Here are some useful terms
Click on a letter below:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q S T U V W X Y Z
4-Color Process---See Process Color.
AA's---Author's Alterations. Changes or corrections made by client after final mechanicals have been approved. Cost for making AA's are not the responsibility of the printer.
Accordion Fold--- Sometimes called a “Z “ fold, this bindery term means two or more parallel folds which open like an accordion.
Adobe Acrobat--- Software package created by Adobe for converting any document to an Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) file. Anyone can open your document across a broad range of hardware and software using the downloadable, free software Adobe Acrobat Reader, and it will look exactly as you intended—with layout, fonts, links, and images intact. (Taken from www.adobe.com.)
Against The Grain---Printing at right angles to the direction of paper grain. This will cause folding problems. One way to work around folding against the grain is to score the paper before folding.
Aqueous Coating---A water-based coating applied like a varnish coat to protect the printed surface.
Attachment--- When referring to e-mail, an electronic file placed within an e-mail for the purpose of sending through the Internet.
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Back Up---To print the reverse side of a sheet after the front side has been printed.
Banding--- When the changes from screen percentage to screen percentage in a gradient can be seen, instead of a solid blending from dark to light or from color to color.
Bind--- To fasten sheets or signatures with wire, thread, glue, or by other means.
Bindery--- Where materials go for assembly. Cutting, folding, binding and boxing are some of the activities performed in bindery.
Binding--- Attaching sheets together to form a book or pamphlet. Common materials include staples, glue or thread.
Blanket---A rubber coated pad mounted onto a cylinder of an offset printing press. The blanket transfers ink from the plate to the sheet.
Bleed---The printed area of a page that extends beyond the final trim size.
Bleed--- Ink which prints beyond the trim edge of the page, created for the purpose of allowing ink to extend to the edge of the page after trimming. Without bleed, cutting the product becomes extremely difficult and may sacrifice the quality of the product. For best results, create 1/8 “ (.125) bleed (past trim edge) on all edges where bleed is desired.
Blind Debossing--- An image pressed into a sheet without ink or foil, creating a lowered area. See blind embossing, debossing and embossing.
Blind Embossing--- An image pressed into a sheet without ink or foil, creating a raised area. See blind debossing, embossing and debossing.
Blueline---A pre-press photographic proof made from film negatives showing color breaks in shades of blue. An industry standard for position proofing.
Blueline---A blue photographic proof used to check position of all image elements. Similar to a blueprint.
Burn---To expose a photosensitive metal plate to light.
Butt Register---When ink colors meet together with no overlap (trap). Also called butt fit or one-to-one fit.
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Calibration---The process of checking and adjusting RIP screen percentages to insure proper color values and tints. Also refers to the color adjustment of a computer monitor to accurately represent printed colors.
Camera Ready---Refers to final artwork that is ready for reproduction.
Camera-Ready Copy---Print ready mechanical art.
Carbonless---Pressure sensitive writing paper that does not use carbon paper.
Center Justified---Type that is justified to the center of the left and right margins and the line lengths vary on both sides.
Chip or Color Chip--- A small printed sample from a numbered color matching system. Chips are typically ½” in size and represent actual ink color. See Pantone.
Clear Area---Any printing surface that has no type or images.
CMYK--- An acronym for the words Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key (Black). The four colors needed to create full color process printing. Also called Process colors.
Coated Paper--- Paper with a clay coating or other substance that improves reflectivity and ink holdout. Coated finishes include: Gloss, dull and matte.
Collate---A finishing term for gathering paper in a precise order.
Color Balance-- An even tone of color in process printing.
Color Bar---A line of colored blocks in a row or a single color placed at the tail of a press sheet and used to measure the density of color across the width of a press sheet.
Color Bars--- A small strip of color blocks on a press sheet used to check color consistency, density and dot gain.
Color Correction---Any digital adjustments to photographic images to match original artwork. Also used to correct poor saturation and gamut.
Color Correction---Improving color separations by altering either the electronic file or the amount of color burned onto a plate or the amount of ink applied to a press sheet.
Color Matching System---A system of formulated ink colors used for communicating color.
Color Separations--- The process of preparing artwork, photographs, transparencies, or computer-generated art for printing by separating into the four primary printing colors: cyan, magenta, yellow and black.
Comb Bind---To plastic comb bind by inserting the comb into punched holes.
Comp--- Short for comprehensive. A mockup of a particular design project, using rough design elements to better visualize the finished work.
Continuous Tone---Design elements which consist of sections of smooth tonal ranges found in illustrations and photographs.
Contrast---The level of tonal difference between darks and lights.
Coverage--- The extent to which the ink covers the paperstock. Often expressed as light, medium or heavy.
Crash Number---Numbering paper by pressing an image on the first sheet which is transferred to all parts of the printed set.
Crop---To cut off parts of a picture or image.
Crop Marks---Line markings on the press sheet that denote where the printed project is to be cut.
Crossover---A design element such as type or images that crosses over the trim or gutter of one page onto another page.
Cure---Dry time for ink to insure proper adhesion and to prevent offsetting.
Cyan---One of four standard process colors. The icy blue color.
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Debossing---Pressing an image into paper so that it will create a lowered area.
Densitometer---A device used to measure the density of printed ink. Also used to check calibration of image setters.
Density---The degree of color or darkness of an image or photograph.
Die---Metal rule or imaged block used to cut or place an image on paper in the finishing process.
Die Cutting---The process of cutting shapes out of paper using preformed or custom formed steel rules.
Die Cutting---The process of using a die to cure images in or out of paper.
Digital Printing--- Printing performed on a digital copier, such as a laser color copier or Docutech.
Dot Gain Or Spread-- A term used to explain the difference in size between the dot on film versus the dot on paper. When a printed screen dot prints larger than it's appearance on a negative or proof. The result is a darker printed image. Ink absorbsion, paperstock and calibration are factors that contribute to dot gain.
Double Burn---Exposing a plate to multiple images.
Double Hit---When type or image blurs or appears ghosted on printed sheet. This occurs when there is a second contact with paper and blanket.
Down Time---The length of time a press is held while waiting for client approval of printed sheet.
Dryback---The tonal shift of color from when an ink is applied to when it has dried.
Dummy---See Comp/Comprehensive.
Duotone---A two color halftone of a continuous tone image. Each color emphasizes a separate tonal range to achieve an image with more visual depth.
Duplex---A factory milled sheet of paper with two different color values on its front and back.
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E-Commerce--- The convenient process of ordering products and services online.
Embossing---Pressing an image into paper so that it creates a raised area.
Emulsion---Light-sensitive coating found on printing plates and film.
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Film Trapping---The amount of spread or choke of a particular color built in when the plates are burned.
Finish---The texture of a particular paper.
Fit---Refers to the registration of film for multi-colored projects. Good fit means all film lines up properly.
Flat Color--- Using one ink to represent one color as opposed to percentages of process color. Also, spot color.
Flood--- To cover a printed page with ink, varnish or plastic coating completely.
Flood Varnish---To cover entire printed sheet with varnish.
Foil---A metallic or pigmented coating on plastic sheets or rolls used in foil stamping and foil embossing/debossing.
Foil Emboss/Deboss---Foil stamping and embossing/debossing an image on paper with a die.
Foil Stamping---Using a die to place a metallic or pigmented image on paper.
Foiling--- A die process used to create images or type with a shiny, reflective appearance.
Form---Each side of a press sheet.
Fountain---The well on a printing press that holds the ink.
Four Color---See Process Color or CMYK.
FPO--- An acronym for “For Position Only. “ Refers to low resolution images used in a mock up or dummy to denote their finished size and cropping.
French Fold---Two folds at right angles to each other.
FTP--- An acronym meaning File Transfer Protocol. The process of sending or receiving files electronically through the Internet. Not to be confused with attaching an attachment to an e-mail, FTP is performed using an FTP client (software) or a Web page with FTP capabilities.
Full Justification--- Type that is justified to the right and left margins, creating no variation between line lengths on either end; except the last line, which is left justified.
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Gamut---A term used to describe the color space of different color models. Usually refers to the limitations of the CMYK palette. RGB colors must be adjusted to CMYK gamut to insure proper color balance.
Ghosting---A press error which causes a faint image to appear on a press sheet.
Ghosting--- A faint printed image that appears on a printed sheet where it was not intended. More often than not, this problem is a function of graphical design. It is hard to tell when or where ghosting will occur. Sometimes, you can see the problem developing immediately after printing the sheet, other times the problem occurs while drying. However the problem occurs, it is costly to fix, if it can be fixed. Occasionally, it can be eliminated by changing the color sequence, the inks, the paper, changing to a press with a drier, printing the problem area in a separate pass through the press, or changing the racking (reducing the number of sheets on the drying racks).
Gloss--- A shiny look, reflecting light.
Gradient--- A transition of color, creating a blended change between screen percentages of a single color or between two different colors.
Grain--- The fibers in a sheet of paper. Grain direction, when scoring and folding, is critical to avoid cracking.
Grain Direction---Direction of the paper's fibers.
Gripper---A clamp-like device which grabs the front of the press sheet and pulls it through the press. Also refers to the edge of the press sheet which leaves the press first.
Gutter--- The area that falls outside the project's final trim area, between pages composed on the same press sheet.
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Halftone---A screen pattern of fine dots used to represent a continuous tone.
Hard Copy---The output of a computer printer, or typed text sent for typesetting.
Hickey--- Small spots, specs or imperfections on a press sheet caused by dirt or dust on the plate or blanket.
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Image Area---Portion of paper on which ink can appear.
Impose Or Imposition--- The process of arranging multiple pages on a press sheet so they will fold, cut and bind in their proper order.
Imposition---Positioning printed pages so they will fold in the proper order.
Impression---Contact between a plate and a press sheet. Putting an image on paper.
Imprint---Adding copy to a previously printed page.
In Line---The ability to add a varnish coat at the same time ink is applied to a press sheet.
Indicia---Postal information placed on a printed product.
Ink Holdout---When a particular paperstock prevents ink from absorbing. Better holdout translates to sharper reproduction.
Ink Tack---The ink's ability to pull apart or become tacky. Too tacky and the ink will pick.
In-Register---When multiple colors on a press sheet are in alignment.
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Justification--- The act of specifying how a block of type will look on a page. See left justified, right justified, center justified, and full justification.-
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Kiss Die Cut---To cut the top layer of a pressure-sensitive sheet and not the backing. Sticker sheets use this technique.
Knockout--- Type or images the reverse out of a solid color or tint, exposing the paperstock.
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Left Justified---Type that is justified to the left margin and the line lengths vary on the right.
Line Art---Any art that is represented as a solid without screens or halftones.
Live Area---The finished area inside crop marks.
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Magenta---One of the basic colors in process color. The pink color.
Makeready---The preparation of color and registration by the pressman. Also refers to a press sheet that is used during the makeready process.
Mask---Blocking light from reaching parts of a printing plate.
Match Color---A custom mixed color matching a numbered color chip. See Pantone.
Matchprint--- The process of using gels or naps to create a color proof which accurately represents how a job will look when printed on press when printed in 4-color process. There are some spot color gels, but the selection is extremely limited and may not be a true representation.
Matte--- A dull look, reflecting light poorly.
Mechanical-- Camera ready artwork with final placement of type and images.
Metallic Ink--- Inks containing metal powder, having a shiny reflective quality.
Moire--- Pronounced “More-Ay. “ A pattern caused by conflicting screen angles.
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Offline---To print an additional color or varnish coat after a project has been printed.
Offset Printing--- A method of printing when ink is transferred from a plate, to a blanket, then to a press sheet. Also called lithography.
Offsetting--- Using an intermediate surface used to transfer ink. Also, an unpleasant happening when the images of freshly printed sheets transfer images to each other.
One-To-One Fit---When no trap is build into design elements. See Butt Register.
Opacity--- The amount of “show-through “ from one sheet to another. Also the show-through of an ink.
Opaque Ink---Ink that will not allow the paper to show through.
Out of Registry---When elements on a printed page to not line up properly.
Overprint---To print one color on top of another.
Overrun---Copies printed in excess of the specified quantity.
Overs---The printing of more pieces than specified.
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Page Count--- Total number of pages in a book, including blanks.
Pantone---(Pantone Matching System or PMS) The trade name for an industry standard color matching system.
PDF---See Adobe Acrobat.
Perfect Bind--- A type of binding that glues the edge of sheets to a cover, i.e. a telephone book, an Adobe software manual, or Country Living Magazine.
Picking---A printing problem when tacky ink pulls up small pieces of paper during the printing process.
Pixel---A small unit of color in a digital image.
Pixellation---An undesirable rashing of digital images when the Pixels become apparent to the eye. Caused by a digital image with too few Pixels-Per-Inch (PPI).
Plate---Metal or paper material that carries the image for offset printing.- Also, an object, onto which an image is burned using light, which is placed onto a press for the use of printing ink onto paper.
Plugging-- When ink fills in around halftone dots or fine knockout lines.
PMS---The abbreviated name of the Pantone Color Matching System.
Point--- For paper, a unit of thickness equaling 1/1000 inch. for typesetting, a unit of height equaling 1/72 inch.
Postcript--- The technology used to duplicate the screen patterns of traditional printing presses, so that hardcopies may be used as original artwork. A standard the images and type will render as accurately as possible.
Postscript Font--- As opposed to a true type font, postscript fonts contain two files: a screen font and a printer font. When sending to your printer, please make sure to attach both files.
Powder---Fine powder used on during the printing process to prevent offsetting.
Prepress--- Camera work, stripping, plate burning performed by a printshop (digitally or manually) to prepare a project for press.
Press Check---To check a printed project after makeready to judge color and registration.
Press Run---The number of sheets needed to pass through a press to complete a project.
Press Sheet---The paper stock used for a specific project.
Printer Font--- The file a computer uses to help the printer print a font correctly. This file is necessary for printer output. Without the printer font, a font may look correct on screen, but will print incorrectly. On a PC, printer fonts have the extension of .pfb. On a Macintosh, printer fonts have the red A icon and are not usually located within a suitcase.
Printer's Spread--- Documents imposed on a press sheet so that they fold, cut and bind in their proper order.
Process Color--- The process of using cyan, magenta, yellow and black to build/create any and all colors. The price of printing in process is generally equal to that of printing three spot colors.
Proof---Any color or black and white representation of artwork prepared for client review using final type and design elements.
Proofing--- When a job has been sent to the proofreader, to the sales representative or customer service representative, or to the client to be looked over.
Pull A Job---Pulling a job
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Ragged Left---Type that is justified to the right margin and the line lengths vary on the left. See right justified.
Ragged Right---Type that is justified to the left margin and the line lengths vary on the right. See left justified.
Reader's Spread---Documents on a press sheet that will face each other when project is completed. Not the same as a Printer's Spread.
Ream---Five hundred sheets of paper.
Reflow--- Or Type Reflow. When paragraph text shifts, affecting line returns and hyphenation. Due to the replacement of one font with another.
Register---The alignment of colors on a press sheet.
Register Marks--- Cross-hair lines or marks on film, plates and paper that guide strippers, platemakers, pressmen and bindery personnel in processing a print order from start to finish. Also called Targets.
Resolution---The number of pixels per inch (PPI) in a digital image. High resolution is typically 300ppi when the image is at finished size. Not the same as LPI or lines per inch.
RGB--- Red, Green, Blue. The color format used by computer monitors and television screens using refracted light. RGB images will not properly separate to film unless converted to CMYK.
Right Justified---Type that is justified to the right margin and the line lengths vary on the left.
RIP---The image processor which translates type and design elements to film.
Rollers---Tube shaped mechanics that deliver ink from the fountain to the plate in a uniform manner.
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Saddle Stitch---Binding a booklet or magazine with staples in the seam where it folds.
Sawtooth---The stairstep appearance of an edge created when the end of a screened area meets the end of a halftone.
Scanner--- Device used to make color separations, halftones, duotones and tritones. Also a device used to scan art, pictures or drawings in desktop publishing.
Score---The mechanical crease created on a piece of paper to aid folding.
Screen---The conversion of a continuous tone image to dots.
Screen Angle---The angle of a halftone. Using overlapping screen requires appropriate angles to avoide Moire.
Screen Font---A digital typeface file required to preview the typeface on a computer monitor. Different than a Printer Font.
Screen Percentage---The amount of ink coverage applied.
Self Cover---Using the same paper as the text for the cover.
Separation---Negative film created from a full color image for use in Process printing.
Sheetfed--- Printing from a stack of cut sheets, one sheet at a time.
Sheetwise--- Printing one side of a document, then turning the sheet over to print the other side.
Side Stitch---Binding by stapling along one side of a sheet.
Signature--- A sheet printed on both sides, ready to fold and trim, representing one section of a book.
Skid---A platform that supports paper.
Solid---Any area that prints 100% of ink value.
Spot Color--- Ink which has been mixed before printing, creating a solid flood of color more easily matchable from printing to printing.
Spot Varnish---Varnish used to highlight a specific part of the printed sheet.
Screen Ruling Or LPI--- Lines per inch. The greater the number of lines, the finer the continuous tone.
Stamping---Term for foil stamping.
Stock---The material to be printed.
Stripper---The individual responsible for the positioning of film on a flat prior to platemaking.
Stripping---The positioning of film on a flat prior to platemaking.
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Tail---The edge of the press sheet which leaves the press last.
Tints---A shade of a single color or combined colors.
Trap---An area where two colors overlap minutely. Trap is used to make sure any shift in printing does not result in areas where paper is seen where there should be ink.
Trap Or Trapping---The overlapping of ink where one color meets another to prevent paper from showing through.
Trim Marks---Similar to crop or register marks. These marks show where to trim the printed sheet.
Trim Size---The final size of one printed image after the last trim is made.
Tritone---A halftone picture made up of three printed colors.
True Type Font--- As opposed to a postscript font, true type fonts are used by both the screen and the printer to display and print the font correctly. On a PC, true type fonts have the extension of .ttf. On a Macintosh, true type fonts have a blue triple-A icon (as opposed to screen fonts which have a blue single-A icon) and are usually located within a Suitcase.
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Uncoated---Paper with no coating. Also called offset paper.
Up--- As in “four up. “ Indicated the number of identical documents are on a single press sheet.
Up To Color---When the color balance is at its correct density.
UV Coating---Liquid laminate bonded and cured with ultraviolet light. Environmentally friendly.
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Varnish---A lacquer applied to a printed piece for protection and appearance. May be glossy or dull.
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Wash Up---To clean the ink from the press.
Wire O---A bindery trade name for mechanical binding using double loops of wire through a hole.
Wire-O Binding---A method of wire binding books along the binding edge that will allow the book to lay flat using double loops. See wire O.
With The Grain---Folding or feeding paper into the press or folder parallel to the grain of the paper.
Work And Tumble---Printing one side of a sheet and turning it over from the gripper to the tail to print the second side using the same side guide and plate for the second side.
Work And Turn---Printing one side of a sheet and turning it over from left to right, using the same side guides and plate for the second side.