Rigid Box Making Terminology

Base or Tray: The lower portion of the box that normally holds the item.

Blank: The unfinished chipboard of a box.

Caliper: Refers to the thickness of the chipboard used.

Chipboard: The basic recycled paperboard material used to create rigid boxes.

Combination Box: A two-piece box comprised of a paperboard tray and a vinyl acetate lid. Exterior fit is when the vinyl lid extends over the edge of the paperboard tray. Interior fit is the opposite.

Deboss: A process where your logo or design is slightly pressed into the paper.

Die Cutting: The cutting of the shape of your box out of a larger piece of chipboard. Boxes are formed using die cutting instead of scoring normally on larger runs.

Drawer-Style: The combination of a slipcase and additional base (drawer) that slides into it, with either a thumb notch or ribbon pull for opening.

Emboss: A process similar to debossing, where your logo or design is slightly raised on the paper.

Foam: An insert that is placed into a package to hold contents. Foam can be die-cut or used a flat pad.

Hot Foil Stamping: Process using heat and pressure to apply pieces of foil to a box part or wrap to create a design or letters.

Insert / Platform: Any construction of paperboard or other material placed or sometimes glued in a box to lift or raise product, generally positioned under a DC tray to evenly display products of varied depths or provide additional support.

Lid: The top portion of the box that fits over the base of the box.

Mask: A piece of printed SBS with die cut “product holes” that covers a vac tray or foam insert to enhance its appearance. Can be flat or have legs extending down the tray sides; can be glued or placed on.

O-Sleeve: Material creased and glued to create a four-sided, rectangular tube that slides over a rigid box. Often SBS or plastic

Palletize: Placing cartons of packages on a wood pallet (standard is 40″ x 48″ and about 72″ high).

Ribbon Pull: Piece of ribbon attached to a tray or box part to form a handle that opens the box.

Shoulder: An additional rigid piece placed inside a base. It extends above the height of the base to allow the cover to fit over it and sit flush with the base when closed

Shoulder Box: A box with a base, cover, and collar that allows the top and bottom to join either flush or with a gap reveal.

Slipcase: A rigid package used to house books and other media items.

Telescope: Telescoping determines how high the lid will be in relation to the base (usually half or full).

Thumb Notch: A cut made in the sides of the base or lid to facilitate its removal from the base of the box.

Turn-in: The portion of the paper which wraps on the inside of the box. Normally it extends about 5/8″ down each side of the base/lid. If your package requires it, you can request a different turn-in than what is standard.

Vac form insert: A plastic insert (sometimes with a flocked surface) used to hold the product in the base of the package.