Glossary of terms

The definitions on this page are arranged in alphabetical order. You will find quick answers to many of your printing and stationery questions.

Also Good For:
"Also good for" is the term that DavidGregory.biz uses to point out some other uses for cards. For example, the typical wedding invitation could also be used as an engagement announcement, or a birth announcement might make a great party invitation. We try to include long lists of alternative uses, but we know that you might have some additional thoughts. So feel free to use all of our products for many purposes. (Although we don't recommend using baby pink birth announcements to invite your buddies to your bachelor party.)

At Home Cards:
Ultra formal and traditional newlyweds use these cards to inform guests and relatives of their new address as a married couple.

Average Order:
When DavidGregory.biz lists the base price, we include the price of the product, including envelopes, but not including some special optional features. These added touches may be premium ink colors like silver or gold, lined envelopes or double envelopes for wedding invitations. But don't stress — every step of the way, DavidGregory.biz will let you know what is standard and what is additional.

Calling Cards:
Calling cards were traditionally used to leave messages for friends, long before the time of answering machines. In today's world, they are a stylish way of making your mark as a gift enclosure.

Die Cut:
A shape or slit cut-out made by a steel-rule die. DavidGregory.biz carries many products with die cuts, e.g., painted feet or hands on baby announcements, to add texture to our products.

Digital Printing:
Digital printing bypasses the typesetter. Images are transferred from a computer to a printer in a manner similar to the way you print pages off your own computer. The quality of digital printing is often not as high as offset printing (see definition below), but it is definitely acceptable for all but the most formal occasions. Digital printing is always flat on the page, not raised on the page like engraving or thermography.

Dimensions:
Sometimes it is important to know just how big a product is. (Who knows — maybe you have a small mailbox!) DavidGregory.biz gives you the measurements down to the closest 1/8th of an inch.

Directional:
A directional card is a must for every large out-of-town occasion, especially weddings. The directional includes instructions on how to get to the ceremony and reception. Oftentimes, directionals also include suggested hotels and restaurants.

Embossing:
Embossed is a fancy way of saying that the surface of the paper is raised. This term can apply both to a decoration or icon on the page or to the text. Embossing adds texture to the piece, making it appealing to a person's sense of touch.

Engagement Announcements:
These cards inform your guests of the wedding date and location so that everyone can mark their calendars. They are also useful when there is a long engagement or a private wedding planned.

Engraving:
In this traditional printing technique, writing is carved into a copper plate. This plate is then forced onto the paper, which raises the type and slightly bruises the back. This "bruising" on the reverse side easily differentiates it from thermography. Engraving is usually done on heavy, rich cotton or linen papers. The feel and look of the printing is very elegant, making this the quintessential technique for formal correspondence.

Envelopes Included:
Envelopes usually come with cards at no extra cost, but there are a few types of cards that do not come with envelopes. Some examples include reception cards that are part of a wedding invitation suite, business cards, postcards and recipe cards. Gift enclosures and calling cards vary, and some manufacturers provide envelopes and some do not.

Envelope Liner:
When you order an invitation or other card from DavidGregory.biz you are often given the choice of an envelope liner. This is a decorative sheet of paper or fabric that lines the inside of the envelope. Envelope liners make your creation even more special, just as a beautiful scarf or sharp tie can finish an outfit.

Etiquette:
Etiquette is a set of rules that you can use as a guideline when determining how to address someone, what to write or how to act. Society has relaxed a bit from olden times when these conventions were followed meticulously, but etiquette rules still help guide us in many social situations. DavidGregory.biz has a special section called "Social Grace" where our etiquette expert Grace Davenport addresses your etiquette dilemmas. You can also email questions to info@DavidGregory.biz.

Font:
Font is a technical term meaning type of lettering style. The typestyle you choose can say a lot about your mood or tone for the correspondence. Some fonts convey a feeling of fun and are perfect for birth announcements or children's stationery. Other fonts are more serious or romantic and might be better suited for corporate cards or wedding invitations.

Format:
Announcements, invitations and stationery come in many different formats, including single panel (which is a flat sheet), top fold, side fold or gate-fold (typically opens like French doors).

Ideal for:
When we say that a product is "ideal for" something, we mean that we envision that purpose as being the primary use. However, most of our products are suitable for a number of different events and occasions. For instance, we might think that a small cream fold over note would make a mighty fine thank-you card, while you might see it as a "Please excuse Sally from class" letter.

Informals:
One piece of etiquette that never gets old is the process of sending thank-you notes. "Informal" is the stationery term for small folded notes with a top fold that are often personalized with the person's name.

Ink Color:
DavidGregory.biz suggests ink colors that match the piece you select. Like typestyles, ink colors can add greatly to the feeling you are trying to project in your correspondence. Take your time in making this selection.

Inner Envelope:
In olden times, when letters were delivered by messengers on horseback, every card had both an inner and an outer envelope. The outer envelope was subjected to all of the elements of the journey and then discarded minutes before delivery to reveal a clean, neat inner package. Today, more formal invitations, like wedding invitations, have inner envelopes to keep the invitation and all of its accessory pieces together. Inner envelopes are addressed with the guests' names only.

Item Number:
Have you ever ordered something GREAT from the Internet then not been able to find it when you want to re-order?  DavidGregory.biz never wants that to happen to you. Each of our products has a style number that will never change. If you find something you love and want to find it again, search by item number and your shopping will be a breeze.

Manufacturer:
DavidGregory.biz uses a full range of quality printers and engravers.  Each manufacturer has a proven track record of creating and producing enduring original designs. Our suppliers come from diverse creative backgrounds and employ both new and old printing techniques. For more information on printing see: offset printing, thermography, and engraving.

Offset Printing:
Offset printing uses a printing press and creates a very high quality product. Offset printers can use files created on a computer, but the files are not printed out directly from the computer as they are in digital printing. The printing press creates a sharp product that is flat on the page, not raised.

Outer Envelope:
Outer envelopes are addressed to the recipient. Check our "Social Grace" etiquette section if you have any questions about addressing envelopes.

Paper Weight:
In linens, you look for thread count, and in stationery, you look for paper weight and fiber content. For running off documents in your office, 20 to 40 lb. paper is standard. However, fine stationery requires a heavy feel and is usually printed on 80 to 100 lb. stock. In addition, papers come in a variety of fibers, most typically cotton, linen or wood based pulp. Cotton and linen papers tend to be the finest and most expensive. Combinations can also be quite appealing at a slightly lower cost.

Place Cards:
Place cards designate the seating for an event or reception. They are a great way to ensure the right amount of mingling and socializing at your event. Thoughtful attention to seating can make a big difference in how your guests enjoy themselves.

Pew Cards:
Pew cards are used to let an usher know that a guest should be seated in one of the first pews or within a corded off section. Also known as Within the Ribbon cards.

Postage:
Many times, even though it doesn't look like it, your stationery or invitation may require extra postage. DavidGregory.biz warns you if this may be the case, but the best and safest method is to take your fully stuffed envelope to the post office and have them give you the lowdown. If you are absolutely against this, try out the Post Office's extra postage formula (as of 11/97). Any card will require extra postage if the measurements exceed any of the following: 6 1/8 inches of width, 11 1/2 inches of length, or 1/4 inch of thickness. Also, additional postage is needed for any piece whose length divided by height is less than 1.3 or more than 2.5.

Reception Card:
Used most often with weddings, this card lists the name and the address of the reception site if the reception or party is held in a different place from the ceremony.

Related Products:
The analogy to use here is the typical men's business suit. When you buy a suit, you definitely want the coordinating pants and jacket, but you also might want a tie, shoes and a shirt. DavidGregory.biz wouldn't want you to be improperly dressed (stationery-wise, that is), so we help you find all the matching parts. For instance, when you order a birth announcement, we'll let you know if there are baby thank-you notes with the same motif. We can't remind you to put your wallet in your briefcase, but we're working on that.

Response Card:
Typically used for weddings or larger, more formal parties, guests use response cards (also called reply cards) to let the hostess know whether they will attend. Response cards are also sometimes used to present menu choices.

Save the Date Cards:
Like engagement announcements, Save the Date cards tell your guests that your wedding is going to take place sometime in the future. Save the Dates often include the hotel name and transportation information to allow out-of-town guests to plan ahead.

Shipping:
Because DavidGregory.biz products are made by fine stationery designers across the country, the number of days that you will anxiously await your delivery varies. The estimate we include here refers to the number of business days between when your order is received and when it is shipped. However, keep in mind that shipping itself takes some time, so order early to avoid getting caught in a bind.

Thermography:
In thermography, a powder is applied to the ink, and then heated. The heat raises the ink giving a similar texture to an engraved piece but without the depression on the back. Thermography is significantly less expensive than engraving.

Typesetter's Proof:
For most orders, a proof will be prepared and emailed for approval before any printing occurs. This proof is prepared by the typesetter and shows the precise layout of your wording and typestyle. Typically these black & white proof copies are emailed to you within a few days of your order.  They are most useful for double-checking relative size, layout, spelling, and grammar; they will not show a selected ink color.  A proof copy is not provided for personalized stationery products.

Vellum:
Vellum paper is frosted and translucent. It is often layered over cards to add an extra touch of luxury.

Wedding Announcements:
These small, printed cards list the couples' names, the wedding location and the wedding date and are typically mailed the day after the wedding. They are usually sent to people who could not attend the wedding, either because the number of guests was limited or the location was not easily accessible.

Within the Ribbon Cards:
Within the Ribbon cards are used to let an usher know that a guest should be seated in one of the first pews or within a corded off section. Also known as Pew cards.