Print vs. Imprint — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 6, 2024
Print refers to marking a surface by applying pressure and ink to create text or images, commonly seen in books and newspapers, while an imprint involves leaving a physical depression or impression on a surface, often seen in stamps or embossing.
Difference Between Print and Imprint
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Print typically involves the reproduction of text and images through methods like digital printing or traditional printing presses, which use ink to create copies on various media like paper. On the other hand, an imprint refers to creating a mark or design by pressing an object into a surface, leaving a raised or recessed impression.
Print is generally associated with the creation of multiple copies, such as books, flyers, and magazines, whereas an imprint is often unique, used for marking items individually, like embossed leather or stamped metal.
While print uses ink as a medium to transfer designs or text onto surfaces, imprinting directly alters the surface of an object, sometimes without the use of ink, such as in engraving or embossing.
In terms of durability, printed materials can fade or smear, particularly if the ink is not permanent, while imprints, being part of the material's surface, are usually more enduring.
Comparison Chart
Medium
Ink on surfaces like paper
Physical depression into materials
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Method
Digital or traditional presses
Pressing objects into materials
Reproduction
Suitable for mass production
Often used for individual markings
Durability
Can fade or smear
Generally permanent as part of the material
Common Uses
Books, newspapers, flyers
Stamps, embossed leather, engraved metals
Compare with Definitions
The action of producing text and images with ink.
The novel was print in thousands of copies.
Imprint
A lasting effect or influence.
His mentor's advice left a deep imprint on his career.
To produce books or newspapers by mechanical means.
They print fifty thousand newspapers daily.
Imprint
To press a design or writing into a surface.
The craftsman imprinted the leather with a unique pattern.
A mark made by pressing something onto a surface.
His hand left a print on the dusty table.
Imprint
An embossed decoration or design.
The book cover featured a gold imprint of an ancient map.
Material produced by printing.
She organized the prints of her photography project.
Imprint
A mark made by pressing something into a softer substance.
The imprint of her ring was left in the wax.
The design in printed materials.
The print on her shirt was colorful and vibrant.
Imprint
The name of a publisher as it appears on a book.
The imprint was prominently displayed on the spine.
Produce (books, newspapers, etc.), especially in large quantities, by a mechanical process involving the transfer of text or designs to paper
A thousand copies of the book were printed
Imprint
To produce (a mark or pattern) on a surface by pressure.
Write (text) clearly without joining the letters together
Print your name and address on the back of the cheque
Imprint
To produce a mark on (a surface) by pressure.
Mark (a surface, typically a fabric or garment) with a coloured design or pattern
A delicate fabric printed with roses
Imprint
To impart a strong or vivid impression of
"We imprint our own ideas onto acts" (Ellen Goodman).
The text appearing in a book, newspaper, or other printed publication, especially with reference to its size, form, or style
Bold print
She forced herself to concentrate on the tiny print
Imprint
To fix firmly, as in the mind
He tried to imprint the telephone number in his memory.
An indentation or mark made on a surface or soft substance
There were paw prints everywhere
Imprint
To cause (a very young animal) to recognize and be attracted to another animal or to an object identified as the parent. Often used with on.
A picture or design printed from a block or plate or copied from a painting by photography
The walls were hung with sporting prints
Imprint
To modify (a gene) chemically, as by DNA methylation, affecting the gene's expression in offspring.
A piece of fabric or clothing with a coloured pattern or design printed on it
Light summer prints
A floral print dress
Imprint
To become imprinted on another animal or on an object identified as the parent. Used of newborn or very young animals. Often used with on
Lab animals that imprint on researchers.
A mark or impression made in or on a surface by pressure
The print of footsteps in the sand.
Imprint
A mark or pattern produced by imprinting; an impression.
A fingerprint.
Imprint
A distinguishing influence or effect
Spanish architecture that shows the imprint of Islamic rule.
A device or implement, such as a stamp, die, or seal, used to press markings onto or into a surface
Fancy letters made by hand-carved prints.
Imprint
A chemical modification of a gene affecting the gene's expression in offspring.
Something formed or marked by such a device.
Imprint
A publisher's name, often with the date, address, and edition, printed at the bottom of a title page of a publication.
Text, lettering, or other marks produced in ink from type as by a printing press or from digital fonts by an electronic printer
Needed glasses to read the print.
Imprint
An impression; the mark left behind by printing something.
The day left an imprint in my mind.
Printed state or form
A short story that never got into print.
Imprint
The name and details of a publisher or printer, as printed in a book etc.; a publishing house.
A printed publication or edition of a text; a printing
The first print of that book has sold out.
Imprint
A distinctive marking, symbol or logo.
The shirts bore the company imprint on the right sleeve.
A design or picture transferred from an engraved plate, wood block, lithographic stone, or other medium
Had prints of flowers hanging on the walls.
Imprint
To leave a print, impression, image, etc.
For a fee, they can imprint the envelopes with a monogram.
A photographic image transferred to paper or a similar surface.
Imprint
To learn something indelibly at a particular stage of life, such as who one's parents are.
A copy of a movie made on film or in a high resolution digital format, as for public exhibition.
Imprint
To mark a gene as being from a particular parent so that only one of the two copies of the gene is expressed.
A fabric or garment with a dyed pattern that has been pressed onto it, usually by engraved rollers.
Imprint
To impress; to mark by pressure; to indent; to stamp.
And sees his num'rous herds imprint her sands.
The pattern itself
A blouse with a paisley print.
Imprint
To stamp or mark, as letters on paper, by means of type, plates, stamps, or the like; to print the mark (figures, letters, etc., upon something).
Nature imprints upon whate'er we see,That has a heart and life in it, "Be free."
To press (a mark or design, for example) onto or into a surface
Tracks that were printed in the snow.
Imprint
To fix indelibly or permanently, as in the mind or memory; to impress.
Ideas of those two different things distinctly imprinted on his mind.
To make an impression on or in (a surface) with a device such as a stamp, seal, or die.
Imprint
To create or acquire (a behavioral pattern) by the process of imprinting.
To press (something, such as a stamp) onto or into a surface to leave a marking.
Imprint
Whatever is impressed or imprinted; the impress or mark left by something; specifically, the name of the printer or publisher (usually) with the time and place of issue, in the title-page of a book, or on any printed sheet.
To produce by means of pressed type, an electronic printer, or similar means, on a paper surface
Printed more copies of the ad.
Imprint
A distinctive influence;
English stills bears the imprint of the Norman invasion
To offer in printed form; publish
The publisher collected the essays and printed them as a book.
Imprint
A concavity in a surface produced by pressing;
He left the impression of his fingers in the soft mud
To reproduce (a digital document or image) on a paper surface
Printed the email.
Imprint
An identification of a publisher; a publisher's name along with the date and address and edition that is printed at the bottom of the title page;
The book was publsihed under a distinguished imprint
To convert (a digital document) into a file format designed for publication.
Imprint
An impression produced by pressure or printing
To write (something) in characters similar to those commonly used in print.
Imprint
A device produced by pressure on a surface
To impress firmly in the mind or memory
An experience that will be printed in our hearts forever.
Imprint
Establish or impress firmly in the mind;
We imprint our ideas onto our children
To produce a photographic image from (a negative, for example) by passing light through film onto a photosensitive surface, especially sensitized paper.
Imprint
Mark or stamp with or as if with pressure;
To make a batik, you impress a design with wax
To produce (an electronic component) by mechanically transferring a circuit or circuit pattern onto a nonconductive surface.
To fabricate (an object) by means of a 3D printer.
To work as a printer.
To produce something in printed form by means of a printing press or other reproduction process.
To write characters similar to those commonly used in print.
To produce or receive an impression, marking, or image
The negative printed poorly.
Published or reproduced by printing, especially in contrast to electronic publication
A print newsletter.
Relating to or involved in media based on printing, especially newspapers and magazines
A print journalist.
Of, relating to, or writing for printed publications.
A print edition of a book
(transitive) To produce one or more copies of a text or image on a surface, especially by machine; often used with out or off: print out, print off.
Print the draft double-spaced so we can mark changes between the lines.
To produce a microchip (an integrated circuit) in a process resembling the printing of an image.
The circuitry is printed onto the semiconductor surface.
(ambitransitive) To write very clearly, especially, to write without connecting the letters as in cursive.
Print your name here and sign below.
I'm only in grade 2, so I only know how to print.
(ambitransitive) To publish in a book, newspaper, etc.
How could they print an unfounded rumour like that?
(transitive) To stamp or impress (something) with coloured figures or patterns.
To print calico
(transitive) To fix or impress, as a stamp, mark, character, idea, etc., into or upon something.
(transitive) To stamp something in or upon; to make an impression or mark upon by pressure, or as by pressure.
To display a string on the terminal.
To produce an observable value.
On March 16, 2020, the S&P printed at 2,386.13, one of the worst drops in history.
(transitive) To fingerprint (a person).
(uncountable) Clear handwriting, especially, writing without connected letters as in cursive.
Write in print using block letters.
(uncountable) The letters forming the text of a document.
The print is too small for me to read.
(countable) A newspaper.
A visible impression on a surface.
Using a crayon, the girl made a print of the leaf under the page.
A fingerprint.
Did the police find any prints at the scene?
A footprint.
(visual art) A picture that was created in multiple copies by printing.
(photography) A photograph that has been printed onto paper from the negative.
(film) A copy of a film that can be projected.
Cloth that has had a pattern of dye printed onto it.
(architecture) A plaster cast in bas relief.
To stamp something in or upon; to make an impression or mark upon by pressure, or as by pressure.
Forth on his fiery steed betimes he rode,That scarcely prints the turf on which he trod.
To strike off an impression or impressions of, from type, or from stereotype, electrotype, or engraved plates, or the like; in a wider sense, to do the typesetting, presswork, etc., of (a book or other publication); as, to print books, newspapers, pictures; to print an edition of a book.
To stamp or impress with colored figures or patterns; as, to print calico.
To take (a copy, a positive picture, etc.), from a negative, a transparent drawing, or the like, by the action of light upon a sensitized surface.
To use or practice the art of typography; to take impressions of letters, figures, or electrotypes, engraved plates, or the like.
To publish a book or an article.
From the moment he prints, he must except to hear no more truth.
A mark made by impression; a line, character, figure, or indentation, made by the pressure of one thing on another; as, the print of teeth or nails in flesh; the print of the foot in sand or snow.
Where print of human feet was never seen.
A stamp or die for molding or impressing an ornamental design upon an object; as, a butter print.
That which receives an impression, as from a stamp or mold; as, a print of butter.
Printed letters; the impression taken from type, as to excellence, form, size, etc.; as, small print; large print; this line is in print.
That which is produced by printing.
A core print. See under Core.
The result of the printing process;
I want to see it in black and white
A picture or design printed from an engraving
A visible indication made on a surface;
Some previous reader had covered the pages with dozens of marks
Paw prints were everywhere
A copy of a movie on film (especially a particular version of it)
A fabric with a dyed pattern pressed onto it (usually by engraved rollers)
A printed picture produced from a photographic negative
Put into print;
The newspaper published the news of the royal couple's divorce
These news should not be printed
Write as if with print; not cursive
Make into a print;
Print the negative
Reproduce by printing
Common Curiosities
What is an imprint?
An imprint is a mark or depression made by pressing something into or onto a surface, often leaving a raised or indented pattern.
How is printing used in daily life?
Printing is used extensively in daily life for creating books, newspapers, magazines, flyers, and other printed materials.
What are common materials for imprints?
Common materials for imprints include clay, wax, leather, and metal, where a mark can be made by pressing or stamping.
How durable are imprints compared to prints?
Imprints are generally more durable than prints because they involve altering the material's surface rather than applying something that might wear off.
What are the environmental impacts of printing?
Printing can have environmental impacts due to the use of paper and ink, leading to concerns about deforestation and chemical waste.
What is printing?
Printing is the process of creating text and images, typically with ink on paper, using various methods like digital or offset presses.
Is an imprint considered a form of art?
Yes, imprinting can be considered a form of art, especially in practices like engraving and embossing, which involve creative designs.
What role does imprinting play in branding?
Imprinting is crucial in branding, especially for creating logos on products and packaging to enhance brand recognition.
What types of businesses rely heavily on printing?
Businesses such as publishing, advertising, and retail rely heavily on printing for marketing materials, packaging, and product information.
Can printing be done on materials other than paper?
Yes, printing can be performed on various materials including fabric, plastic, and metal, depending on the technology used.
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Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
