.
Compression: Data compression is a process that reduces the size of a file by "eliminating" any redundant data. Many different schemes of compression exist for audio, computer data, video, etc. Compressing a file saves storage space and allows faster data transmission. Decompression reverses the process, restoring data to its original form.
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D
DAT (Digital Audio Tape, also R-DAT): DAT is a system designed for recording and reading digital data using a special tape cassette. DAT can be used to store over one gigabyte of computer data and can be used as a master source medium.
DAT Transfer Rate: The speed the data is read from a CD-ROM drive. Single speed CD-ROM drives have a data transfer rate of 150 kilobytes per second. Double speed drives read at 300 kb per second. Triple and quadruple speed (3Xand 4X, respectively) are becoming standard.
DAT Sampling Rate: DATs can be recorded at either 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz.
Data Conversion: The process of converting data from one form to another. For example, analog audio signals are converted to digital when recorded onto a DAT. The process can also refer to the sampling rate conversion that can occur in the mastering process.
Digital Audio: An audio source that has been converted to a digital form. CD-quality audio is usually the standard, or audio sampled at 16-bit resolution and 44.1 kHz sample rate. This is the Red Book standard in the audio industry.
Digital Data: Information stored in digital form.
Digitization: The process of converting an analog source into digital format (binary information).
Disk: A recording medium using magnetic recording technology (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk). With optical media, it is spelled “disc”.
DPI (Dots per inch): The resolution of printers, usually quoted horizontally and vertically. Doubling the dpi quadruples the total number of dots, and thus the resolution.
DVD (Digital Versatile Disc): Like a CD, it is 120mm in diameter, can be pressed (replicated) or recorded, and contains a long spiral of information presented to a laser reader as pits (bumps) and lands. DVDs have much greater memory capacities than CDs. CDs can be read on DVD drives, but not vice versa.
DVD-R: A "write once" recordable DVD, with capacities of 4.7 (and 3.95) GB that can be recorded on an appropriate DVD-R write drive. DVD-Rs can be screen, thermal and ink-jet printed, and are played back on any DVD drive.
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E
Electroforming: A metal master disc is created by electroplating nickel onto the glass master, called the “father.” This is then used to create a “mother,” or a stamper to be used in the injection molding machine to create the CD.
Encryption: Translation of data into secret code. To read an encrypted file, the recipient must have access to a secret key or password that enables them to decrypt it – protecting your data.
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F
Father: Made from a glass master, this is the first electroformed part of a disc (see electroforming above).
F.O.B. (Free on Board): Seller assumes cost of delivery.
Format: How data is organized on a given medium. It also refers to the actual medium (DAT, CD, VHS, etc.).
Frame: If referring to video, this is the time required for one complete picture to be viewed. In the U.S. and Canada, there are several video frame rate standards: 30 frames per second (fps), 29.97 fps. Film has a frame rate of 24 fps. CD-Audio stores information in frames as well. There are 75 frames per second on audio CDs. However, CD frames and video frames are unrelated.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol): FTP is the simplest way to exchange files between computers on the Internet. It is used to upload and download programs and other files to your computer from other servers.
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G
Glass Master: The first step in the CD replication process. A large glass disc that is coated with a photosensitive material is bombarded with laser light to encode the data. The glass master is then exposed and developed to create a “father.”
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I
Image: The hard disk volume that contains the data for a CD-ROM. The disk image is then written to a recordable CD or Pre Master CD (PM-CD).
Index: Randomly accessible points on a CD. Up to 99 separate index points (or “tracks”) can be encoded on a CD. Each track can support encoding for an additional 99 sub-index points.
Injection Molding: A step in the CD replication process where melted plastic is injected, under pressure, into a mold (which contains the stamper).
ISO 9660: CD-ROM standard created by the International Standards Organization that defines a layout structure for CD-ROM. This standard is supported by both PC- and UNIX-based systems.
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J
J-Card: Printed cassette insert that, when viewed from the side, resembles the letter 'J.'
Jewel case: The standard, universally accepted plastic CD case.
JPEG: An image file format used for photographic images.
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K
Kilobytes, Megabytes, Gigabytes: To most people, a kilobyte will be 1,000 bytes, a megabyte will be 1,000,000 bytes, and a gigabyte will be 1,000,000,000 bytes. But in true computer language there are 1,024 bytes per kilobyte. And yes, the difference matters, so be aware of it!
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L
Label: The printing on the actual CD. Accomplished by screen, pad, or offset printing methods. Also refers to the paper label affixed to a vinyl record.
Lead-in Area: Found at the beginning of the CD, this is where the Table of Contents (TOC) is recorded. It contains the track listing and relevant track information. It is also the spiral groove at the beginning of a vinyl record.
Lead-out Area: A buffer area after the last track on a CD. When the lead-out code is read by the CD player, it will return to the beginning of track #1 or it will stop playing, depending on the programming. Also the spiral groove leading into the center of a vinyl record.
Litho Printing (Offset Litho Printing): A printing process in which printing plates are prepared (usually from films). For each color used, usually 4-6, a plate picks up ink from a roller and lays down its color image on the printed object.
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M
Master: Usually refers to the final recording used as a source for the mastering process. This master is usually a DAT or 1/4" tape. On a CD-ROM, the master refers to the disk image that is written to a Pre Master CD.
Mastering: The process whereby information (audio, computer data, or both) is formatted, encoded and written to a Pre Master CD. Depending on the final format (CD-DA, CD-ROM, etc.) different encoding options will be utilized.
Metalizing: The clear plastic disk created in the injection molding process is coated with a micron-thick layer of aluminum.
MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface): An information protocol that allows synthesizers that conform to MIDI standards to communicate performance data with each other. MIDI information can be stored as a MIDI file on disk that can then be used in a multi-media program.
Mini CD: A small CD format that conforms to all standard CD specifications. 80mm (3") diameter with a 175MB or 22-minute standard capacity. Popular for downloading MP3 files (up to 3 hours) for portable recording/listening devices, digital photography, etc.
Mini DVD: The 80mm (3") DVD. The two most popular are the single sided DVD-1 (1.46GB) and DVD-2 (2.66GB).
Mixed Mode: A special type of CD that contains different types of information in separate tracks on the CD. The most common form of mixed mode CD places computer information in track 1 and audio information in the subsequent tracks.
Multi-media: The generic term used to describe the combination of different types of media.
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N
Norelco Box: The plastic cassette case considered the standard--universally accepted.
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P
PCM (Pulse Code Modulation): One of the standard methods for encoding audio in a digital format sampled at 44.1 kHz.
Pits: The information on a CD surface. By exposing a photosensitive layer on a glass master to laser light, and then washing away the exposed material, pits are formed. The track is written in a spiral from the inside of the disc to the outer edge.
PM-CD (Pre Master Compact Disc): Refers to both audio and CD-ROM discs. A version of the WORM (Write Once Read Many) technology. The PM-CD format is useful for creating test discs before proceeding with the mastering and replication processes. PM-CD discs can conform to ISO 9660 standards, Mac HFS and Red Book Audio and can be played in CD-ROM drives or audio CD players.
Poly: Soft plastic cases used to hold cassettes.
PQ Coding: Digitally encoded information on a CD that controls information read-out such as indexing and spacing.
Pre-gap: The amount of time before the beginning of a track. For the audio CDs, the standard pre-gap is three seconds.
Pre-mastering: The process whereby the digital data is prepared to be sent to the CD manufacturer for mastering and replication. The data is assembled and arranged as it should appear on the CD-ROM or audio CD, including the file structure (such as ISO 9660 or Mac HFS).
Program Area: Area of the disc where the information is stored.
Protective Coating: The CD is coated with a layer of lacquer to protect and seal the metal layer.
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R
R-DAT: Same as DAT.
Red Book Standard: CD standards established by Phillips and Sony. Originally published in a book with a red cover.
Replication: The process of pressing or stamping data onto a CD from a master disc.
ROM (Read Only Memory): Computer memory that can only be read and not re-written. The data remains even when the power is off. A memory device that is programmed by the chip manufacturer and whose contents cannot be altered thereafter.
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S
SCSI (Small Computer Systems Interface): A standard interface system used by both Macs and PCs for connecting peripheral equipment to computers.
Set-Up Tones: A 1kHz tone which should last approximately 30 seconds at minus 14db on DAT level meters. This is provided to help mastering engineers calibrate their machines to the original recording machine.
Screen Print: A commonly used printing process in which inks are squeezed through a fine mesh drawn tightly over a frame (printing screen). The screen is prepared by exposing a film to a screen covered in a layer of light-sensitive emulsion, and the resulting image is a clear area on the screen that allows the ink through. Most CD-ROMs/DVD-ROMs and all CD-Rs and DVD-Rs are screen-printed. However, screens are slightly coarser than litho plates so screen-printing is usually unsuitable when the reproduction of a photo is required. Litho Printing or Digital Printing is then preferable.
SMPTE Time Code: A video time-code scheme used to mark the hours, minutes, and frames of a video program.
Stamper: A part created by plating onto the “mother” in the electroforming process. It is then separated from the mother and used in the injection molding process to create the clear plastic discs.
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T
TOC (Table of Contents): Located in the lead-in area. Contains a listing of where tracks start on the disc, lengths of tracks, and other information.
Track: For audio CDs, each separately indexed piece of music is referred to as a track. On a CD-ROM, there is usually only one track. If the CD-ROM is mixed mode, the CD-ROM will contain one track of computer data and several other tracks of audio. There can be up to 99 tracks on a CD.
Track Lists: Lists should be supplied with your master to indicate the start times and the duration of each song so the mastering engineer knows exactly what is on your tape.
Trapping: The film output process that ensures colors stay within the lines.
Turnaround time: The time required to master, replicate, and ship your order.
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U
U-Card: Printed cassette insert that resembles the letter “U” when viewed from the side.
UPC (Universal Product Code): A series of vertical lines and numbers that are unique to each individual product and identify it.
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V
Volume: The drive or storage device that contains the particular information. It can refer to a CD-ROM, a floppy disc, or a hard drive.
Volume Descriptor: An area at the beginning of a CD-ROM that contains documentation regarding the author, copyright, etc.
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W
WORM (Write Once, Read Many): Another name for the write-once disc. The disc is meant to be written to once, but read from many times.
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Y
Yellow Book Standard: Written by Philips and Sony for the CD-ROM format. Originally published in a book with a yellow cover.
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