Glossary of
Terms Used in the Printing Industry
A B
C D E F
G H I J
K L M N
O P Q R
S T U V
W X Y Z
A
AA - Abbreviation for author
alteration.
Accordion fold - In binding, a
term used for two or more parallel folds which open like an accordion.
Align - To line up typeset or other graphic material as specified,
using a base or vertical line as the reference point.
Alteration - Any change made by
the customer after copy or artwork has been given to the
printer. The change could be copy, specifications or both. Also called AA,
author alteration and customer alteration. Alterations are considered an
additional cost to the customer usually.
Aqueous Coating - A water base coating applied like ink by a printing
press to protect and enhance the printing underneath.
Artwork - All original copy,
including text, photos and illustrations, intended for printing. Also called
art.
ASCII
- American Standard Code for Information
Interchange. A standard format for representing digital information in 8-bit
pieces.
Author's Alterations (AA's) - Any
change made by the customer after copy or artwork has been given to the
printer. The change could be copy, specifications or both. AA's are
considered an additional cost to the customer usually.
B
Backing up - To print the second
side of printed sheet. Also, to make a duplicate of a computer file as a
precaution against losing the original.
Back Matter - Unnumbered
pages located at the back of the book. i.e., order forms, note pages, etc.
Banding - (1) Defect in halftone
screens or screen tints output by laser printers, imagesetters, or
platesetters in which parallel breaks (stair steps) or streaks appear in the
dot pattern. (2) Method of packaging printed pieces of paper using rubber or
paper bands.
Basis weight - In the United
States and Canada, the weight, in pounds, of a ream (500 sheets) of paper
cut to the basic size. The word "pound" is abbreviated with the symbol "#."
Bar code - Pattern of vertical lines of varying thickness
identifying details of a product, conforming to the Universal Product Code (UPC).
BF - Abbreviation for bold face.
Bibliography - List of publications providing reference material on a
particular subject, usually included in the end-matter of a book.
Bind - To join pages of a book
together by thread, wire, adhesive, or other means; to enclose them in a
cover when so specified.
Bindery - Department
within a printing company responsible for collating, folding, trimming, and
binding various printing projects.
Bitmapped - An image formed (or appearing to be formed) by a
rectangular grid of pixels. The computer assigns a value to each pixel, from
one bit of information (black or white), to as much as 24 or 30 bits per
pixel for full color images. Also used to refer to an image that has a too
low resolution or linescreen for the output resolution ("That image looks
bitmapped."; line art scanned at 72dpi when it is to be printed at 2540dpi
will be very coarsely bitmapped).
Blanket - Sheet made of rubber that covers the impression
cylinder of a press.
Blanket cylinder - The cylinder via which the inked litho plate
transfers the image to the paper. The cylinder is covered with a rubber
sheet which prevents wear to the litho plate coming into contact with the
paper.
Bleed - Printing that extends to
the edge of a sheet or page after trimming.
Blow up - Enlargement, most frequently of a graphic image or
photograph.
Blueline proof - Also know as Dylux proof. A now outdated
proofing process. This term refers to a proof made from the actual printing
plates, so-called because of its blue color. Now a high-quality full color
proof is provided. Iit is simply referred to as the "Final proof." This is
chance to get one more look at a printing job before it goes to the press.
See also Final Proof.
Board - Paper of more than 200gsm.
Bold type - Type that appears
darker than the next type of the same typeface. Type with a heavier darker
appearance. Most typefaces have a bold face.
Book Block - Folded signatures gathered,
but not yet bound.
Book paper - A general term used to
define paper for books, magazines, catalogs, advertising and general
printing needs. Book paper is divided into uncoated paper (also called
offset paper), coated paper (also called enamel paper, gloss paper and slick
paper). Coated paper includes various finishes including dull, matte, and
glossy.
Bond - Sized finished writing paper of 50gsm or more. Can also be
used for printing upon.
Border - The decorative design or rule
surrounding matter on a page.
Box - (1) A section of text marked off by rules or white space and
presented separately from the main text and illustrations. Longer boxed
sections in magazines are sometimes referred to as sidebars. (2) A
corrugated paper container used to hold product.
Brightness - Characteristic of paper or
ink referring to how much light it reflects.
Bullet - Large dot preceding text to add emphasis.
Business reply card - Preaddressed card
meeting postal regulations for size, caliper, bar coding and prepayment.
Also called BRC and reply card.
C
C1S - (coated one side) Cover paper
coated on side only; generally used for covers.
C2S - (coated two sides) Cover or text
paper that has been coated on both sides.
Caliper - The thickness of sheet of paper or board expressed in
microns (millionths of a meter). Also the name of the tool used to make the
measurement.
Camera-ready copy - Old term used for
photographing materials with a camera. Today scanners are used to scan
individual pages or covers..
Carbonless Paper - Paper coated with
chemicals and dye which will produce copies without carbon paper. Also
referred to as NCR paper(No Carbon Required).
Casebound - term denoting a book bound
with a stiff, or hard, cover. Also called hard back, hard bound or hard covered book.
CDR - Native Corel Draw file format. Vector based image file, may
also contain embedded bitmap image files. CDR files may be exported, via
Corel Draw, into a variety of file formats.
Character - Any letter, numeral,
punctuation mark or other alphanumeric symbol.
Clip art - Copyright-free drawings
available for purchase for unlimited reproduction. Clip art illustrations
are printed on glossy paper or stored on computer disks. They are ready for
placement on mechanicals or pages designed on computer screens.
CMYK - Acronym for the 4-color process
colors: cyan, magenta, yellow & black.
Coated Paper - Paper with a coating of
clay and other substances that improves reflectivity and ink holdout. Mills
produce coated paper appropriate for newsletters in three major categories
of surface shine - gloss, dull and matte.
Coil Bind - To bind using a spiral of continuous wire or plastic
looped through holes. Also called Spiral bind.
Color Control Bar - Strip of small
blocks of color on a proof or press sheet to help evaluate features such as
density and dot gain. Also called color bar, color guide and standard offset
color bar
Color proof - A representation of what
the final printed piece will look like. Also known as a contract proof.
Color separation - The conversion of a
color photograph or drawing into its component spectral colors: cyan,
magenta, yellow and black (CMYK), with one screened plate produced per
color.
Column rule - Light faced vertical rule used to separate columns of
type.
Commercial printer - Color printer
producing a wide range of products such as posters, calendars, flyers,
books, specialty color items.. Commercial printers usually produce high-end
color printing.
Composition - (1) In photography, the
manner in which an image is arranged and framed to give an overall effect.
(2) In typography, the assembly of typographic elements, such as words and
paragraphs, into pages ready for printing. (3) In graphic design, the
arrangement of type, graphics, and other elements on the page.
Compressed File - See Zipping
Continuous-tone copy - All photographs
and those illustrations having a range of shades not made up of dots, as
compared to line copy or halftones. Abbreviated contone.
Contract Proof - see Color Proof
Contrast - Relationship between the lightest (highlight)
and darkest (shadow) areas of an image.
Copy - (1) For an editor or typesetter,
all written material. (2) For a graphic designer or printer, everything to
be printed - art, photographs and graphics, as well as words.
Copy editor - Person who checks and
corrects a manuscript for spelling, grammar, punctuation, inconsistencies,
inaccuracies, and conformity to style requirements. Also called line editor.
Copyright - Ownership of creative work
by the writer, photographer or artist who made it or, if work for hire, the
organization that paid for it. Copyright protection is for “original works
of authorship.” The current length of a registered copyright is 70 years
past the death of the author. Mennonite Press provides assistance in getting
manuscripts copyrighted, although the author may do this by themselves by
contacting the US Copyright Office. There is a fee for copyright
registration.
Copyright notice - Statement of
copyright ownership that has the word "copyright" or symbol C, the year of
publication, and the name of the copyright owner.
Cover - Thick paper that protects a
publication and advertises its title.
Creep - Phenomenon of middle pages of a
folded signature extending slightly beyond outside pages. Also called
feathering, outpush, push out and thrust.
Creep Allowance - made electronically,
to compensate for creep.
Crop - To eliminate portions of an image
or photograph or other original that are not required to be printed.
Cropping allows the remaining parts of the image to be enlarged to fill the
space so the image is more useful, pleasing, or able to fit the layout.
Crop marks - Lines printed showing the
dimensions of the final printed page. These marks are used for final
trimming. Also called cut marks and tick marks.
Crossover - Type or art that continues
from one page of a book or magazine across the gutter to the opposite page.
Also called bridge, gutter bleed and gutter jump.
Customer Service Representative -
Employee of a printer, who coordinates projects and keeps
customers informed. Abbreviated CSR.
Cutline - also called a caption. The line or lines of text that refer
to information identifying a picture or illustration.
CWT - Abbreviation for hundredweight
using the Roman numeral C=100.
Cyan - One of the four process colors.
Can also be known as process blue.
D
Dash - Sometimes called an "em" dash. A horizontal
rule used for punctuation.
Deboss - To press an image into paper so
it lies below the surface. This differs from embossing which is a raised
image.
Deckle Edge - Edge of paper left ragged
as it comes from the papermaking machine instead of being cleanly cut. Also
called feather edge.
Densitometer - A device sensitive to the density of light transmitted
or reflected by paper or film. Used to check the accuracy, quality, and
consistency of output.
Density - (1) Regarding ink, the
relative thickness of a layer of printed ink. (2) Regarding color, the
relative ability of a color to absorb light reflected from it or block light
passing through it. (3) Regarding paper, the relative tightness or looseness
of fibers.
Die - A 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.
Dot Gain - When an ink dot enlarges
through absorption on a porous paper. This affects the overall tone of the
image as the size of the dot is equivalent to the tone it represents. Also
called dot spread and press gain.
Dots-per-inch - Measure of resolution of
input devices such as scanners, display devices such as monitors, and output
devices such as laser printers, imagesetters and platesetters. Abbreviated
DPI. Also called dot pitch.
DPI - Dots per square
inch, A measure of output resolution in relationship to printers, imagesetters and monitors.
Drill - In the printing arena, to drill
a hole in printed matter.
Drop shadow - Screen tint or rule
touching an illustration, box or type to give a three-dimensional shadow
effect. Also called flat shadow.
Dropped cap - Large capital letter that
extends down into the first two or more lines. Used as a design element.
Dry Trap - To print over dry ink, as compared to wet trap.
DTP - Direct to Plate
Dull finish - Flat (not glossy) finish
or coated paper, slightly smoother than matte. Also called suede finish,
velour finish and velvet finish.
Dummy - A set of blank pages made up in
advance to show the size, shape, form and general style of a piece of
printing. Also called mock-up.
Duotone - Black-and-white photograph
reproduced using two different colors, each color to emphasize different
tonal values in the original photograph.
Dust Jacket - Printed piece that wraps
around a casebound (hard cover) book.
E
Edition - One version of a newsletter,
such as the western regional edition.
Element - One part of an image or page.
Elements of an image may include subject, background and foreground.
Elements of a page may include headlines, body copy and halftones.
Elliptical dot - A type of halftone screen dot with an elliptical rather
than circular shape, which sometimes produces better tonal gradations.
Em - Fixed space equal in size to the chosen point size. It gets
its name from the letter M which originally was as wide as the type size.
Em dash - Dash used in punctuation the length of one em.
Emboss - A process performed after printing to stamp a raised (or
depressed) image into the surface of paper, using engraved metal embossing
dies, extreme pressure, and heat. Embossing styles include blind, deboss and
foil-embossed. This differs from debossing which is a lowered
image.
Encapsulated PostScript file - see EPS
En - Fixed space that
is half as wide as an em space.
En dash - Dash
approximately half the width of an em dash.
End Sheet - Sheet that attaches the
inside pages of a case bound book to its cover. Also called pastedown or end
papers.
EPS - Encapsulated PostScript, A file format used to transfer
PostScript image information from one program to another. The preferred file
format for saving images, as it is resolution independent, as opposed to
TIFF. A single page PostScript file that contains grayscale or color
information and can be imported into many electronic layout and design
applications. EPS files cannot be manipulated, and need to be trapped into
the parent program.
Estimate - Also called bid or quote. A price provided to a customer,
based on the specifications outlined on the estimate form. It is normally
sent prior to entry of an order and prices may change if the order
specifications are not the same as the estimate specifications.
Estimator - The individual performing or
creating the "estimate".
Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) - Hotmelt glue used on perfect bound
books. Hardens when glue is cooled.
EVA - See Ethylene Vinyl Acetate
F
Face - Edge of a bound publication
opposite the spine. Also called foredge. Also, an abbreviation for typeface
referring to a family of a general style.
Felt Side - Side of the paper that was not in contact with the
Fourdrinier wire during papermaking, as compared to wire side.
Fifth Color - Ink color used in addition
to the four needed by four-color process.
File Compression - See Zipping
File Transfer Protocol (FTP) - See FTP.
File Zipping - See Zipping
Final Proof - once called a "Blueline", "dylux", or "color
key" this is now a digitally generated full color proof.
Finish - (1) Surface characteristics of
paper. (2) General term for trimming, folding, binding, and all other postpress operations.
(3) Coating on printed covers. (Aqueous, UV, plastic
lamination.)
Finished size - Size of product after
production is complete, as compared to flat size. Also called trim size.
Fixed Costs - Costs that remain the same
regardless of how many pieces are printed. Copyrighting, photography and
design are fixed costs.
Flat Size - Size of product after
printing and trimming, but before folding, as compared to finished size.
Flood - To print a sheet completely with
an ink or varnish.
Floppy disk - Once popular and now seldom used, it is
recommended that all materials be burned to a CD, pin drive or uploaded
using FTP.
Flush left - Type aligning vertically
along the left side of the column. Also called left justified and ranged
left.
Flush right - Type aligning vertically
along the right side of the column. Also called right justified and ranged
right.
Flyer - An inexpensively produced circular used for promotional
distribution.
Foil Stamp - The process of applying a thin film of colored foil to
paper for decorative purposes.
Folder - A bindery machine dedicated to
folding printed materials.
Fold marks - Lines on a printing plate
or press sheet indicating where to fold the final product.
Folio - Page number.
Font - Complete assortment of upper- and
lowercase characters, numerals, punctuation and other symbols of one
typeface.
Footer - Information, such as page
number or chapter title, that appears at the bottom of every page. Also
called running foot.
Format - Size, style, shape, layout or
organization of a layout or printed product.
For position only - Refers to
inexpensive copies of photos or art used on mechanicals to indicate
placement and scaling, but not intended for reproduction. Abbreviated FPO.
Four-color process - Four basic
colors of ink (cyan, magenta, yellow, black), also known as CMYK, which
reproduce full color photographs or art.
Front Matter - Pages preceding the
text of the book. Sometimes unnumbered or Roman numerals.
FTP - File Transfer Protocol.
File Transfer
Protocol is a popular
and effective
way of sending larger files via the internet. It's also a much quicker and
more convenient way than sending files as an email attachment. FTP
capability can also handle large amounts of information without crashing or
giving errors. When a file is prepared for printing it usually ends up large
merely because it may contain graphics or design elements. It is a good idea
to zip or compress them before uploading. If you are looking for a FTP
program, click on some of these popular web sites to find out more. Windows: CuteFTP,
WS-FTP,
FTP Explorer Mac:
Fetch,
Cyberduck
G
Gatefold - An oversize page where both
sides fold into the gutter in overlapping layers. Used to accommodate maps
into books.
Gathering - Operation of inserting
the printed pages, sections or signatures of a book in the correct order for
binding.
Gang - To group several printing jobs on
the same sheet and accomplish a number of tasks with one print run.
.gif - Graphics Interchange Format - almost always used for web
images and rarely appropriate for printing.
Gilding - Mostly in the book arena, gold
leafing the edges of a book.
Gloss finish - Paper with a coating that
reflects light well, as compared to dull- or matte-coated paper. Also called
art paper, enamel paper and slick paper.
Glossy print - Photography term for
black-and-white print made on glossy paper.
Gothic - Typefaces with no serifs and broad even strokes.
Graphics Interchange Format - see gif
Grain direction - Predominant direction
in which fibers in paper become aligned during manufacturing. Also called
machine direction.
Grain Long Paper - Paper whose fibers
run parallel to the long dimension of the sheet. Also called long grain
paper.
Grain Short Paper - Paper whose fibers
run parallel to the short dimension of the sheet. Also called short grain
paper.
Grainy - Appearance of a photograph or
halftone that has been enlarged so much that the pattern of pixels can be
seen in the photo.
Graphic arts - The crafts, industries
and professions related to designing and printing on paper and other
substrates.
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.
Graphic designer - Professional who
designs, plans and may coordinate production of a printed piece.
Graphics - Visual elements that
supplement type to make printed messages clearer or more interesting.
Gray Balance - Printed cyan, magenta and
yellow halftone dots that accurately, reproduce a neutral gray image.
Grayscale - Range of luminance values for evaluating shading
through white to black. Also, a term used when referring to a black and
white photograph.
Grid - A systematic division of a page into areas to enable designers
to ensure consistency. The grid acts as a measuring guide and shows text,
illustrations and trim sizes.
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 - Central blank area between left and right pages.
H
Hairline Rule - Term referring to very
thin line. The thinnest rule that can be printed. Hairline rules do not
print well. Half-point rules are strongly recommended.
Hairlines - Thinnest of the strokes in a typeface.
Halftone - Photograph or illustration
that has been converted into dots for reproduction.
Hardback - Another term for casebound book.
Hardbound - Another term for casebound book.
Hard copy - A proof that is output to
paper.
Hard Dots - Halftone dots with no halos or soft edges, as compared to
soft dots.
Hard proof - Proof on paper or other
substrate, as compared to a soft proof.
Header - Information, such as page
number or chapter title, that appears at the top of every page of a book.
Hickey - Spot or imperfection in
printing, most visible in areas of heavy ink coverage, caused by dirt on the
plate or blanket. Also called bull's eye and fish eye.
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 wide variety of printing jobs.
Hue - A specific color such as yellow or
green.
I
Image - Type, illustration or other
original as it has been reproduced on computer screen, film, printing plate
or paper.
Imagesetter - Laser output device using
photosensitive paper or film.
Imposition - Refers to the arrangement of pages on a printed
sheet, which when the sheet is finally printed on both sides, folded and
trimmed, will place the pages in their correct order.
Imprint - To print new copy on a
previously printed sheet, such as imprinting an employee's name on business
cards. Also called surprint.
Indicia - Postal permit information
printed on objects to be mailed and accepted by U.S. Postal Service in place
of stamps.
Ink Balance - Relationship of the
densities and dot gains of process inks to each other and to a standard
density of neutral gray
ISBN - Abbreviation for International Standard Book Number.
The ISBN is a controlled, 10- or 13-digit unique identification number
allowing publishers, librarians, and book dealers to locate specific titles
and maintain their inventories. It is necessary to have an ISBN to offer
your book on sites such as Amazon.com and BarnesAndNoble.com and many
others, as well as many retail outlets. Each version of a book - paperback,
hardcover, second edition, etc., must have a unique ISBN. Acquiring the
number can be done at www.ISBN.org
ISSN - Abbreviation for International
Standard Serial Number issue. A number assigned to a published work and
usually found either on the title page or the back of the title page.
Italic - Type with sloping letters.
J
Job Number - A number assigned to a
specific printing project in a printing company for use in tracking and
historical record keeping.
Job Ticket - Form used by printers to
specify production schedule of a job and the materials it needs. Also called
docket, production order and work order.
Jogger - A vibration machine with a
slopping platform to even-up stacks of printed materials.
Jpeg - Joint Photographic Experts Group
is a joint committee that created the JPEG. A file format for photos it is
typically used because of its ability to compress files. (It creates a
smaller file than a TIFF file and it is used mainly on the Internet.)
Printers prefer TIFF over Jpeg files.
Justified type - Alignment of text along a margin or both
margins. This is achieved by adjusting the spacing between the words and
characters as necessary so that each line of text finishes at the same
point.
K
K - Abbreviation for black in four-color
process printing. Hence the 'K' in CMYK.
Keyline - A thin border around a picture
or box indicating where to place pictures. In digital files, the keylines
are often vector objects while photographs are usually bitmapped images.
Also called holding lines.
Kilobyte (K, KB) - 1024 bytes, a binary 1,000.
Kiss Die Cut - To die cut the top layer,
but not the backing layer, of self-adhesive paper. Also called face cut.
Knockout - A printing technique that
prints overlapping objects without mixing inks. The ink or the underlined
element does not print (knocks out) in the area where the objects overlap.
Opposite of overprinting.
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.
Laminated - 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 color, providing a glossy or matte finish.
LAN - Local Area Network. A group of connected computers in a
relatively small area that share access to printers and other peripheral
devices.
Landscape - Work in which the width used is greater than the height.
Also used to indicate the orientation of tables or illustrations which are
printed 'sideways'. See also Portrait.
Layout - Sample of the
original providing (showing) position of printed work (direction,
instructions) needed and desired
Lead or Leading - Space between lines of type
expressed as the distance between baselines. Pronounced "ledding" because
the term originated with strips of metal (lead) used to separate lines of
hot type. Also called interline spacing and line spacing.
Leaf -
One sheet of paper in a publication. Each side of a leaf is one page.
Legend - Descriptive matter
printed below an illustration, mostly referred to as a cutline or caption.
Also an explanation of signs or symbols used in timetables or maps.
Legible - Referring to type having
sufficient contrast with its background so readers can easily perceive the
characters, as compared to readable.
Letter fold - Two folds creating three
panels that allow a sheet of letterhead to fit a business envelop. Also
called barrel fold and wrap-around fold.
Letter Paper - In North
America, 8 1/2" x 11" sheets. In Europe, A4 sheets.
Letterpress - Relief printing
process in which a raised image is inked to produce an impression; the
impression is then transferred by placing paper against image and applying
pressure. Most letterpresses now days are used for die-cutting.
Letter spacing - Amount of space between
all characters. Also called character spacing.
Line copy - Any copy that is solid black
with no gradation in tone and is suitable for reproduction without using a
halftone screen. Also called line art.
Linen tester - Magnifying glass
designed for checking the dot image of a halftone.
Lines per inch - Linear measure of
screen ruling expressing how many lines of dots there are per inch in a
screen tint, halftone or separation. Abbreviated lpi. Fewer lines per inch
are often used for printing on newsprint or low quality paper.
LOC number - Abbreviation for Library of Congress control number.
The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world. Having your
book in the Library of Congress makes it available to anyone for research or
whatever motive they might have. Having your book in the Library of Congress
is optional. Mennonite Press can obtain the LOC number as your agent at no
additional cost to you. Registration with the LOC is necessary before
printing in order to have the number printed in your book. If your book is
already formatted, please leave a line on the copyright page “Library of
Congress Control Number:”.
Logo - Short for logotype. A word
or combination of letters set as a single unit. Also used to denote a
specially styled company name designed as part of a corporate image.
Loose leaf - Method of binding which allows the insertion and
removal of pages for continuous updating.
Lower case - Small
letters in a font of type.
M
Magenta - One of the four process colors.
Magnetic ink - Magnetized ink that can be read both by
humans and by electronic machines. Used in check printing.
Makeready - (1) All activities required to prepare a press or other
machine to function for a specific printing or bindery job, as compared to
production run. Also called setup. (2) Paper used in the makeready process
at any stage in production. Makeready paper is part of waste or spoilage.
Manilla - A tough brown
paper used to produce stationery and wrapping paper.
Manuscript (MS) - Original written or typewritten work of an
author submitted for publication.
Margins - Non printing areas of page.
Matte finish - Flat (not glossy) finish
on photographic paper or coated printing paper, or lamination.
Megabyte (M, MB) - one million bytes.
Metallic ink - Printing inks which produce an effect of gold,
silver, bronze or metallic colors.
Midtones - In a photograph or illustration, tones created by dots
between 30 percent and 70 percent of coverage, as compared to highlights and
shadows.
Mill order - Paper ordered directly from the manufacturer. This can
sometimes cause delays in delivery as the Mill makes this paper as ordered.
Misting - Phenomenon of droplets of ink being thrown off the roller
train. Also called flying ink.
Moire' - Undesirable pattern resulting when halftones and screen
tints are made with improperly aligned screens, or when a pattern in a
photo, such as a plaid, interfaces with a halftone dot pattern. This also
can happen when scanning a picture that has been printed before.
Monarch - Paper size (7' x 10') and envelope shape often used for
personal stationery.
Monitor calibration - The process of correcting the color
settings of a monitor to match selected colors of printed output. This
usually requires additional software.
Monochrome - A black and white display with no gray tones.
Monotone (mono) - Printed with a single
ink, black or any color.
Montage - Single image formed from the assembling of several
images.
M Weight - Weight of 1,000 sheets of paper in any specific size.
N
Natural Color - Paper color such as cream or
ivory.
Nested - Signatures assembled inside one another in the proper
sequence for binding, as compared to gathered. Also called inset.
Newsletter - Short, usually informal
periodical presenting specialized information to a limited audience.
Newsprint - Low quality, absorbent paper used for printing
newspapers. Paper made from mainly groundwood pulp and small amounts of chemical pulp; (inexpensive and uncoated).
Nonheatset Web - Web press without a drying oven, thus not able to
print on coated paper. Also called cold-set web and open web.
O
Offset paper - Uncoated stock, available
in several surface finishes.
Offset printing - Printing technique
that transfer ink from a plate to a blanket to paper instead of directly
from a plate to paper.
Onion Skin - Specific lightweight type (kind) of paper usually used
in the past for air mail. Seldom used today (in the typewriter era).
Opacity - The degree to which a paper will allow the characters, printed
on it, “to show through” to the other side.
Opaque - Not transparent.
Original art - Initial photo or illustration prepared for
reproduction.
Outer form - Form (side of a press sheet) containing images for the
first and last pages of the folded signature (its outside pages) as compared
to inner form.
Out of register
- Characteristic of an
image not printed in register. Also called misregister.
Overprint - To print one image over a
previously printed image, such as printing type over a screen tint.
Overrun / Overs - Copies printed in
excess of the specified quantity. Overage policy varies in the printing
industry. Check with printer for there policy.
Overstrike - A method used in word processing to produce a character
not in the typeface by superimposing two separate characters, eg $ using s
and l.
P
Page - One side of a sheet or leaf of paper. One sheet
of paper equals
two-pages.
Page count - Total number of pages including cover pages.
Page proof - Initial output to proofing printer. The best stage for
identifying and correcting mistakes, typos and other problems.
Pagination - The numbering of pages in a book.
Pantone Matching System - see PMS
Paperbound - Paper covered book also
called perfect bound, paperback or softcover.
Paragraph mark - Type symbol used to denote the start of a paragraph.
Parallel fold - A method of folding; For example, two parallel folds will produce
six pages out of a sheet of paper.
PDF - Portable Document Format, a universal file format developed by
Adobe that preserves all the fonts, formatting, graphics and color of any
source document. It allows a file to be read through the use of Acrobat
Reader regardless of the hardware or software platform on which the file was
created.
Perfect Binding - (adhesive binding) - An inexpensive bookbinding
technique in which the pages are glued rather than sewn, to the cover and
used primarily for paperbacks, small manuals, phone books, etc.
Perfector - Printing press which prints both sides of the paper at
one pass through the machine.
Perf Marks - On a "dummy" marking where the perforation is to occur.
Perforation - A line of small dotted wholes for the purpose of
tearing-off a part of a printed matter (usually straight lines, vertical or
horizontal).
Pica - Unit of measure in the printing industry. Anglo-American unit of
typographic measure equal to .166 inch (4.128mm). One pica has twelve
points. Not to be confused with points referring to paper thickness.
(Originally, one pica was approximately 0.166in. Now, in the era of
computerization, a pica is 1/6 of an inch.)
Picking - Effect of ink being too tacky and lifting fibers out of the
paper. Shows up as small white dots on areas of solid color.
Pickup Art - Artwork, used in a previous job, to be incorporated in a
current job.
Pigment - Particles that absorb and reflect light and appear colored
to our eyes; the substance that gives ink its color.
Pinholes - Small holes (unwanted) in printed areas caused by a variety
of reasons.
Pixel - The smallest distinct unit of a bitmapped image displayed on a
screen.
Plate - Piece of paper, metal, plastic or rubber carrying an image to
be reproduced using a printing press.
PMS - Obsolete reference to PANTONE's
Matching System. The correct trade name of the colors in the PANTONE
Matching System is PANTONE Colors, not PMS Colors.
png - Portable Network Graphics - 1st cousin to the .gif and also
used mostly for web graphics.
Point - (1) In measuring a paper's caliper, one point equals a 1/1000
of an inch. (2) In typography, it is the smallest unit of measurement used
principally for designating type size, one point approximating 1/72 of an
inch and 12 points equaling one pica.
Polyurethane Reactive (PUR) - Hotmelt glue used on perfect bound
books. Hardens with exposure to moisture in paper and atmosphere.
Portable Network Graphics - see png
Portrait - Upright image or
page where the height is greater than the width.
PostScript - Page
description language developed by Adobe Systems Inc. Widely supported by
both hardware and software vendors it represents the current "standard" in
the market.
Prepress - Functions performed prior to printing. Also called
preparation.
Press Time - (1) Amount of time that one printing job spends on
press, including time required for make-ready. (2) Time of day at which a
printing job goes on press.
Printer Spreads - Mechanicals made so they are imposed for printing,
as compared to reader spreads.
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. Gravure printing uses a cylinder. The screen printing is also called
a plate.
Printing Unit - Assembly of fountain, rollers and cylinders that will
print one ink color. Also called color station, deck, ink station, printer,
station and tower.
Process colors - see Four Color Process
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.
Proofread - To examine a manuscript or proof for errors in writing or
typesetting.
Proofreading marks - Standard set of signs and symbols used in copy
preparation and to indicate corrections on proofs. Marks are placed both in
the text and in the margin with a line connecting them.
Publisher - (1) Person or organization
that coordinates creation, design, production and distribution of
newsletters. (2) Chief executive officer or owner of a publishing company.
PUR - See Polyurethane Reactive
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.
Quality Control - In printing, the
process of taking random samples during the run to check the consistency of
quality.
Quick Printing - Printing using small sheetfed presses, called
duplicators, or digital presses using cut sizes of bond and offset paper.
Quotation - Price offered by a printer
to produce a specific job, thus alternate for estimate. The quoted price is
the printer's side of the contract based on specifications from the
customer.
R
Ragged-left/right type - Type whose line
beginnings/endings are not aligned vertically.
Rasterization - The process of converting mathematical and digital
information (vector commands) into a series of dots by an output device.
Raster Image Processing (RIP) - A
process wherein a raster scan technique assembles an electronic page in a
bitmapped format on a pixel by pixel basis. Most RIPs operate on PostScript.
Readable - Characteristic of printed
messages that are easy to read and understand, as compared to legible.
Recycled Paper - New paper made entirely or in part from old paper. Used paper is cooked in chemicals and reduced back to pulp after
it is de-inked.
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.
Register Marks - Cross-hair lines on plates that help keep printing
colors in register. Also called crossmarks and position marks.
Rescreen - To create a halftone of an
image that is already printed as a half-tone; for example, rescreening a
photo appearing in a magazine for reprinting in a newsletter. When not done
properly, rescreening yields a moire'.
Resolution - Sharpness of an image on
film, paper, computer screen, or other medium.
Retouching - A means of altering artwork or color separations to
correct faults or enhance the image.
Reverse out - Type, graphic or illustration
reproduced by printing ink around its outline, thus allowing the underlying
color or paper to show through and form the image. Also called knockout and liftout. The image "reverses out" of the ink color.
RIFF - Raster Image File Format is the default format of Fractal
Design's ColorStudio program. In most cases, you would not use the RIFF
format in a page layout program.
RIP - see Raster Image Processing
RGB - Abbreviation for Red, Green, Blue. The colors of projected
light from a computer monitor. All full-color
artwork should be submitted as CMYK to the printer.
Rosette - The pattern created when all four color halftone screens
are placed at the traditional angles.
Rule - Line used as a graphic element to separate or organize copy.
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 digitizing device using light sensitivity to
translate a picture or typed text into a format which can be understood and
stored by a computer.
Screen - To convert a continuous-tone
image into a halftone or a solid into a screen tint.
Section - see Signature
Security paper - Paper incorporating special features (dyes, watermarks
etc) for use on cheques.
Selective Binding - Placing signatures or inserts in magazines or
catalogs according to demographic or geographic guidelines.
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.
Setoff - Undesirable transfer of wet ink from the top of one sheet to
the underside of another as they lie in the delivery stack of a press. Also
called offset.
Shade - Hue made darker by the addition of black, as compared to
tint.
Shadows - Darkest areas of a photograph
or illustration, as compared to midtones and highlights.
Sheet - Single piece of paper.
Sheet Fed Press - Printing press which
takes paper previously cut into sheets, as opposed to paper in a continuous
roll.
Sheetwise - Technique of printing one side of a sheet with one set of
plates, then the other side of the sheet with a set of different plates.
Also called work and back.
Shingling - Allowance, made during assembly of pages before printing,
to compensate for creep. Creep is the problem; shingling is the solution.
Also called stair stepping and progressive margins.
Side stitch - To bind by stapling through sheets along, one edge, as
compared to saddle stitch. Also called cleat stitch and side wire.
Show through - see Opacity
Sherpa - Brand named of printer. Another name for Final proof.
Signature - Printed sheet folded at least once, possibly many times,
to become part of a book, magazine or other publication. Also known a
section.
Size - (1) Compound mixed with paper or fabric to make it stiffer and
less able to absorb moisture. (2) Dimensions of printed piece.
Skid - A platform support made of wood
used to ship materials, usually in boxes which have been wrapped
to the skid.
Slip Sheets - Separate sheets (stock) independent from the original
run positioned between the "printed run" for a variety of reasons.
Smooth finish - The most level finish
offered on offset paper.
Soft Dots - Halftones dots with halos.
Solid - Any area of the sheet receiving
100 percent ink coverage, as compared to a screen tint.
Soy-based inks - Inks using vegetable
oils instead of petroleum products as pigment vehicles, thus being easier on
the environment.
Specifications - Complete and precisely
written description of features of a printing job, such as type size and
leading, paper grade and quantity, printing quality or binding method.
Abbreviated specs. Specifications can include the following: type specs
define typeface, size, line measure, indentations, headlines, and other
features of typography. Printing specs concentrate on press work, such as
quantities, ink colors and dot gains, but often include prepress, paper and
finishing. Finishing specs tell folding requirements and trim size.
Spine - The back or binding edge of a publication connecting the two covers; also called backbone.
Spiral Binding - To bind using a spiral of continuous wire or plastic
looped through holes. Also called coil bind.
Spot Color - Any premixed ink that is
not one of, or a combination of, the four process color inks.
Spot Varnish - Varnish applied to portions of a sheet, as compared to
flood varnish.
Spread - (1) Two pages that face each
other and are designed as one visual or production unit. (2) Technique of
slightly enlarging the size of an image to accomplish a hairline trap with
another image.
Stock Order - Order for paper that a mill or merchant sends to a
printer from inventory at a warehouse, as compared to a mill order.
Subtitle - Phrase in a nameplate that
amplifies or supplements information in the newsletter name.
Swash Book - A book in a variety of forms, indicating specific stock
in specific colors in a specific thickness
T
Tagged Image File Format (TIFF or TIF) - A file format for bitmap
images containing grayscale or color information. Printers prefer this over
Jpeg files.
Tag line - Alternate term for subtitle.
Template - A guide for page and cover
layouts.
Terms and conditions - Specifics of an
order for printing that a printer and a customer make part of their
contract.
Text - Main portion of type on a page,
as opposed to such elements as headlines and captions.
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.
Three-Knife Trimmer - A trimming device
with 3-knives, two parallel and one right angle, which trims three sides at
once.
Thumbnail sketch - Small rough sketch of
a design.
TIFF or TIF - see Tagged Image File Format
Tight register - Subjective term
referring to nearly exact register.
Tip In - Usually in the book arena, adding an additional page(s)
beyond the normal process (separate insertion).
Title Page - Page at the beginning of
a book, usually a right-handed page, stating the title, author and
publisher.
Trapping - (1) To print one ink over another or to print a coating,
such as varnish, over an ink. The first liquid traps the second liquid. (2)
Prepress technique which allows for variation in registration during the
press run. This is done primarily by allowing an overlap between abutting
colors.
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
Universal Copyright Convention (UCC) - A system to protect unique
work from reproducing without knowledge from the originator. To qualify, one
must register their work and publish a (c) indicating registration.
Uncoated paper - Paper that has not been
coated with clay. Also called offset paper.
Underrun - Quantity of printing
delivered that is less than the quantity ordered.
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 laminate applied
to covers after they are printed.
V
Variable costs - Costs of a printing job
that change depending on how many pieces are produced, as compared to fixed
costs. Costs for paper, printing and binding are examples of variable costs.
Varnish - Liquid applied as a coating for protection and appearance.
Velox - Brand name for high-contrast photographic paper.
Viewing Booth - Small area or room that is set up for proper viewing
of press sheets. Also called color booth.
Vignette - Decorative design or illustration in which the
background fades gradually away until it blends into the unprinted paper.
Virgin Paper - Paper made exclusively of pulp from trees or cotton,
as compared to recycled paper.
VOC - Abbreviation for Volatile Organic Compounds, petroleum
substances used as the vehicles for many printing inks.
W
Washed out - Characteristic of printing
where ink appears light or a photograph appear faded.
Wash Up - To clean ink and fountain solutions from rollers,
fountains, screens, and other press components.
Waste - Unusable paper or paper damaged
during normal makeready, printing or bindery 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.
Weight - (1) Degree of boldness or thickness of a letter or font. (2)
Thickness of paper.
Wet Trap - To print ink or varnish over wet ink, as compared to dry
trap.
Wire Side - Side of the paper that rests against The Fourdrinier wire
during papermaking, as compared to felt side.
Wire stitching - see Saddle or Side Stitching
White space - Area of a printed piece
that does not contain images or type. Also called negative space.
Window - (1) In a printed product, a die-cut hole revealing an image
on the sheet behind it. (2) On a mechanical, an area that has been marked
for placement of a piece of artwork.
Wire-O Binding - Continuous double
series of wire loops run through punched slots along the binding edge of a
book.
Work and turn - Method of printing where pages are imposed in one
plate. One side is then printed and the sheet is then turned over from side
to side and printed from the other edge using the same plate. The finished
sheet is then cut to produce two complete copies.
Work and tumble - Method of printing where pages are again imposed
together. The sheet is then printed on one side with the sheet being turned
or tumbled from head to tail to print the opposite side.
Wove - Finely textured paper without visible wire marks.
Z
Zipping - Compress and group one or more files into one single file
or folder. This is useful in reducing file size when transferring files over
the Internet.
End of Glossary
