Envelope Terms – Glossary
The Priority Envelope Glossary offers a comprehensive look at the terminology commonly used in envelope design and production. Whether you’re new to envelope customization or a seasoned professional, understanding terms like window placement, flap styles, paper grades, and sealing methods is essential for making informed choices. This resource simplifies the technical jargon, giving you a clear understanding of the various options available for your custom envelope projects. With insights into everything from materials to production processes, our glossary helps you confidently select the right envelope features to meet your business or personal needs.
Flaps Extended:
A term used to describe the packing of envelopes with seal flap in an unfolded position.
Full View:
A Full View envelope has an extra large window designed to give maximum exposure to the contents. Especially valuable for attracting attention and enhancing response to direct mail advertising.
Glassine:
A smooth, dense semi-transparent paper. Sometimes used as window patch material.
Grain:
Direction in which most of the fibers lie in a finished sheet of paper. Paper folds more easily with the grain. It offers greater resistance to being torn across the grain, and demonstrates greater tensile strength in the direction of the grain.
Gum:
See Adhesives.
Insert Size:
As a rule of thumb, envelopes should be one half inch wider and one fourth inch higher than the largest piece to be inserted. Automatic inserting equipment may require more space.
Inside Tint:
A printed design on the inside of the envelope used for added opacity and/ or security. Available in stock or custom designs. See page 15 for available tints.
Interoffice Envelope:
An open-end envelope designed for multiple-use routing of internal communications. Available with a variety of closures including clasp, string-and-button, and tamper evident peerless tact.
Kraft:
Paper grade made from unbleached, bleached or colored wood pulp by the sulfate process. Kraft papers have a coarser finish than woves and are noted for their strength.
Laid:
Type of finish, characterized by a closely “lined appearance”.
Latex:
See Adhesives, Resealable.
Lip:
Unscored, extended flap on some open-side envelopes, such as those used for filing.
Manila:
A semi-bleached chemical sulfate paper. Not as strong as Kraft, but with better printing qualities.
Mock-Up:
See Dummy.
Nest-End:
Term referring to packing of envelopes where they are nesting together with flaps extended. Flap is scored, closed and then re-opened before packing. Eliminates “handflapping”.
Offset Paper:
General description of any paper primarily suited for offset printing. Can be coated or uncoated. Characterized by strength, dimensional stability, lack of curl and freedom from foreign surface material. Finish can be vellum or smooth.
Opacity:
Paper property that measures the degree to which paper stops light from passing through. Inside tints can be used to compensate for low-opacity papers.
Open-End:
Style of envelope in which the opening is on the shorter side. See Catalog
Open-Side:
Style of envelope in which the opening is on the longer side. See Booklet
Patch Material:
Refers to the material used to cover envelope windows. Can be translucent or clear. Materials are poly, cello and glassine. An envelope with a window but containing no patch material is referred to as an “open window”.
