A
A4 Paper - ISO paper size 210 x 297mm used for Letterhead.
Against the Grain - At right angles to the grain direction of the paper being used, as compared to with the grain. Also called across the grain and cross grain. See also Grain Direction.
Aqueous Coating - Coating in a water base and applied like ink by a printing press to protect and enhance the printing underneath.
Artwork - All original copy, including type, photos and illustrations, intended for printing. Also called art.
Against the Grain - At right angles to the grain direction of the paper being used, as compared to with the grain. Also called across the grain and cross grain. See also Grain Direction.
Aqueous Coating - Coating in a water base and applied like ink by a printing press to protect and enhance the printing underneath.
Artwork - All original copy, including type, photos and illustrations, intended for printing. Also called art.
B
Bind - Usually in the book arena, but not exclusively, the joining of leafs or signatures together with either wire, glue or other means.
Bindery - Usually a department within a printing company responsible for collating, folding and trimming various printing projects.
Blanket - Rubber-coated pad, mounted on a cylinder of an offset press, that receives the inked image from the plate and transfers it to the surface to be printed.
Bleed - Printing that extends to the edge of a sheet or page after trimming.
Body - The main text of work not including the headlines.
Bond paper - Category of paper commonly used for writing, printing and photocopying. Also called business paper, communication paper, correspondence paper and writing paper.
Border - The decorative design or rule surrounding matter on a page.
Bullet - A dot or similar marking to emphasize text.
Bindery - Usually a department within a printing company responsible for collating, folding and trimming various printing projects.
Blanket - Rubber-coated pad, mounted on a cylinder of an offset press, that receives the inked image from the plate and transfers it to the surface to be printed.
Bleed - Printing that extends to the edge of a sheet or page after trimming.
Body - The main text of work not including the headlines.
Bond paper - Category of paper commonly used for writing, printing and photocopying. Also called business paper, communication paper, correspondence paper and writing paper.
Border - The decorative design or rule surrounding matter on a page.
Bullet - A dot or similar marking to emphasize text.
C
C1S and C2S - Abbreviations for coated one side and coated two sides.
Caliper - (1) Thickness of paper or other substrate expressed in thousandths of an inch (mils or points), pages per inch (ppi), thousandths of a millimeter (microns) or pages per centimeter (ppc).
Camera-ready Copy - Mechanicals, photographs and art fully prepared for reproduction according to the technical requirements of the printing process being used. Also called finished art and reproduction copy.
Carbonless Paper - Paper coated with chemicals that enable transfer of images from one sheet to another with pressure from writing or typing.
CMYK - Abbreviation for cyan, magenta, yellow and key (black), the four process colours.
Coated Paper - Paper with a coating of clay and other substances that improves reflectivity and ink holdout. Mills produce coated paper in the four major categories cast, gloss, dull and matte.
Collate - To organize printed matter in a specific order as requested.
Color Balance - Refers to amounts of process colours that simulate the colours of the original scene or photograph.
Color Cast - Unwanted colour affecting an entire image or portion of an image.
Color Gamut - The entire range of hues possible to reproduce using a specific device, such as a computer screen, or system, such as four-colour process printing.
Commercial Printer - Printer producing a wide range of products such as announcements, brochures, posters, booklets, stationery, business forms, books and magazines.
Composition - (1) In typography, the assembly of typographic elements, such as words and paragraphs, into pages ready for printing. (2) In graphic design, the arrangement of type, graphics and other elements on the page.
Contrast - The degree of tones in an image ranging from highlight to shadow.
Cover - Thick paper that protects a publication and advertises its title. Parts of covers are often described as follows: Cover 1=outside front; Cover 2=inside front; Cover 3=inside back, Cover 4=outside back.
Coverage - Extent to which ink covers the surface of a substrate. Ink coverage is usually expressed as light, medium or heavy.
Cover Paper - Category of thick paper used for products such as posters, menus, folders and covers of paperback books.
Creep - Phenomenon of middle pages of a folded signature extending slightly beyond outside pages. Also called feathering, outpush, push out and thrust.
Crop Marks - Lines near the edges of an image indicating portions to be reproduced. Also called cut marks and tic marks.
Customer Service Representative - Employee of a printer, service bureau, separator or other business who coordinates projects and keeps customers informed. Abbreviated CSR.
Cyan - One of the four process colors. Also known as process blue.
Caliper - (1) Thickness of paper or other substrate expressed in thousandths of an inch (mils or points), pages per inch (ppi), thousandths of a millimeter (microns) or pages per centimeter (ppc).
Camera-ready Copy - Mechanicals, photographs and art fully prepared for reproduction according to the technical requirements of the printing process being used. Also called finished art and reproduction copy.
Carbonless Paper - Paper coated with chemicals that enable transfer of images from one sheet to another with pressure from writing or typing.
CMYK - Abbreviation for cyan, magenta, yellow and key (black), the four process colours.
Coated Paper - Paper with a coating of clay and other substances that improves reflectivity and ink holdout. Mills produce coated paper in the four major categories cast, gloss, dull and matte.
Collate - To organize printed matter in a specific order as requested.
Color Balance - Refers to amounts of process colours that simulate the colours of the original scene or photograph.
Color Cast - Unwanted colour affecting an entire image or portion of an image.
Color Gamut - The entire range of hues possible to reproduce using a specific device, such as a computer screen, or system, such as four-colour process printing.
Commercial Printer - Printer producing a wide range of products such as announcements, brochures, posters, booklets, stationery, business forms, books and magazines.
Composition - (1) In typography, the assembly of typographic elements, such as words and paragraphs, into pages ready for printing. (2) In graphic design, the arrangement of type, graphics and other elements on the page.
Contrast - The degree of tones in an image ranging from highlight to shadow.
Cover - Thick paper that protects a publication and advertises its title. Parts of covers are often described as follows: Cover 1=outside front; Cover 2=inside front; Cover 3=inside back, Cover 4=outside back.
Coverage - Extent to which ink covers the surface of a substrate. Ink coverage is usually expressed as light, medium or heavy.
Cover Paper - Category of thick paper used for products such as posters, menus, folders and covers of paperback books.
Creep - Phenomenon of middle pages of a folded signature extending slightly beyond outside pages. Also called feathering, outpush, push out and thrust.
Crop Marks - Lines near the edges of an image indicating portions to be reproduced. Also called cut marks and tic marks.
Customer Service Representative - Employee of a printer, service bureau, separator or other business who coordinates projects and keeps customers informed. Abbreviated CSR.
Cyan - One of the four process colors. Also known as process blue.
D
Deboss - To press an image into paper so it lies below the surface. Also called tool.
Desktop Publishing - Technique of using a personal computer to design images and pages, and assemble type and graphics, then using a laser printer or imagesetter to output the assembled pages onto paper, film or printing plate. Abbreviated DTP.
Die - Device for cutting, scoring, stamping, embossing and debossing.
Die Cut - To cut irregular shapes in paper or paperboard using a die.
Digital Proofing - Page proofs produced through electronic memory transferred onto paper via laser or ink-jet.
Dog Ear - A letter fold at the side of one of the creases, an indentation occurs.
DPI - Considered as "dots per square inch," a measure of output resolution in relationship to printers, imagesetters and monitors.
Dull Finish - Flat (not glossy) finish on coated paper; slightly smoother than matte.
Duplex Paper - Thick paper made by pasting highlights together two thinner sheets, usually of different colors. Also called double-faced paper, 2-ply paper and two-tone paper.
Desktop Publishing - Technique of using a personal computer to design images and pages, and assemble type and graphics, then using a laser printer or imagesetter to output the assembled pages onto paper, film or printing plate. Abbreviated DTP.
Die - Device for cutting, scoring, stamping, embossing and debossing.
Die Cut - To cut irregular shapes in paper or paperboard using a die.
Digital Proofing - Page proofs produced through electronic memory transferred onto paper via laser or ink-jet.
Dog Ear - A letter fold at the side of one of the creases, an indentation occurs.
DPI - Considered as "dots per square inch," a measure of output resolution in relationship to printers, imagesetters and monitors.
Dull Finish - Flat (not glossy) finish on coated paper; slightly smoother than matte.
Duplex Paper - Thick paper made by pasting highlights together two thinner sheets, usually of different colors. Also called double-faced paper, 2-ply paper and two-tone paper.
E
Emboss - To press an image into paper so it lies above the surface.
Encapsulated PostScript file - Computer file containing both images and PostScript commands. Abbreviated EPS file.
Equivalent Paper - Paper that is not the brand specified, but looks, prints and may cost the same. Also called comparable stock.
Estimate - Price that states what a job will probably cost. Also called bid, quotation and tender.
Encapsulated PostScript file - Computer file containing both images and PostScript commands. Abbreviated EPS file.
Equivalent Paper - Paper that is not the brand specified, but looks, prints and may cost the same. Also called comparable stock.
Estimate - Price that states what a job will probably cost. Also called bid, quotation and tender.
F
Fifth Color - Ink color used in addition to the four needed by four-colour process.
Film Laminate - Thin sheet of plastic bonded to a printed product for protection or increased gloss.
Fine Papers - Papers made specifically for writing or commercial printing, as compared to coarse papers and industrial papers. Also called cultural papers and graphic papers.
Finish - (1) Surface characteristics of paper. (2) General term for trimming, folding, binding and all other post press operations.
Finished Size - Size of product after production is completed, as compared to flat size. Also called trimmed size.
Flat Size - Size of product after printing and trimming, but before folding, as compared to finished size.
Foil Emboss - To foil stamp and emboss an image. Also called heat stamp.
Fold Marks - With printed matter, markings indicating where a fold is to occur, usually located at the top edges.
Foldout - Gatefold sheet bound into a publication, often used for a map or chart. Also called gatefold and pullout.
Folio (page number) - The actual page number in a publication.
Format - Size, style, shape, layout or organization of a layout or printed product.
Four-color Process Printing - Technique of printing that uses black, magenta, cyan and yellow to simulate full-color images. Also called color process printing, full color printing and process printing.
Film Laminate - Thin sheet of plastic bonded to a printed product for protection or increased gloss.
Fine Papers - Papers made specifically for writing or commercial printing, as compared to coarse papers and industrial papers. Also called cultural papers and graphic papers.
Finish - (1) Surface characteristics of paper. (2) General term for trimming, folding, binding and all other post press operations.
Finished Size - Size of product after production is completed, as compared to flat size. Also called trimmed size.
Flat Size - Size of product after printing and trimming, but before folding, as compared to finished size.
Foil Emboss - To foil stamp and emboss an image. Also called heat stamp.
Fold Marks - With printed matter, markings indicating where a fold is to occur, usually located at the top edges.
Foldout - Gatefold sheet bound into a publication, often used for a map or chart. Also called gatefold and pullout.
Folio (page number) - The actual page number in a publication.
Format - Size, style, shape, layout or organization of a layout or printed product.
Four-color Process Printing - Technique of printing that uses black, magenta, cyan and yellow to simulate full-color images. Also called color process printing, full color printing and process printing.
G
Gate Fold - A sheet that folds where both sides fold toward the gutter in overlapping layers.
Gloss - Consider the light reflecting on various objects in the printing industry (e.g., paper, ink, laminates, UV coating, varnish).
Grain Direction - Predominant direction in which fibers in paper become aligned during manufacturing.
Grain Long Paper - Paper whose fibers run parallel to the long dimension of the sheet. Also called long grain paper and narrow web paper.
Grain Short Paper - Paper whose fibers run parallel to the short dimension of the sheet. Also called short grain paper and wide web paper.
Graphic Design - Arrangement of type and visual elements along with specifications for paper, ink colors and printing processes that, when combined, convey a visual message.
Graphics - Visual elements that supplement type to make printed messages more clear or interesting.
Gray Scale - Strip of gray values ranging from white to black. Used by process camera and scanner operators to calibrate exposure times for film and plates. Also called step wedge.
Gripper Edge - Edge of a sheet held by grippers on a sheetfed press, thus going first through the press. Also called feeding edge and leading edge.
GSM - The unit of measurement for paper weight (grams per square meter).
Gutter - In the book arena, the inside margins toward the back or the binding edges.
Gloss - Consider the light reflecting on various objects in the printing industry (e.g., paper, ink, laminates, UV coating, varnish).
Grain Direction - Predominant direction in which fibers in paper become aligned during manufacturing.
Grain Long Paper - Paper whose fibers run parallel to the long dimension of the sheet. Also called long grain paper and narrow web paper.
Grain Short Paper - Paper whose fibers run parallel to the short dimension of the sheet. Also called short grain paper and wide web paper.
Graphic Design - Arrangement of type and visual elements along with specifications for paper, ink colors and printing processes that, when combined, convey a visual message.
Graphics - Visual elements that supplement type to make printed messages more clear or interesting.
Gray Scale - Strip of gray values ranging from white to black. Used by process camera and scanner operators to calibrate exposure times for film and plates. Also called step wedge.
Gripper Edge - Edge of a sheet held by grippers on a sheetfed press, thus going first through the press. Also called feeding edge and leading edge.
GSM - The unit of measurement for paper weight (grams per square meter).
Gutter - In the book arena, the inside margins toward the back or the binding edges.
H
Halftone - (1) To photograph or scan a continuous tone image to convert the image into halftone dots. (2) A photograph or continuous-tone illustration that has been halftoned and appears on film, paper, printing plate or the final printed product.
Head(er) - At the top of a page, the margin.
Highlights - Lightest portions of a photograph or halftone, as compared to midtones and shadows.
House Sheet - Paper kept in stock by a printer and suitable for a variety of printing jobs. Also called floor sheet.
Hue - A specific color such as yellow or green.
Head(er) - At the top of a page, the margin.
Highlights - Lightest portions of a photograph or halftone, as compared to midtones and shadows.
House Sheet - Paper kept in stock by a printer and suitable for a variety of printing jobs. Also called floor sheet.
Hue - A specific color such as yellow or green.
I
Imposition - Arrangement of pages on mechanicals or flats so they will appear in proper sequence after press sheets are folded and bound.
Impression - (1) Referring to an ink color, one impression equals one press sheet passing once through a printing unit. (2) Referring to speed of a press, one impression equals one press sheet passing once through the press.
Imprint - To print new copy on a previously printed sheet, such as imprinting an employee's name on business cards.
Ink Jet Printing - Method of printing by spraying droplets of ink through computer-controlled nozzles. Also called jet printing.
Inserts - Within a publication, an additional item positioned into the publication loose (not bound in).
ISBN - A number assigned to a published work and usually found either on the title page or the back of the title page. Considered an International Standard Book Number.
Impression - (1) Referring to an ink color, one impression equals one press sheet passing once through a printing unit. (2) Referring to speed of a press, one impression equals one press sheet passing once through the press.
Imprint - To print new copy on a previously printed sheet, such as imprinting an employee's name on business cards.
Ink Jet Printing - Method of printing by spraying droplets of ink through computer-controlled nozzles. Also called jet printing.
Inserts - Within a publication, an additional item positioned into the publication loose (not bound in).
ISBN - A number assigned to a published work and usually found either on the title page or the back of the title page. Considered an International Standard Book Number.
J
Job Number - A number assigned to a specific printing project in a printing company for use in tracking and historical record keeping.
K
K - Abbreviation for black in four-color process printing. Hence the 'K' in CMYK.
Keylines - Lines on a mechanical or negative showing the exact size, shape and location of photographs or other graphic elements.
Kiss Die Cut - To die cut the top layer, but not the backing layer, of self-adhesive paper. Also called face cut.
Kraft Paper - Strong paper used for wrapping and to make grocery bags and large envelopes.
Keylines - Lines on a mechanical or negative showing the exact size, shape and location of photographs or other graphic elements.
Kiss Die Cut - To die cut the top layer, but not the backing layer, of self-adhesive paper. Also called face cut.
Kraft Paper - Strong paper used for wrapping and to make grocery bags and large envelopes.
L
Laid Finish - Finish on bond or text paper on which grids of parallel lines simulate the surface of handmade paper. Laid lines are close together and run against the grain; chain lines are farther apart and run with the grain.
Laminate - A thin transparent plastic sheet (coating) applied to usually a thick stock (covers, post cards, etc.) providing protection against liquid and heavy use, and usually accents existing colour, providing a glossy (or lens) effect.
Landscape - Artist style in which width is greater than height. (Portrait is opposite.)
Laser Bond - Bond paper made especially smooth and dry to run well through laser printers.
Lay Flat Bind - Method of perfect binding that allows a publication to lie fully open. (Also known as Lay Flat Perfect Binding.)
Layout - A sample of the original providing (showing) position of printed work (direction, instructions) needed and desired.
Leading - Amount of space between lines of type.
Leaf - One sheet of paper in a publication. Each side of a leaf is one page.
Letter Paper - In North America, 8 1/2' x 11' sheets. In Europe, A4 sheets.
Letterpress - Method of printing from raised surfaces, either metal type or plates whose surfaces have been etched away from image areas. Also called block printing.
Linen Finish - Embossed finish on text paper that simulates the pattern of linen cloth.
Logo (Logotype) - A company, partnership or corporate creation (design) that denotes a unique entity. A possible combination of letters and art work to create a "sole" entity symbol of that specific unit.
Laminate - A thin transparent plastic sheet (coating) applied to usually a thick stock (covers, post cards, etc.) providing protection against liquid and heavy use, and usually accents existing colour, providing a glossy (or lens) effect.
Landscape - Artist style in which width is greater than height. (Portrait is opposite.)
Laser Bond - Bond paper made especially smooth and dry to run well through laser printers.
Lay Flat Bind - Method of perfect binding that allows a publication to lie fully open. (Also known as Lay Flat Perfect Binding.)
Layout - A sample of the original providing (showing) position of printed work (direction, instructions) needed and desired.
Leading - Amount of space between lines of type.
Leaf - One sheet of paper in a publication. Each side of a leaf is one page.
Letter Paper - In North America, 8 1/2' x 11' sheets. In Europe, A4 sheets.
Letterpress - Method of printing from raised surfaces, either metal type or plates whose surfaces have been etched away from image areas. Also called block printing.
Linen Finish - Embossed finish on text paper that simulates the pattern of linen cloth.
Logo (Logotype) - A company, partnership or corporate creation (design) that denotes a unique entity. A possible combination of letters and art work to create a "sole" entity symbol of that specific unit.
M
Magenta - One of the four process colors.
Margin - Imprinted space around the edge of the printed material.
Mark-Up - Instructions written usually on a "dummy."
Matte Finish - Flat (not glossy) finish on photographic paper or coated printing paper.
Metallic Ink - Ink containing powdered metal or pigments that simulate metal.
Mock Up - A reproduction of the original printed matter and possibly containing instructions or direction.
Margin - Imprinted space around the edge of the printed material.
Mark-Up - Instructions written usually on a "dummy."
Matte Finish - Flat (not glossy) finish on photographic paper or coated printing paper.
Metallic Ink - Ink containing powdered metal or pigments that simulate metal.
Mock Up - A reproduction of the original printed matter and possibly containing instructions or direction.
N
News Print - Paper used in printing newspapers. Considered low quality and "a short life use."
O
Offset Printing - Printing technique that transfers ink from a plate to a blanket to paper instead of directly from plate to paper.
Opacity - (1) Characteristic of paper or other substrate that prevents printing on one side from showing through the other side. (2) Characteristic of ink that prevents the substrate from showing through.
Overprint - To print one image over a previously printed image, such as printing type over a screen tint.
Over Run - Additional printed matter beyond order. Overage policy varies in the printing industry.
Opacity - (1) Characteristic of paper or other substrate that prevents printing on one side from showing through the other side. (2) Characteristic of ink that prevents the substrate from showing through.
Overprint - To print one image over a previously printed image, such as printing type over a screen tint.
Over Run - Additional printed matter beyond order. Overage policy varies in the printing industry.
P
Page - One side of a leaf in a publication.
Page Count - Total number of pages that a publication has.
Pagination - In the book arena, the numbering of pages.
Panel - One page of a brochure, such as one panel of a rack brochure. One panel is on one side of the paper. A letter-folded sheet has six panels, not three.
Parallel Fold - Method of folding. Two parallel folds to a sheet will produce 6 panels.
Parent Sheet - Any sheet larger than 11' x 17' or A3.
Perfect Bind - To bind sheets that have been ground at the spine and are held to the cover by glue. Also called adhesive bind, cut-back bind, glue bind, paper bind, patent bind, perfecting bind, soft bind and soft cover.
Perf Marks - On a "dummy" marking where the perforation is to occur.
Perforating - Taking place on a press or a binder machine, creating a line of small dotted wholes for the purpose of tearing-off a part of a printed matter (usually straight lines, vertical or horizontal).
Pixel - Short for picture element, a dot made by a computer, scanner or other digital device.
Plate - Piece of paper, metal, plastic or rubber carrying an image to be reproduced using a printing press.
Platemaker - (1) In quick printing, a process camera that makes plates automatically from mechanicals. (2) In commercial lithography, a machine with a vacuum frame used to expose plates through film.
PMS - Obsolete reference to Pantone Matching System. The correct trade name of the colours in the Pantone Matching System is Pantone colours, not PMS Colours.
Portrait - An art design in which the height is greater than the width. (Opposite of Landscape.)
Prepress - Camera work, colour separations, stripping, platemaking and other prepress functions performed by the printer, separator or a service bureau prior to printing. Also called preparation.
Press Check - Event at which makeready sheets from the press are examined before authorizing full production to begin.
Price Break - Quantity at which unit cost of paper or printing drops.
Printing - Any process that transfers to paper or another substrate an image from an original such as a film negative or positive, electronic memory, stencil, die or plate.
Printing Plate - Surface carrying an image to be printed. Quick printing uses paper or plastic plates; letterpress, engraving and commercial lithography use metal plates; flexography uses rubber or soft plastic plates.
Process Color (Inks) - The colors used for four-color process printing: yellow, magenta, cyan and black.
Proof - Test sheet made to reveal errors or flaws, predict results on press and record how a printing job is intended to appear when finished.
Proportion Scale - Round device used to calculate percent that an original image must by reduced or enlarged to yield a specific reproduction size. Also called percentage wheel, proportion dial, proportion wheel and scaling wheel.
Page Count - Total number of pages that a publication has.
Pagination - In the book arena, the numbering of pages.
Panel - One page of a brochure, such as one panel of a rack brochure. One panel is on one side of the paper. A letter-folded sheet has six panels, not three.
Parallel Fold - Method of folding. Two parallel folds to a sheet will produce 6 panels.
Parent Sheet - Any sheet larger than 11' x 17' or A3.
Perfect Bind - To bind sheets that have been ground at the spine and are held to the cover by glue. Also called adhesive bind, cut-back bind, glue bind, paper bind, patent bind, perfecting bind, soft bind and soft cover.
Perf Marks - On a "dummy" marking where the perforation is to occur.
Perforating - Taking place on a press or a binder machine, creating a line of small dotted wholes for the purpose of tearing-off a part of a printed matter (usually straight lines, vertical or horizontal).
Pixel - Short for picture element, a dot made by a computer, scanner or other digital device.
Plate - Piece of paper, metal, plastic or rubber carrying an image to be reproduced using a printing press.
Platemaker - (1) In quick printing, a process camera that makes plates automatically from mechanicals. (2) In commercial lithography, a machine with a vacuum frame used to expose plates through film.
PMS - Obsolete reference to Pantone Matching System. The correct trade name of the colours in the Pantone Matching System is Pantone colours, not PMS Colours.
Portrait - An art design in which the height is greater than the width. (Opposite of Landscape.)
Prepress - Camera work, colour separations, stripping, platemaking and other prepress functions performed by the printer, separator or a service bureau prior to printing. Also called preparation.
Press Check - Event at which makeready sheets from the press are examined before authorizing full production to begin.
Price Break - Quantity at which unit cost of paper or printing drops.
Printing - Any process that transfers to paper or another substrate an image from an original such as a film negative or positive, electronic memory, stencil, die or plate.
Printing Plate - Surface carrying an image to be printed. Quick printing uses paper or plastic plates; letterpress, engraving and commercial lithography use metal plates; flexography uses rubber or soft plastic plates.
Process Color (Inks) - The colors used for four-color process printing: yellow, magenta, cyan and black.
Proof - Test sheet made to reveal errors or flaws, predict results on press and record how a printing job is intended to appear when finished.
Proportion Scale - Round device used to calculate percent that an original image must by reduced or enlarged to yield a specific reproduction size. Also called percentage wheel, proportion dial, proportion wheel and scaling wheel.
Q
Quality - Subjective term relating to expectations by the customer, printer and other professionals associated with a printing job and whether the job meets those expectations.
Quotation - Price offered by a printer to produce a specific job.
Quotation - Price offered by a printer to produce a specific job.
R
Ream - 500 sheets of paper.
Recycled Paper - New paper made entirely or in part from old paper.
Register - To place printing properly with regard to the edges of paper and other printing on the same sheet. Such printing is said to be in register.
Resolution - Sharpness of an image on film, paper, computer screen, disc, tape or other medium.
Reverse - Type, graphic or illustration reproduced by printing ink around its outline, thus allowing the underlying colour or paper to show through and form the image. The image 'reverses out' of the ink colour. Also called knockout.
RGB - Abbreviation for red, green, blue, the additive colour primaries.
Recycled Paper - New paper made entirely or in part from old paper.
Register - To place printing properly with regard to the edges of paper and other printing on the same sheet. Such printing is said to be in register.
Resolution - Sharpness of an image on film, paper, computer screen, disc, tape or other medium.
Reverse - Type, graphic or illustration reproduced by printing ink around its outline, thus allowing the underlying colour or paper to show through and form the image. The image 'reverses out' of the ink colour. Also called knockout.
RGB - Abbreviation for red, green, blue, the additive colour primaries.
S
Saddle Stitch - To bind by stapling sheets together where they fold at the spine, as compared to side stitch. Also called pamphlet stitch, saddle wire and stitch bind.
Satin Finish - Alternate term for dull finish on coated paper.
Scale - To identify the percent by which photographs or art should be enlarged or reduced to achieve, the correct size for printing.
Scanner - Electronic device used to scan an image.
Score - To compress paper along a straight line so it folds more easily and accurately. Also called crease.
Self Cover - Usually in the book arena, a publication not having a cover stock. A publication only using text stock throughout.
Self Mailer - A printed item independent of an envelope. A printed item capable of travel in the mailing arena independently.
Side stitch - To bind by stapling through sheets along, one edge, as compared to saddle stitch. Also called cleat stitch and side wire.
Signature - Printed sheet folded at least once, possibly many times, to become part of a book, magazine or other publication.
Spine - Back or binding edge of a publication
Spiral Bind - To bind using a spiral of continuous wire or plastic looped through holes. Also called coil bind.
Spoilage - Paper that, due to mistakes or accidents, must be thrown away instead of delivered printed to the customer, as compared to waste.
Spot Color or Varnish - One ink or varnish applied to portions of a sheet, as compared to flood or painted sheet.
Satin Finish - Alternate term for dull finish on coated paper.
Scale - To identify the percent by which photographs or art should be enlarged or reduced to achieve, the correct size for printing.
Scanner - Electronic device used to scan an image.
Score - To compress paper along a straight line so it folds more easily and accurately. Also called crease.
Self Cover - Usually in the book arena, a publication not having a cover stock. A publication only using text stock throughout.
Self Mailer - A printed item independent of an envelope. A printed item capable of travel in the mailing arena independently.
Side stitch - To bind by stapling through sheets along, one edge, as compared to saddle stitch. Also called cleat stitch and side wire.
Signature - Printed sheet folded at least once, possibly many times, to become part of a book, magazine or other publication.
Spine - Back or binding edge of a publication
Spiral Bind - To bind using a spiral of continuous wire or plastic looped through holes. Also called coil bind.
Spoilage - Paper that, due to mistakes or accidents, must be thrown away instead of delivered printed to the customer, as compared to waste.
Spot Color or Varnish - One ink or varnish applied to portions of a sheet, as compared to flood or painted sheet.
T
Tag - Grade of dense, strong paper used for products such as badges and file folders.
Tagged Image File Format (TIFF) - Computer file format used to store images from scanners and video devices.
Template - Concerning a printing project's basic details in regard to its dimensions. A standard layout.
Text Paper - Designation for printing papers with textured surfaces such as laid or linen. Some mills also use 'text' to refer to any paper they consider top-of-the-line, whether or not its surface has a texture.
Thermography - Method of printing using colorless resin powder that takes on the color of underlying ink. Also called raised printing.
Trap - To print one ink over another or to print a coating, such as varnish, over an ink. The first liquid traps the second liquid.
Trim Size - The size of the printed material in its finished stage (e.g., the finished trim size is 5 1\2 x 8 1\2).
Tagged Image File Format (TIFF) - Computer file format used to store images from scanners and video devices.
Template - Concerning a printing project's basic details in regard to its dimensions. A standard layout.
Text Paper - Designation for printing papers with textured surfaces such as laid or linen. Some mills also use 'text' to refer to any paper they consider top-of-the-line, whether or not its surface has a texture.
Thermography - Method of printing using colorless resin powder that takes on the color of underlying ink. Also called raised printing.
Trap - To print one ink over another or to print a coating, such as varnish, over an ink. The first liquid traps the second liquid.
Trim Size - The size of the printed material in its finished stage (e.g., the finished trim size is 5 1\2 x 8 1\2).
U
Uncoated Paper - Paper that has not been coated with clay. Also called offset paper.
Unsharp Masking - Technique of adjusting dot size to make a halftone or separation appear sharper (in better focus) than the original photo or the first proof. Also called edge enhancement and peaking.
Up - Term to indicate multiple copies of one image printed in one impression on a single sheet. "Two up" or "three up" means printing the identical piece twice or three times on each sheet.
UV Coating - Liquid applied to a printed sheet, then bonded and cured with ultraviolet light.
Unsharp Masking - Technique of adjusting dot size to make a halftone or separation appear sharper (in better focus) than the original photo or the first proof. Also called edge enhancement and peaking.
Up - Term to indicate multiple copies of one image printed in one impression on a single sheet. "Two up" or "three up" means printing the identical piece twice or three times on each sheet.
UV Coating - Liquid applied to a printed sheet, then bonded and cured with ultraviolet light.
V
Value - The shade (darkness) or tint (lightness) of a color. Also called brightness, lightness, shade and tone.
Varnish - Liquid applied as a coating for protection and appearance.
Vellum Finish - Somewhat rough, toothy finish.
Virgin Paper - Paper made exclusively of pulp from trees or cotton, as compared to recycled paper.
Varnish - Liquid applied as a coating for protection and appearance.
Vellum Finish - Somewhat rough, toothy finish.
Virgin Paper - Paper made exclusively of pulp from trees or cotton, as compared to recycled paper.
W
Waste - Unusable paper or paper damage during normal makeready, printing or binding operations, as compared to spoilage.
Watermark - Translucent logo in paper created during manufacturing by slight embossing from a dandy roll while paper is still approximately 90 percent water.
With the Grain - Parallel to the grain direction of the paper being used, as compared to against the grain. See also Grain Direction.
Wove - Paper manufactured without visible wire marks, usually a fine textured paper.
Watermark - Translucent logo in paper created during manufacturing by slight embossing from a dandy roll while paper is still approximately 90 percent water.
With the Grain - Parallel to the grain direction of the paper being used, as compared to against the grain. See also Grain Direction.
Wove - Paper manufactured without visible wire marks, usually a fine textured paper.
Information provided on behalf of the Print Industry Exchange.
How can we help you today?
|
|
|
