Glossary of Printing Terms

TIP: Use your web browser’s EDIT > FIND feature to search for terms on this page. This glossary includes some of the technical and business terms used in the book, Getting it Printed, copyright © 1993 by Mark Beach.

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 affect.

acid-free paper

Paper made from pulp containing little or no acid so it resists deterioration from age. Also called archival paper.

additive color

Color produced by light falling onto a surface. The additive primary colors are red, green and blue.

against the grain

At right angles to the grain direction of the paper being used. Also called across the grain and cross-grain.

alteration

Any change made by the customer after sending files to the printer.

anti-offset powder

Fine powder lightly sprayed over the printed surface of coated paper as sheets leave a press.

antique finish

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.

archival paper

Alternate term for acid-free paper.

backup

Printing on one side of a page that must align correctly with printing on the other side.

basic size

The standard size of sheets of paper used to calculate basis weight in the U.S. and Canada. 25 x 38 for book papers; 20 x 26 for cover papers; 22 1/2 x 28 1/2 or 22 1/2 x 35 for bristols; 25 1/2 x 30 1/2 for index.

basis weight

Weight (in pounds) of a ream of paper (500 sheets) in the basic size for that grade.

binding

Various methods of securing folded sections together and/or fastening them to a cover, to form single copies of a book.

bitmap

Computer image consisting of pixels or halftone dots

black point

Reference point defining the darkest area in an image. Also known as Dmax (maximum density).

blade coating

Method of coating paper that ensures a relatively thick covering and level surface, as compared to film coating. Also called knife coating. Gloss, dull and matte papers are blade coated.

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 emboss

A design or bas relief impression that is made without using inks or metal foils.

blistering

Although seemingly dry, paper does contain approximately 5% moisture. In cases where there is excessive moisture, and the paper is passed through a high heat-drying chamber, the moisture within the paper actually boils and causes a bubble or blistering effect.

bond paper

Category of paper used for writing, printing and photo-copying. Also called business paper, communication paper and writing paper.

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) and coated paper (also called art paper, enamel paper, gloss paper and slick paper).

brightness

Measurement of light reflected from paper.

bristol paper

General term referring to paper six points or thicker with basis weight between 90# and 200# (200-500 gsm). Used for products such as index cards, file folders and displays.

broke

Trimmings, defective sheets, and other imprinted paper collected at the mill and from converters and printers. Broke is preconsumer waste that mills recycle back into pulp.

broken carton

Carton of paper from which some of the sheets have been sold. Also called less carton.

build a color

To overlap two or more screen tints to create a new color. Such an overlap is called a build, color build or tint build.

bulk

Thickness of paper relative to its basis weight.

bulking dummy

Dummy assembled from the actual paper specified for a printing job.

burst binding

A binding technique that entails nicking the back fold in short lengths during the folding process, which allows glue to reach each individual leaf and create a strong bond.

calender

To make the surface of paper smooth by pressing it between rollers during manufacture.

caliper

Thickness of paper or other substrate expressed in thousandths of an inch (mils of points), pages per inch (ppi), thousandths of a millimeter (microns) or pages per centimeter (ppc).

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 and hard bind.

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.

CCD

Abbreviation for charged coupled device such as a camera or scanner that uses arrays of photocells to capture images.

chalking

A term used to describe the quality of print on paper where the absorption of the paper is so great that it breaks up the ink image creating loose pigment dust.

change order

Alternate term for alteration.

chipboard

Solid (not corrugated) cardboard.

choke

Technique of slightly reducing the size of an image to create a hairline trap or to outline. Also called shrink and skinny.

chroma

Strength of a color as compared to how close it seems to neutral gray. Also called depth, intensity, purity and saturation.

CIE

Abbreviation for Commission International de I'Eclairage, the organization that developed color standards used in PostScript and other software.

clean color

Subjective term meaning vivid or pure.

ClS and C2S

Abbreviations for coated one side and coated two sides.

CMYK

Abbreviation for cyan, magenta, yellow and key (black), the process colors.

coated paper

Paper with a coating of clay and other substances that improves reflectivity and ink holdout.

cockle finish

A paper surface created by air drying, giving the paper a wavy look.

collate

To gather sheets or signatures together in correct order.

collateral

Printed pieces, such as newsletters and brochures, that support or supplement display or broadcast advertising.

color balance

Refers to amounts of process colors that simulate the colors of the original scene or photograph.

color break

In multicolor printing, the point, line or space at which one ink color stops and another begins.

color cast

Unwanted color affecting an entire 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.

color correct

To adjust the relationship among the process colors to achieve desirable colors.

color curves

Instructions in software that allow users to change or correct colors. Also called HLS and HVS tables.

color gamut

The entire range of hues possible to reproduce using a specific device or process.

color matching system

System of numbered ink swatches that facilitates communication about color.

color model

A dimensional coordinate system used to describe colors numerically. Some models include Red, Green, Blue (RGB); Hue, Lightness, Saturation (HLS); Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black (CMYK); and Lightness, a, b (Lab).

color separation

1. Technique of using a camera, scanner or computer to divide continuous-tone color images into four halftone negatives, or plates. 2. The film, proof, plate or printed product resulting from color separating.

color sequence

Order in which inks are printed. With process colors, the sheetfed sequence is often black first, then magenta, cyan, and yellow last. The web sequence is often cyan, magenta, yellow, with black either first or last. Also called laydown sequence and rotation.

color shift

Change in image color resulting from changes in register, ink densities or dot gain.

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 GBC bind.

commercial match

Acceptable difference between the color on a sample of ink or paper, or the color on a proof, and the color achieved on press.

commercial printer

Printer producing a wide range of products such brochures, posters, booklets, stationery and business forms. Also called job printer because each job is different.

commercial register

Informal trade recognition that acceptable quality allows slight variation of register throughout the press run.

commodity

Refers to paper or printing produced quickly and in high volumes, thus relatively inexpensive.

composite proof

Proof of halftones and separations in position with graphics and type.

composition

The arrangement of type, graphics and other elements on the page.

comprehensive dummy

Simulation of a printed piece complete with type, graphics and colors. Abbreviated comp.

compressed files

Files with nonessential data deleted to make them easier to store and transmit.

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.

continuous-tone copy

All photographs and those illustrations having a range of shades not made up of dots. Abbreviated contone.

contract proof

Any proof that the customer considers final.

cool colors

Blues, greens, purples and browns.

corrugated board

Board made by sandwiching fluted kraft paper between sheets of paper or cardboard. Used for making boxes.

cover paper

Category of thick paper used for products such as posters, menus, folders and covers of paperback books. Also called card stock.

creep

Phenomenon of middle pages of a folded signature extending slightly beyond outside pages. Also called feathering, outpush, push out and thrust.

crop marks

Lines near the edges of an image indicating portions to be reproduced. Also called cut marks and tic marks.

crossover

Type of art that continues from one page of a book or magazine across the gutter to the opposite page. Also called bridge and gutter jump.

customer service representative

Employee of a printer who coordinates projects and keeps customers informed. Abbreviated CSR.

cut sizes

Paper sizes used with office machines and small presses.

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.

CWT

Abbreviation for hundredweight using the Roman numeral C=100.

dandy roll

Wire-mesh drum on a papermaking machine that presses watermarks and surface patterns into paper while it is still 90 percent water.

DCS

Abbreviation for Desktop Color Separation, a legacy format for defining pre-separated encapsulated PostScript files, now used mainly for spot color work.

deboss

To press an image into paper so it lies below the surface.

deckle edge

Edge of paper left ragged as it comes from the papermaking machine instead of being cleanly cut. Also called feather edge.

densitometer

Device used to measure light reflected from paper or transmitted through film.

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.

device independent colors

Hues identified by wavelength or by their place in systems such as those developed by CIE. "Device independent" means a color can be described and specified regardless of how it is reproduced.

die cut

To cut irregular shapes in paper or paperboard using a die.

digital camera

Camera that captures images using CCDs, not film.

digital master

A press-ready Adobe PDF file.

digital plate

Plate burned from a computer file, not film.

display type

Type larger than 14 points.

Dmax l Dmin

The points of maximum/minimum density (darkness/lightness) in an image or that a device can capture.

doctor blade

Flexible metal strip on a gravure press that controls the thickness of ink.

dot area

Refers to the percentage of ink coverage that a screen tint allows to print. Also called screen percentage.

dot gain

Phenomenon of halftone dots printing larger on paper than they are on films or plates.

dots-per-inch

Measure of resolution of input devices such as scanners and output devices such as laser printers and imagesetters. Abbreviated dpi.

double black duotone

Duotone printed from two halftones, one exposed for highlights and the other exposed for midtones and shadows.

doubling

Printing flaw created by slight bounce of blanket against paper.

drawdown

Sample of inks specified for a job applied to the substrate specified for a job. Also called pulldown.

drop out

Halftone dots or fine lines eliminated from highlights by overexposure during camera work. The lost copy is said to have dropped out.

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.

dullfinish

Flat (not glossy) finish on coated paper; slightly smoother than matte. Also called suede and velvet.

dummy

Simulation of the final product. Also called mock-up.

duotone

A halftone reproduction of an image using the superimposition of one contrasting color halftone (traditionally black) over another color halftone. This is most often used to bring out middle tones and highlights of an image.

duplex paper

Thick paper made by pasting together two thinner sheets, usually of different colors. Also called double-faced paper and twotone paper.

duplicator

Offset press made for quick printing.

dynamic range

Practical limit of a scanner or press to capture or reproduce an image.

emboss

To press an image into paper so it lies above the surface. Also called cameo and tool.

emulsion

Coating of light-sensitive chemicals on papers, films, printing plates and stencils.

Encapsulated PostScript file

Computer file containing both images and PostScript commands. Abbreviated EPS.

end sheet

Sheet that attaches the inside pages of a case bound book to its cover.

engraving

Printing method using a plate, also called a die, with an image cut into its surface.

EPS

Abbreviation for Encapsulated PostScript.

estimate

Price that states what a job will probably cost. Also called bid, quotation and tender.

fair use

Concept in copyright law allowing, without permission from copyright holder, short quotations from a copyrighted product for purposes of reviewing or teaching.

farm out

To subcontract for a service that is closely related to the business of the organization. Also called buy out. Work that is farmed out is called outsourced or referred to as being out of house.

feeding unit

Component of a printing press that moves paper into the register unit.

felt finish

Soft woven pattern in text paper.

feltside

Side of the paper that does not make contact with the Fourdrinier wire during papermaking.

film coating

Method of coating paper that leaves a relatively thin covering and rough surface, as compared to blade coating.

finepapers

Papers made specifically for writing and printing.

finish

1. Surface characteristics of paper. 2. General term for trimming, folding, binding and all other postpress operations.

fixed

[costs]. Costs that remain the same regardless of how many pieces are printed.

flat

Stripped film ready for platemaking.

flat color

Alternate term for spot color.

flexography

Method of printing on a webpress using rubber or soft plastic plates with raised images. Also called aniline printing. Abbreviated flexo.

flood

To print a sheet completely with an ink or varnish.

foil stamp

Method of printing that releases foil from its backing when stamped with the heated die. Also called block print.

font

Complete assortment of uppercase and lowercase characters, numerals, punctuation and other symbols of one typeface.

form

Each side of a signature. Also spelled forme.

form bond

Lightweight bond made for business forms. Also called register bond.

form web

Press using rolls 8-1/2 to 10-inch wide to print business forms, direct mailers, catalog sheets, stationery and other products whose flat size is typically 8-1/2 x 11 inches.

format

Size, style, shape, layout or organization of a layout or printed product.

formula pricing

Prices shown on a grid or spreadsheet.

fountain solution

Mixture of water and chemicals that dampens a printing plate to prevent ink from adhering to the non-image area. Also called dampener solution.

Fourdrinier machine

Machine used to make paper by catching furnish on a wire called a Fourdrinier wire.

free sheet

Paper made from cooked wood fibers mixed with chemicals and washed free of impurities. Also called woodfree paper.

furnish

Mixture of fibers, water, dyes, and chemicals poured from the headbox onto the Fourdrinier wire of a papermaking machine. Also called slurry and stock.

gate fold

Two or more parallel folds on a sheet with the end flaps folding inward.

gathered

Signatures assembled next to each other in the proper sequence for binding. Also called stacked.

GCR

Abbreviation for gray component replacement.

ghosting

1. Phenomenon of a faint image appearing on a printed sheet where it was not intended to appear. 2. Phenomenon of printed image appearing too light because of ink starvation.

gloss finish

Shiny finish on photographic paper or coated printing paper.

GRACoL

Abbreviation for General Requirements and Applications for Commercial Offset Lithography.

grade

General term used to distinguish 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/short paper

Paper whose fibers run parallel to the long/short dimension of the sheet.

grammage

Basis weight of paper expressed in grams per square meter (gsm).

graphic arts

The crafts, industries and professions related to designing and printing on paper and other substrates.

graphic design

Arrangement of type and visual elements along with specifications for paper, ink colors and printing processes that, when combined, convey a visual message.

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 (neutral) tones in the yellow, cyan and magenta separations with black. Abbreviated GCR.

gray levels

Number of distinct gray tones that can be captured by a scanner or reproduced by an output device.

gray scale

Strip of gray values, ranging from white to black, used to calibrate exposure times for film and plates. Also called step wedge.

gripper edge

Edge of a sheet held by grippers on a sheetfed press, thus going first through the press. Also called feeding edge and leading edge.

groundwood paper

Newsprint and other inexpensive paper made from pulp created when wood chips are ground mechanically rather than refined chemically.

guillotine cutter

Large cutting machine whose blade trims paper evenly across a stack of sheets. The blade is brought down from above, hence the term guillotine.

hairline

Subjective term referring to very small space, thin line or close register.

half web

Press using rolls 17" to 20" wide to print eight-page signatures whose flat size is typically 17" x 22".

halftone

A photograph or continuous-tone illustration that has been converted to dots for reproduction.

hard copy proof

Type and images on paper or proofing material.

heat-set web

Web press equipped with an oven to dry ink, thus able to print coated paper.

hickey

A printing defect caused by foreign matter on the printing surface resulting in a ring where the ink is missing, appearing as a spot of ink surrounded by a halo, most visible in areas of heavy ink coverage, caused by dirt on the plate or blanket or cheaper paper stock.

high-fidelity

[color]. Color reproduced using six, eight or twelve separations.

high-key photo

Photo whose most important details appear in the highlights.

highlights

Lightest portions of an image.

histogram

Vertical bar chart showing tonal range in an image.

HLS

Abbreviation for hue, lightness, saturation. Also called HVS.

hologram

1. The pattern produced on a photosensitive medium that has been exposed by holography and then photographically developed. 2. The photosensitive medium so exposed and so developed. Also called holograph.

house sheet

Paper kept in stock by a printer and suitable for a wide variety of printing jobs, usually bought at bulk price. Also called floor sheet.

IBC

Abbreviation for inside back cover.

ICC profile

(International Color Consortium profile) An ISO-approved color management standard for specifying the attributes of imaging devices such as scanners, digital cameras, monitors and printers so that the color of an image remains true from source to destination. A profile can be embedded within the image itself. For more information, visit the International Color Consortium Web site at www.color.org

IFC

Abbreviation for inside front cover.

image trap

Slight overlapping of images to ensure they appear registered.

imagesetter

Laser device for outputting film or plates.

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

1. Referring to an ink color, one impression equals one press sheet passing once through a printing unit. 2. Referring to the 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.

impressions per hour

Measure of speed of a printing press. Abbreviated iph.

imprint

To print new copy on a previously printed sheet, such as imprinting an employee's name on a business card shell. Also called surprint.

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.

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 trap

Ink printed over a previously printed image.

ink-jet printing

Method of printing by spraying droplets of ink through computer-controlled nozzles.

interpolation

Increasing input resolution by using software to create new pixels based on the nature of neighboring pixels.

ISO sizes

Metric paper sizes.

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 ticket

Form used to specify the production schedule of a job and the materials and processes it needs. Also called docket, production order and work order.

JPEG

Abbreviation for Joint Photographic Experts Group. Usually used in reference to their popular compression scheme, "I saved the file in JPEG format."

Kelvin

The Kelvin scale measures the hue of light. "Hue" in this technical meaning refers not just to color generally, but to the relative warmth of a specific light source - its spectrum frequency, or color temperature. In printing, common viewing temperatures for viewing printed sheets and proofs are 5000K, 6500K and 7500K, with 6500K gaining popularity as the modern standard, while 5000K was accepted as the old standard.

kerning

Adjusting space between pairs of letters to make them appear better fitted.

keylines

Lines on a mechanical or negative showing the exact size, shape and location of photographs or other graphic elements. Also called holding lines.

kiss die cut

Die cut through face materials but not backing.

knockout

Alternate term for reverse.

kraft paper

Strong paper used for wrapping and to make grocery bags and large envelopes.

laid finish

Finish on bond or text paper on which grids of parallel lines simulate the surface of handmade paper.

lap

Edge of a signature that a machine grips during binding operations.

laser

Acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation; very intense light that can be precisely focused.

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 edge

Edge of a sheet of paper being fed into a printing press.

lay-flat bind

Method of perfect binding that allows a publication to lie fully open.

leading

Amount of space between lines of type.

leaf

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

ledger paper

Strong, smooth bond paper used for keeping business records. Ledger paper is usually sub 28 or 32. Also called record paper.

legacy materials

Art, film or files from previous print jobs for incorporating into a new job.

legal paper

North American term for bond paper trimmed to 8-1/2" X 14" sheets.

legible

Referring to type having sufficient contrast with its background that readers can easily perceive the characters.

letter paper

In North America, 8-1/2" X 11" sheets. In Europe, A4 sheets.

letterpress

Method of printing from metal type and other raised surfaces. Also called block printing.

lettershop

Alternate term for mailing service.

letterspacing

Distance between individual letters. See also kerning and tracking.

lightweight paper

Book paper with basis weight less than 40# (60 gsm).

line copy

Any high-contrast image, including type.

lineart

Line art is any image that consists of distinct straight and curved lines placed against a (usually plain) background, without gradations in shade (darkness) or hue (color) to represent two-dimensional or three-dimensional objects. Also known as black-and-white, as opposed to grayscale.

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. Non-image areas may be coated with water to repel the oily ink or may have a surface, such as silicon, that repels ink.

long run

Relatively large quantity to print in relation to the size and speed of press used.

looseproof

Proof of a halftone or color separation that is not assembled with other elements from a page. Also called first proof, random proof, scatter proof and show-color proof.

low-key photo

Photo whose most important details appear in the shadows.

lpi / lpcm

Lines per inch/centimeter, unit of measurement for the size of halftone dots.

M weight

Weight of 1,000 sheets of paper in any specific size.

mailing service

Business that addresses, sorts and bundles mailings according to USPS standards.

makeready

1. All activities required to prepare a press or other machine for a specific printing or bindery job. Also called setup. 2. Paper used in the makeready process at any stage in production.

making order

Order for paper that a mill makes to the customer's specifications.

mark up

To add a percentage to the cost of goods or services obtained for a customer.

matte finish

Flat (not glossy) finish on photographic paper or coated printing paper.

measured photography

Technique of exposing original photos to place critical details within the tonal range of the printing process.

metamerism

Phenomenon of color appearing different under difference light sources.

midtones

Tones created by halftone dots between 30 percent and 70 percent of coverage.

mill order

Order for paper that will be filled from inventory at a mill, not inventory at a paper merchant.

mini web

Press using rolls 11" and 14" wide to print brochures, newsletters and other products whose flat size is typically 11" x 17".

mock-up

Alternate term for dummy.

moiré

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, interferes with a halftone dot pattern.

mottle

Spotty, uneven ink absorption. Also called sinkage. A mottled image may be called mealy.

multicolor printing

Printing in more than one ink color (but not four-color process). Also called polychrome printing.

native file

File still in the application in which it was originally created.

natural color

Very light brown color of paper. May also be called antique, cream, ivory, off-white or mellow white.

NCR paper

Abbreviation for No Carbon Required paper, a brand name for carbonless paper.

nested

Signatures assembed inside one another in the proper sequence for binding. Also called inset.

neutral gray

Gray with no hue or cast.

newsprint

A light, low cost groundwood paper made especially for newspapers. Reference, groundwood.

non-heatset web

Web press without a drying oven, thus not able to print on coated paper. Also called cold-set web and open web.

OBC

Abbreviation for outside back cover.

object-oriented image

Alternate term for vector image.

oblong

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

OFC

Abbreviation for outside front cover.

off-shore sheet

Term used in the United States and Canada for paper made overseas.

offset printing

Printing technique that transfers ink from a plate to a blanket to paper instead of directly from a plate to paper.

opacity

1. Characteristic of paper that prevents printing on one side from showing through to the other. 2. Characteristic of ink that prevents the substrate from showing through.

outsource

To buy a service from an outside vendor rather than performing the service in-house.

overlay proof

Color proof consisting of clear plastic sheets laid on top of each other with their images in register. Also called layered proof.

overprint

To print one image over a previously printed image, such as printing type over a screen tint. Also called surprint.

overrun

Quantity printing delivered that is more than the quantity ordered.

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.

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.

Pantone® matching system

Most applications that support color printing allow you to specify colors by indicating the Pantone name or number. This assures that you get the right color when the file is printed, even though the color may not look right when displayed on your monitor.

parent sheet

A sheet that is larger than the cut stock of the same paper. Usually referring to sheets larger than 11" x 17" or A3.

pass

One complete sequence of activities, such as a pass through a manuscript to check spelling or a pass through a press to lay down varnish.

PDF

Abbreviation for Portable Document Format. Created by Adobe, it is a platform-independent file format allowing convienent sharing of files between the Internet, prepress devices and other media.

PDF/X

PDF/X (Portable Document Format Exchange) is a vendor-neutral ISO standard for document exchange. PDF/X is a subset of the PDF specification, intended to reflect the best practices for prepress document exchange, including the elimination of many of the color, font, and trapping variables that lead to printing problems. The PDF/X family of standards restricts the contents of a PDF file to only those things that are appropriate for print production.

peeling

Delamination.

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.

perfecting press

Press capable of printing both sides of the paper during a single pass. Also called duplex press and perfector.

pica

Anglo-American unit of typographic measure equal to .166 inch (4.218mm). One pica has 12 points.

pixel

Short for picture element consisting of spots made by a scanner or digital camera.

plate

Piece of paper, metal, plastic, or rubber carrying an image to be reproduced using a printing press.

plate-ready film

Stripped negatives or positives fully prepared for platemaking.

platesetter

Laser device for outputting plates.

pleasing color

Color that the customer considers satisfactory even though it may not match originals.

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.

point

1. Regarding paper, a unit of thickness equaling .001 inch. 2. Regarding type, a unit measure equaling 1/12 pica and .013875 inch (.351mm).

post-consumer waste

Paper that has been printed and returned to a paper mill instead of going into a landfill.

PostScript

Software that controls desktop printers and imagesetters.

ppi / ppcm

Pixels per inch/centimeter, unit of measurement for input resolution and display on monitors.

preconsumer waste

Paper that has not been printed, including trimmings leftover from converting paper into products such as envelopes, roll ends and damaged paper that printers couldn't use, and waste at the mill itself

preliminary proof

Any proof examined prior to making a contract proof.

prepress

Color correcting and separating, stripping, platemaking and other functions performed by the printer or prepress service prior to printing.

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 production to begin.

press proof

Proof made on press using the plates, ink and paper specified for the job. Also called strike off.

price break

Quantity at which unit cost of paper or printing drops. In the United States and Canada, price breaks for paper are typically at four cartons, sixteen cartons, 5,000 pounds and 20,000 pounds.

printer spreads

Files prepared so they are imposed for printing.

printing

Any process that transfers to paper or another substrate an image from an original such as a film negative or positive, electronic memory, stencil, die or plate.

printing plate

Surface carrying an image to be printed.

printing unit

Assembly of fountain, rollers and cylinders that will print one ink color. Also

process colors

The colors used for four-color process printing

proof

Test sheet made to predict results on press and show how a printing job is intended to appear when finished.

publication printer

Printing company specializing in magazines, catalogs and other products that are typically web printed and saddle stitched.

publishing paper

Paper made in weights, colors and surfaces suited to books, magazines and catalogs.

quality

Subjective term relating to expectations by the customer, printer and other professionals associated with a printing job and whether the job meets those expectations.

quarter tones

Tones between shadows and midtones (3/4 tones) and between highlight and midtones (1/4 tones).

quick printing

Printing using small sheetfed presses and cut sizes of bond and offset paper.

quotation

Price offered by a printer to produce a specific job.

raster image processor

Computer that converts files to bitmapped images ready to output on a imagesetter or platesetter. Abbreviated RIP.

readable

Characteristic of printed messages that are easy to read and understand.

reader spread

Files prepared in two-page spreads as readers would see the pages.

ream

500 sheets of paper.

ream marked

Sheets of paper in a carton or on a skid with markers placed every 500th sheet.

recycled paper

New paper made entirely or in part from old paper.

reflective copy

Products, such as fabrics, illustrations and photographic prints, viewed by light reflected from them.

register

To place printing properly with regard to the edges of paper and other printing on the same sheet. Such printing is said to be "in register."

register marks

Cross-hair lines on plates that help keep flats and backup of printing in register. Also called crossmarks, position and registration marks.

repeatability

Ability of a device, such as an imagesetter, to produce film or plates which yield images in register.

reprographics

General term for xerography, diazo, and other methods of copying used by designers, engineers, architects, or for general office use.

resolution

Refers to the sharpness and clarity of an image. The term is most often used to describe monitors, printers, and bit-mapped graphic images. Printers, monitors, scanners, and other I/O devices are often classified as high resolution, medium resolution, or low resolution. The actual resolution ranges for each of these grades is constantly shifting as the technology improves.

reverse

Type and images reproduced by printing ink around their outline, thus allowing the underlying color of paper to show through and form the image. Also called knockout.

RGB

Abbreviation for red, green and blue, the additive primary colors. The color system used for computer monitors and televisions.

right reading

Copy that reads correctly in the language in which it is written. Also describes a photo whose orientation looks like the original scene, as compared to a flopped image.

RIP

Abbreviation for raster image processor.

roman type

Style considered normal for a given typeface.

rule

Line used as a graphic element to separate or organize copy.

ruleup

Map or drawing showing how a printing job must be imposed using a specific press and sheet size.

saddle stitch

To bind by stapling sheets together where they fold at the spine. Also called pamphlet stitch, saddle wire and stitch bind.

satin finish

Alternate term for dull finish on coated paper.

scanner

Device that converts an analog image, such as a photo, to a digital image.

score

To compress paper along a straight line so it folds more easily and accurately. Also called crease.

screen angles

Angles at which screens intersect with the horizontal line of the press sheet and the placement of halftone screens to avoid unwanted moiré patterns. The common screen angles for separations are black 45°, magenta 75°, yellow 90° and cyan 105°.

screen percentage

Alternate term for dot area.

screen printing

Method of printing by using a squeegee to force ink through an assembly of mesh fabric and a stencil.

screen ruling

Number of rows or lines of dots per inch or centimeter in a screen for making a screen tint or halftone. Also called line count, screen frequency, screen size and screen value.

screen tint

Color created by dots instead of solid ink coverage. Also called fill pattern, shading, tint and tone.

screw and post bind

To bind using a bolt that screws into a post. Bolts and matching posts are available in lengths ranging from 1/4 inch to 3 inches.

scum

Undesirable thin film of ink in nonimage areas. Scumming may appear on portions of a sheet or across the entire sheet and results from poor ink/water balance. Also called blush, catch up, haze, and toning.

selective binding

Placing signatures or inserts in magazines or catalogs according to demographic or geographic guidelines.

setoff

Undesirable transfer of wet ink from the top of one sheet to the underside of another as they lie in the delivery stack of a press. Also called offset.

shadows

Darkest areas of a photograph.

sheetfed press

Press that prints sheets of paper.

sheetwise

Technique of printing one side of a sheet with one set of plates, then the other side of the sheet with a set of different plates. Also called work and back. One-up jobs require sheetwise printing.

shingling

Allowance made to compensate for creep. Creep is the problem; shingling is the solution. Also called stair stepping and progressive margins.

short run

Relatively small quantity to print in relation to the size and speed of press used.

show through

A problem that occurs when the printing on one side of a sheet is seen from the other side.

shrink wrap

Method of wrapping packages or products in clear plastic film then using heat to tighten the film around the item.

side stitch

To bind by stapling through sheets along one edge. Also called cleat stitch and side wire.

signature

Printed sheet folded at least once, possibly many times, to become part of a publication.

soft copy proof

Type and images viewed on a monitor, usually in PDF format.

specialty printer

Printer whose equipment, supplies, workflow and marketing is targeted to a specific category of products.

specifications

Complete and precise written description of features of a printing job. Abbreviated specs.

spectrophotometer

Sophisticated instrument that measures color across a visible spectrum and produces data describing the color of a given sample in terms of the three parameters in color space. Similar in concept and use to a densitometer, but much more accurate and with many varied uses. Sometimes called "spectrometer".

specular highlight

Highlight area with no printable dots, thus no detail. Also called catchlight and dropout highlight.

spiral bind

To bind using a spiral of continuous wire or plastic looped through holes. Also called coil bind.

spoilage

Paper which must be recycled due to mistakes or accidents.

spot color

Any color created by printing only one ink. Also called flat color.

spread

1. Technique of slightly enlarging the size of an image to accomplish a trap with another image. 2. Two- page arrangement of copy. See also reader spread and printer spread.

standard viewing conditions

Background of 60 percent neutral gray and light that measures 5000 Kelvin-the color of daylight on a bright day.

step and repeat

Prepress technique of copying an image in a precise, multiple pattern to create a flat or plate. Related to the imposition process.

stochastic screen

Halftone with dots that vary in placement, not size. Also called FM screen.

substance weight

Alternate term for basis weight, usually referring to bond papers. Also called sub weight.

subtractive color

Color produced by light reflected from a surface. Subtractive color includes hues in color photos and colors created by inks on paper.

subtractive primary colors

Yellow, magenta and cyan. In the graphic arts, these are known as process colors because, along with black, they are the ink colors used in 4-color-process printing.

supercalendered paper

Groundwood paper calendered using alternating, chrome and fiber rollers to produce a smooth, thin sheet for magazines, catalogs, and directories.

tagged image file format

Computer file format used to store images from scanners and video devices. Also known as target image file format for its ability to allow the target application to modify attributes within the file, e.g. colorizing a grayscale image in QuarkXPress or InDesign. Abbreviated TIFF.

target ink densities

Densities of the four process inks as recommended for various printing processes and grades of paper.

text paper

Designation for printing papers with textured surfaces such as laid or linen. Some mills also use text to refer to any paper they consider top-of-the-line, whether or not its surface has a texture.

thermography

Method of printing using colorless resin powder that takes on the color of underlying ink. Also called raised printing.

three-quarter web

Press using rolls 22" to 27" wide to print eight-page signatures whose flat trim size is typically 17" X 22". Also called eight-page webs.

TIFF

Abbreviation for tagged image file format.

tonal range

Difference between the darkest and lightest areas of copy.

tone compression

Reduction in the tonal range from original scene to printed reproduction.

total area coverage

Total of the dot percentages of the process colors in the final film. Also called maximum density, total dot density and total ink coverage.

tracking

Adjusting space between all letters until they fit a defined space or are more pleasing to the eye.

trade customs

Business terms and policies codified by trade associations to provide guidelines for contracts.

trap

See ink trap and image trap.

type style

Characteristic such as bold, italic or roman.

typeface

Design identified by a name such as Helvetica or Times.

UCR

Abbreviation for under color removal.

ultraviolet

Electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength shorter than that of the violet end of the visible spectrum but longer than that of X-rays. Commonly used for platemaking and curing UV inks and coatings.

uncoated paper

Paper that has not been coated with clay. Also called offset paper.

undercolor removal

Technique of making color separations such that the amount of cyan, magenta and yellow ink is reduced in midtone and shadow areas while the amount of black is increased. Abbreviated UCR.

underrun

Quantity printing delivered that is less than the quantity ordered.

unit cost

The cost of one item in a print run computed by dividing the total cost of the printing job by the quantity of products delivered.

unsharp masking

Technique of adjusting dot size to make a halftone or separation appear in better focus. Also called edge enhancement and peaking.

up

Term to indicate multiple copies of one image printed in one impression on a single sheet. Two up means printing the identical piece twice on each sheet.

UV

Abbreviation for ultraviolet.

UV coating

Liquid applied to a printed sheet, then bonded and cured with UV light. Considered to be the highest-quality "varnish" process available.

UV inks

Solventless inks that are cured by UV radiation. Benefits include instant drying times, so the printed piece can be moved to the next stage of production; and lack of VOCs released into the atmosphere.

value

The shade (darkness) or tint (lightness) of a color. Also called brightness, lightness.

variable

1. Costs that change depending on how many pieces are produced. 2. Data for printing many similar pieces with details that change, e.g. letter with name, address and other specific details changing on each printed item.

varnish

Liquid applied as a coating for protection and appearance.

vector image

Art made from Bézier curves, also called object oriented, as opposed to a bitmap (scanned) image.

vellum finish

Somewhat rough, toothy finish on paper.

VOC

Abbreviation for volatile organic compounds, petroleum substances used as the vehicles for many printing inks.

warm colors

Yellows, oranges and reds.

wash up

To clean ink and fountain solutions from rollers, fountains, screens and other press components.

waste

Paper which is recycled as a result of normal makeready, printing or bindery operations.

watermark

Translucent logo in bond paper created during manufacture.

web

The roll of paper that is used in web or rotary printing.

Web Break

A tear in a web roll during the printing process.

web press

Press that prints from rolls of paper, cutting it into sheets after printing. Also called reel-fed press.

web tension

The term given to the tension or pull exerted by the web press on the web roll.

white point

Reference point defining the lightest area in an image. Also known as Dmin (minimum density).

wire side

Side of the paper that rests against the Fourdrinier wire during papermaking, as compared to felt side.

with the grain

Parallel to the grain direction of the paper being used.

work and tumble

To print a sheet so that the same combination of images is printed on both front and back using the same set of plates. Work and tumble uses opposite gripper edges.

work and turn

To print a sheet so that the same combination of images is printed on both front and back using the same set of plates. Work and turn uses the same gripper edges.

work for hire

Creative work for which the creator agrees that the client owns the copyright to the finished product.

wove finish

Somewhat smooth, slightly patterned finish on bond paper.

wrong reading

An image that is backwards when compared to the original. Also called flopped and reverse reading.

xerographic paper

Papers made to reproduce well in copy machines and laser printers.