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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.
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 usually considered
an additional cost to the client.
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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.
Basis Weight
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.
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
A repeating registration problem in the printing stage of production.
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 side 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 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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C1S and C2S
Abbreviations for coated one side and coated two sides.
Calender
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, reproduction copy, or
press-ready 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.
CIP3
The manufacturers' association CIP3 (International Cooperation
for Integration in Prepress, Press and Postpress) was established
in 1995 in order to promote the non-proprietary digital integration
of the printing process covering all stages from prepress to
press and finishing. Its most important achievement was in defining
the Print Production Format, a data format for recording all
information relevant for this process. In 1999, CIP3 was incorporated
into CIP4 which covers a broader sweep of themes.
CIP4
Created in the middle of 2000 from the manufacturers' association
CIP3, the manufacturers' and users' organization CIP4 (International
Cooperation for the Integration of Processes in Prepress, Press
and Postpress), headquartered in Zurich, had the goal of providing
the basis for the computer-based integration of the entire process
involved in the production of print products, from preliminary
costing and quotations to delivery and billing. One of the first
results has been the agreement of the Job Definition Format
(JDF) as a common standard. This was achieved in conjunction
with Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, Adobe Systems, MAN Roland,
Agfa and the Fraunhofer Institut für grafische Datenverarbeitung
(IGD).
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 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.
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.
Cyan overhang
In contrast to the theory, in most cases in four-color printing
you don’t need equal quantities of the three basic colors
cyan, magenta and yellow to create a neutral gray. Instead,
you generally need a significantly higher quantity of cyan.
The extra cyan is known as the cyan overhang.
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Dampening system
The dampening system of offset
presses has the task of drawing a thin film of dampening solution
– water with a component of isopropyl alcohol and other
additives – over the non-printing areas of the form. We
can distinguish between, on the one hand, vibrator-type dampening
systems and dampening systems where direct contact exists between
the dampening solution holder and a vibrator cylinder and, on
the other hand, centrifugal, turbo or brush-type dampening systems
which do not have this direct contact. With indirect systems,
the dampening system feeds the dampening solution to an inking
form roller which in turn feeds ink and dampening solution in
dispersion form to the printing plate.
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.
DIN sizes
These standard metric sheet sizes are widely used outside the
United States. The most important ones belong to the A series,
in which the next-smaller size has a length corresponding to
half that of the next-larger size. They include A4 (210 x 297
mm) and A3 (297 x 410 mm).
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.
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 hole
in a printed matter. A drill uses rotating drill bits to drill
through paper.
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.
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