16oz Double WallSimple Print
8oz (90 mm), 12oz & 16ozWholesale Print
8oz & 12oz Single WallWholesale Print
4oz Single WallSimple Print
3oz & 5oz Ice CreamWholesale PrintCustom Cup and Packaging Glossary
Plain definitions of the terms you'll see when you order custom printed cups from us: print types, linings and standards, lids and rim sizes, and the parts of the artwork template. Terms are listed A to Z, with what each one means for your order.
- From 250 units Simple or full colour print
- Australian made Everything we print
- Instant online pricing Unit prices shown ex GST
- Compostable and home compostable AS4736 and AS5810 linings
A
AS4736, AS5810 and aqueous lining
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| AS4736 | The Australian Standard for materials that break down in industrial (commercial) composting, which runs hotter and is managed by composting facilities. We call cups certified to it compostable. Our compostable cups have a PLA lining. |
| AS5810 | The Australian Standard for materials suitable for home composting: they break down in a home compost heap or bin, at lower temperatures. We call cups certified to it home compostable. |
| Aqueous lining | A water-based lining. It's the lining on our home compostable (AS5810) cups, confirmed plastic-free in writing by our production partner. Available on Simple Print and Wholesale Print, on request. |
B
Bleed and business day
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bleed | The margin around the edge of the cup template. Extend background colours and images out to the edge of the black bleed frame so the print covers the cup. |
| Business day | Monday to Friday, not counting public holidays or our Christmas closedown. All our production and delivery times are in business days. |
C
CMYK, compostable and CPLA
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| CMYK | Cyan, magenta, yellow and black: the four inks mixed to print full colour. Simple Print and Full Colour Print use CMYK. It gets close to Pantone colours but can't match them exactly. |
| Compostable | On our site, a cup or lid certified to AS4736 for industrial (commercial) composting. If you order compostable cups, we supply AS4736 unless you ask for AS5810. Compostable linings cost more than PE. Which bin a used cup goes in depends on your state and council (see FOGO). |
| CPLA | Crystallised PLA: PLA that has been treated so it handles more heat. It's used for some hot-drink lids. |
D
Dieline and double wall
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Dieline (template) | The flat outline of the cup that you put your artwork on. It shows the bleed, the safe area and the lid zone. Use it at 100% and never resize it. |
| Double wall | A cup with a second outer wall that insulates the drink, so it's comfortable to hold without a sleeve. Ours come in 8oz, 12oz and 16oz. |
F
FOGO, flexo and Full Colour Print
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| FOGO | Food Organics Garden Organics: the kerbside bin for food scraps and garden waste. What it takes depends on your state and council. Guidance in NSW, VIC, WA and the ACT keeps compostable cups out of FOGO bins. Our cup rules by state page has the detail. |
| Flexo | Flexographic printing, the process used for Wholesale Print: 1 to 5 Pantone spot colours on a white cup. |
| Full Colour Print | Edge-to-edge artwork in full CMYK with a semi-gloss finish, for photos, gradients and patterns. On 6oz to 16oz cups, from 250 on 8oz, 12oz and 16oz. PE-lined or compostable (AS4736); not available home compostable. |
H
Home compostable
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Home compostable | On our site, a cup or lid certified to AS5810, so it breaks down in a home compost heap or bin. Our home compostable cups have an aqueous lining and come on Simple Print and Wholesale Print, on request. Not available with Full Colour Print. |
L
Lid zone
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Lid zone | The red band at the top of the cup template, where the lid sits. Keep text and logos out of it. |
P
PE lining, PLA, Pantone, proof and lids
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| PE lining | A thin polyethylene lining on FSC certified paperboard. Our lowest-priced option, in every size and print type. We don't supply PE-lined cups into SA or WA. |
| PLA | Polylactic acid, a plant-based plastic. It's the lining on our compostable (AS4736) cups, and we also have PLA lids certified to AS4736. PLA lids can't go into WA, which allows plastic-free fibre lids only. |
| Pantone | A numbered colour-matching system, also called PMS. Wholesale Print matches the Pantone codes you supply, within ΔE 5 or less measured on the printed cup. |
| Proof | A digital image of your artwork on the cup, sent for your approval within 4 business hours. Every coffee cup order also gets a 3D proof. You can ask for unlimited changes until you approve. Nothing is printed before you approve, and the order can't be changed after. |
| PS lid | A polystyrene (plastic) lid. We don't supply plastic lids into SA or WA. |
| Pulp lid | A plastic-free moulded fibre lid. Ours are certified to AS4736 and AS5810, and come in 80 mm and 90 mm. |
R
Rim size
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Rim size | The width across the top of the cup, which sets the lid size: 62 mm for 4oz, 80 mm for 6oz and 8oz, and 90 mm for 12oz to 24oz. 8oz cups also come with a 90 mm rim on Wholesale Print. |
S
Safe area, Simple Print, single wall and spot colour
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Safe area | The blue area on the cup template. Keep all text and logos inside it, clear of the edges and the lid. |
| Simple Print | Our budget print: your logo on a white cup in CMYK, with a matte finish. Colours can look slightly faded. On every cup size, from 250. |
| Single wall | A cup made from one layer of lined paperboard. Light and cost-effective; ours come in every size from 4oz to 24oz. |
| Spot colour | One ink mixed to an exact colour before printing, instead of being built from CMYK. Wholesale Print uses 1 to 5 spot colours, set by Pantone codes. White isn't a print colour: it's the cup. |
W
Wholesale Print
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Wholesale Print | Flexo printing in 1 to 5 Pantone spot colours on a white cup, from 10,000 to 100,000+. Standard production is 30 business days. |
Can't find a term? Email info@exposurepack.com.au and we'll explain it.
Got questions?
Glossary FAQs
What's the difference between compostable and home compostable?
We call AS4736 cups compostable: they break down in industrial (commercial) composting, which runs hotter and is managed by composting facilities. We call AS5810 cups home compostable: they break down in a home compost heap or bin, at lower temperatures.
What's the difference between Simple Print and Full Colour Print?
Simple Print puts your logo on a white cup, with a matte finish, on every size. Full Colour Print covers the whole cup edge to edge in a semi-gloss finish, on 6oz to 16oz cups. Both start at 250 cups. See our artwork guide for how each one prints.
Which lid fits my cup?
Lids follow the cup's rim size: 62 mm for 4oz, 80 mm for 6oz and 8oz, and 90 mm for 12oz to 24oz cups. 8oz cups also come with a 90 mm rim on Wholesale Print.
Keep exploring
Related guides and products
12oz Single WallWholesale PrintGuide
Artwork Guide
Template, bleed, safe area and file types for print-ready artwork.
a2 Milk, AO 2026Wholesale PrintGuide
Cup Materials and Certifications
PE, compostable (AS4736) and home compostable (AS5810) linings explained.
8oz (90 mm), 12oz & 16ozWholesale PrintGuide
Cup Size Guide
Sizes in ml, rim and height drawings, and which lid fits.
8oz & 12oz Single WallWholesale PrintGuide
Cup rules by state
Which cups and lids each state allows, and which bin they go in.
Ready to see your logo on a cup?
Choose a product, see your price instantly and upload your artwork.
