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What's That Mean?
With all the new technology in the graphic arts and printing
industry, even old pro printing buyers occasionally find an
unfamiliar term. If you are new to printing industry, you've
already discovered that in many cases, we have a language
all of our own. No matter how much experience you've had,
we'll do everything we can to keep the lines of communication
clear and understandable. But, we also know you want to be
the most knowledgeable printing buyer you can be. Here is
an excellent glossary of graphic and printing terms. We thank
Mark Beach the author of Getting It Printed, and North Light
Books, a division of F&W Publications, Inc. for giving us
permission to include the glossary on our web site. Getting
it Printed is an excellent book for beginners, pros and everyone
in between. You can find out more about it at:
www.gettingitprinted.com
Quick Start . .
. Click on the Letter of Your Choice
A | B
| C | D | E
| F | G | H
| I | J | K
| L | M | N
| O | P | Q
| R | S | T
| U | V | W
A
Acetate
A transparent sheet placed over originals or artwork, allowing
the designer to write instructions and\or indicate a second
color for placement.
Acid-free Paper
Paper made from pulp containing little or no acid so it resists
deterioration from age. Also called alkaline paper, archival
paper, neutral pH paper, permanent paper and thesis paper.
Acid Resist
An acid-proof protective coating applied to metal plates prior
to etching.
Additive Color
Color produced by light falling onto a surface, as compared
to subtractive color. The additive primary colors are red,
green, and blue.
A4 Paper
ISO paper size 210 x 297mm used for letterhead.
Against the Grain
At right angles to the grain direction of the paper being
used, as compared to with the grain. Also called across the
grain and cross grain. See also Grain Direction.
Airbrush
Pen-shaped tool that sprays a fine mist of ink or paint to
retouch photos and create continuous-tone illustrations.
Alteration
Any change made by the customer after copy or artwork has
been given to the service bureau, separator or printer. The
change could be in copy, specifications or both. Also called
AA, author alteration and customer alteration.
Anodized Plate
An offset printing plate having a treated surface in order
to reduce wear for extended use.
Anti-offset Powder
Fine powder lightly sprayed over the printed surface of coated
paper as sheets leave a press. Also called dust, offset powder,
powder and spray powder.
Antique Paper
Roughest finish offered on offset paper.
Aqueous Coating
Coating in a water base and applied like ink by a printing
press to protect and enhance the printing underneath.
Artwork
All original copy, including type, photos and illustrations,
intended for printing. Also called art.
Author's Alterations (AA's)
At the proofing stage, changes that the client requests to
be made concerning original art provided. AA's are considered
an additional cost to the client usually.
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B
Back Up
(1) To print on the second side of a sheet already printed
on one side.
(2) To adjust an image on one side of a sheet so that it aligns
back-to-back with an image on the other side.
Base Art
Copy pasted up on the mounting board of a mechanical, as compared
to overlay art. Also called base mechanical.
Base Negative
Negative made by photographing base art.
Basic Size
The standard size of sheets of paper used to calculate basis
weight in the United States and Canada.
Basis Weight
In the United States and Canada, the weight, in pounds, of
a ream (500 sheets) of paper cut to the basic size. Also called
ream weight and substance weight (sub weight). In countries
using ISO paper sizes, the weight, in grams, of one square
meter of paper. Also called grammage and ream weight.
Bind
Usually in the book arena, but not exclusively, the joining
of leafs or signatures together with either wire, glue or
other means.
Bindery
Usually a department within a printing company responsible
for collating, folding and trimming various printing projects.
Blank
Category of paperboard ranging in thickness from 15 to 48
points.
Blanket
Rubber-coated pad, mounted on a cylinder of an offset press,
that receives the inked image from the plate and transfers
it to the surface to be printed.
Bleed
Printing that extends to the edge of a sheet or page after
trimming.
Blind Folio
A page number not printed on the page. (In the book arena,
a blank page traditionally does not print a page number.)
Blind Image
Image debossed, embossed or stamped, but not printed with
ink or foil.
Blocking
Sticking together of printed sheets causing damage when the
surfaces are separated.
Blow-Up
An enlargement, usually used with graphic images or photographs.
Blueline
Prepress photographic proof made from stripped negatives where
all colors show as blue images on white paper. Because 'blueline'
is a generic term for proofs made from a variety of materials
having identical purposes and similar appearances, it may
also be called a blackprint, blue, blueprint, brownline, brownprint,
diazo, dyeline, ozalid, position proof, silverprint, Dylux
and VanDyke.
Blurb
A description or commentary of an author or book content positioned
on the book jacket.
Board Paper
General term for paper over 110# index, 80# cover or 200 gsm
that is commonly used for products such as file folders, displays
and post cards. Also called paperboard.
Body
The main text of work not including the headlines.
Boiler Plate
Blocks of repetitive type used and copied over and over again.
Bond paper
Category of paper commonly used for writing, printing and
photocopying. Also called business paper, communication paper,
correspondence paper and writing paper.
Book Block
Folded signatures gathered, sewn and trimmed, but not yet
covered.
Book Paper
Category of paper suitable for books, magazines, catalogs,
advertising and general printing needs. Book paper is divided
into uncoated paper (also called offset paper), coated paper
(also called art paper, enamel paper, gloss paper and slick
paper) and text paper.
Border
The decorative design or rule surrounding matter on a page.
Bounce
(1) a repeating registration problem in the printing stage
of production.
(2) Customer unhappy with the results of a printing project
and refuses to accept the project.
Bristol Paper
General term referring to paper 6 points or thicker with basis
weight between 90# and 200# (200-500 gsm). Used for products
such as index cards, file folders and displays.
Broadside
The term used to indicate work printed on one of a large sheet
of paper.
Bromide
A photographic print created on bromide paper.
Broken Carton
Carton of paper from which some of the sheets have been sold.
Also called a less carton.
Bronzing
The effect produced by dusting wet ink after printing and
using a metallic powder.
Build a Color
To overlap two or more screen tints to create a new color.
Such an overlap is called a build, color build, stacked screen
build or tint build.
Bulk
Thickness of paper relative to its basic weight.
Bullet
A dot or similar marking to emphasize text.
Burst Perfect Bind
To bind by forcing glue into notches along the spines of gathered
signatures before affixing a paper cover. Also called burst
bind, notch bind and slotted bind.
Butt Register
Register where ink colors meet precisely without overlapping
or allowing space between, as compared to lap register. Also
called butt fit and kiss register.
Buy Out
To subcontract for a service that is closely related to the
business of the organization. Also called farm out. Work that
is bought out or farmed out is sometimes called outwork or
referred to as being out of house.
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C
C1S and C2S
Abbreviations for coated one side and coated two sides.
Calendar
To make the surface of paper smooth by pressing it between
rollers during manufacturing.
Caliper
(1) Thickness of paper or other substrate expressed in thousandths
of an inch (mils or points), pages per inch (ppi), thousandths
of a millimeter (microns) or pages per centimeter (ppc).
(2) Device on a sheetfed press that detects double sheets
or on a binding machine that detects missing signatures or
inserts.
Camera-ready Copy
Mechanicals, photographs and art fully prepared for reproduction
according to the technical requirements of the printing process
being used. Also called finished art and reproduction copy.
Camera Service
Business using a process camera to make photostats, halftones,
plates and other elements for printing. Also called prep service
and trade camera service.
Carbonless Paper
Paper coated with chemicals that enable transfer of images
from one sheet to another with pressure from writing or typing.
Carload
Selling unit of paper that may weigh anywhere from 20,000
to 100,000 pounds (9,090 to 45, 454 kilos), depending on which
mill or merchant uses the term. Abbreviated CL.
Carton
Selling unit of paper weighing approximately 150 pounds (60
kilos). A carton can contain anywhere from 500 to 5,000 sheets,
depending on the size of sheets and their basis weight.
Case
Covers and spine that, as a unit, enclose the pages of a casebound
book.
Case Bind
To bind using glue to hold signatures to a case made of binder
board covered with fabric, plastic or leather. Also called
cloth bind, edition bind, hard bind and hard cover.
Cast-coated Paper
High gloss, coated paper made by pressing the paper against
a polished, hot, metal drum while the coating is still wet.
Catalog Paper
Coated paper rated #4 or #5 with basis weight from 35# to
50# (50 to 75 gsm) commonly used for catalogs and magazines.
Chain Dot
(1) Alternate term for elliptical dot, so called because midtone
dots touch at two points, so look like links in a chain.
(2) Generic term for any midtone dots whose corners touch.
Chain Lines
(1) Widely spaced lines in laid paper.
(2) Blemishes on printed images caused by tracking.
Chalking
Deterioration of a printed image caused by ink that absorbs
into paper too fast or has long exposure to sun, and wind
making printed images look dusty. Also called crocking.
Check Copy
(1) Production copy of a publication verified by the customer
as printed, finished and bound correctly.
(2) One set of gathered book signatures approved by the customer
as ready for binding.
Choke
Technique of slightly reducing the size of an image to create
a hairline trap or to outline. Also called shrink and skinny.
Chrome
Strength of a color as compared to how close it seems to neutral
gray. Also called depth, intensity, purity and saturation.
Close Up
A mark used to indicate closing space between characters or
words. Usually used in proofing stages.
CMYK
Abbreviation for cyan, magenta, yellow and key (black), the
four process colors.
Coarse Screen
Halftone screen with ruling of 65, 85 or 100 lines per inch
(26, 34 or 40 lines centimeter).
Coated Paper
Paper with a coating of clay and other substances that improves
reflectivity and ink holdout. Mills produce coated paper in
the four major categories cast, gloss, dull and matte.
Collate
To organize printed matter in a specific order as requested.
Collating Marks
Mostly in the book arena, specific marks on the back of signatures
indicating exact position in the collating stage.
Color Balance
Refers to amounts of process colors that simulate the colors
of the original scene or photograph.
Color Blanks
Press sheets printed with photos or illustrations, but without
type. Also called shells.
Color Break
In multicolor printing, the point, line or space at which
one ink color stops and another begins. Also called break
for color.
Color Cast
Unwanted color affecting an entire image or portion of an
image.
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 Correct
To adjust the relationship among the process colors to achieve
desirable colors.
Color Curves
Instructions in computer software that allow users to change
or correct colors. Also called HLS and HVS tables.
Color Electronic Prepress System
Computer, scanner, printer and other hardware and software
designed for image assembly, color correction, retouching
and output onto proofing materials, film or printing plates.
Abbreviated CEPS.
Color Gamut
The entire range of hues possible to reproduce using a specific
device, such as a computer screen, or system, such as four-color
process printing.
Color Key
Brand name for an overlay color proof. Sometimes used as a
generic term for any overlay color proof.
Color Model
Way of categorizing and describing the infinite array of colors
found in nature.
Color Separation
(1) Technique of using a camera, scanner or computer to divide
continuous-tone color images into four halftone negatives.
(2) The product resulting from color separating and subsequent
four-color process printing. Also called separation.
Color Sequence
Order in which inks are printed. Also called laydown sequence
and rotation.
Color Shift
Change in image color resulting from changes in register,
ink densities or dot gain during four-color process printing.
Color Transparency
Film (transparent) used as art to perform color separations.
Comb Bind
To bind by inserting the teeth of a flexible plastic comb
through holes punched along the edge of a stack of paper.
Also called plastic bind and GBC bind (a brand name).
Commercial Printer
Printer producing a wide range of products such as announcements,
brochures, posters, booklets, stationery, business forms,
books and magazines. Also called job printer because each
job is different.
Complementary Flat(s)
The second or additional flat(s) used when making composite
film or for two or more burns on one printing plate.
Composite Art
Mechanical on which copy for reproduction in all colors appears
on only one surface, not separated onto overlays. Composite
art has a tissue overlay with instructions that indicate color
breaks.
Composite Film
Film made by combining images from two or more pieces of working
film onto one film for making one plate.
Composite Proof
Proof of color separations in position with graphics and type.
Also called final proof, imposition proof and stripping proof.
Composition
(1) In typography, the assembly of typographic elements, such
as words and paragraphs, into pages ready for printing.
(2) In graphic design, the arrangement of type, graphics and
other elements on the page.
Comprehensive Dummy
Simulation of a printed piece complete with type, graphics
and colors. Also called color comprehensive and comp.
Condition
To keep paper in the pressroom for a few hours or days before
printing so that its moisture level and temperature equal
that in the pressroom. Also called cure, mature and season.
Contact Platemaker
Device with lights, timing mechanism and vacuum frame used
to make contact prints, duplicate film, proofs and plates.
Also called platemaker and vacuum frame.
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.
Contrast
The degree of tones in an image ranging from highlight to
shadow.
Converter
Business that makes products such as boxes, bags, envelopes
and displays.
Copyboard
Surface or frame on a process camera that holds copy in position
to be photographed.
Cover
Thick paper that protects a publication and advertises its
title. Parts of covers are often described as follows: Cover
1=outside front; Cover 2=inside front; Cover 3=inside back,
Cover 4=outside back.
Coverage
Extent to which ink covers the surface of a substrate. Ink
coverage is usually expressed as light, medium or heavy.
Cover Paper
Category of thick paper used for products such as posters,
menus, folders and covers of paperback books.
Crash
Coarse cloth embedded in the glue along the spine of a book
to increase strength of binding. Also called gauze, mull and
scrim.
Creep
Phenomenon of middle pages of a folded signature extending
slightly beyond outside pages. Also called feathering, outpush,
push out and thrust. See also Shingling.
Crop Marks
Lines near the edges of an image indicating portions to be
reproduced. Also called cut marks and tic 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.
Cure
To dry inks, varnishes or other coatings after printing to
ensure good adhesion and prevent setoff.
Customer Service Representative
Employee of a printer, service bureau, separator or other
business who coordinates projects and keeps customers informed.
Abbreviated CSR.
Cutoff
Circumference of the impression cylinder of a web press, therefore
also the length of the printed sheet that the press cuts from
the roll of paper.
Cut Sizes
Paper sizes used with office machines and small presses.
Cutting Machine
A machine that cuts stacks of paper to desired sizes. The
machine can also be used in scoring or creasing.
Cutting Die
Usually a custom ordered item to trim specific and unusual
sized printing projects.
CWT Abbreviation for hundredweight using the Roman numeral
C=100.
Cyan
One of the four process colors. Also known as process blue.
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D
Data Compression
Technique of reducing the amount of storage required to hold
a digital file to reduce the disk space the file requires
and allow it to be processed or transmitted more quickly.
Deboss
To press an image into paper so it lies below the surface.
Also called tool.
Deckle Edge
Edge of paper left ragged as it comes from the papermaking
machine instead of being cleanly cut. Also called feather
edge.
Densitometer
Instrument used to measure density. Reflection densitometers
measure light reflected from paper and other surfaces; transmission
densitometers measure light transmitted through film and other
materials.
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.
Density Range
Difference between the darkest and lightest areas of copy.
Also called contrast ratio, copy range and tonal range.
Desktop Publishing
Technique of using a personal computer to design images and
pages, and assemble type and graphics, then using a laser
printer or imagesetter to output the assembled pages onto
paper, film or printing plate. Abbreviated DTP.
Device Independent Colors
Hules identified by wavelength or by their place in systems
such as developed by CIE. 'Device independent' means a color
can be described and specified without regard to whether it
is reproduced using ink, projected light, photographic chemistry
or any other method.
Die
Device for cutting, scoring, stamping, embossing and debossing.
Die Cut
To cut irregular shapes in paper or paperboard using a die.
Digital Proofing
Page proofs produced through electronic memory transferred
onto paper via laser or ink-jet.
Diffusion Transfer
Chemical process of reproducing line copy and making halftone
positives ready for paste-up.
Digital Dot
Dot created by a computer and printed out by a laser printer
or imagesetter. Digital dots are uniform in size, as compared
to halftone dots that vary in size.
Direct Digital Color Proof
Color proof made by a laser, ink jet printer or other computer-controlled
device without needing to make separation films first. Abbreviated
DDCP.
Dog Ear
A letter fold at the side of one of the creases, an indentation
occurs.
Dot Gain
Phenomenon of halftone dots printing larger on paper than
they are on films or plates, reducing detail and lowering
contrast. Also called dot growth, dot spread and press gain.
Dot Size
Relative size of halftone dots as compared to dots of the
screen ruling being used. There is no unit of measurement
to express dot size. Dots are too large, too small or correct
only in comparison to what the viewer finds attractive.
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 monitors. Abbreviated DPI. Also
called dot pitch.
Double Black Duotone
Duotone printed from two halftones, one shot for highlights
and the other shot for midtones and shadows.
Double Bump
To print a single image twice so it has two layers of ink.
Double Burn
To expose film or a plate twice to different negatives and
thus create a composite image.
Double Density
A method of recording electronically (disk, CD, floppy) using
a modified frequency to allow more data storage.
Double Dot Halftone
Halftone double burned onto one plate from two halftones,
one shot for shadows, the second shot for midtones and highlights.
Doubling
Printing defect appearing as blurring or shadowing of the
image. Doubling may be caused by problems with paper, cylinder
alignment, blanket pressures or dirty cylinders.
DPI
Considered as "dots per square inch," a measure of output
resolution in relationship to printers, imagesetters and monitors.
Drawdown
Sample of inks specified for a job applied to the substrate
specified for a job. Also called pulldown.
Drill
In the printing arena, to drill a whole in a printed matter.
Dropout
Halftone dots or fine lines eliminated from highlights by
overexposure during camera work.
Dropout Halftone
Halftone in which contrast has been increased by eliminating
dots from highlights.
Dry Back
Phenomenon of printed ink colors becoming less dense as the
ink dries.
Dry Offset
Using metal plates in the printing process, which are etched
to .15mm (.0006 in) creating a right reading plate, printed
on the offset blanket transferring to paper without the use
of water.
Dry Trap
To print over dry ink, as compared to wet trap.
Dual-purpose Bond Paper
Bond paper suitable for printing by either lithography (offset)
or xerography (photocopy). Abbreviated DP bond paper.
Dull Finish
Flat (not glossy) finish on coated paper; slightly smoother
than matte. Also called suede finish, velour finish and velvet
finish.
Dummy
Simulation of the final product. Also called mockup.
Duotone
Black-and-white photograph reproduced using two halftone negatives,
each shot to emphasize different tonal values in the original.
Duplex Paper
Thick paper made by pasting highlights together two thinner
sheets, usually of different colors. Also called double-faced
paper and two-tone paper.
Duplicator
Offset press made for quick printing.
Dylux
Brand name for photographic paper used to make blue line proofs.
Often used as alternate term for blueline.
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E
Electronic Front End (Electronic
Composition)
General term referring to a prepress system based on computers.
Electronic Image Assembly
Assembly of a composite image from portions of other images
and/or other page elements using a computer.
Electronic Mechanical
Mechanical exclusively in electronic files.
Electronic Publishing
(1) Publishing by printing with device, such as a photocopy
machine or ink jet printer, driven by a computer that can
change the image instantly from one copy to the next.
(2) Publishing via output on fax, computer bulletin board
or other electronic medium, as compared to output on paper.
Emboss
To press an image into paper so it lies above the surface.
Also called cameo and tool.
Emulsion
Casting of light-sensitive chemicals on papers, films, printing
plates and stencils.
Emulsion Down/Emulsion Up
Film whose emulsion side faces down (away from the viewer)
or up (toward the viewer) when ready to make a plate or stencil.
Abbreviated ED, EU. Also called E up/down and face down/face
up.
Encapsulated PostScript File
Computer file containing both images and PostScript commands.
Abbreviated EPS file.
End Sheet
Sheet that attaches the inside pages of a case bound book
to its cover. Also called pastedown or end papers.
English Finish
Smooth finish on uncoated book paper; smoother than eggshell,
rougher than smooth.
Engraving
Printing method using a plate, also called a die, with an
image cut into its surface.
EP
Abbreviation for envelope.
EPS
Encapsulated Post Script, a known file format usually used
to transfer post script information from one program to another.
Equivalent Paper
Paper that is not the brand specified, but looks, prints and
may cost the same. Also called comparable stock.
Estimate
Price that states what a job will probably cost. Also called
bid, quotation and tender.
Estimator
The individual performing or creating the "estimate."
Etch
To use chemicals to carve an image into metal, glass or film.
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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.
Fake Duotone
Halftone in one ink color printed over screen tint of a second
ink color. Also called dummy duotone, dougraph, duplex halftone,
false duotone, flat tint halftone and halftone with screen.
Fast Color Inks
Inks with colors that retain their density and resist fading
as the product is used and washed.
Feeding Unit
Component of a printing press that moves paper into the register
unit.
Felt Finish
Soft woven pattern in text paper.
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.
Film Gauge
Thickness of film. The most common gauge for graphic arts
film is 0.004 inch (0.1 mm).
Film Laminate
Thin sheet of plastic bonded to a printed product for protection
or increased gloss.
Fine Papers
Papers made specifically for writing or commercial printing,
as compared to coarse papers and industrial papers. Also called
cultural papers and graphic papers.
Fine Screen
Screen with ruling of 150 lines per inch (80 lines per centimeter)
or more.
Finish
(1) Surface characteristics of paper.
(2) General term for trimming, folding, binding and all other
post press operations.
Finished Size
Size of product after production is completed, as compared
to flat size. Also called trimmed size.
Fit
Refers to ability of film to be registered during stripping
and assembly. Good fit means that all images register to other
film for the same job.
Fixed Costs
Costs that remain the same regardless of how many pieces are
printed. Copyrighting, photography and design are fixed costs.
Flat Color
(1) Any color created by printing only one ink, as compared
to a color created by printing four-color process. Also called
block color and spot color.
(2) color that seems weak or lifeless.
Flat Plan (Flats)
Diagram of the flats for a publication showing imposition
and indicating colors.
Flat Size
Size of product after printing and trimming, but before folding,
as compared to finished size.
Flexography
Method of printing on a web press using rubber or plastic
plates with raised images. Also called aniline printing because
flexographic inks originally used aniline dyes. Abbreviated
flexo.
Flood
To print a sheet completely with an ink or varnish. Flooding
with ink is also called painting the sheet.
Flush Cover
Cover trimmed to the same size as inside pages, as compared
to overhang cover. Also called cut flush
Flyleaf
Leaf, at the front and back of a casebound book that is the
one side of the end paper not glued to the case.
Fogging Back
Used in making type more legible by lowering density of an
image, while allowing the image to show through.
Foil Emboss
To foil stamp and emboss an image. Also called heat stamp.
Foil Stamp
Method of printing that releases foil from its backing when
stamped with the heated die. Also called block print, hot
foil stamp and stamp.
Folder
A bindery machine dedicated to folding printed materials.
Fold Marks
With printed matter, markings indicating where a fold is to
occur, usually located at the top edges.
Foldout
Gatefold sheet bound into a publication, often used for a
map or chart. Also called gatefold and pullout.
Folio (page number)
The actual page number in a publication.
Form
Each side of a signature. Also spelled forme.
Format
Size, style, shape, layout or organization of a layout or
printed product.
Form bond
Lightweight bond, easy to perforate, made for business forms.
Also called register bond.
Form Roller(s)
Roller(s) that come in contact with the printing plate, bringing
it ink or water.
For Position Only
Refers to inexpensive copies of photos or art used on mechanical
to indicate placement and scaling, but not intended for reproduction.
Abbreviated FPO.
Forwarding
In the case book arena, the binding process which involves
folding, rounding, backing, headbanding and reinforcing.
Fountain
Trough or container, on a printing press, that holds fluids
such as ink, varnish or water. Also called duct.
Fountain Solution
Mixture of water and chemicals that dampens a printing plate
to prevent ink from adhering to the nonimage area. Also called
dampener solution.
Four-color Process Printing
Technique of printing that uses black, magenta, cyan and yellow
to simulate full-color images. Also called color process printing,
full color printing and process printing.
Free Sheet
Paper made from cooked wood fibers mixed with chemicals and
washed free of impurities, as compared to groundwood paper.
Also called woodfree paper.
French Fold
A printed sheet, printed one side only, folded with two right
angle folds to form a four page uncut section.
Full-range Halftone
Halftone ranging from 0 percent coverage in its highlights
to 100 percent coverage in its shadows.
Full-scale Black
Black separation made to have dots throughout the entire tonal
range of the image, as compared to half-scale black and skeleton
black. Also called full-range black.
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G
Galley Proof
Proof of type from any Source, whether metal type or photo
type. Also called checker and slip proof.
Gang
(1) To halftone or separate more than one image in only one
exposure.
(2) To reproduce two or more different printed products simultaneously
on one sheet of paper during one press run. Also called combination
run.
Gate Fold
A sheet that folds where both sides fold toward the gutter
in overlapping layers.
Gathered
Signatures assembled next to each other in the proper sequence
for binding, as compared to nested. Also called stacked.
Ghost Halftone
Normal halftone whose density has been reduced to produce
a very faint image.
Ghosting
(1) Phenomenon of a faint image appearing on a printed sheet
where it was not intended to appear. Chemical ghosting refers
to the transfer of the faint image from the front of one sheet
to the back of another sheet. Mechanical ghosting refers to
the faint image appearing as a repeat of an image on the same
side of the sheet.
(2) Phenomenon of printed image appearing too light because
of ink starvation.
Gilding
Mostly in the book arena, gold leafing the edges of a book.
Gloss
Consider the light reflecting on various objects in the printing
industry (e.g., paper, ink, laminates, UV coating, varnish).
Gloss Ink
Ink used and printed on coated stock (mostly litho and letterpress)
such as the ink will dry without penetration.
Grade
General term used to distinguish between or among printing
papers, but whose specific meaning depends on context. Grade
can refer to the category, class, rating, finish or brand
of paper.
Graduated Screen Tint
Screen tint that changes densities gradually and smoothly,
not in distinct steps. Also called degrade, gradient, ramped
screen and vignette.
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 and narrow web paper.
Grain Short Paper
Paper whose fibers run parallel to the short dimension of
the sheet. Also called short grain paper and wide web paper.
Grammage
Basis weight of paper in grams per square meter (gsm).
Graphic Arts
The crafts, industries and professions related to designing
and printing on paper and other substrates.
Graphic Arts Film
Film whose emulsion yields high contrast images suitable for
reproduction by a printing press, as compared to continuous-tone
film. Also called litho film and repro film.
Graphic Design
Arrangement of type and visual elements along with specifications
for paper, ink colors and printing processes that, when combined,
convey a visual message.
Graphics
Visual elements that supplement type to make printed messages
more clear or interesting.
Gravure
Method of printing using metal cylinders etched with millions
of tiny wells that hold ink.
Gray Balance
Printed cyan, magenta and yellow halftone dots that accurately,
reproduce a neutral gray image.
Gray Component Replacement
Technique of replacing gray tones in the yellow, cyan and
magenta films, made while color separating, with black ink.
Abbreviated GCR. Also called achromatic color removal.
Gray Levels
Number of distinct gray tones that can be reproduced by a
computer.
Gray Scale
Strip of gray values ranging from white to black. Used by
process camera and scanner operators to calibrate exposure
times for film and plates. Also called step wedge.
Grind Edge
Alternate term for binding edge when referring to perfect
bound products.
Grindoff
Approximately 1/8 inch (3 mm) along the spine that is ground
off gathered signatures before perfect binding.
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.
Groundwood Paper
Newsprint and other inexpensive paper made from pulp created
when wood chips are ground mechanically rather than refined
chemically.
GSM
The unit of measurement for paper weight (grams per square
meter).
Gutter
In the book arena, the inside margins toward the back or the
binding edges.
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H
Hairline (Rule)
Subjective term referring to very small space, thin line or
close register. The meaning depends on who is using the term
and in what circumstances.
Half-scale Black
Black separation made to have dots only in the shadows and
midtones, as compared to full-scale black and skeleton black.
Halftone
(1) To photograph or scan a continuous tone image to convert
the image into halftone dots.
(2) A photograph or continuous-tone illustration that has
been halftoned and appears on film, paper, printing plate
or the final printed product.
Halftone Screen
Piece of film or glass containing a grid of lines that breaks
light into dots. Also called contact screen and screen.
Halo Effect
Faint shadow sometimes surrounding halftone dots printed.
Also called halation. The halo itself is also called a fringe.
Hard Dots
Halftone dots with no halos or soft edges, as compared to
soft dots.
Hard Mechanical
Mechanical consisting of paper and/or acetate and made using
paste-up techniques, as compared to electronic mechanical.
Head(er)
At the top of a page, the margin.
Head-to-Tail
Imposition with heads (tops) of pages facing tails (bottoms)
of other pages.
Heat-set Web
Web press equipped with an oven to dry ink, thus able to print
coated paper.
Hickey
Spot or imperfection in printing, most visible in areas of
heavy ink coverage, caused by dirt on the plate or blanket.
Also called bulls eye and fish eye.
High-fidelity Color
Color reproduced using six, eight or twelve separations, as
compared to four-color process.
High-key Photo
Photo whose most important details appear in the highlights.
Highlights
Lightest portions of a photograph or halftone, as compared
to midtones and shadows.
Hinged Cover
Perfect bound cover scored 1/8 inch (3mm) from the spine so
it folds at the hinge instead of, along the edge of the spine.
HLS
Abbreviation for hue, lightness, saturation, one of the color-control
options often found in software, for design and page assembly.
Also called HVS.
Hot Spot
Printing defect caused when a piece of dirt or an air bubble
caused incomplete draw-down during contact platemaking, leaving
an area of weak ink coverage or visible dot gain.
House Sheet
Paper kept in stock by a printer and suitable for a variety
of printing jobs. Also called floor sheet.
Hue
A specific color such as yellow or green.
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I
Image Area
The actual area on the printed matter that is not restricted
to ink coverage.
Imagesetter
Laser output device using photosensitive paper or film.
Imposition
Arrangement of pages on mechanicals or flats so they will
appear in proper sequence after press sheets are folded and
bound.
Impression
(1) Referring to an ink color, one impression equals one press
sheet passing once through a printing unit.
(2) Referring to speed of a press, one impression equals one
press sheet passing once through the press.
Impression Cylinder
Cylinder, on a press, that pushes paper against the plate
or blanket, thus forming the image. Also called impression
roller.
Imprint
To print new copy on a previously printed sheet, such as imprinting
an employee's name on business cards. Also called surprint.
Ink Balance
Relationship of the densities and dot gains of process inks
to each other and to a standard density of neutral gray.
Ink Fountain
Reservoir, on a printing press, that holds ink.
Ink Holdout
Characteristic of paper that prevents it from absorbing ink,
thus allowing ink to dry on the surface of the paper. Also
called holdout.
Ink Jet Printing
Method of printing by spraying droplets of ink through computer-controlled
nozzles. Also called jet printing.
Inner Form
Form (side of the press sheet) whose images all appear inside
the folded signature, as compared to outer form.
In-Plant Printer
Department of an agency, business or association that does
printing for a parent organization. Also called captive printer
and in-house printer.
Inserts
Within a publication, an additional item positioned into the
publication loose (not bound in).
Intaglio Printing
Printing method whose image carriers are surfaces with two
levels, having inked areas lower than noninked areas. Gravure
and engraving are the most common forms of intaglio. Also
called recess printing.
Integral Proof
Color proof of separations shown on one piece of proofing
paper, as compared to an overlay proof. Also called composition
proof, laminate proof, plastic proof and single-sheet proof.
Interleaves
Printed pages loosely inserted in a publication.
ISBN
A number assigned to a published work and usually found either
on the title page or the back of the title page. Considered
an International Standard Book Number.
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J
Job Lot Paper
Paper that didn't meet specifications when produced, has been
discontinued, or for other reasons is no longer considered
first quality.
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 service bureaus, separators and 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.
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K
K
Abbreviation for black in four-color process printing. Hence
the 'K' in CMYK.
Key
(1) The screw that controls ink flow from the ink fountain
of a printing press.
(2) To relate loose pieces of copy to their positions on a
layout or mechanical using a system of numbers or letters.
(3) Alternate term for the color black, as in 'key plate.'
Keylines
Lines on a mechanical or negative showing the exact size,
shape and location of photographs or other graphic elements.
Also called holding lines.
Key Negative or Plate
Negative or plate that prints the most detail, thus whose
image guides the register of images from other plates. Also
called key printer.
Kiss Die Cut
To die cut the top layer, but not the backing layer, of self-adhesive
paper. Also called face cut.
Kiss Impression
Lightest possible impression that will transfer ink to a Substrate.
Kraft Paper
Strong paper used for wrapping and to make grocery bags and
large envelopes.
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L
Laid Finish
Finish on bond or text paper on which grids of parallel lines
simulate the surface of handmade paper. Laid lines are close
together and run against the grain; chain lines are farther
apart and run with the grain.
Laminate
A thin transparent plastic sheet (coating) applied to usually
a thick stock (covers, post cards, etc.) providing protection
against liquid and heavy use, and usually accents existing
color, providing a glossy (or lens) effect.
Landscape
Artist style in which width is greater than height. (Portrait
is opposite.)
Lap Register
Register where ink colors overlap slightly, as compared to
butt register.
Laser Bond
Bond paper made especially smooth and dry to run well through
laser printers.
Laser-imprintable Ink
Ink that will not fade or blister as the paper on which it
is printed is used in a laser printer.
Lay Flat Bind
Method of perfect binding that allows a publication to lie
fully open. (Also known as Lay Flat Perfect Binding.)
Lay Edge
The edge of a sheet of paper feeding into a press.
Layout
A sample of the original providing (showing) position of printed
work (direction, instructions) needed and desired.
Leading
Amount of space between lines of type.
Leaf
One sheet of paper in a publication. Each side of a leaf is
one page.
Ledger Paper
Strong, smooth bond paper used for keeping business records.
Also called record paper.
Letter fold
Two folds creating three panels that allow a sheet of letterhead
to fit a business envelope. Also called barrel fold and wrap
around fold.
Letter Paper
In North America, 8 1/2' x 11' sheets. In Europe, A4 sheets.
Legend
Directions about a specific matter (illustrations) and how
to use. In regard to maps and tables, an explanation of signs
(symbols) used.
Letterpress
Method of printing from raised surfaces, either metal type
or plates whose surfaces have been etched away from image
areas. Also called block printing.
Lightweight Paper
Book paper with basis weight less than 40# (60 gsm).
Lignin
Substance in trees that holds cellulose fibers together. Free
sheet has most lignin removed; groundwood paper contains lignin.
Line Copy
Any high-contrast image, including type, as compared to continuous-tone
copy. Also called line art and line work.
Line Negative
Negative made from line copy.
Linen Finish
Embossed finish on text paper that simulates the pattern of
linen cloth.
Lithography
Method of printing using plates whose image areas attract
ink and whose nonimage areas repel ink. Nonimage areas may
be coated with water to repel the oily ink or may have a surface,
such as silicon, that repels ink.
Live Area
Area on a mechanical within which images will print. Also
called safe area.
Logo (Logotype)
A company, partnership or corporate creation (design) that
denotes a unique entity. A possible combination of letters
and art work to create a "sole" entity symbol of that specific
unit.
Looseleaf
Binding method allowing insertion and removal of pages in
a publication (e.g., trim-4-drill-3).
Loose Proof
Proof of a halftone or color separation that is not assembled
with other elements from a page, as compared to composite
proof. Also called first proof, random proof, scatter proof
and show-color proof.
Loupe
Lens built into a small stand. Used to inspect copy, film,
proofs, plates and printing. Also called glass and linen tester.
Low Key Photo
Photo whose most important details appear in the shadows.
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M
Machine Glazed (MG)
Paper holding a high-gloss finish only on one side.
Magenta
One of the four process colors.
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.
Making Order
Order for paper that a mill makes to the customer's specifications,
as compared to a mill order or stock order.
Male Die
Die that applies pressure during embossing or debossing. Also
called force card.
Manuscript (MS)
An author's original form of work (hand written, typed or
on disk) submitted for publication.
Margin
Imprinted space around the edge of the printed material.
Mark-Up
Instructions written usually on a "dummy."
Mask
To prevent light from reaching part of an image, therefore
isolating the remaining part. Also called knock out.
Master
Paper or plastic plate used on a duplicating press.
Match Print
A form of a four-color-process proofing system.
Matte Finish
Flat (not glossy) finish on photographic paper or coated printing
paper.
Mechanical
Camera-ready assembly of type, graphic and other copy complete
with instructions to the printer. A hard mechanical consists
of paper and/or acetate, is made using paste-up techniques,
and may also be called an artboard, board or paste-up. A soft
mechanical, also called an electronic mechanical, exists as
a file of type and other images assembled using a computer.
Mechanical Bind
To bind using a comb, coil, ring binder, post or any other
technique not requiring gluing, sewing or stitching.
Mechanical Separation
Color breaks made on the mechanical using a separate overlay
for each color to be printed.
Mechanical Tint
Lines or patterns formed with dots creating artwork for reproduction.
Metallic Ink
Ink containing powdered metal or pigments that simulate metal.
Metallic Paper
Paper coated with a thin film of plastic or pigment whose
color and gloss simulate metal.
Midtones
In a photograph or illustration, tones created by dots between
30 percent and 70 percent of coverage, as compared to highlights
and shadows.
Mil 1/1000 Inch
The thickness of plastic films as printing substrates are
expressed in mils.
Misting
Phenomenon of droplets of ink being thrown off the roller
train. Also called flying ink.
Mock Up
A reproduction of the original printed matter and possibly
containing instructions or direction.
Modem
Mostly used over phone lines, a device that converts electronic
stored information from point a. to point b.
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.
Monarch
Paper size (7' x 10') and envelope shape often used for personal
stationery.
Mottle
Spotty, uneven ink absorption. Also called sinkage. A mottled
image may be called mealy.
Mull
A specific type of glue used for books binding and personal
pads needing strength.
Multicolor Printing
Printing in more than one ink color (but not four-color process).
Also called polychrome printing.
M Weight
Weight of 1,000 sheets of paper in any specific size.
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N
Natural Color
Very light brown color of paper. May also be called antique,
cream, ivory, off-white or mellow white.
Nested
Signatures assembled inside one another in the proper sequence
for binding, as compared to gathered. Also called inset.
Neutral Gray
Gray with no hue or cast.
News Print
Paper used in printing newspapers. Considered low quality
and "a short life use."
Newton Ring
Flaw in a photograph or halftone that looks like a drop of
oil or water.
Nipping
In the book binding process, a stage where air is expelled
from it's contents at the sewing stage.
Nonheatset Web
Web press without a drying oven, thus not able to print on
coated paper. Also called cold-set web and open web.
Nonimpact Printing
Printing using lasers, ions, ink jets or heat to transfer
images to paper.
Nonreproducing Blue
Light blue that does not record on graphic arts film, therefore
may be used to preprint layout grids and write instructions
on mechanicals. Also called blue pencil, drop-out blue, fade-out
blue and nonrepro blue.
Novelty Printing
Printing on products such as coasters, pencils, balloons,
golf balls and ashtrays, known as advertising specialties
or premiums.
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O
Offset Printing
Printing technique that transfers ink from a plate to a blanket
to paper instead of directly from plate to paper.
Opacity
(1) Characteristic of paper or other substrate that prevents
printing on one side from showing through the other side.
(2) Characteristic of ink that prevents the substrate from
showing through.
Onion Skin
A specific lightweight type (kind) of paper usually used in
the past for air mail. Seldom used today (in the typewriter
era).
Opaque
(1) Not transparent.
(2) To cover flaws in negative with tape or opaquing paint.
Also called block out and spot.
Open Prepress Interface
Hardware and software that link desktop publishing systems
with color electronic prepress systems.
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.
Outline Halftone
Halftone in which background has been removed or replaced
to isolate or silhouette the main image. Also called knockout
halftone and silhouette halftone.
Overlay
Layer of material taped to a mechanical, photo or proof. Acetate
overlays are used to separate colors by having some type or
art on them instead of on the mounting board. Tissue overlays
are used to carry instructions about the underlying copy and
to protect the base art.
Overlay Proof
Color proof consisting of polyester sheets laid on top of
each other with their image in register, as compared to integral
proof. Each sheet represents the image to be printed in one
color. Also called celluloid proof and layered proof.
Overprint
To print one image over a previously printed image, such as
printing type over a screen tint. Also called surprint.
Over Run
Additional printed matter beyond order. Overage policy varies
in the printing industry. Advance questions avoid blind knowledge.
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P
Page
One side of a leaf in a publication.
Page Count
Total number of pages that a publication has. Also called
extent.
Page Proof
Proof of type and graphics as they will look on the finished
page complete with elements such as headings, rules and folios.
Pagination
In the book arena, the numbering of pages.
Painted Sheet
Sheet printed with ink edge to edge, as compared to spot color.
The painted sheet refers to the final product, not the press
sheet, and means that 100 percent coverage results from bleeds
off all four sides.
Panel
One page of a brochure, such as one panel of a rack brochure.
One panel is on one side of the paper. A letter-folded sheet
has six panels, not three.
Paper Plate
A printing plate made of strong and durable paper in the short
run offset arena (cost effective with short runs).
Parallel Fold
Method of folding. Two parallel folds to a sheet will produce
6 panels.
Parent Sheet
Any sheet larger than 11' x 17' or A3.
Pasteboard
Chipboard with another paper pasted to it.
Paste-up
To paste copy to mounting boards and, if necessary, to overlays
so it is assembled into a camera-ready mechanical. The mechanical
produced is often called a paste-up.
PE
Proofreader mark meaning printer error and showing a mistake
by a typesetter, prepress service or printer as compared to
an error by the customer.
Perfect Bind
To bind sheets that have been ground at the spine and are
held to the cover by glue. Also called adhesive bind, cut-back
bind, glue bind, paper bind, patent bind, perfecting bind,
soft bind and soft cover. See also Burst Perfect Bind.
Perfecting Press
Press capable of printing both sides of the paper during a
single pass. Also called duplex press and perfector.
Perf Marks
On a "dummy" marking where the perforation is to occur.
Perforating
Taking place on a press or a binder machine, creating a line
of small dotted wholes for the purpose of tearing-off a part
of a printed matter (usually straight lines, vertical or horizontal).
Pica
A unit of measure in the printing industry. A pica is approximately
0.166 in. There are 12 points to a pica.
Photoengraving
Engraving done using photochemistry.
Photomechanical Transfer
Brand name for a diffusion transfer process used to make positive
paper prints of line copy and halftones. Often used as alternate
term for photostat. Abbreviated PMT.
Photostat
Brand name for a diffusion transfer process used to make positive
paper prints of line copy and halftones. Often used as alternate
term for PMT.
Picking
Phenomenon of ink pulling bits of coating or fiber away from
the surface of paper as it travels through the press, thus
leaving unprinted spots in the image area.
Pickup Art
Artwork, used in a previous job, to be incorporated in a current
job.
Pinholing
Small holes (unwanted) in printed areas because of a variety
of reasons.
Pin Register
Technique of registering separations, flats and printing plates
by using small holes, all of equal diameter, at the edges
of both flats and plates.
Pixel
Short for picture element, a dot made by a computer, scanner
or other digital device. Also called pel.
Planographic Printing
Printing method whose image carriers are level surfaces with
inked areas separated from noninked areas by chemical means.
Planographic printing includes lithography, offset lithography
and spirit duplicating.
Plate
Piece of paper, metal, plastic or rubber carrying an image
to be reproduced using a printing press.
Platemaker
(1) In quick printing, a process camera that makes plates
automatically from mechanicals.
(2) In commercial lithography, a machine with a vacuum frame
used to expose plates through film.
Plate-ready Film
Stripped negatives or positives fully prepared for platemaking.
Pleasing Color
Color that the customer considers satisfactory even though
it may not precisely match original samples, scenes or objects.
PMS
Obsolete reference to Pantone Matching System. The correct
trade name of the colors in the Pantone Matching System is
Pantone colors, not PMS Colors.
PMT
Abbreviation for photomechanical transfer.
Point
(1) Regarding paper, a unit of thickness equating 1/1000 inch.
(2) Regarding type, a unit of measure equaling 1/12 pica and
.013875 inch (.351mm).
Portrait
An art design in which the height is greater than the width.
(Opposite of Landscape.)
Position Stat
Photocopy or PMT of a photo or illustration made to size and
affixed to a mechanical.
Positive Film
Film that prevents light from passing through images, as compared
to negative film that allows light to pass through. Also called
knockout film.
Post Bind
To bind using a screw and post inserted through a hole in
a pile of loose sheets.
Prepress
Camera work, color separations, stripping, platemaking and
other prepress functions performed by the printer, separator
or a service bureau prior to printing. Also called preparation.
Prepress Proof
Any color proof made using ink jet, toner, dyes or overlays,
as compared to a press proof printed using ink. Also called
dry proof and off-press proof.
Preprint
To print portions of sheets that will be used for later imprinting.
Press Check
Event at which makeready sheets from the press are examined
before authorizing full production to begin.
Press Proof
Proof made on press using the plates, ink and paper specified
for the job. Also called strike off and trial proof.
Press Time
(1) Amount of time that one printing job spends on press,
including time required for makeready.
(2) Time of day at which a printing job goes on press.
Price Break
Quantity at which unit cost of paper or printing drops.
Printer Pairs
Usually in the book arena, consecutive pages as they appear
on a flat or signature.
Printer Spreads
Mechanicals made so they are imposed for printing, as compared
to reader spread | 
