The Graphic Design Reference & Specification Book is a must-have sourcebook for every designer—amateur of professional. Completely practical with only the most needed information, this valuable book provides designers with all the little details that can make or break a design, such as: How much space to leave in the gutter when designing barrel folds How to layout a template for a box, and the ratios of each part Metric conversion charts Copyright and trademark standards Proofreaders' symbols Image file formats Standard camera formats and sizes Finding the best scanning resolution Type basics and terminology Guide to printing processes Paper usage guide Standard binding types Process color finder Proofing methods Standard envelope sizes in the USA, Europe, Canada and Asia And much more. Take this compact and accessible reference everywhere you go for details on all the things you can never find but need to know when designing. The Reference & Specification Book series from Rockport Publishers offers students and practicing professionals in a range of creative industries must-have information in their area of specialty in an up-to-date, concise handbook.

Table of Contents:
Contents 7 introduction chapter 1: 8 measurement conversion charts 8 Millimeters, Points, and Picas to Inches 8 Inch Decimals to Inch Fractions 9 Conversion Formulas 9 Metric to Imperial Equivalents chapter 2: 10 copyright and trademark standards 10 Copyright 10 Public Domain 11 Transferring Rights 11 Creative Commons Licensing 12 Tradmarks and Service Marks 13 Legal Resources chapter 3: 14 proofreading and copywriting 14 Proofreaders’ Symbols 15 Footnotes 15 Abbreviation Guide 18 Hyphenation Guide 18 Prime Marks and Quotation Marks Guide chapter 4: 20 imaging and color 20 Image File Formatss 22 Halftone Screens 24 Tint Values for Halftone Screens 25 Duotones 26 Finding the Best Scanning Resolution 26 Scaling an Image 27 Standard Digital Image Sizes for Web 27 Standard Ad Unit Guidelines chapter 5: 28 TYpe 28 Type Basics and Terminology 28 Categorizing Typefaces 29 Serif and Sans Serif 31 Measuring Type 33 Type Guide 34 Ways to Identify Typefaces 35 Text Typefaces chapter 6: new 58 grid design basics 58 Types of Grids 59 Anatomy of a Grid 59 Working with Grids 64 Typographic Unit Grids 65 Composite Grids 66 Modular Grids 67 Hierarchical Grids chapter 7: 68 paper 68 North American Sheet Sizes 69 International, or ISO, Sheet Sizes 72 Basis Weight Equivalents 73 Grammage 74 Caliper, Bulk, and PPI 75 Basis Weight/Caliper Equivalents 76 Finishes 76 Grain 78 Paper Estimator 79 Paper Usage Guide chapter 8: 80 bindings and folds 80 Standard Binding Types 82 Which Binding Method Works Best? 83 Common Fold Styles 83 Fold Basics 85 Tolerances for Gatefolds, Barrel, or Roll Folds chapter 9: 86 envelopes and folders 86 Envelope Construction 87 Standard Envelope Styles and Sizes 88 Window Size and Position 91 International Envelope Sizes 92 Printing Considerations for Envelopes 93 Pocket Folder Styles 97 Printing Considerations for Pocket Folders chapter 10: 98 packaging styles 98 Tray-Style Cartons 101 Basic Tube-Style Cartons 102 Basic Closure Types 106 Folders, Sleeves, and Other Types of Folding Cartons 111 Set-up Boxes 116 Common Styles of Stock Plastic Containers 120 Paper Bags 122 Plastic Bags chapter 11: 124 postal standards 124 General USPS Mail Classifications and Requirements 128 Postcard Paper Stock Requirements 128 Thickness Requirements for Flat Mail 129 Rate Classifications and Delivery Time for Domestic Mail 129 Package Standards for Mailing 131 Extra USPS Services 133 Mail Piece Design Expertise 137 Postal Websites chapter 12: 140 bar code standards 140 General Standards for UPC Bar Codes 141 Guide to Color-Correct Bar Coding 142 Reflectance Values of Four-Color Combinations on Uncoated Stock 145 QR Codes 145 Generating and Reading QR Codes 145 QR Content chapter 13: 146 printing and finishing 146 General Guide to Printing Processes 149 Trapping Tolerances 150 Types of Offset Lithography 151 Cutting and Trimming 151 Finishing Techniques 154 Offset Inks 154 Varnishes and Protective Liquid Coatings 155 Glossy versus Matte Finishes 157 Proofing Methods chapter 14:  158 greening graphic design 158 The Shift Toward Sustainable Practice 160 Sustainable Materials and Production for Print Design 161 Sustainable Vocabulary 164 Fiber Sourcing and Paper Production 165 Chain of Custody 166 Certifications 169 Paper Production 169 Recycled Paper 170 Paper from Mixed Sources 171 Tree-Free Paper 172 Printing 176 Guide to Environmentally FriendlyPapers chapter 15:  178 user experience and interface design 178 User Experience (UX) Design 178 User Interface Design chapter 16:  206 standard forms and contracts 184 Creative Briefs Are Strategic Tools 188 What’s Included in a Design Criteria 200 glossary 216 resources and recommended reading 222 process color finder 312 index 320 about the authors