Envelope Glossary: G-R

  A-F  |  G-R  |  S-Z

GLASSINE WINDOW
Another term for a Poly window. 

GUM
The adhesive that seals an envelope. 

GUSSETS
Envelopes with expanding accordion pleats for extra capacity.

HAND CUTTING
Cutting envelopes by hand precisely with a die; used for short run envelope converting.

HAND FOLDING
Envelopes that are die cut, gummed and folded by hand; for custom “king size” envelopes or other custom orders (100 or less). Custom pre-production samples are often hand folded.

INDICIA
Mail piece imprints (upper right corner) that denote payment of postage. 

INSERTING MACHINE
Automatically inserts contents into envelopes.


INSIDE TINT
A continuous printed image on the inside of an envelope to make it opaque or less transparent.


IMPRINTING
Printing made-up envelopes for inventory (either plain or pre-printed).

KRAFT PAPER
Durable paper for envelopes made from unbleached, bleached or colored wood pulp by a sulfate process.

LATEX SEAL
What we call our Pres-Stik^® seal; used in place of gum on self-seal envelopes. 

LIP
A folded envelope with no top score and a short seal flap; also see extension flap.


LOOKIN
Any style envelope with a window.

MACHINE INSERTABLE
Envelopes configured for using on machines that automatically insert their contents. 


MACHINE READABLE
Envelopes with a barcode that’s read by a laser scanner or similar device.


MANILA
A semi-bleached chemical sulphate paper for envelopes. Not as strong as kraft paper, but with better printing qualities.


MONARCH ENVELOPES
Are same size as a #7-3/4 envelope, but have a larger (sometimes pointed) flap; used for formal personal correspondence. See commercial regular for details.


MOUNTING
Placing plates on cylinders so colors line up correctly.


MULTI-TAK
A special envelope seal that can be sealed and re-sealed repeatedly. 

M WEIGHT
The weight of 1,000 pieces of a specific type of envelope or sheet of paper in its basic size. 

NON-CURLING GUM
Adhesive used on an envelope’s top flap for easy machine inserting.


OPACITY
Measures the degree to which paper stops light from passing through. 

OPAQUE
The interior security wash or grey wall printed in an envelope that allows no light to show through.

OPEN END ENVELOPE
Has its opening flap on one of the short sides, and usually has a center seam on the back or a side seam. Example: catalog envelopes.

OPEN SIDE ENVELOPE
Has its opening flap on one of the long sides with either a diagonal or double side seam. Examples: commercials, some catalog and coin envelopes.

PATCHING
Affixing material onto window envelopes.


PATCH MATERIAL
The translucent or clear covering of an envelope window (Poly, Cello or Digi-Clear^®).


PATCH POCKET
Paper or window film gummed on 3 sides to form a pocket.

PLASTICLEER WINDOW
Cellophane window material.

PRES-STIK^®
Our self-sealing latex adhesive that does not require moisture.

PRESSURE SENSITIVE GUM
Self-sealing envelope adhesives on a seal flap that’s covered by release paper.
 Activated by pressure, this gum is often called “peel and stick.”


PRESORT
Mail pieces grouped by zip code or other USPS recommended separation to bypass certain postal operations.


RANDOM DIE CUTTING
Maximizing the number of die cut envelopes by changing the die’s position and direction.


REGULAR ENVELOPE
A style of commercial envelope without a window.


REMITTANCE ENVELOPE
AKA collection envelope, its flap is almost as big as the envelope itself.

RE-MOISTENABLE
Adhesive activated by water or solvent; applied to seal an envelope flap.


REMOVABLE ADHESIVE
Is pressure sensitive and cleanly removes from many surfaces.


RESEALABLE
Envelopes with a lighter bond, latex adhesive for multiple resealing.



Glossary:  A-F  |  G-R  |  S-Z