GLOSSARY OF PRINT INDUSTRY TERMS

We take pride in making our customers feel confident about their jobs during production. To help you gain a better understanding we’ve compiled a glossary of terms that are commonly used in our industry.

A

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.

Accordion fold

In binding, a term used for two or more parallel folds which open like an accordion.

Additive Color

Color produced by light falling onto a surface, as compared to subtractive color. The additive primary colors are red, green and blue.

A4 Paper

ISO paper size 210 x 297mm used for letterhead mainly in Europe.

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.

Alteration

Any change made by the customer after copy or artwork has been given to the printer. The change could be in copy, specifications or both. Also called AA, author alteration and customer alteration.

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.

Aqueous Coating

Coating in a water base and applied like ink by a printing press to protect and enhance the printing underneath.

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.

B

Back Up

To print on the second side of a sheet already printed on one side.

Basic Size

The standard size of sheets of paper used to calculate basis weight in the United States and Canada.

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.

Bind

Usually in the book arena, but not exclusively, the joining of leafs or signatures together with either wire, glue or other means.

Bindery

The department within a printing company responsible for collating, folding and trimming various printing projects.

Blanks

Category of paperboard ranging in thickness from 15 to 48 points.

Bleed

Printing that extends to the edge of a sheet or page after trimming.

Blind Image

Image debossed, embossed or stamped, but not printed with ink or foil.

Blueline

A generic term for proofs made from a variety of materials, it may also be called a blueprint. Not as common in the age of digital proofing.

Blurb

A description or commentary of an author or book content positioned on the book jacket.

Body Copy

The main text of work not including the headlines.

Bond paper

Category of paper commonly used for writing, printing and photocopying.

Book Block

Folded signatures gathered, sewn and trimmed, but not yet covered.

Border

The decorative design or rule surrounding matter on a page.

Bounce

(1) a repeating registration problem in the printing stage of production. (2) Customer unhappy with the results of a printing project and refuses to accept the project.

Bristol Paper

General term referring to paper 6 points or thicker with basis weight between 90# and 200# (200-500 gsm). Used for products such as index cards, file folders and displays.

Broken Carton

Carton of paper from which some of the sheets have been sold.

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.

C

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).

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.

Carbonless Paper

Paper coated with chemicals that enable transfer of images from one sheet to another with pressure from writing or typing.

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.

Cast-coated Paper

High gloss, coated paper made by pressing the paper against a polished, hot, metal drum while the coating is still wet.

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.

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.

Chokes and spreads

Overlap of overprinting images to avoid color or white fringes or borders around image detail. Called trapping in digital imaging systems.

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.

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. Also called break for color.

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.

Color Fast Inks

Inks with colors that retain their density and resist fading as the product is used and washed.

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 Separation

The product resulting from color separating and subsequent four-color process printing. Also called separation.

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.

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.

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.

Creep

Phenomenon of middle pages of a folded signature extending slightly beyond outside pages.

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.

Cut Sizes

Paper sizes used with office machines and small presses.

Cyan

One of the four process colors. Also known as process blue.

D

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.

Densitometer

Instrument used to measure density..

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.

Desktop Publishing

Technique of using a personal computer to design images and pages, and assemble type and graphics.

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 electronically onto paper via laser or ink-jet. Won’t be color correct for spot colors.

Digital Dot

Digital dots are uniform in size, as compared to halftone dots that vary in size.

Dot Gain

Phenomenon of halftone dots printing larger on paper than they are on films or plates, reducing detail and lowering contrast.

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.

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.

Drawdown

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

Drill

In the printing arena, to drill a hole in a printed matter.

Dropout

Halftone dots or fine lines eliminated from highlights by overexposure during camera work.

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.

Dull Finish

Flat (not glossy) finish on coated paper; slightly smoother than matte.

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-thick paper.

E

Emboss

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

Emulsion

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

Emulsion Down/Emulsion Up

Film whose emulsion side faces down (away from the viewer) or up (toward the viewer) when ready to make a plate or stencil. Abbreviated ED, EU. Also called E up/down and face down/face up.

Encapsulated PostScript file

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

Engraving

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

EPS

Encapsulated Post Script, a known file format usually used to transfer post script information from one program to another.

Equivalent Paper

Paper that is not the brand specified, but looks, prints and may cost the same. . Also called comparable stock.

Estimate

Price that states what a job will probably cost.

F

Face

Edge of a bound publication opposite the spine. Also called foredge. Also, an abbreviation for typeface referring to a family of a general style.

Feeding Unit

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

Felt Finish

Soft woven pattern in text paper.

Felt Side

Side of the paper that was not in contact with the Fourdrinier wire during papermaking, as compared to wire side.

Fifth Color

Ink color used in addition to the four needed by four-color process.

Film Laminate

Thin sheet of plastic bonded to a printed product for protection or increased gloss.

Fine Papers

Papers made specifically for writing or commercial printing, as compared to coarse papers and industrial papers.

Finish

(1) Surface characteristics of paper. (2) General term for trimming, folding, binding and all other post press operations.

Finished Size

Size of product after production is completed, as compared to flat size. Also called trimmed size.

Fixed Costs

Costs that remain the same regardless of how many pieces are printed. Copyrighting, photography and design are fixed costs.

Flat Size

Size of product after printing and trimming, but before folding, as compared to finished size.

Flexography

Method of printing on a web press using rubber or plastic plates with raised images. Abbreviated flexo.

Flood Coat

To print a sheet completely with an ink or varnish.

Flush Cover

Cover trimmed to the same size as inside pages, as compared to overhang cover. Also called cut flush

Foil Emboss

To foil stamp and emboss an image. Also called hot stamp.

Foil Stamp

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

Folder

A bindery machine dedicated to folding printed materials.

Fold Marks

With printed matter, markings indicating where a fold is to occur, usually located at the top edges.

Foldout

Gatefold sheet bound into a publication, often used for a map or chart. Also called gatefold and pullout.

Format

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

Forms bond

Lightweight bond, easy to perforate, made for business forms.

For Position Only

Refers to photos or art used to indicate placement and scaling, but not intended for reproduction. Abbreviated FPO.

Four-color Process Printing

Technique of printing that uses black, magenta, cyan and yellow to simulate full-color images. Also called color process printing, full color printing and process printing.

Free Sheet

Paper made from cooked wood fibers mixed with chemicals and washed free of impurities, as compared to groundwood paper. Also called woodfree paper.

G

Gang

To reproduce two or more different printed products simultaneously on one sheet of paper during one press run.

Gate Fold

A sheet that folds where both sides fold toward the gutter in overlapping layers.

Gathered

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

Ghost Halftone

Normal halftone whose density has been reduced to produce a very faint image.

Ghosting

Phenomenon of a faint image appearing on a printed sheet where it was not intended to appear

Gloss

Consider the light reflecting on various objects in the printing industry (e.g., paper, ink, laminates, UV coating, varnish).

Gloss Ink

Ink used and printed on coated so that  the ink will dry without penetration.

Grade

General term used to distinguish between or among printing papers, but whose specific meaning depends on context. Grade can refer to the category, class, rating, finish or brand of paper.

Graduated Screen Tint

Screen tint that changes densities gradually and smoothly, not in distinct steps. Also called gradient.

Grain Direction

Predominant direction in which fibers in paper become aligned during manufacturing.

Grain Long Paper

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

Grain Short Paper

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

Graphic Design

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

Graphics

Visual elements that supplement type to make printed messages more clear or interesting.

Gravure

Method of printing using metal cylinders etched with millions of tiny wells that hold ink.

Gray Levels

Number of distinct gray tones that can be reproduced by a computer.

Gray Scale

Strip of gray values ranging from white to black. Used by process camera and scanner operators to calibrate exposure times for film and plates.

Grind Edge

Alternate term for binding edge when referring to perfect bound products.

Grindoff

Approximately 1/8 inch (3 mm) along the spine that is ground off gathered signatures before perfect binding.

Gripper Edge

Edge of a sheet held by grippers on a sheetfed press, thus going first through the press.

Gutter

In the book arena, the inside margins toward the back or the binding edges.

H

Hairline (Rule) 

Subjective term referring to very small space, thin line or close register. The meaning depends on who is using the term and in what circumstances.

Halftone 

(1) To photograph or scan a continuous tone image to convert the image into halftone dots. (2) A photograph or continuous-tone illustration that has been halftoned and appears on film, paper, printing plate or the final printed product.

Halftone Screen 

Piece of film or glass containing a grid of lines that breaks light into dots.

Halo Effect 

Faint shadow sometimes surrounding halftone dots printed.

Head(er) 

At the top of a page, the margin.

Head-to-tail 

Imposition with heads (tops) of pages facing tails (bottoms) of other pages.

Hickey 

Spot or imperfection in printing, most visible in areas of heavy ink coverage, caused by dirt on the plate or blanket..

Highlights 

Lightest portions of a photograph or halftone, as compared to midtones and shadows.

House Sheet 

Paper kept in stock by a printer and suitable for a variety of printing jobs. Also called floor sheet.

Hue 

A specific color such as yellow or green.

I

Image Area 

The actual area on the printed matter that is not restricted to ink coverage,

Imposition 

Arrangement of pages on mechanicals or flats so they will appear in proper sequence after press sheets are folded and bound.

Impression 

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

Imprint 

To print new copy on a previously printed sheet, such as imprinting an employee’s name on business cards.

Ink Balance 

Relationship of the densities and dot gains of process inks to each other and to a standard density of neutral gray

Ink Holdout 

Characteristic of paper that prevents it from absorbing ink, thus allowing ink to dry on the surface of the paper. Also called holdout.

Ink Jet Printing 

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

Interleaves 

Printed pages loosely inserted in a publication.

J

Jogger 

A vibration machine with a slopping platform to even-up stacks of printed materials.

K

K 

Abbreviation for black in four-color process printing. Hence the ‘K’ in CMYK.

Kiss Die Cut 

To die cut the top layer, but not the backing layer, of self-adhesive paper. Also called face cut.

Kraft Paper 

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

L

Laid Finish 

Finish on bond or text paper on which grids of parallel lines simulate the surface of handmade paper. Laid lines are close together and run against the grain; chain lines are farther apart and run with the grain.

Laminate 

A thin transparent plastic sheet (coating) applied to usually a thick stock (covers, post cards, etc.) providing protection against liquid and heavy use, and usually accents existing color, providing a glossy (or lens) effect.

Landscape 

Artist style in which width is greater than height. (Portrait is opposite.)

Laser Bond 

Bond paper made especially smooth and dry to run well through laser printers.

Lay Flat Bind 

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

Layout 

A sample of the original providing (showing) position of printed work (direction, instructions) needed and desired.

Leading 

Amount of space between lines of type.

Letter fold 

Two folds creating three panels that allow a sheet of letterhead to fit a business envelope.

Letterpress 

Method of printing from raised surfaces, either metal type or plates whose surfaces have been etched away from image areas.  

Lignin 

Substance in trees that holds cellulose fibers together. Free sheet has most lignin removed; groundwood paper contains lignin.

Line Copy 

Any high-contrast image, including type, as compared to continuous-tone copy. Also called line art and line work.

Linen Finish 

Embossed finish on text paper that simulates the pattern of linen cloth.

Live Area 

Area on which images will print.

Looseleaf 

Binding method allowing insertion and removal of pages in a publication (e.g., trim-4-drill-3).

Loupe 

Lens built into a small stand. Used to inspect copy, film, proofs, plates and printing.

M

Magenta

One of the four process colors.

Makeready

(1) All activities required to prepare a press or other machine to function for a specific printing or bindery job, as compared to production run. Also called setup. (2) Paper used in the makeready process at any stage in production. Makeready paper is part of waste or spoilage.

Making Order

Order for paper that a mill makes to the customer’s specifications, as compared to a mill order or stock order.

Margin

Imprinted space around the edge of the printed material.

Match Print

A form of a four-color-process proofing system.

Matte Finish

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

Mechanical Bind

To bind using a comb, coil, ring binder, post or any other technique not requiring gluing, sewing or stitching.

Metallic Ink

Ink containing powdered metal or pigments that simulate metal.

Metallic Paper

Paper coated with a thin film of plastic or pigment whose color and gloss simulate metal.

Midtones

In a photograph or illustration, tones created by dots between 30 percent and 70 percent of coverage, as compared to highlights and shadows.

Mil 1/1000 Inch

The thickness of plastic films as printing substrates are expressed in mils.

Mock Up

A reproduction of the original printed matter and possibly containing instructions or direction.

Moire

Undesirable pattern resulting when halftones and screen tints are made with improperly aligned screens, or when a pattern in a photo, such as a plaid, interfaces with a halftone dot pattern.

Monarch

Paper size (7’ x 10’) and envelope shape often used for personal stationery.

Mottle

Spotty, uneven ink absorption.

M Weight

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

N

Nested

Signatures assembled inside one another in the proper sequence for binding, as compared to gathered. Also called inset.

News Print

Paper used in printing newspapers. Considered low quality.

Nonimpact Printing

Printing using lasers, ions, ink jets or heat to transfer images to paper.

Novelty Printing

Printing on products such as coasters, pencils, balloons, golf balls and ashtrays, known as advertising specialties or premiums.

O

Offset Printing

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

Opacity

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

Opaque

Not transparent

Overprint

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

Over Run

Additional printed matter beyond order. Overage policy varies in the printing industry.

P

Page

One side of a leaf in a publication.

Page Count

Total number of pages that a publication has. Also called extent.

Page Proof

Proof of type and graphics as they will look on the finished page complete with elements such as headings, rules and folios.

Pagination

In the book arena, the numbering of pages.

Panel

One page of a brochure, such as one panel of a brochure. One panel is on one side of the paper. A letter-folded sheet has six panels, not three.

Parallel Fold

Method of folding. Two parallel folds to a sheet will produce 6 panels.

Parent Sheet

Any sheet larger than 11’ x 17’.

Perfect Bind

To bind sheets that have been ground at the spine and are held to the cover by glue.

Perfecting Press

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

Perf Marks

On a “dummy” marking where the perforation is to occur.

Perforating

Taking place on a press or a binder machine, creating a line of small dotted holes for the purpose of tearing-off a part of a printed matter (usually straight lines, vertical or horizontal).

Pica

A unit of measure in the printing industry. A pica is approximately 0.166 in. There are 12 points to a pica.

Pin Register

Technique of registering separations, flats and printing plates by using small holes, all of equal diameter, at the edges of both flats and plates.

Pixel

Short for picture element, a dot made by a computer, scanner or other digital device. Also called pel.

Plate

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

Pleasing Color

Color that the customer considers satisfactory even though it may not precisely match original samples, scenes or objects.

PMS

The trade name of the colors in the Pantone Matching System.

Point

(1) Regarding paper, a unit of thickness equating 1/1000 inch. (2) Regarding type, a unit of measure equaling 1/12 pica and .013875 inch (.351mm).

Portrait

An art design in which the height is greater than the width. (Opposite of Landscape.)

Prepress

Camera work, color separations, stripping, platemaking and other prepress functions performed by the printer, separator or a service bureau prior to printing.

Preprint

To print portions of sheets that will be used for later imprinting.

Press Proof

Proof made on press using the plates, ink and paper specified for the job.

Price Break

Quantity at which unit cost of paper or printing drops.

Printer Spreads

Layouts made so they are imposed for printing, as compared to reader spreads.

Process Color (Inks)

The colors used for four-color process printing: yellow, magenta, cyan and black.

Q

Quotation

Price offered by a printer to produce a specific job.

R

Rag Paper

Stationery or other forms of stock having a strong percentage content of “cotton rags.”

Raster Image Processor

Device that translates page description commands into bitmapped information for an output device such as a laser printer or imagesetter.

Reader Spread

Layout made in two page spreads as readers would see the pages, as compared to printer spread.

Ream

500 sheets of paper.

Recycled Paper

New paper made entirely or in part from old paper.

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 mechanicals and film that help keep flats, plates, and printing in register. Also called crossmarks and position marks.

Resolution

Sharpness of an image on film, paper, computer screen, disc, tape or other medium.

Reverse

Type, graphic or illustration reproduced by printing ink around its outline, thus allowing the underlying color or paper to show through and form the image. The image ‘reverses out’ of the ink color. Also called knockout and liftout.

RGB

Abbreviation for red, green, blue, the additive color primaries.

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.

Rule

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

Ruleup

Map or drawing given by a printer to a stripper showing how a printing job must be imposed using a specific press and sheet size. Also called press layout, printer’s layout and ruleout.

S

Saddle Stitch

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

Satin Finish

Alternate term for dull finish on coated paper.

Scale

To identify the percent by which photographs or art should be enlarged or reduced to achieve, the correct size for printing.

Scanner

Electronic device used to scan an 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. The common screen angles for separations are black 45 degree, magenta 75 degree, yellow 90 degree and cyan 105 degree.

Screen Density

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

Screen Printing

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

Self Cover

Usually in the book arena, a publication not having a cover stock. A publication only using text stock throughout.

Self Mailer

A printed item independent of an envelope. A printed item capable of travel in the mail independently.

Separations

Usually in the four-color process arena, separate film holding images of one specific color per piece of film. Black, Cyan, Magenta and Yellow. Can also separate specific PMS colors through film.

Shade

Hue made darker by the addition of black, as compared to tint.

Shadows

Darkest areas of a photograph or illustration, as compared to midtones and high-lights.

Sheetfed Press

Press that prints sheets of paper, as compared to a web press.

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.

Signature

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

Size

Compound mixed with paper or fabric to make it stiffer and less able to absorb moisture.

Slip Sheets

Separate sheets (stock) independent from the original run positioned between the “printed run” for a variety of reasons.

Solid

Any area of the sheet receiving 100 percent ink coverage, as compared to a screen tint.

Soy-based Inks

Inks using vegetable oils instead of petroleum products as pigment vehicles, thus are easier on the environment.

Specifications

Complete and precise written description of features of a printing job such as type size and leading, paper grade and quantity, printing or binding method.

Spine

Back or binding edge of a publication

Spiral Bind

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

Split Run

Printing of a book that has some copies bound one way and other copies bound another way.

Spoilage

Paper that, due to mistakes or accidents, must be thrown away instead of delivered printed to the customer, as compared to waste.

Spot Color or Varnish

One ink or varnish applied to portions of a sheet, as compared to flood or painted sheet.

Spread

Two pages that face each other and are designed as one visual or production unit.

Step and Repeat

Prepress technique of exposing an image in a precise, multiple pattern to create a flat or plate. Images are said to be stepped across the film or plate.

Stocking Paper

Popular sizes, weights and colors of papers available for prompt delivery from a merchant’s warehouse.

Substance Weight

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

Substrate

Any surface or material on which printing is done.

SWOP

Abbreviation for specifications for web offset publications, specifications recommended for web printing of publications.

T

Tabloid

Using a broadsheet as a measure, one half of a broadsheet.

Tag

Grade of dense, strong paper used for products such as badges and file folders.

Tagged Image File Format

Computer file format used to store images from scanners and video devices. Abbreviated TIFF.

Template

Concerning a printing project’s basic details in regard to its dimensions. A standard layout.

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.

Thumbnails

Initial ideas jotted on virtually anything in regard to initial concept of a future project.

Tint

Screening or adding white to a solid color for results of lightening that specific color.

Tip In

Usually in the book arena, adding an additional page(s) beyond the normal process (separate insertion).

Transparency

Positive photographic image on film allowing light to pass through. Also called chrome, color transparency and tranny. Often abbreviated TX.

Trap

To print one ink over another or to print a coating, such as varnish, over an ink. The first liquid traps the second liquid.

Trim Size

The size of the printed material in its finished stage (e.g., the finished trim size is 5 1\2 x 8 1\2).

U

Uncoated Paper

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

Up

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

UV Coating

Liquid applied to a printed sheet, then bonded and cured with ultraviolet light.

V

Varnish

Liquid applied as a coating for protection and appearance.

Vellum Finish

Somewhat rough, toothy finish.

Virgin Paper

Paper made exclusively of pulp from trees or cotton, as compared to recycled paper.

W

Wash Up

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

Waste

Unusable paper or paper damage during normal makeready, printing or binding operations, as compared to spoilage.

Watermark

Translucent logo in paper created during manufacturing by slight embossing from a dandy roll while paper is still approximately 90 percent water.

Web Press

Press that prints from rolls of paper, usually cutting it into sheets after printing. Also called reel-fed press. Web presses come in many sizes, the most common being mini, half, three quarter (also called 8-pages) and full (also called 16-pages).

Window

In a printed product, a die-cut hole revealing an image on the sheet behind it.

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, as compared to against the grain. See also Grain Direction.

Wove

Paper manufactured without visible wire marks, usually a fine textured paper.

Wrong Reading

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