What is a product UID?
Updated over a week ago

A product UID is a unique identifier used by our global network of print partners to figure out how to print the files you send via the Gelato API. Therefore, you must understand the logic behind product UIDs and correctly map the formats and paper types you intend to send over.

Below you will find a detailed explanation of the components of a product UID with several examples to better understand the concept.

The complete list of product UIDs for the products that we support can be found in the Product Catalog of the API Portal.

Product UID structure

A product UID is a string of text made of different parts to identify the product in its entirety. The most important parts are:

Please note that not all these parts are mandatory for each product (e.g. there is no "binding type" for flat formats).

Product category

The first part of the UID indicates the product category, e.g. "cards", "flyers", "brochures", etc.

Examples:

  • cards_pf_bb_pt_350-gsm-coated-silk_cl_4-0_ct_matt-protection_prt_1-1_hor

  • brochures_pf_a4_pt_350-gsm-coated-silk_cl_4-4_ft_fold-ver_ct_glossy-protection_prt_1-1_ver

Paper format

pf is the paper format, e.g. “bb” or "A4"

Examples:

  • cards_pf_bb_pt_350-gsm-coated-silk_cl_4-0_ct_matt-protection_prt_1-1_hor

  • brochures_pf_a4_pt_350-gsm-coated-silk_cl_4-4_ft_fold-ver_ct_glossy-protection_prt_1-1_ver

More information on paper formats and dimensions is available here.

Paper type

pt is the paper type, e.g. “350-gsm-coated-silk” or "130-lb-cover-coated-silk"

Examples:

  • cards_pf_bb_pt_350-gsm-coated-silk_cl_4-0_ct_matt-protection_prt_1-1_hor

  • brochures_pf_a4_pt_130-lb-cover-coated-silk_cl_4-4_ft_fold-ver_ct_glossy-protection_prt_1-1_ver

For multipage products, this attribute indicates the paper type for the inner pages. The paper type for cover pages is specified in the attribute cpt. Also, the "lb" standard is used in North America while the rest of the world uses "gsm".

Print sides

cl indicates the colored sides: e.g. “4-4” (printed on both sides) or "4-0" (printed on one side)

Examples:

  • cards_pf_bb_pt_350-gsm-coated-silk_cl_4-0_hor

  • brochures_pf_a4_pt_350-gsm-coated-silk_cl_4-4_ft_fold-ver_ver

Binding type

bt indicates the binding type: e.g. “glued-left” (glue binding on the left side), "wire-o-left" (wire-o binding on the left side), or "stitched-left" (saddle-stitched on the left side)

Examples:

  • glued-multi-page-brochures_pf_a4_pt_100-lb-text-coated-silk_cl_4-4_bt_glued-left_cpt_100-lb-cover-coated-silk_hor

  • wire-o-multi-page-brochures_pf_a5_pt_100-lb-text-coated-silk_cl_4-4_bt_wire-o-left_cpt_130-lb-cover-coated-silk_ver

  • stitched-multi-page-brochures_pf_a5_pt_170-gsm-coated-silk_cl_4-4_bt_stitched-left_ct_glossy-protection_prt_1-1_cpt_250-gsm-coated-silk_ver

This attribute is applicable only to multipage products.

Cover paper type

cpt indicates the cover paper type: e.g. “100-lb-cover-coated-silk” or "250-gsm-coated-silk"

Examples:

  • glued-multi-page-brochures_pf_a4_pt_100-lb-text-coated-silk_cl_4-4_bt_glued-left_cpt_100-lb-cover-coated-silk_hor

  • wire-o-multi-page-brochures_pf_a5_pt_100-lb-text-coated-silk_cl_4-4_bt_wire-o-left_cpt_130-lb-cover-coated-silk_ver

  • stitched-multi-page-brochures_pf_a5_pt_170-gsm-coated-silk_cl_4-4_bt_stitched-left_ct_glossy-protection_prt_1-1_cpt_250-gsm-coated-silk_ver

This attribute is applicable only to multipage products. In this case, the attribute pt indicates the paper type for inner pages.

Fold type

ft is the fold type (if any), e.g. “fold-ver” (single-folded vertical), "fold-hor" (single-folded horizontal), "8pp-roll-fold-ver" (8-folded vertical), "three-fold-hor" (three-folded horizontal)

Examples:

  • brochures_pf_a4_pt_350-gsm-coated-silk_cl_4-4_ft_fold-ver_ct_glossy-protection_prt_1-1_ver

  • three-fold-brochures_pf_a4_pt_100-lb-cover-coated-silk_cl_4-4_ft_three-fold-ver_ct_glossy-protection_ver

This attribute is applicable only to folded products.

Coating type

ct is the coating type (if any), e.g. “glossy-protection” or "matt-protection"

Examples:

  • cards_pf_bb_pt_350-gsm-coated-silk_cl_4-0_ct_matt-protection_prt_1-1_hor

  • brochures_pf_a4_pt_350-gsm-coated-silk_cl_4-4_ft_fold-ver_ct_glossy-protection_prt_1-1_ver

More information on coating can be found here.

Protection sides

prt indicates the protection sides, e.g. “1-1” (protection on both sides) or "1-0" (protection on one side only)

Examples:

  • cards_pf_bb_pt_350-gsm-coated-silk_cl_4-0_ct_matt-protection_prt_1-1_hor

  • brochures_pf_a4_pt_350-gsm-coated-silk_cl_4-4_ft_fold-ver_ct_glossy-protection_prt_1-0_ver

For multipage products, this attribute applies only to the cover pages.

Artwork orientation

hor/ver is the artwork orientation, e.g. vertical or horizontal

Examples:

  • cards_pf_bb_pt_350-gsm-coated-silk_cl_4-0_ct_matt-protection_prt_1-1_hor

  • brochures_pf_a4_pt_350-gsm-coated-silk_cl_4-4_ft_fold-ver_ct_glossy-protection_prt_1-1_ver

You can find the product UIDs for all the products we support by accessing the Product Catalogue from the API portal.

For multipage products, the number of pages should not be included in the product UID but sent separately as an attribute. Read more here.

Print area (for apparel products)

4-0 (indicates printing on front) ; 0-4 (indicates printing on back) , 4-4 (indicates printing on front and back)

Examples:

  • apparel_product_gca_t-shirt_gsc_crewneck_gcu_unisex_gqa_heavy-weight_gsi_s_gco_white_gpr_4-0
    Heavyweight Unisex Crewneck T-shirt, Small, White, Print on front (4-0)

  • apparel_product_gca_t-shirt_gsc_crewneck_gcu_unisex_gqa_heavy-weight_gsi_s_gco_white_gpr_0-4
    Heavyweight Unisex Crewneck T-shirt, Small, White, Print on back (0-4)

  • apparel_product_gca_t-shirt_gsc_crewneck_gcu_unisex_gqa_heavy-weight_gsi_s_gco_white_gpr_4-4
    Heavyweight Unisex Crewneck T-shirt, Small, White, Print on front + back (4-4)

Print areas (available for selected apparel products):

Inner label (inLbl)
Outer label (bckLbl)
Short sleeve left (shSlL)
Short sleeve right (shSlR)

Examples:

  • apparel_product_gca_t-shirt_gsc_crewneck_gcu_unisex_gqa_heavy-weight_gsi_s_gco_white_gpr_4-4_inlbl
    Heavyweight Unisex Crewneck T-shirt, Small, White, Print on front + back + inner label

  • apparel_product_gca_t-shirt_gsc_crewneck_gcu_unisex_gqa_heavy-weight_gsi_s_gco_white_gpr_4-4_bcklbl
    Heavyweight Unisex Crewneck T-shirt, Small, White, Print on front + back + back label

  • apparel_product_gca_t-shirt_gsc_crewneck_gcu_unisex_gqa_heavy-weight_gsi_s_gco_white_gpr_4-4_shsll
    Heavyweight Unisex Crewneck T-shirt, Small, White, Print on front + back + short sleeve left

  • apparel_product_gca_t-shirt_gsc_crewneck_gcu_unisex_gqa_heavy-weight_gsi_s_gco_white_gpr_4-4_shslr
    Heavyweight Unisex Crewneck T-shirt, Small, White, Print on front + back + short sleeve right

  • apparel_product_gca_t-shirt_gsc_crewneck_gcu_unisex_gqa_heavy-weight_gsi_s_gco_white_gpr_4-4_shsll_shslr_inlbl
    Heavyweight Unisex Crewneck T-shirt, Small, White, Print on front + back + short sleeve left & right + inner label

  • apparel_product_gca_t-shirt_gsc_crewneck_gcu_unisex_gqa_heavy-weight_gsi_s_gco_white_gpr_4-0_shsll_shslr_bcklbl
    Heavyweight Unisex Crewneck T-shirt,
    Small, White, Print on front + short sleeve left & right + outer neck label

Embroidery

All embroidery UIDs finish with "emb". Examples:

  • apparel_product_gca_t-shirt_gsc_crewneck_gcu_womens_gqa_classic_gsi_s_gco_white_gpr_chstc-emb

  • apparel_product_gca_hoodie_gsc_pullover_gcu_unisex_gqa_classic_gsi_s_gco_white_gpr_chstc-emb

Similar to DTG apparel UIDs, we have the following embroidery areas:

Center chest (chstc)
Large chest (chstlg)
Left chest (chstl)
Right wrist (wrstr)
Left wrist (wrstl)
Short sleeve right (shslr)
Short sleeve left (shsll)

Designing your own inner and outer shirt labels can help you brand your products. You can choose to print either the inner or outer label (not both on the same garment) for selected apparel products. Also printing the outer label is not compatible with printing on the back. Apparel products that support inner and outer labels are listed in this article.

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