We take great pride in making our clients feel confident about their jobs during the production process. To help you gain a better understanding of what’s happening to your project, we’ve compiled a glossary of terms that we commonly use in our industry.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W X- Abrasion Resistance
The resistance to scratching of a surface of paper by other paper surfaces or other materials.
- Absorbency
The ability of a material to take up moisture
- Accordion Fold
A type of paper folding in which each fold runs in the opposite direction to the previous fold creating a pleated or accordion effect.
- Acetate
A transparent or translucent plastic sheet material of a variety of colors, used as a basis for artwork and overlays.
- Alignment
The condition of type and or art materials as they level up on a horizontal or vertical line.
- Alkali Blue
Also called reflex blue. A pigment used in carbon black inks and varnishes to improve luster.
- Antique Finish
Paper with a rough, sized surface used for book and cover stock.
- Aqua Tint
A printing process that uses the recessed areas of the plate; ideal for graded and even tones.
- Aqueous Plate
Water soluble plate coatings, which are less toxic and less polluting.
- Arrowhead
A symbol shaped like an arrowhead that is used in illustration to direct a leader line. Reference, leader line
- Art Work
Any materials or images that are prepared for graphic reproduction.
- Art-Lined Envelope
An envelope that is lined with an extra fine paper; can be colored or patterned.
- Artwork
All illustrated material, ornamentation, photos and charts etc., that is prepared for reproduction.
- Ascender
Any part of a lower case letter which rises above the main body of the letter such as in "d", "b" and "h".
- Author's Alterations (AA's)
Changes made after composition stage where customer is responsible for additional charges.
- Back To Back
Print applied to both sides of a sheet of paper.
- Backbone
That portion of the binding, which connects the front of the book with the back of the book; also called "back".
- Background
That portion of a photograph or line art drawing that appears furthest from the eye; the surface upon which the main image is superimposed.
- Backslant
Any type that tilts to the left or backward direction; opposite of italic type.
- Balance
A term used to describe the aesthetic or harmony of elements, whether they are photos, art or copy, within a layout or design.
- Banner
The primary headline usually spanning the entire width of a page.
- Base Line
This is a term used to describe the imaginary horizontal line upon which stand capitals, lower case letters, punctuation points etc.
- Binding
Various methods of securing folded sections together and or fastening them to a cover, to form single copies of a book.
- Blanket
On offset presses a fabric-reinforced sheet of rubber to transfer the impression from the plate onto the paper.
- Blanket To Blanket Press
A printing method in which there are two blanket cylinders through which a sheet of paper is passed and printed on both sides.
- Bleed
Extra ink area that crosses trim line, used to allow for variations that occur when the reproduction is trimmed or die-cut.
- Blind Emboss
A design or bas relief impression that is made without using inks or metal foils.
- Blind Embossing
Embossed forms that are not inked, or gold leafed.
- Blind Folio
Page number not printed on page.
- Blow-up
Any enlargement of photos, copies or line art.
- Blue-Line
Photographic proof made from flats for checking accuracy, layout and imposition before plates are made. Also known as a dylux.
- Body Size
The point size of a particular type character.
- Boldface
Any type that has a heavier black stroke that makes it more conspicuous.
- Bond
A grade of durable writing, printing and typing paper that has a standard size of 17x22 inches.
- Book
A general classification to describe papers used to print books; its standard size is 25x38 inches. A printed work which contains more than 64 pages.
- Brace
A character " }" used to group lines, or phrases.
- Bristol Board
A board paper of various thickness; having a smooth finish and used for printing and drawing.
- Broad Fold
A term given to the fold whereby paper is folded with the short side running with the grain.
- Brochure
A pamphlet that is bound in booklet form.
- Bronzing
A printing method whereby special ink is applied to sheets and then a powder is applied producing a metallic effect.
- Bullet
A boldface square or dot used before a sentence to emphasize its importance.
- Burnishing
Creating a polished finish on paper by rubbing with stone or hand smoothing a surface.
- Calendar Board
A strong paperboard used for calendars and displays.
- Calendar Rolls
A series of metal rolls at the end of a paper machine; when the paper is passed between these rolls it increases its smoothness and glossy surface.
- Caliper
The measurement of thickness of paper expressed in thousandths of an inch or mils.
- Cameo
A dull coated paper, which is particularly useful in reproducing halftones and engravings.
- Cap Line
An imaginary horizontal line running across the tops of capital letters.
- Caps & Lower Case
Instructions in the typesetting process that indicate the use of a capital letter to start a sentence and the rest of the letters in lower case.
- Caps & Small Caps
Two sizes of capital letters made in one size of type.
- Case Binding
Books bound using hard board (case) covers.
- Cast Coated
A paper that is coated and then pressure dried using a polished roller which imparts an enamel like hard gloss finish.
- Coarse Screen
Halftone screens commonly used in newsprint; up to 85 lines per inch.
- Coated (Paper)
Paper coated with clay, white pigments and a binder. Better for printing because there is less picking.
- Coated Stock
Any paper that has a mineral coating applied after the paper is made, giving the paper a smoother finish.
- Collate
To gather sheets or signatures together in their correct order. (see Gather)
- Collating Marks
Black step-marks printed on the back of folded sheets, to facilitate collating and checking of the sequence of book signatures.
- Color Bars
This term refers to a color test strip, which is printed on the waste portion of a press sheet. It is a standardized (GATF-Graphic Arts Technical Foundation) process which allows a pressman to determine the quality of the printed material relative to ink density, registration, and dot gain. It also includes the Star Target, which is a similar system designed to detect inking problems.
- Color Separating
The processes of separating the primary color components for printing.
- Color Transparency
Transparent film containing a positive photographic color image.
- Column Gutter
Space between two or more columns of type on one page.
- Composition
The assembly of characters into words, lines and paragraphs of text or body matter for reproduction by printing.
- Condensed Type
A narrow, elongated type face.
- Continuous Tone
Image made of non-discernable picture elements which give appearance of continuous spectrum of grey values or tones.
- Contrast
The degree of tonal separation or gradation in the range from black to white.
- Copy
Refers to any typewritten material, art, photos etc., to be used for the printing process.
- Cover
A term describing a general type of papers used for the covers of books, pamphlets etc.
- Crop
To eliminate a portion of the art or copy as indicated by crop marks.
- Crop Mark
Markings at edges of original or on guide sheet to indicate the area desired in reproduction with negative or plate trimmed (cropped) at the markings.
- Cross-over
Elements that cross page boundaries and land on two consecutive pages (usually rules).
- Crossover
A term used to describe the effect of ink from an image, rule or line art on one printed page, which carries over to another page of a bound work.
- Curl
Not lying flat and tending to form into cylindrical or wavy shapes. A term to describe the differences of either side of a sheet relative to coatings, absorbency etc.; the concave side is the curl side.
- Cutter
Machine for accurately cutting stacks of paper to desired dimensions...can also be used to crease. Also trims out final bound books' top size (soft cover).
- Cutting Die
Sharp edged device, usually made of steel, to cut paper, cardboard, etc., on a printing press.
- Cyan
A shade of blue used in the four-color process; it reflects blue and green and absorbs red.
- Dampening
An essential part of the printing process whereby cloth covered rubber rollers distributes the dampening solution to the plate.
- Delete
An instruction given to remove an element from a layout.
- Densitometer
An optical device used by printers and photographers to measure and control the density of color.
- Density
The degree of tone, weight of darkness or color within a photo or reproduction; measurable by the densitometer. Reference, densitometer.
- Density
The lay of paper fibers relative to tightness or looseness which affects the bulk, the absorbency and the finish of the paper.
- Descender
A term that describes that portion of lower case letters which extends below the main body of the letter, as in "p".
- Die
Design, letters or shapes, cut into metal (mostly brass) for stamping book covers or embossing. An engraved stamp used for impressing an image or design.
- Die Cutting
A method of using sharp steel ruled stamps or rollers to cut various shapes i.e. labels, boxes, image shapes, either post press or in line. The process of cutting paper in a shape or design by the use of a wooden die or block in which are positioned steel rules in the shape of the desired pattern.
- Die Stamping
An intaglio process for printing from images engraved into copper or steel plates.
- Digital Proof
Color separation data is digitally stored and then exposed to color photographic paper creating a picture of the final product before it is actually printed.
- Diploma
A fine paper made specifically for the printing of diplomas, certificates and documents.
- Display Type
Any type that stands out from the rest of the type on a page which attracts attention of the reader.
- Distribution Rollers
In the printing process, the rubber coated rollers responsible for the distribution of ink from the fountain to the ink drum.
- Doctor Blade
A term in gravure printing which refers to the knife-edge that runs along the printing cylinder; its function is to wipe the excess ink away from the non-printing areas.
- Dog Ear
Occurs when you fold into a fold (such as a letter fold). At the side of one of the creases you get an indentation. It may look like a small inverted triangle.
- Dot
The smallest individual element of a halftone.
- Dot Gain
Darkening of halftone image due to ink absorption in paper causing halftone dots to enlarge. Terms to describe the occurrence whereby dots are printing larger than they should.
- Draw-down
A method used by ink makers to determine the color, quality and tone of ink. It entails the drawing of a spatula over a drop of ink, spreading it flat over the paper.
- Drill
The actual drilling of holes into paper for ring or comb binding.
- Drop Folio
Page number printed at foot of page.
- Drop Shadow
A shadow image placed strategically behind an image to create the affect of the image lifting off the page.
- Dry Mount
Pasting with heat sensitive adhesives.
- Ductor Roller
The roller between the inking and the dampening rollers.
- Dull Finish
Any matte finished paper.
- Dummy
A term used to describe the preliminary assemblage of copy and art elements to be reproduced in the desired finished product; also called a comp.
- Duotone
Color reproduction from monochrome original. Keyplate usually printed in dark color for detail, second plate printed in light flat tints. A two-color halftone reproduction generated from a one-color photo.
- Duplex Paper
Paper which has a different color or finish on each side.
- Dye-Based Ink
Any ink that acquires its color by the use of aniline pigments or dyes. Reference, aniline
- Eggshell Finish
The finish of paper surface that resembles an eggshell achieved by omitting the calendar process. Reference, calendar rolls.
- Electronic Composition
The assembly of characters into words, lines and paragraphs of text or body matter with graphic elements in page layout form in digital format for reproduction by printing.
- Electronic Proof
An electronic proof is a file created after rip processing that represents the content of a printed piece as it will appear on the finished product. Because of variations in monitor and printer calibrations it cannot be guaranteed to accurately represent color.
- Elliptical Dot
Halftone screens in which the dots are actually elongated to produce improved middle tones.
- Embossed
A method of paper finishing whereby a pattern is pressed into the paper when it is dry.
- Embossing
To raise in relief a design or letters already printed on card stock or heavy paper by an uninked block or die. In rubber and plastic plate making the process is usually done by heat.
- Engraving
A printing process whereby images such as copy or art are etched onto a plate. When ink is applied, these etched areas act as small wells to hold the ink; paper is forced against this die and the ink is lifted out of the etched areas creating raised images on the paper.
- Estimate
The form used by the printer to calculate the project for the print buyer. This form contains the basic parameters of the project including size, quantity, colors, bleeds, photos etc.
- Expanded Type
Type with width greater than normal producing a rectangular effect.
- Fan Fold
Paper folding that emulates an accordion or fan, the folds being alternating and parallel.
- Felt Finish
The smoother side of paper, usually a soft weave pattern used for book papers.
- Felt Side
It is the top side of the sheet in the paper making process that does not lie on the Fourdrinier wire.
- Film Coat
Also called wash coat; any thinly coated paper stock.
- Finish
The surface quality of paper.
- Fluid Ink
Also called liquid ink; ink with a low viscosity.
- Flush Cover
A bound book or booklet etc. having the cover trimmed to the same size as the text.
- Foils
Papers that have a surface resembling metal.
- Fold Marks
Markings at top edges that show where folds should occur.
- Folder
Machine used to fold signatures down into sections.
- Folio or Page Number
Number of page at top or bottom either centered, flushed left or flushed right often with running headline.
- Font
The characters which make up a complete typeface and size.
- Form Rollers
The rollers that come into direct contact with the plate of a printing press.
- Fugitive inks
Colors that lose tone and permanency when exposed to light.
- Gang
Group of frames or impositions in the same forme of different jobs arranged and positioned to be printed together.
- Ganging
The bundling of two or more different printing projects on the same sheet of paper.
- Gather
To assemble or collect sections into single copies of complete books for binding.
- Gathering
Assembling sheets of paper and signatures into their proper sequence; collating.
- Ghosting
Marring a print by the placement of an image of work printed on the reverse side which has interfered with its drying so that differences in the trapping frame colors or glass variations are apparent.
- Ghosting
Image which appears as a lighter area on a subsequent print due to local blanket depressions from previous image areas on a letterpress rotary machine as well as on an offset press.
- Gilding
Sticking on gold leaf to edges of books with a liquid agent and made permanent with burnishing tools.
- Gloss Ink
Quick drying oil based inks with low penetration qualities, used on coated stock.
- Goldenrod
An orange colored paper with gridlines, used to assemble materials for exposure for platemaking.
- Graduated Screen
An area of image where halftone dots range continuously from one density to another.
- Grain
Direction of fibers in a sheet of paper governing paper properties such as increased size changes with relative humidity, across the grain, and better folding properties along the grain.
- Gravure
An intaglio or recessed printing process. The recessed areas are like wells that form the image as paper passes through.
- Gripper
A series of metal fingers that hold each sheet of paper as it passes through the various stages of the printing process.
- Gripper Edge
The grippers of the printing press move the paper through the press by holding onto the leading edge of the sheet; this edge is the gripper edge.
- Gutter
Space between pages in the printing frame of a book, or inside margin towards the back or binding edge. The blank space or margin between the type page and the binding of a book.
- Hairline register
Printing registration that lies within the range of plus or minus one half row of dots. It is the thinnest of the standard printers' rules.
- Halftone
Tone graduated image composed of varying sized dots or lines, with equidistant centers.
- Halftone Paper
A high finish paper that is ideal for halftone printing.
- Halftone Screen
A sheet of film or glass containing ruled right-angled lines, used to translate the full tone of a photo to the halftone dot image required for printing.
- Hard Dot
The effect in a photograph where a dot has such a small degree of halation that the dot shows quite sharp.
- Head Margin
That space which lies between the top of the printed copy and the trimmed edge.
- Hickies
Imperfections in presswork due to dirt on press, trapping errors, etc.
- Highlight Dot
The highest density of a halftone image.
- Highlights
The lightest tones of a photo, printed halftone or illustration. In the finished halftone, these highlights are represented by the finest dots.
- House Sheet
This is a term that refers to a paper that a printer keeps on hand in his shop.
- IBC
Inside back cover.
- IFC
Inside front cover.
- Image Area
That portion of the printing plate that carries the ink and prints on paper.
- Imposition
Arrangement of pages so that they print correctly on a press sheet, and the pages are in proper order when the sheets are folded.
- Impression
Product resulting from one cycle of printing machine. The pressure of the image carrier, whether it be the type, plate or blanket, when it contacts the paper.
- Index Bristol
A relatively thick paper stock; basis size---25 1/2 x 30 1/2.
- Indicia
Markings pre-printed on mailing envelopes to replace the stamp.
- Ink Fountain
The device which stores and meters ink to the inking rollers.
- Inserts
Extra printed pages inserted loosely into printed pieces.
- Interleaves
Extra blank pages inserted loosely into book after printing.
- Iridescent Paper
A coated stock finished in mother-of-pearl.
- Italic
Text that is used to denote emphasis by slanting the type body forward.
- Jacket
The paper cover sometimes called the "dust cover" of a hardbound book.
- Job Number
A number assigned to a printing project used for record keeping and job tracking. Also used to retrieve old jobs for reprints or reworking by customer.
- Jog
To vibrate a stack of finished pages so that they are tightly aligned for final trimming.
- Jogger
Vibrating, sloping platform that evens up the edges of stacks of paper.
- Kerning
The narrowing of space between two letters so that they become closer and take up less space on the page.
- Key Plate
The printing plate that is used as a guide for the other plates in the color printing process; it usually has the most detail.
- Keyline
Lines that are drawn on artwork that indicate the exact placement, shape and size of elements including halftones, illustrations etc.
- Kiss Impression
A delicate printed impression, just heavy enough to be seen.
- Laid Finish
A parallel lined paper that has a handmade look.
- Laser Engraving
A paper cutting technique whereby laser technology is utilized to cut away certain unmasked areas of the paper. The cutting is a result of the exposure of the paper to the laser ray, which actually evaporates the paper.
- Lay Edge
Edge of a sheet of paper being fed into a printing press.
- Layout
A rendition that shows the placement of all the elements, roughs, thumbnails etc., of the final printed piece before it goes to print.
- Leading
Space between lines of type; the distance in points between one baseline and the next.
- Leaf Stamping
A metal die, either (flat, or embossed), created from the image or copy, which is then heated to a specific temperature which allows the transfer of a film of pigmented polyester to the paper.
- Ledger Paper
A stiff heavy business paper generally used for keeping records.
- Length
The optimum length of a filament of ink.
- Letterpress
Printing that utilizes inked raised surfaces to create the image.
- Letterspacing
The addition of space between typeset letters.
- Line Copy
Any copy that can be reproduced without the use of halftone screens.
- Linen
A paper that emulates the look and texture of linen cloth.
- Lithocoated Paper
A paper that is coated with a special water-resistant material which is able to withstand the lithographic process.
- Lithography
The process of printing that utilizes flat inked surfaces to create the printed images.
- Logotype
A personalized type or design symbol for a company or product.
- M weight
The actual weight of 1000 sheets of any given size of paper.
- Machine Coated
Paper that has had a coating applied to either one or two of its sides during the papermaking process.
- Machine Finish
A paper finish that results from the interaction of the paper with the Fourdrinier process as opposed to post machine embossing. Reference, Fourdrinier
- Make Rready
Process of adjusting final plate on the press to fine tune or modify plate surface.
- Margin
Imprinted space around edge of page.
- Mark-up
To write up instructions, as on a dummy.
- Matte Finish
A coated paper finish that goes through minimal calendaring. Reference, calendaring.
- Metropolitan Service Area
A group of ZIP codes usually in close proximity defining a large metropolitan area (e.g. New York City or Los Angeles).
- Midtone Dot
Commonly taken as the area between highlight and shadow area of a subject's face in halftone image.
- Moire
An undesirable halftone pattern produced by the incorrect angles of overprinting halftone screens.
- Mottle
A term used to describe spotty or uneven ink absorption.
- Natural
A term to describe papers that have a color similar to that of wood; also called cream, off-white or ivory.
- Newsprint
A light, low cost groundwood paper made especially for newspapers. Reference, groundwood.
- Nominal Weight
When the basis weight of paper differs from the actual weight, the term nominal weight is used.
- OBC
Outside back cover.
- OFC
Outside front cover.
- Off-shore Paper
Any papers made outside the US and Canada.
- Offset
The most commonly used printing method, whereby the printed material does not receive the ink directly from the printing plate but from an intermediary cylinder called a blanket which receives the ink from the plate and transfers it to the paper.
- Offset Lithography
Indirect printing method in which the inked image on the press-plate is first printed onto a rubber blanket, then in turn offsets the inked impression on to the sheet of paper.
- Offset Paper
A term for uncoated book paper.
- Opacity
Quality of papers that defines its opaqueness or ability to prevent two-sided printing from showing through.
- Opaque
A quality of paper that allows relatively little light to pass through.
- Opaque Ink
Ink that completely covers any ink under itself.
- Overhang Cover
A cover of a book that extends over the trimmed signatures it contains.
- Overprinting
Any printing that is done on an area that has already been printed.
- Overset
Type that is set in excess of the allotted space.
- Page
One side of a leaf.
- Parchment
A hard finished paper that emulates animal skin; used for documents, such as awards, that require writing by hand.
- Parent Sheet
A sheet that is larger than the cut stock of the same paper.
- Peeling
Delamination.
- Perf Marks
Markings usually dotted lines at edges showing where perforations should occur.
- Perfect Binding
Binding process where backs of sections are cut off, roughened and glued together, and rung in a cover.
- Perfecting
Printing both sides of the paper (or other material) on the same pass through the printing machine.
- Perfecting Press
A printing press that prints on both sides of the page in a single pass.
- Perforating
Punching small holes or slits in a sheet of paper or cardboard to facilitate tearing along a desired line.
- Photoengraving
Making printing plates by exposure of line and halftone negatives on sensitized metal, converting the image into an acid resist, and etching the print to the relief required for letterpress printing.
- Phthalocyanine
The main pigment in the manufacture of cyan ink.
- Pica
Standard of measurement, 1/6 inch. 1 pica = 12 points 72 points = 1 inch
- Picking (1)
When the tack of ink is stronger than the surface strength of the paper, some lifting of the paper surface occurs; this is referred to as picking.
- Picking (2)
An occurrence in printing whereby the tack of ink pulls fibers or coating off the paper surface, leaving spots on the printed surface.
- Pin Register
Using metal pins fitted into preset holes of copy sheets, films, plates and presses that will assure the proper registration.
- Pinholing
Failure of printed ink to form a completely continuous film, visible in the form of small holes in the printed areas.
- Plastic Comb
A method of binding books whereby holes are drilled on the side closest the spine, and a plastic grasping device is inserted to hold the pages together.
- Plate
Reproduction of type or cuts in metal, plastic, rubber, or other material, to form a plate bearing a relief, planographic or intaglio printing surface.
- Plate Cylinder
The cylinder on a printing press on which the plate is mounted.
- Plate Finish
Any bond, cover or bristol stock with an extremely smooth finish achieved by calendaring.
- Platemaking
Making a printing plate from a film or flat including preparation of the plate surface, sensitizing, exposing through the flat, developing or processing, and finishing.
- PMT
Photomechanical transfer.
- Point
A measurement unit equal to 1/72 of an inch. 12 points to a pica, 72 points to an inch.
- Positive
Film that contains an image with the same tonal values as the original; opposite of a negative.
- Ppi
Pixels per inch.
- Premium
Any paper that is considered better than #1 by its manufacturer.
- Presensitized Plate
A plate that has been treated with light sensitive coatings by the manufacturer.
- Press-Proof
Actual press sheet to show image, tone values and colors as well as imposition of frame or press-plate. Most accurate proof that can be done - usually incurring extra costs.
- Primary Colors
In printing the four primary colors are cyan (blue), magenta (red), yellow and black.
- Printability
The quality of papers to show reproduced printed images.
- Printers Pairs
Two consecutive pages as they appear on a flat or signature.
- Process Inks
Printing inks, usually in sets of four colors. The most frequent combination is yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, which are printed, one over another in that order, to obtain a colored print with the desired hues, whites, blacks, and grays.
- Process Lens
A high quality specialty lens made for line art, halftone and color photography.
- Process Printing
Printing from two or more half tones to produce intermediate colors and shades.
- Progressive Proofs
Any proofs made from the separate plates of a multi-plate-printing project.
- Proof
A trial impression made from composed type, illustrations and/or photos, to simulate the quality of a print run usually in the form of an electronic PDF, black and white laser, or an Epson Color printout. A Proof is primarily used for the purpose of the client to correct any errors before a print run.
- Pull For Position
Guide sheet for the positioning of type, blocks, etc.
- Rag paper
Papers with a complete or partial content of cotton fibers.
- Ragged Left
The term given to right-justified type that is uneven on the left.
- Ragged Right
The term given to left-justified type that is uneven on the right.
- Railroad Board
A thick, coated paper used for signs; usually waterproof.
- Readers Pairs
Two consecutive pages as they appear in printed piece.
- Ream
500 sheets of paper.
- Recto
The odd numbered pages (right hand side) of books.
- Red Lake "C"
A common pigment for paste and liquid red inks.
- Reducer
Any substance that softens and reduces the tack of ink.
- Reel
The master roll of paper as it comes off the papermaking machine. It is in its original width and is then cut into smaller rolls.
- Register
The arrangement of two or more images in exact alignment with each other.
- Register Marks
Any crossmarks or other symbols used on layout to assure proper registration.
- Right Angle Fold
A term that denotes folds that are 90 degrees to each other.
- Roll To Roll
A web press printing process where the roll of paper is printed and stored on a roll to be shipped.
- Rub Proof
That stage of printed ink where the maximum dryness is achieved, and the ink will not smudge.
- Rubine
A pigment somewhat redder than true magenta.
- Runability
A term used to describe how well a paper runs on a printing press.
- Running Head
A title at the top of a page that appears on all pages of a book or chapter of a book.
- Saddle Stitching
Stitching where the wire staples pass through the spine from the outside and are clinched in the center. Only used with folded sections, either single sections or two or more sections inset to form a single section.
- Safety Paper
A paper that shows sign of erasure so that it cannot be altered or tampered with easily.
- Satin Finish
A smooth delicately embossed finished paper with sheen.
- Scaling
The enlargement or reduction of an image or copy to fit a specific area.
- Score
Impressions or cuts in flat material to facilitate bending or tearing.
- Screen Angles
The placement of halftone screens to avoid unwanted moire patterns. Frequently used angles are black 45deg, magenta 75deg, yellow 90deg, and cyan 105deg.
- Screen Ruling
A measurement equaling the number of lines or dots per inch on a halftone screen.
- Scum
Unwanted ink marks in the non-image area.
- Self Cover
A cover made out of the same paper stock as the internal sheets.
- Shadow Dot
The lowest density of a halftone image.
- Sharpen
To decrease the dot size of the halftone which in turn decreases the color strength.
- Sheetwise
The printing of two different images on two different sides of a sheet of paper by turning the page over after the first side is printed and using the same gripper and side guides.
- Short Ink
Ink that is smooth and creamy but does not flow freely.
- Show Through
A problem that occurs when the printing on one side of a sheet is seen from the other side.
- Side Guide
The guides on the sides of the sheet fed press that position the sheet sideways as the paper is led towards the front guides.
- Side Stitching
Stitching where the wire staples pass through the pile of sections or leaves gathered upon each other and are clinched on the underside.
- Signature (Section)
Printed sheet (or its flat) that consists of a number of pages of a book, placed so that they will fold and bind together as a section of a book. The printed sheet after folding.
- Silhouette halftone
A halftone with the background screen removed.
- Slitting
A term to describe the process of cutting of printed sheets by the cutting wheels of a printing press.
- Smoothness
That quality of paper defined by its levelness which allows for pressure consistency in printing, assuring uniformity of print.
- Soft Dot
An excessively large halo around a dot in a photograph that causes a fringe that diminishes the dot intensity.
- Spine
Back edge of a book.
- Spiral Bind
A binding whereby a wire or plastic is spiraled through holes punched along the binding side.
- Spot Color
Small area printed in a second color.
- Spread
A film image that is larger than the original image to accommodate ink trapping. Reference, trapping
- Stabbing
To bind a series of pages with wire staples such that staples enter from the front and back simultaneously, neither side being long enough to exit the opposite side.
- Stability
The quality of paper to maintain its original size when it undergoes pressure and moisture changes.
- Stagger Cutting
A process of cutting many sheets from the same parent sheet in which the smaller sheets have different grain directions; also called dutch or bastard cutting.
- Star Target
The Graphic Arts Technical Foundation, GATF has established various quality control images; the star target appears along with the color bar and helps the pressman detect any irregularity in the ink spread. Reference, Color Bars
- Static Neutralizer
A device on a printing press that minimizes the amount of static build up on paper as it passes through the press.
- Step And Repeat
A process of generating multiple exposures by taking an image and stepping it according to a predetermined layout.
- Stet
A proofreader's symbol that is usually written in the copy margin, that indicates that the copy, which was marked for correction, should be left as it was.
- Stock
A term for unprinted paper or other material to be printed.
- Super Calendaring
A machine procedure that produces a high finished paper surface that is extremely smooth and exceptional for printing.
- Synthetic Papers
Any petroleum based waterproof papers with a high tensile strength.
- Tack
The adhesive quality of inks.
- Tensile Strength
A paper's ability to withstand pressure.
- Text
A high quality printing paper.
- Text Wrap
A term given to copy that goes around the lines of a picture or other image or copy.
- Thermography
A printing process whereby slow drying ink is applied to paper and while the ink is still wet, it is lightly dusted with a resinous powder. The paper then passes through a heat chamber where the powder melts and fuses with the ink to produce a raised surface.
- Through Drier
A slower drier that dries the ink throughout without forming a hard crust.
- Ticket Envelope
Envelopes used mostly for theater tickets, with no other particular usage.
- Tint
A halftone screen that contains all the same sized dots.
- Toluidine Red
A red pigment with poor bleed resistance.
- Tooth
The rough surfaced finish of papers such as vellum or antique.
- Transparent
Inks that do not block out the colored inks that they print over, but instead blend with them to create intermediate colors.
- Trapping
The process of printing wet ink over printed ink which may be wet or dry.
- Trim Marks
Marks placed on the sheet to indicate where to cut the page.
- Twin Wire Machine
Fourdrinier papermaking machines with two wires, instead of a wire and felt side. This assures higher quality when two sides are used for printing.
- Two-sidedness
The difference in feel and appearance of either side of a sheet of paper due to the papermaking process having a felt and wire side.
- Uncalendared
Papers that are not smoothed by going through the calendaring process.
- Up
A term used to describe how many similar sheets can be produced on a larger sheet; two up, four up, etc.
- Varnish
A clear shiny ink used to add gloss to printed pieces. The primary component of the ink vehicle. Reference, vehicle.
- Vehicle
A combination of varnish, waxes, dryers etc., that contain the pigment of inks and control the flow, the drying and the adhesion of the pigments to the printed surface.
- Vellum
A finish of paper that is rough, bulky and has a degree of tooth.
- Velour Paper
A term given to papers that are coated with an adhesive and then flock dusted.
- Vignette
Fade to white or small decorative design or illustration. A photo or illustration etc., in which the tones fade gradually away until they blend with the surface they are printed on.
- W&B
An abbreviation for work and back. Reference, sheetwise.
- W&T
An abbreviation for work and turn.
- Washup
The procedure of cleaning a particular ink from all of the printing elements (rollers, plate, ink fountain etc.) of a press.
- Watermark
A translucent logo that is embossed during the papermaking process while the paper slurry is on the dandy roll. Reference, dandy roll
- Wet Trapping
The ability of an ink film to accept subsequent ink films.
- Widow
A single word or two left at the end of a paragraph, or a part of a sentence ending a paragraph, which loops over to the next page and stands alone. Also, the last sentence of a paragraph which contains only one or two short words.
- Wire Stitching Or Stapling
To fasten together sheets, signatures, or sections with wire staples. 3 methods... saddle stitching, side stitching, and stabbing.
- Wove
A smooth paper made on finely textured wire that gives the paper a gentle patterned finish.
- Wrinkles
The unevenly dried surface of printed inks.
- Writing Paper
Another name for bond paper.
- Xerographic Paper
Papers made to reproduce well in copy machines and laser printers.
