Resources & Support

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 Y

• Abrasion Resistance

  The resistance to scratching of a surface of paper by other paper surfaces or other materials.

• 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.

• Achromatic

  The non-colors... black, white and gray.

• Additive Colors

  In photographic reproduction, the primary colors of red, green and blue which are mixed to form all other colors.

• Aerate

  This refers to a manual process whereby an air stream is blown onto paper sheets to create a riffling effect that separates the sheets as they are fed to the printing press.

• Agate

  A type size of 5 1/2 points. Reference, agate line.

• Agate Line

  In newspaper classifieds, a measurement denoting 1/4 inch depth by one column width. 14 agate lines = one column inch.

• Air

  Large white areas in a design layout.

• Album Paper

  A wood pulp paper with an antique finish used for pages of photo albums.

• 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.

• Alley

  A term for a random, coincidental path or a row of white space within a segment of copy.

• Alphabet Length

  The measured length (in points) of the lowercase alphabet of a certain size and series of type.

• Amberlith

  Red-orange acetate used for masking mechanicals when photographing for plates. The amberlith area appears black to the camera, and prints clear on the resulting film.

• American Paper Institute

  An organization that correlates all paper related information.

• Antique Finish

  Paper with a rough, sized surface used for book and cover stock.

• Antiskinning Agent

  An antioxidant agent used to prevent inks from skinning over in the can.

• Apron

  The white area of text (or illustrations) at the margins which form a foldout.

• Aqueous Plate

  Water soluble plate coatings, which are less toxic and less polluting.

• Arms

  Those elements of letters that branch out from the stem of a letter, such as: "K" and "Y".

• Arrowhead

  A symbol shaped like an arrowhead that is used in illustration to direct a leader line. Reference, leader line

• Art Paper

  A paper evenly coated with a fine clay compound, which creates a hard smooth surface on one or both sides.

• 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.

• ASA

  A number set by the American Standards Assoc., which is placed on film stock to allow calculation of the length and "F" number of an exposure. Reference, "F" numbers.

• 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.

• Autochrome paper

  Coated papers that are regarded as exceptional for multi-colored printing jobs.

• Autopositive

  Any photo materials which provide positive images without a negative.

• Back Margin

  A term referring to the margin which lies closest to the back of the book.

• 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.

• Balloon

  In an illustration, any line which encircles copy, or dialogue.

• Banker's Flap Envelope

  Also called wallet flap; the wallet flap has more rounded flap edges.

• Banner

  The primary headline usually spanning the entire width of a page.

• Base Film

  The foundation material onto which the film positives are stripped for making printing plates. Reference, photomechanical.

• Base Line

  This is a term used to describe the imaginary horizontal line upon which stand capitals, lower case letters, punctuation points etc.

• Basic Size

  This term refers to a standard size of paper stock; even though the required size may be smaller or larger.

• Basis Weight

  Basis or basic weight refers to the weight, in pounds, of a ream (500 sheets) of paper cut to a given standard size for that particular paper grade.

• BF

  An abbreviation for boldface, used to determine where boldface copy is to be used. Reference, boldface.

• 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.

• 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.

• Block In

  To sketch the primary areas and points of reference of an illustration in preparation for going to final design or production.

• Blocking Out

  To mask a section of an art layout before reproduction.

• 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

  The main shank or portion of the letter character other than the ascenders and descenders. Also: A term used to define the thickness or viscosity of printer's ink.

• 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.

• Bounce 1

  A registration problem, usually on copiers, where the image appears to bounce back and forth. A bounce usually occurs in one direction depending on how the paper is passing through the machine. This is usually accented by card stock (especially if it's over the machine's spec). When a customer refuses a job for whatever reason.

• 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.

• Bulk

  A term used to define the number of pages per inch of a book relative to its given basis weight.

• Bulk

  A term given to paper to describe its thickness relative to its weight.

• Bullet

  A boldface square or dot used before a sentence to emphasize its importance.

• Burn

  A term used in plate making to describe the amount of plate exposure time.

• Caliper

  The measurement of thickness of paper expressed in thousandths of an inch or mils.

• Camera Ready

  A term given to any copy, artwork etc., that is prepared for photographic reproduction.

• 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.

• Cast Coated

  A paper that is coated and then pressure dried using a polished roller which imparts an enamel like hard gloss finish.

• Circular Screen

  A screen that utilizes a concentric circle pattern as opposed to dots used for halftones and to allow the platemaker to set exact screen angles.

• Clay-Coated Boxboard

  A strong, easily folded boxboard with clay coating used for making folding boxes.

• 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 Art Paper

  Printing papers used for printing projects that require a special treatment of detail and shading.

• Coated Stock

  Any paper that has a mineral coating applied after the paper is made, giving the paper a smoother finish.

• Cold Color

  Any color that moves toward the blue side in the color spectrum.

• Cold-Set Inks

  A variety of inks that are in solid form originally but are melted in a hot press and then solidify when they contact paper.

• 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.

• Collating Marks

  Black step-marks printed on the back of folded sheets, to facilitate collating and checking of the sequence of book signatures.

• Colophon

  A printers or publishers identifying symbol or emblem.

• 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 Strength

  A term referring to the relative amount of pigmentation in an ink.

• Color Transparency

  Transparent film containing a positive photographic color image.

• Column Gutter

  Space between two or more columns of type on one page.

• Commercial Register

  Color registration measured within plus or minus one row of dots.

• 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.

• Contact Print

  A print made from contact of a sensitive surface to a negative or positive photograph.

• Contact Screen

  A halftone screen made on film of graded density, and used in a vacuum contact with the film.

• 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.

• Contre Jour

  Taking a picture with the camera lens facing the light source.

• Copy

  Refers to any typewritten material, art, photos etc., to be used for the printing process.

• Copyboard

  A board upon which the copy is pasted for the purpose of photographing.

• Corner Marks

  Marks on a final printed sheet that indicate the trim lines or register indicators.

• Cover

  A term describing a general type of papers used for the covers of books, pamphlets etc.

• Cracking

  Delamination.

• Creep

  When the rubber blanket on a cylinder moves forward due to contact with the plate or paper. Result of added thickness of folded sheets being behind one another in a folded signature. Outer edges of sheets creep away from back most fold as more folded sheets are inserted inside the middle.

• 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).

• Crossmarks

  Marks of fine lines, which intersect to indicate accurate alignment of art elements.

• 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.

• Cut-off

  A term used in web press printing to describe the point at which a sheet of paper is cut from the roll; usually this dimension is equal to the circumference of the cylinder.

• 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.

• Cylinder Gap

  The gap in the cylinders of a press where the grippers or blanket clamps is housed.

• Dahlgren

  A dampening system for printing presses which utilizes more alcohol (25%) and less water; this greatly reduces the amount of paper that is spoiled.

• Dampening

  An essential part of the printing process whereby cloth covered rubber rollers distributes the dampening solution to the plate.

• Dandy Roll

  During the paper making process while the paper is still 90% water, it passes over a wire mesh cylinder (dandy roll), which imparts surface textures on the paper such as wove or laid. This is also the stage where the watermark is put onto the paper.

• Deckle Edge

  The rough or feathered edge of paper when left untrimmed.

• Deep Etching

  The etching or removal of any unwanted areas of a plate to create more air or white space on the finished product.

• Delete

  An instruction given to remove an element from a layout.

• Demy

  A term that describes a standard sized printing paper measuring 17.5 x 22.5 in.

• 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".

• Diazo

  A light sensitive coal tar product used as a coating on presensitized plates, as well as overlay proofs.

• 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.

• Dimensional stability

  The qualities of paper to stabilize its original size when undergoing pressure or exposed to moisture.

• Diploma

  A fine paper made specifically for the printing of diplomas, certificates and documents.

• Direct Screen Halftone

  A color separation process using a halftone negative made by direct contact with the halftone screen.

• 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.

• Drier

  A term that describes any additives to ink which encourages the drying process.

• 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.

• Dry Offset

  Process in which a metal plate is etched to a depth of 0.15 mm (0.006 in), making a right-reading relief plate, printed on the offset blanket and then to the paper without the use of water.

• 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.

• Dummy Model

  Resembling finished piece in every respect except that the pages and cover are blank, used by the designer as a final check on the appearance and +feel+ of the book as a guide for the size and position of elements on the jacket.

• 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.

• Dutch

  Any deckle edged paper, originally produced in the Netherlands. Reference, deckle edge

• Dye-Based Ink

  Any ink that acquires its color by the use of aniline pigments or dyes. Reference, aniline

• 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

  A process of generating a prepress proof in which paper is electronically exposed to the color separation negatives; the paper is passed through the electrically charged pigmented toners, which adhere electrostatically, resulting in the finished proof.

• Elliptical Dot

  Halftone screens in which the dots are actually elongated to produce improved middle tones.

• Em

  A unit of measurement equaling 12 points or 4.5mm.

• 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.

• Emulsion

  A light sensitive substance used as a coating for film; made from a silver halide compound. This side should face the lens when the film is exposed.

• Enamel

  A term that describes a glossy coating on 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.

• Estimator

  One who computes or approximates the cost of work to be done on which quotation may be based.

• Even Smalls

  The use of smaller sized capitals at the beginning of a sentence without the use of larger sized caps.

• Expanded Type

  Type with width greater than normal producing a rectangular effect.

• Exposure

  That stage of the photographic process where the image is produced on the light sensitive coating.

• F&G

  A term in the binding process referring to folding and gathering.

• Fan Fold

  Paper folding that emulates an accordion or fan, the folds being alternating and parallel.

• Fat Face

  Type that is quite varied in its use of very thin and very wide strokes.

• Felt

  A cloth conveyor belt that receives papers from the Fourdrinier wire and delivers it to the drier.

• 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.

• Filling In

  A fault in printing where the ink fills in the fine line or halftone dot areas.

• Film Coat

  Also called wash coat; any thinly coated paper stock.

• Finish

  The surface quality of paper.

• Finish (Paper)

  Dull - (low gloss) also matte or matte gloss.

• Fist

  A symbol used in printing to indicate the index; seen as a pointing finger on a hand "+".

• Fit

  The registration of items within a given page.

• Flash Point

  A term given to the lowest temperature of ignitibility of vapors given off by a substance.

• Flat

  In lithography, the assembly of photographic negatives or positives on vinyl acetate for exposure in vacuum frame in contact with sensitized metal press plate.

• Flock Paper

  Paper that is patterned by sizing, and than coated with powders of wool or cotton, (flock).

• 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.

• Flushed Pigment

  The results of combining a wet ink pigment with a varnish and having the wet pigment mix or transfer over to the varnish.

• Fogging Back

  Lowering density of an image in a specific area usually to make type more legible while still letting image show through.

• 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.

• Forme

  (old) type matter or type and block with its accompanying spacing material secured in the forme called a chase.

• Forwarding

  In Binding, the process between folding sheets and casing in, such as rounding and backing, putting on headbands, reinforcing backs, etc.

• Fourdrinier

  A machine with a copper wire screen that receives the pulp slurry in the paper making process which will become the final paper sheet.

• Free sheet

  Any paper that is free from wood pulp impurities.

• French Fold(er)

  Folder with printing on one side so that when folded once in each direction, the printing on outside of the folds.

• Fringe

  A halo that appears around halftone dots.

• Fugitive inks

  Colors that lose tone and permanency when exposed to light.

• Furnish

  The slurry mixture of fibers, water, chemicals and pigments, that is delivered to the Fourdrinier machine in the paper making process.

• Fuzz

  A term for the fibers that project from the paper surface.

• 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.

• Glassine

  A strong transparent paper.

• 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.

• Grained Paper

  A paper embossed to resemble various textures, such as leather, alligator, wood, etc.

• 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.

• 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.

• Image Setter

  High resolution, large format device for producing film from electronically generated page layouts.

• 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.

• 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.

• Keying

  The use of symbols, usually letters, to code copy that will appear on a dummy.

• Keyline

  Lines that are drawn on artwork that indicate the exact placement, shape and size of elements including halftones, illustrations etc.

• Kraft

  A coarse unbleached paper used for printing and industrial products.

• Lacquer

  A clear gloss coating applied to printed material for strength, appearance and protection.

• 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.

• Leaders

  The dots or dashes used in type to guide the eye from one set of type to the next.

• Leading

  Space between lines of type; the distance in points between one baseline and the next.

• Leaf

  One of a number of folds (each containing two pages) which comprises a book or manuscript.

• 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 Direction

  An alternate term for grain direction.

• 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.

• Mask (1)

  The blocking out of a portion of the printing plate during the exposure process.

• Mask (2)

  A photo negative or positive used in the color separation process to color correct. Reference, PRINTING, mask.

• Match Print

  Photographic proof made from all color flats and form composite proof showing color quality as well as accuracy, layout, and imposition before plates are made.

• Matte Finish

  A coated paper finish that goes through minimal calendaring. Reference, calendaring.

• Measure

  The width of type as measured in picas. Reference, picas.

• Mechanical

  A term used to describe finished artwork that is camera ready for reproduction, including all type, photos, illustrations etc.

• 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.

• Mull

  Coarse muslin glue placed on the back of book or pads for strengthening.

• Mullen Testing

  A specific test of tensile paper strength; an important factor if web presses are used for printing.

• Natural

  A term to describe papers that have a color similar to that of wood; also called cream, off-white or ivory.

• Negative

  Film that contains the same images as the original print, except that all colors and shades are reversed. Reference, positive.

• 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.

• Oblong

  A term used to describe printed books, catalogs etc., that are bound on their shorter side; also referred to as album bound.

• OFC

  Outside front cover.

• 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 Paper

  A term for uncoated book paper.

• Onionskin

  A light bond paper used for typing and used with carbon paper because of its thinness.

• 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.

• Over Run

  Surplus of copies printed.

• Overlay

  A transparent sheet placed over artwork, in register with the work it covers; this is used to call out other color components of the work, instructions or corrections.

• Overlay Proof

  A process of proof making whereby the color separations are individually exposed to light sensitive film. This film is then set in registration with a piece of white paper in the background.

• 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.

• Page Makeup

  The assemblage of all the necessary elements required to complete a page.

• Page Proofs

  Proofs made up from pages.

• Panchromatic

  Films or other photographic materials that are sensitive to all colors.

• Paperboard

  Any paper with a thickness (caliper) of 12 points (.3mm) or more.

• Papeterie

  A high-grade soft paper used for personal stationery because it accepts handwriting well.

• 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.

• Paste Drier

  Any of a variety of compounds used in enhancing the drying properties of printing inks.

• Paste Ink

  An ink having a high level of viscosity.

• Paste-up

  Preparation of positive materials into a layout for photographing to film negatives.

• Peeling

  Delamination.

• Perf Marks

  Markings usually dotted lines at edges showing where perforations should occur.

• Perfect

  A term used to describe the binding process where the signatures of a book are held together by a flexible adhesive.

• 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.

• Phloxine

  A blue red pigment used mostly in news inks; not a good ink for lithographers as it bleeds in alcohol and water.

• 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.

• Photomechanical

  The platemaking process where plates are coated with photosensitive coatings and exposed to photo negatives or positives.

• Photostat

  A photographic print creating an image using photography and electrostatic processes; also called a stat.

• 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.

• Piling

  A build up of pigment or paper coatings onto the plate, blankets or rollers.

• 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.

• Plasticizer

  An ink additive that adds flexibility, softness and adhesion.

• 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.

• 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

  Impression from composed type or blocks, taken for checking and correction, from a lithographic plate to check accuracy of layout, type matter, tone and color reproduction.

• 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.

• Run-Around

  A term given to copy that accommodates the lines of a picture or other image or copy.

• 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.

• Screened Print

  A photo print made by using a halftone negative; also called a velox.

• 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.

• Silverprint

  Reference, brownline proof.

• 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.

• Strip-In

  To add an element, such as copy that is shot separately, and then stripped into place on a goldenrod flat.

• Stripping

  Originally, the removal of the photographic emulsion with its image from individual negatives and combining them in position on a glass plate. Now the use of stripfilm materials, and the cutting, attachment, and other operations for assembling. The positioning of positives and negatives on the flat before proceeding to platemaking.

• Stumping Or Blocking

  Impressing book covers, etc., by means of hot die, brass types or blocks.

• 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.

• Tag

  A dense, strong paper stock.

• Tensile Strength

  A paper's ability to withstand pressure.

• Text

  A high quality printing paper.

• 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.

• Titanium Oxide

  A bright white pigment (opaque) used for printing on metal and flexible packaging.

• 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.

• Up

  A term used to describe how many similar sheets can be produced on a larger sheet; two up, four up, etc.

• Upright

  A term given to books bound on the longer dimension.

• Vacuum Frame

  Also called a contact frame; used in the platemaking process to hold materials in tight contact during exposure.

• Varnish

  A clear shiny ink used to add gloss to printed pieces. The primary component of the ink vehicle. Reference, vehicle.

• Vellum

  A finish of paper that is rough, bulky and has a degree of tooth.

• Velox

  A photographic print which is made from a negative.

• 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

• 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.

• Wipe On Plate

  A plate on which is wiped a light sensitive coating by a coating device; usually the first step in this type of platemaking.

• 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.

• Yield Value

  The actual amount of force needed to start an ink flowing.