Envelope Glossary: A-F

  A-F  |  G-R  |  S-Z

"A" SERIES
Square flap announcement style envelopes, sized A-2 to A-10.

ACID FREE ENVELOPES
Made from virtually any cellulose fiber source (cotton, wood, etc.) and buffered with an alkaline substance to resist deterioration.

ADDRESS BLOCK BARCODE
A barcode in the address block versus the lower right corner of a mail piece.

ADHESIVE
AKA gum, this is the substance used to seal an envelope:

• Back gum forms a permanent bond at envelope’s seams.
• Seal gum seals the envelope when moistened.
• Pres-Stik^® is our self-sealing latex adhesive that doesn’t require moisture.

ANNOUNCEMENT ENVELOPES
Have deep, pointed flaps and diagonal seams, or deep, square flaps with two side seams. Used with baronial cards, informal or special event mailings.

BACK GUM
A permanent adhesive for envelope seams.

BANG-TAIL
A perforated coupon attachment on a return envelope that tears off before the envelope is sealed.

BANKERS FLAP
A type of banker's envelope known for its deeper flap.

BARCODE
A series of vertical bars representing a mail piece’s zip code, or used to electronically scan retail products and other materials.

BARONIAL ENVELOPE
Announcement envelope style mostly used for greeting cards or social stationery. See our invitation envelopes for details.

BLANK
The die-cut paper that is folded into an envelope.


BODY SIZE
The dimensions of a sealed envelope.


BOOKLET
A large, open side envelope (for catalogs, annual reports, brochures) or a commercial open side envelope with two side seams.

BULK PACKED
Packaging envelopes in a carton versus separate boxes within a carton.


BUSINESS REPLY ENVELOPE
A barcoded envelope that requires a special postal permit so sender pays postage. 

BUSINESS REPLY MAIL (BRM)
Specially printed cards, envelopes and cartons mailed without paying postage.

CATALOG ENVELOPES
Envelopes 4 x 6-3/8" and larger with a flap opening on the short side.


CENTER SEAM
The permanent seam in the center of the envelope; most commonly used on coin and catalog envelopes. 

CLASP
Metal fasteners (with or without re-moistenable gum) on booklet and catalog envelopes that can be opened and closed repeatedly.

CLOSURES
Any product or substance used to seal an envelope flap.

COMMERCIALS
The most common style of business envelopes (#10 is most popular). See our business envelopes for more info.

CONVERTING
Producing any type of custom-sized or specially designed envelope not available in our standard line.

CORNER CARD
A mail piece’s upper left corner with sender’s return address information.


COUPON
The tear-off portion of a bang-tail envelope.


COUNTED DOWN
When flaps are folded down against the back of an envelope.

COURTESY REPLY
An envelope with a preprinted address on the face supplied without pre-paid postage.

CUT-OUT
A window envelope without window patch material.

DIAGONAL SEAM
Runs diagonally from the bottom to the envelope’s throat; used in open side commercial, announcement, invitation and baronial envelopes.


DIE
A precision tool that cuts out envelope blanks, windows or other shapes.


DIE CUT ENVELOPE BLANKS
The paper cut into an envelope’s shape before it's folded.


DIGI-CLEAR
A crystal clear window specifically designed to print on high temperature 4-color laser/toner based equipment without causing window film wrinkling or distortion.

DRILLING
Precision-piercing stacks of envelopes to ensure the recipient removes all contents.

EXTENSION FLAP
A smaller flap parallel to an envelope's opening that is not sealed, scored or folded.

FACE
The side of the envelope without seams.


FACER-CANCELER
A machine that automatically faces letter-size mail in a uniform orientation and cancels the stamps.


FACING IDENTIFICATION MARKS (FIMS)
Vertical bars printed in the upper middle portion of a mail piece that identify business reply, courtesy reply and other barcoded mail.


FLAPS EXTENDED
Leaving the envelope's seal flaps unfolded.

FLAPS FOLDED DOWN
Flaps are folded down against the back of an envelope.


Glossary:  A-F  |  G-R  |  S-Z