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Graphic Design vocabulary · Print Production

Trapping

Meaning in graphic design, with examples

nounAdvanced term

In graphic design, trapping means: Creating small overlaps between adjacent printed colours to conceal registration gaps.

In Turkish: renk bindirmesi, trapping

How it is used

Use for deliberate boundary overlaps; confirm settings with the print provider.

Example sentences

  1. Trapping prevents a white hairline between the blue and yellow panels.

    The overlap masks slight displacement between separately printed colours.

  2. Too much trapping distorted the small reversed lettering.

    An excessive boundary overlap can visibly change delicate details.

Common collocations

  • trapping width
  • automatic trapping
  • overprintTo print one ink directly on top of another, instead of leaving a gap in the colour below. Black text is often set to overprint to avoid white gaps around it.
  • rich blackA deeper printed black made by adding some cyan, magenta and yellow to 100% black ink, used for large dark areas rather than small text.

More terms: Print Production

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