Definition: When a document consists of more than one color of ink the page may have to pass through the printing press two or more times as each color is applied to the paper. Sometimes the paper or the plates applying the ink may shift. When objects and colors don't align properly there can be little gaps. This is called misregisteration. Trapping digital files is the process of compensating for the possibility of misregistration on the printing press by printing small areas of overlapping color where objects meet. Trapping makes those gaps less noticeable, even invisible.
Trapping is accomplished with features built-in to some software programs or with dedicated programs devoted solely to trapping. Many commercial printers prefer to do the trapping themselves.
Also Known As: trap
Examples: Although many commercial printers prefer to do the trapping themselves, designers should know what trapping is and how to design documents that help minimize the need for trapping.
