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-up
In printing, two-up, three-up, etc., refers to imposition of material to be printed on a larger size sheet to take advantage of full press capacity.
“F” stops
In photography, fixed stops for setting lens apertures.
Absorption
In paper, the property which causes it to take up liquids or vapors in contact with it. In optics, the partial suppression of light through a transparent or translucent material.
Accordion fold
In binding, a term used for two or more parallel folds which open like an accordion.
Additive primaries
In color reproduction, red, green and blue. When lights of these colors are added together, they produce the sensation of white light.
Against the grain
Folding or feeding paper at right angles to the grain direction of the paper.
Airbrush
In artwork, a small pressure gun shaped like a pencil that sprays watercolor pigment. Used to correct and obtain tone or graduated tone effects. In platemaking, used with an abrasive-like pumice to remove spots or other unwanted areas. In electronic imaging, a retouching technique.
Alkaline paper
Paper made with a synthetic alkaline size and an alkaline filler like calcium carbonate which gives the paper over four times the life (200 years) of acid-sized papers (40-50 years).
AM (Amplitude Modulation)
Halftone screening, as proposed to FM screening, has dots of variable size with equal spacing between dot centers.
Analog color proof
Off-press color proof made from separation films.
Anilox inking
In flexography, two roll inking system with a smooth fountain roll that transfers inks to an etched metal or ceramic coated metal roll with cells of fixed size and depth that transfer the ink to the plate. Also used in keyless offset.
Anit-halation backing
In photography, coating applied to back of film to prevent halation.
Anti-offset or set-off spray
In printing, dry spray of finely powdered starch used on press to prevent wet ink from transferring from the top of one sheet to the bottom of the next sheet.
Antique finish
A term describing the surface, usually on book and cover papers, that has a natural rough finish.
Aperture
In photography, lens opening or lens stop expressed as an f/no. such as f/22.
Apochromatic
In photography, color-corrected lenses which focus the threee colors, blue, green and red, in the same plane.
Art
All illustration copy used in preparing a job for printing.
Ascender
That part of a lower case letter which rises above the main body, as in “b”.
Automatic processor
In photography, machine to automatically develop, fix, wash and dry exposed photographic film. In platemaking, machine to develop, rinse, gum and dry printing plates.
Backbone
The back of a bound book connecting the two covers; also called spine.
Backing up
Printing the reverse side of a sheet already printed on one side.
Bad break
In composition, starting a page or ending a paragraph with a single word, or window.
Basic size
In inches, 25 x 38 for book papers, 20 x 26 for cover papers, 22½ x 28½ or 22½ x 35 for bristols, 25½ x 30½ for index.
Basis weight
The weight in pounds of a ream (500 sheets) of paper cut to a given standard size for that grade; e.g., 500 sheets 25 x 38 in. of 50-lb. Book paper weigh fifty pounds.
Bearers
In presses, the flat surfaces or rings at the ends of cylinders that come in contact with each other during printing and serve as a basis for determining packing thickness.
Bezier curve
The description of a character or symbol or graphic by its outline used by drawing programs to define shapes.
Bimetal plate
In lithography, a plate used for long runs in which the printing image base is usually copper and the non-printing area is aluminum, stainless steel, or chromium.
Bind embossing
A design which is stamped without metallic leaf or ink, giving a bas-relief effect.
Bit
In computers, the basic unit of digital information; contraction on BInary digiT.
Bit map
In computer imaging, the electronic representation of a page, indicating the position of every possible spot (zero or one).
Black-and-white
Originals or reproduction, the black plate, made to increase contrast of dark tones and make them neutral.
Blanket
In offset printing, a rubber-surfaced fabric which is clamped around a cylinder, to which the image is transferred from the plate, and from which it is transferred to the paper.
Bleed
An extra amount of printed image which extends beyond the trim edge of the sheet or page.
Blind image
In lithography, an image that has lost its ink receptivity and fails to print.
Blowup
A photographic enlargement.
Blueprint
In offset lithography and photoengraving, a photo-print made from stripped-up negative or positives, used as a proof to check position of image elements.
Body
In inkmaking, a term referring to the viscosity, or consistency, of an ink (e.g., an ink with too much body is stiff).
Body type
A type used for the main part or text of a printed piece, as distinguished from the heading.
Bold-face
type A name given to type that is heavier than the text type with which it is used.
Bond paper
A grade of writing or printing paper where strength, durability and permanence are essential requirements; used for letterheads, business forms, etc. The basic size is 17 x 22.
Book paper
A general term for coated and uncoated papers. The basic size is 25 x 38.
Break for color
In artwork and composition, to separate the parts to be printed in different colors.
Brightness
In photography, light reflected by the copy. In paper, the reflectance or brilliance of the paper.
Brochure
A pamphlet bound in booklet form.
Bronzing
Printing with a sizing ink, then applying bronze powder while still wet to produce a metallic luster.
Bulk
The degree of thickness of paper. In book printing, the number of pages per inch for a given basis weight.
Bump exposure
In photography, an exposure in halftone photography, especially with contact screens, in which the screen is removed for a short time. It increases highlight contrast and drops out the dots in the whites.
Burn
In platemaking, a common term used for a plate exposure.
Byte
In computers, a unit of digital information, equivalent to one character or 8 to 32 bits.
CAD/CAM
Acronym for Computer Assisted Design/ Computer Assisted Makeup or Manufacturing.
Calender rolls
A set or stack of horizontal cast-iron rolls at the end of a paper machine. the paper is passed between the rolls to increase the smoothness and gloss of its surface.
Caliper
The thickness of paper, usually expressed in thousandths of an inch (mils).
Camera-ready
Copy which is ready for photography.
Caps and small caps
Two sizes of capital letters made in one size of type, commonly used in most roman type faces.
Case
In bookbinding, the covers of a hardbound book.
Cast coated
Coated paper dried under pressure against a polished cylinder to produce a high-gloss enamel finish.
CCD
Acronym for Charged Couple Device. An electronic scanning device used in imaging systems.
CD-ROM
Acronym for Compact Disc-Read-Only Memory. A CD-ROM drive uses the CD format as a computer storage medium.
Chalking
In printing, a term which refers to improper drying of ink. Pigment dusts off because the vehicle has been absorbed too rapidly into the paper.
Character generation
The production of typographic images using font master data. Generated to screens or output devices.
Chemical pulp
In papermaking, treatment of groundwood chips with chemicals to remove impurities such as lignin, resins and gums. There are two types sulfite and sulfate.
Chemistry
In photography and platemaking, a term used to describe the composition of processing solutions.
Chokes and spreads
Overlap of overprinting images to avoid color or white fringes or borders around image detail. Called trapping in digital imaging systems.
Closed loop system
In printing, a completely automatic control system.
CMYK
Acronym for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black-subtractive primary colors. Printing colors for process color reproduction.
Coated paper
Paper having a surface coating which produces a smooth finish. Surfaces vary from eggshell to glossy.
Coating
In platemaking, the light-sensitive polymer or mixture applied to a metal plate. In printing, an emulsion, varnish or lacquer applied over a printed surface to protect it.
Cold color
In printing, a color with a bluish cast.
Collate
In binding, the gathering of sheets or signatures.
Collotype
A screenless printing process of the planographic ink-water type in which the plates are coated with bichromated gelatin. exposed to continuous-tone negatives, and printed on lithographic presses with special dampening.
Color balance
The correct combination of cyan, magenta and yellow to (1) reproduce a photograph with out a color cast, (2) produce a neutral gray. or (3) reproduce the colors in the original screen or object.
Color correction
Any method such as masking, dot-etching, re-etching and scanning, used to improve color rendition.
Color filter
A sheet dyed glass, gelatin or plastic, or dyed gelatin cemented between glass plates, used in photography to absorb certain colors and transmit others. The filters used for color separation are blue, green and red.
Color keys
Off-press overly color proofs using 3M Color Key® materials.
Color proofs
See off-press proofs, progressive proofs.
Color separation
In photography, the process of separating color originals into the primary printing color components in negative or positive form.
Colorimeter
An instrument for measuring color the way the eye sees color.
Commercial register
Color printing on which the misregister allowable is within ± one row of dots.
Common impression cylinder press
In flexography, the process of separating color originals into the primary printing color components in negative or positive form.
Computer, analog
A computer that solves a mathematical problem by using analogs, like voltage or density, of the variables in the problem.
computer, digital
A computer that processes information in discrete digital form.
Computerized composition
An all-inclusive term for the use of computers to automatically perform the functions of hyphenation, justification and page formatting.
Condensed type
A narrow or slender type face.
Conductivity
A property of fountain solutions that must be controlled along with pH.
Contact print
A photographic print made from a negative or positive in contact with sensitized paper, film or printing plate.
Contact screen
A halftone screen on film having a dot structure of graded density, used in vacuum contact with the photographic film to produce halftones.
Continuous tone
A photographic image which contains gradient tones from black to white.
Contrast
The tonal gradation between the highlights, middle tones and shadows in an original or reproduction.
Copy
Any furnished material (typewritten manuscript, pictures, artwork, etc.) to be used in the production of printing.
Copy preparation
Directions for, and checking of, desired size and other details for illustrations, and the arrangement into proper position of various parts of the page to be photographed or electronically processed for reproduction.
Copyfitting
In composition, the calculation of how much space a given amount of copy will take up in a given size and typeface. Also, the adjusting of the type size to make it fit in a given amount of space.
Cover paper
A term applied to a variety of papers used for the covers of catalogs, brochures, booklets and similar pieces.
Crop
To eliminate portions of the copy, usually on a photograph or plate, indicated on the original by cropmarks.
Cross direction
In paper, the direction across the grain. Paper is weaker and more sensitive to changes in relative humidity in cross direction than the grain direction.
Crossmarks
See register marks.
CRT
Acronym for Cathode Ray Tube-a video display.
CTP
Acronym for computer-to-plate.
Curl
In paper, the distortion of a sheet due to differences in structure or coatings from one side to the other, or to absorption of moisture on an offset press.
Cut-off
In web printing, the cut or print length.
Cutscore
In die-cutting, a sharp-edged knife, usually several thousandths of an inch lower than the cutting rules in a die, made to cut part way into the paper or board for folding purposes.
Cyan
Hue of a subtractive primary and a 4-color process ink. It reflects or transmits blue and green light and absorbs red light.
Cylinder gap
In printing presses, the gap or space in the cylinders of a press where the mechanism for plate (or blanket), clamps and grippers (sheetfed) is housed.
Dampeners
In lithography, cloth-covered, parchment paper or rubber (bare back) rollers that distribute the dampening solution to the press plate or ink roller.
Dampening system
In lithography, the mechanism on a press for transferring dampening solution to plate during printing.
DDES
Acronym for Digital Data Exchange Specifications.
Deckle
In papermaking, the width of the wet sheet as it comes off the wire of a paper machine.
Deckle edge
The untrimmed feathery edges of paper formed where the pulp flows against the deckle.
Densitometer
In photography, a photoelectric instrument which measures the density of photographic images, or of colors. In printing, a reflection densitometer is used to measure and control the density of color inks on the substrate.
Density
The degree of darkness (light absorption or opacity) of a photographic image.
Descender
The part of a lower case letter which extends below the main body, as in “p”.
Desensitizer
In lithographic platemaking, chemical treatment to make non-image areas of a plate repellant to ink. In photography, an agent for decreasing color sensitivity of photographic emulsion to facilitate development under comparatively bright light.
Developer
In photography, the chemical agent and process used to render photographic images visible after exposure to light. In lithographic platemaking, the material used to remove the unexposed coating.
Diazo
In photography, a non-silver coating for contact printing. In offset platemaking, the material used to remove the unexposed coating.
Die-cutting
The process of using sharp steel rules to cut special shapes for labels, boxes and containers, from printed sheets. Die-cutting can be done on either flatbed or rotary presses. Rotary die-cutting is usually done inline with the printing.
Die-stamping
An intaglio process for the production of letterheads, business cards, etc., printing from lettering or other designs engraved into copper or steel.
Diffusion transfer
In photography and platemaking, a system consisting of a photographic emulsion on which a negative is produced, and a receiver sheet on which a positive of the image is transferred during processing.
Digital color proof
An off-press color proof produced from digital data without the need for separation films.
Digital plates
Printing plates that can be exposed by lasers or other high energy sources driven by digital data in a platesetter.
Digital printing
Printing by plateless imaging systems that are imaged by digital data from prepress systems.
Digitized typesetting
In typographic imaging, the creation of typographic characters and symbols by the arrangement of black-and-white spots called pixels or pels.
Digitizer
A computer peripheral device that converts an analog signal (images or sound) into a digital signal.
Dimensional stability
Ability to maintain size; resistance of paper or film to dimensional change with change in moisture content or relative humidity.
Direct screen halftone
In color separation, a halftone negative made by direct exposure from the original on an enlarger or by contact through a half tone screen.
Display type
In composition, type set larger than the text.
Dithering
A technique of filling the gap between two pixels with another pixel having an average value of the two to minimize the difference or add detail to smooth the result.
Doctor blade
In gravure, a knife-edged blade pressed against the engraved printing cylinder which wipes away the excess ink from the non-printing areas.
Dot
The individual element of a halftone.
Dot etching
In photography, chemically reducing halftone dots to vary the amount of color to be printed. Dot etching on negatives increases color; dot etching on positives reduces color.
Dot gain
In printing, a defect in which dots print larger than they should, causing darker tones or stronger colors.
Dots per inch (dpi)
A measure of the resolution of a screen image or printed page. Spots per inch (spi) is a more appropriate term.
Draw-down
In inkmaking, a term used to describe ink chemist’s method of roughly determining color shade. A small glob of ink is placed on paper and drawn down with the edge of a putty knife spatula to get a thin film of ink.
Drier
In inkmaking, a substance added to hasten drying.
Drop-out
Portions of originals that do not reproduce, especially colored lines or background areas (often on purpose).
Dry-up
See catching up.
Dummy
A preliminary layout showing the position of illustrations and text as they are to appear in the final reproduction. A set of blank pages made up in advance to show the size, shape, form and general style of a piece of printing.
Duotone
In photomechanics, a term for a two-color halftone reproduction from a one-color photograph.
Duplex paper
Paper with a different color or finish on each side.
Duplicating film
A film for making positives from positives, and negatives from negatives. In color reproduction, a special film is used for making duplicates of color transparencies.
Dye transfer
In photography, a process of producing color prints by tanning photographic emulsions and using them to transfer dye solutions to film or paper coated with gelatin.
Dynamic range
Density difference between highlights and shadows of scanned subjects.
Electronic dot generation (EDG)
A method of producing halftones electronically on scanners and prepress systems.
Electronic printing
Any technology that reproduces pages without the use of traditional ink, water or chemistry.
Electrophotography
Image transfer systems used in copiers to produce images using electrostatic forces.
Electrostatic assist
In gravure, use of electrostatic forces to help draw ink from gravure cells to reduce skips in highlights.
Electrostatic plates
Plates for high speed laser printing using zinc oxide or organic photoconductors.
Electrotype
Duplicate relief plate used for letterpress printing.
Elliptical dot
In halftone photography, elongated dots which give improved gradation of tones particularly in middle tones and vignettes-also called chain dots.
Em
In composition, a unit of measurement exactly as wide and high as the point size being set. So named because the letter “M” in early fonts was usually cast on a square body.
Embossed finish
Paper with a raised or depressed surface resembling wood, cloth, leather or other pattern.
Embossing
Impressing an image in relief to achieve a raised surface; either overprinting or on blank paper (called blind embossing).
Emulsion side
In photography, the side of the film coated with the silver halide emulsion.
En
In composition, one-half the width of an em.
Enamel
A term applied to a coated paper or to a coating material on a paper.
English finish
A grade of book paper with a smoother, more uniform surface than machine finish.
EPSF (encapsulated postscript file)
An alternative picture file format that allows PostScript data to be stored and edited and is easy to transfer between Macintosh, MS-DOS and other systems.
Etch
In photoengraving, to produce an image on a plate by chemical or electrolytic action. In offset lithography, an acidified gum solutions used to desensitize the non-printing areas of the plate; also, an acid solution added to the fountain water to help keep non-printing areas of the plate free from ink.
Expanded type
A type whose width is greater than normal.
Exposure
The step in photographic processes during which light produces the image on the light-sensitive coating.
Fadeometer
An instrument used to measure the fading properties of inks and other pigmented coatings.
Fake color
In color reproduction, producing a color illustration by using one image as a key and making the other separations from it manually.
Fanout
In printing, distortion of paper on the press due to waviness in the paper caused by absorption of moisture at the edges of the paper, particularly across the grain.
Feeder
In printing presses, the section that separates the sheets and feeds them in position for printing.
Felt side
The smoother side of the paper for printing. The top side of the sheet in paper manufacturing.
Filling in (or filling up)
In letterpress or offset lithography, a condition where ink fills the area between the halftone dots or plugs up (fills in) the type.
Fixing
Chemical action following development to remove unexposed silver halide, to make the image stable and insensitive to further exposure.
Flash exposure
In halftone photography, the supplementary exposure given to strengthen the dots in the shadow areas of negatives.
Flat
In offset lithography, the assembled composite of negatives on goldenrod paper or positives on film, ready for platemaking. Also, a photograph or halftone that is lacking in contrast.
Flat etching
The chemical reduction of the silver deposit in a continuous-tone or halftone plate, brought about by placing it in a tray containing an etching solution.
Flatbed scanner
A device that scans images in a manner similar to a photocopy machine; the original art is positioned face down on a glass plate.
Flush cover
A cover that has been trimmed t he same size as the inside text pages.
Flush left (or right)
In composition, type set to line up at the left (or right). This page is set flush left and right.
Flush paragraph
A paragraph with no indention.
Flying paster
In web printing, an automatic pasting device that splices a new roll of paper onto an expiring roll, without stopping the press.
FM (Frequency Modulation) screening
A means of digital screening. See stochastic screening.
Focal length
In photography, the distance from the center of the lens to the image of an object at infinity. At same size, the distance from copy to image is four times the focal length of the lens.
Fog
In photography, silver density in the non-image areas.
Folio
The page number.
Font
In composition, a complete assortment of letters, numbers, punctuation marks, etc. of a given size and design.
Form
In offset, the assembly of pages and other images for printing. In letterpress, type and other matter locked in a chase for printing.
Form rollers
The rollers, either inking or dampening, which directly contact the plate on a printing press.
Format
The size, style, type page, margins, printing requirements, etc., of a printed piece.
Fountain solution
In lithography, a solution of water, a natural or synthetic gum and other chemicals used to dampen the plate and keep non-printing areas from accepting ink.
Free sheet
Paper free of mechanical wood pulp.
Front end system
In electronic publishing, the workstation or group of workstations containing the applications software for preparing pages of type and graphics.
Galley proof
A proof of text copy before being made into pages.
Gamma
A measure of contrast in photographic images.
Gathering
In binding, the assembling of folded signatures in proper sequence.
GCR
Acronym for Gray Component Replacement.
Gear streaks
In printing, parallel streaks appearing across the printed sheet at same interval as gear teeth on the cylinder.
Generation
Each succeeding stage in reproduction from original copy.
Gigabyte (GB)
One billion bytes.
Goldenrod paper
In offset lithography, a specially-coated masking paper of yellow or orange color used by strippers to assemble and position negatives for exposure on plates.
Grain
In papermaking, the direction in which most fibers lie which corresponds with the direction the paper is made on a paper machine.
Grammage
A term in the metric system for expressing the basis weight of paper. It is the weight in grams of a square meter of the paper expressed in g/m2.
Gray balance
The dot values or densities of cyan, magenta and yellow that produce a neutral gray.
Gray level
The number of gray values that can be distinguished by a color separation filter – usually 28 or 256.
Gray scale
A strip of standard gray tones, ranging from white to black, placed at the side of original copy during photography to measure tonal range and contrast (gamma) obtained.
Gripper edge
The leading edge of paper as it passes through a printing press. Also, the front edge of a lithographic or wrap-around plate that is secured to front clamp of plate cylinder.
Gripper margin
Unprintable blank edge of paper on which grippers bear, usually1/2” or less.
Grippers
In sheetfed printing presses, metal fingers that clamp on paper and control its flow as it passes through.
Groundwood pulp
A mechanically-prepared wood pulp used in the manufacture of newsprint and publication papers.
Gum Arabic
In offset lithography, used in platemaking and on press to desensitize the non-printing areas of plates.
Gumming
In platemaking, the process of applying a thin coating of gum to the non-printing areas of a lithographic plate.
Gutter
The blank space or inner margin from printing area to binding.
Hairline register
Register within + or – ½ row of dots.
Halation
In photography, a blurred effect, resembling a halo, usually occurring in highlight areas or around bright objects.
Halftone
The reproduction of continuous-tone images, through a screening process, which converts the image into dots of various sizes and equal spacing between centers.
Halftone gravure
Production of gravure cylinders using halftone prints.
Hard copy
The permanent visual record of the output of a computer or printer. Also, the material sent to a typesetter in typed form, for conversion into typeset material.
Hard dot
See soft dot.
Hard proof
A proof on paper or other substrate as distinguished from a soft proof which is an image on a VDT screen.
Hardware
Computer and peripherals as distinguished from software which is a program for operation hardware.
He/Ne
Helium-Neon red laser.
Head margin
The white space above first line on a page.
Hickeys
In offset lithography, spots or imperfections in the printing due to dirt on the press, dried ink skin, paper particles, etc.
High contrast
In photography, a reproduction with high gamma in which the difference in darkness (density) between neighboring areas is greater than in the original.
Highlight
The lightest or whitest parts in a photography represented in a halftone reproduction by the smallest dots or the absence of dots.
Holdout
In printing, a property of coated paper with low ink absorption which allows ink to set on the surface with high gloss. Papers with too much holdout cause problems with set-off.
HSV
Acronym for hue, saturation and value (or brilliance or luminance)-a color space used in some graphic programs.
Hydrophilic
Water receptive.
Hydrophobic
Water repellent.
Image assembly
See stripping
Imagesetter
In computer imaging, a device that outputs type, line art and photos in position.
Imposition
The arranging of pages in a press form to ensure the correct order after the printed sheet is folded and trimmed.
Impression
In printing, the pressure of type, plate or blanket as it comes in contact with the paper.
Impression cylinder
In printing, the cylinder on a printing press against which the paper picks up the impression from the inked plate in direct printing, or the blanket in offset printing.
Ink fountain
In printing presses, the device which stores and supplies ink to the inking rollers.
Ink mist
Flying filaments or threads formed by long inks like newspaper ink.
Inkometer
An instrument for measuring the tack of printing inks.
Insert
A printed piece prepared for insertion into a publication or another printed piece.
Italic
The style of letter that slant, in distinction from upright, or roman, letters. Used for emphasis within the text.
Jog
To align sheets of paper into a compact pile.
Justify
In composition, to space out lines uniformly to the correct length.
Kerning
In typesetting, subtracting space between two characters, making them closer together.
Key
To code copy to a dummy by means of symbols, usually letters. Insertions are sometimes keyed in like manner.
Keyboard
The input device to input information directly into a typesetter, computer, workstation or, as a stand-alone unit, to record it on paper or magnetic tape.
Keyline
In artwork, an outline drawing of finished art to indicate the exact shape, position and size for such elements as halftones, line sketches, etc.
Kilobyte (KB)
1,000 bytes.
Kiss impression
In printing, a very light impression, just enough to produce an image on the paper.
Kraft
A paper or board containing unbleached wood pulp (brown in color) made by the sulfate process.
Lacquer
A clear resin/solvent coating, usually glossy, applied to a printed sheet for protection or appearance.
Laid paper
Paper with a pattern of parallel lines at equal distances, giving a ribbed effect.
Lamination
A plastic film bonded by heat and pressure to a printed sheet for protection or appearance.
Laser
The acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. The laser is an intense light beam with very narrow bank width that can produce images by electronic impulses from digital data.
Layout
The drawing or sketch of a proposed printed piece. In platemaking, a sheet indicating the settings for a step-and-repeat machine.
Leaders
In composition, rows of dashes or dots to guide the eye across the page. Used in tabular work, programs, tables of contents, etc.
Leading (pronounced ledding)
In composition, the distance between lines of type measured in points.
Ledger paper
A grade of business paper generally used for keeping records where it is subjected to appreciable wear so it requires a high degree of durability and permanence.
Letterspacing
The placing of addition space between each letter of a word.
Line copy
Any copy suitable for reproduction without using a halftone screen.
Local area network (LAN)
In electronic publishing, the linking of workstations, storage units (file servers) and printout devices (print servers).`
Logotype (or logo)
The name of a company or product in a special design used as a trademark in advertising.
Long ink
An ink that has good flow on ink rollers of a press. If the ink is too long, it breaks up into filaments on the press, and causes flying as on a newspaper press.
Lower case
The same letters in type, as distinguished from the capital letters.
M
Abbreviation for a quantity of 1000 sheets of paper.
Machine coated
Paper which is coated one-or two-sides on a paper machine.
Machine direction
Same as grain direction in paper.
Magenta
Hue of a subtractive primary and a 4-color process ink. It reflects or transmits blue and red light and absorbs green light.
Magenta screen
A dyed contact screen, used for making halftones.
Magenta storage
Any disc, film, tape, drum or core that is used to store digital information.
Makeover
In platemaking, a plate which is remade.
Makeready
In printing, all work done to set up a press for printing.
Makeup
In composition, the arrangement of lines of type and illustrations into sections or pages of proper length.
Mask
In color separation photography, an intermediate photographic negative or positive used in color correction. In offset lithography, opaque material used to protect open or selected areas of a printing plate during exposure.
Master
A plate for a duplicating machine.
Mat
See matrix.
Matrix
A mold in which type is cast in linecasting machines. In stereotyping, the paper mold or mat made from a type form.
Matte finish
Dull paper finish without gloss or luster.
Measure
In composition, the width of type, usually expressed in picas.
Mechanical
A term for a camera-ready pasteup of artwork. It includes type, photos, line art, etc., all on one piece of artboard.
Mechanical pulp
In papermaking, groundwood pulp produced by mechanically grinding logs or wood chips. It is used mainly for newsprint and as an ingredient of base stock for lower grade publication papers.
Megabyte (MB)
One million bytes
Menu
In electronic publishing, a method for selecting alternative functions displayed as a list on a workstation screen. Selection via mouse, key or sequence of keys.
Metric system
A decimal system adopted by most countries for solid, liquid and distance measurements. (See grammage.)
Middle tones
The tonal range between highlights and shadows of a photograph or reproduction.
Modern (Modulator/DEModulator)
A device that converts computer data into high-frequency signals or vice versa, for transmission over phone lines.
Moiré
In color process printing, the undesirable screen pattern caused by incorrect screen angles of overprinting halftones.
Molleton
In offset lithography, a thick cotton fabric similar to flannel used on the dampening rollers of a press.
Monitor
A video screen on a workstation
Montage
In artwork, several photographs combined to form a composite illustration.
Mottle
The spotty or uneven appearance of printing, mostly in solid areas.
Mouse
A hand-held device that moves the cursor on a workstation by moving the device on a flat surface.
Mullen tester
A machine for testing the bursting strength of paper.
Mylar
In offset preparation, a polyester film specially suited for stripping positives because of its mechanical strength and dimensional stability.
Nanometer
A unit in which wavelengths of light are expressed. One nanometer is one-billionth of a meter.
Negative
In photography, film containing an image in which the values of the original are reversed so that the dark areas appear light and vice versa.
Newsprint
Paper made mostly from groundwood pulp and small amounts of chemical pulp; used for printing newspapers.
No-screen exposure
See bump exposure.
Non-impact printer
An electronic device like a copier, laser or inkjet printer that creates images on a surface without contacting it.
Object oriented
An approach in drawing and layout programs that treats graphics as line and arc segments rather than individual dots. Also called vector oriented.
Oblong
A booklet or catalog bound on the shorter dimension.
OCR
Acronym for Optical Character Reader; a device that allows a computer to read printed or written information.
Off loading
Relieving the intensive amount of data processing associated with a specific application (i.e. graphics) from he CPU, by performing those calculations in a dedicated or specialized processor.
Off-press proofs
Proofs made by photomechanical or digital means in less time at a lower cost than press proofs.
Offset
See set-off. In printing, the process of using an intermediate blanket cylinder to transfer an image from the image carrier to the substrate. Short for offset lithography.
Offset gravure
Printing gravure by the offset principle. Generally done on a flexographic press by converting the anilox roller to a gravure image cylinder and covering the plate cylinder with a solid rubber plate.
Oleophilic
Oil receptive.
Oleophobic
Oil repellant.
Opacity
That property of paper which minimizes the show-through of printing from the back side or the next sheet.
Opaque
In photoengraving and offset lithography, to paint out areas on a negative not wanted on the plate. In paper, the property which makes it less transparent.
Opaque ink
An ink that conceals all color beneath it.
Orthochromatic
Photographic surfaces insensitive to red but sensitive to ultraviolet, blue, green and yellow rays.
Overhang cover
A cover larger in size than the pages it encloses.
Overlay
In artwork, a transparent covering over the copy where color break, instructions or corrections are marked. Also, transparent or translucent prints which, when placed one on the other, form a composite picture.
Overlay proof
An off-press color proof produced with four dyed or pigmented overlay films.
Overprinting
Double printing; printing over an area that already has been printed.
Overrun
In printing, copies printed in excess of the specified quantity.
Packing
In printing presses, paper used to underlay the image or impression cylinder in letterpress, or the plate or blanket in lithography, to get proper squeeze or pressure for printing.
Page buffering
The ability to spool an entire image to disk and print in a continuous motion.
Page description language
In computer imaging, a method for communicating page, font and graphic information from the workstation to the printout device.
Page makeup
In stripping, assembly of all elements to make up a page. In computerized typesetting and CEPS, the electronic assembly of page elements to compose a complete page with all elements in place on a video display terminal and on film or plate.
Pagination
In computerized typesetting, the process of performing page makeup automatically.
Palette
The collection of colors of shades available to a graphic system or program.
Panchromatic
Photographic film sensitive to all visible colors.
Paper master
A paper printing plate used on an offset-duplicator. The image is made by hand drawing, typewriter, or electrophotography.
Paste drier
In inkmaking, a type of drier, usually a combination of drying compounds
Pasteup
See mechanical
Perfecting press
A printing press that prints both sides of the paper in one pass through the press.
pH
A number used for expressing the acidity or alkalinity of solutions. A value of 7 is neutral in a scale ranging from 0-14. Solutions with values below 7 are acid, above 7 are alkaline.
Photoconductor
Materials used in electrophotography which are light sensitive when charged by corona.
Photomechanical
Pertaining to any platemaking process using photographic negatives or positives exposed onto plates or cylinders covered with photosensitive coatings.
Photopolymer coating
In photomechanics, a plate coating consisting of compounds which polymerize on exposure to produce tough abrasion-resistant plates capable of long runs especially when baked in an oven after processing.
Phototypesetting
The method of setting type photographically.
Pica
Printer’s unit of measurement used principally in typesetting. One pica equals approximately 1/6 of an inch.
Picking
The lifting of the paper surface during printing. It occurs when pulling force (tack) of ink is greater than surface strength of paper.
PICT
A standard data format in which most Macintosh illustrations are encoded.
Pigment
In printing inks, the fine solid particles used to give color, transparency or opacity.
Piling
In printing, the building up or caking of ink on rollers, plate or blanket; will not transfer readily. Also, the accumulation of paper dust or coating on the blanket of offset press.
Pin register
The use of accurately positioned holes and special pins on copy, film, plates and presses to insure proper register of fit of colors.
Pixel
In electronic imaging, a basic unit of digital imaging
Plate cylinder
The cylinder of a press on which the plate is mounted.
Platesetter
Imagesetter for making plates.
Point
Printer’s unit of measurement, used principally for designating type sizes. There are 12 points to a pica; approximately 72 points to an inch.
Poor trapping
In printing, the condition in wet printing in letterpress and lithography when less ink transfers to previously printed ink than to unprinted paper. Also called undertrapping.
Porosity
The property of paper that allows the permeation of air, an important factor in ink penetration.
Position proof
Color proof for checking position, layout and /or color breakout of image elements.
Positive
In photography, film containing an image in which the dark and light values are the same as the original. The reverse of negative.
PostScript
A computer description language that allows a programmer to create complex pages using a series of commands.
PostScript-compatible
Any software program that translates statements written in the PostScript page-description language. Sometimes called a PostScript clone.
Pre-press proofs
See off-press proofs.
Presensitized plate
In photomechanics, a metal or paper plate that has been precoated with a light-sensitive coating.
Press proofs
In color reproduction, a proof of a color subject made on a printing press, in advance of the production run.
Pressure-sensitive paper
Material with an adhesive coating, protected by a backing sheet until used.
Primary colors
See additive primaries, subtractive primaries.
Print quality
A term describing the visual impression of a printed piece. In paper, the properties of the paper that affect its appearance and the quality of reproduction.
Process colors
In printing, the subtractive primaries: yellow, magenta, can, plus black in four-color process printing.
Process lens
A highly corrected photographic lens with a flat field for graphic arts line, halftone and color photography.
Process printing
The printing from a series of two or more half tone plates to produce intermediate colors and shades.
Program
In computers, sequence of instructions for a computer. Same as software.
Progressive proofs (progs)
Proofs made from the separate plates in color process work, showing the sequence of printing and the result after each additional color has been applied.
Psychrometer
A wet-and-dry bulb type of hygrometer. Considered the most accurate of the instruments practical for industrial plant use for determining relative humidity.
Ragged left
In typesetting, type that is justified on the right margin and ragged on the left.
Ragged right
In typesetting, type that is justified on the left margin and ragged on the right.
Raster image processor (RIP)
In computer imaging, the computerized process that results in an electronic bit map which indicates every spot position on a page in preparation for an actual printout.
Ream
Five hundred sheets of paper.
Reducers
In printing inks, varnishes, solvents, oily or greasy compounds used to reduce the consistency for printing. In photography, chemicals used to reduce the density of negative or positive images or the size of halftone dots (dot etching).
Reflection copy
In photography, illustrative copy that is viewed and must be photographed by light reflected from its surface. Examples are photographs, drawings, etc.
Register
In printing, fitting of two or more printing images in exact alignment with each other.
Register marks
Crosses or other targets applied to original copy prior to photography. Used for positioning films in register, or for register of two or more colors in process printing.
Relative humidity (RH)
The amount of water vapor present in the atmosphere expressed as a percentage of the maximum that could be present at the same temperature.
Repeatability
The ability to keep photo film and the images thereon in proper register. Repeatability is usually measured in micrometers.
Reprography
Copying and duplicating.
Resist
In photomechanics, a light-hardened stencil to prevent etching of non-printing areas on plates.
Resolution
In electronic imaging, the quantification of printout quality using the number of spots per inch.
Respi screen
A contact screen with 110-line screen ruling in the highlights and 220-line in the middle tones and shadows to produce a longer scale and smoother gradation of tones in the light areas of the copy.
Retrofit
Backwards integration of advanced capability into a device or program not originally intended for that purpose.
Reverse angle doctor blade
In flexography, similar to doctor blade in gravure except used with much lighter pressure and a reverse angle on the anilox roll.
RGB
Red, Green, Blue-additive primary colors.
Right-angle fold
In binding, a term used for two or more folds that are at 90 degree angles to each other.
Roller stripping
In lithography, a term denoting that the ink does not adhere to the metal ink rollers on a press.
Rub-proof
In printing, an ink that has reached maximum dryness and does not mar with normal abrasion.
Run-around
In composition, the term describing type set to fit around a picture or other element of the design.
Runnablitiy
Paper properties that affect the ability of the paper to run on the press.
Running head
A headline or title repeated at the top of each page.
Saddle wire
In binding, to fasten a booklet by wiring it through the middle fold of the sheets.
Safelight
In photography, the special darkroom lamp used for illumination without fogging sensitized materials.
Scaling
Determining the proper size of an image to be reduced or enlarged to fit an area.
Scan-a-web
In web printing, a rotating mirror arrangement where speed can be varied to match speed of press so image on paper can be examined during printing.
Scanner
An electronic device used in the making of color and tone-corrected separations of images.
Score
To impress or indent a mark with a string or rule in the paper to make folding easier.
Screen
See contact screen.
Screen angles
In color reproduction, angles at which the halftone screens are placed with relation to one another, to avoid undesirable moiré patterns. A set of angles often used is: black 45 degrees, magenta 75 degrees, yellow 90 degrees, cyan 105 degrees.
Screen ruling
The number of lines or dots per inch on halftone screen.
Screened print
In photography, a print with a halftone screen made from a halftone negative or by diffusion transfer.
SCSI
Acronym for Small Computer System Interface. SCSI is an industry-standard interface between computers and peripheral device controllers.
Scum
In offset lithography, a film of ink printing in the non-image areas of a plate where it should not print.
Self cover
A cover of the same paper as inside text pages.
Semi-chemical pulp
A combination of chemical and mechanical pulping with properties similar to chemical pulp.
Serif
The short cross-lines at the ends of the main strokes of many letters in some type faces.
Set-off
In presswork, when the ink of a printed sheet rubs off or marks the next sheet as it is being delivered. Also called offset.
Shadow
The darkest parts in a photograph, represented in a halftone by the largest dots.
Sharpen
To decrease in color strength, as when halftone dots become smaller; opposite of dot spread or dot again.
Sheetwise
To print one side of a sheet of paper with one plate, then turn the sheet over and print the other side with another plate using same griper and opposite side guide.
Short ink
An ink that is buttery and does not flow freely.
Show-through
In printing, the undesirable condition in which the printing on the reverse side of a sheet can be seen through the sheet under normal lighting conditions.
Side guide
On sheetfed presses, a guide on the feed board to position the sheet sideways as it feeds into the front guides before entering the impression cylinder.
Side wire
In binding, to wire the sheets or signatures of a magazine or booklet on the side near the backbone.
Signature
In printing and binding, the name given to a printed sheet after it has been folded.
Silhouette halftone
A halftone with all of the background removed.
Sizing
The treatment of paper which gives it resistance to the penetration of liquids (particularly water) or vapors.
Skid
A platform support for a pile of cut sheets of paper.
Slitting
Cutting printed sheets or webs into two or more sections by means of cutting wheels on a press or folder.
Small caps
An alphabet of small capital letters available in most roman type faces approximately the size of the lower case letters. Used in combination with larger capital letters.
Soft ink
Descriptive of the consistency of paste inks.
Soft proof
See hard proof.
Software
See program.
SPC
Acronym for Statistical Process Control
Spectrum
The complete range of colors in the rainbow, from short wavelengths (blue) to long wavelengths (red).
Spine
See backbone.
Spiral binding
A book bound with wires in spiral form inserted through holes punched along the binding side.
Staging
See stopping out.
Static neutralizer
In printing presses, an attachment designed to remove the static electricity from the paper to avoid ink set-off and trouble with feeding the paper.
Step-and-repeat
In photomechanics, the procedure of multiple exposure using the same image by stepping it in position according to a predetermined layout or program.
Stereotype
Duplicate relief plate used for newspaper printing.
Stet
A proofreader’s mark, written in the margin, signifying that copy marked for corrections should remain as it was.
Stochastic screening
A digital screening process that converts images into very small dots (14-40 microns) of equal size and variable spacing. Second order screened images have variable size dots and variable spacing. Also called Frequency Modulated (FM) screening.
Stock
Paper or other material to be printed.
Stone
In lithography, formerly used as the plate material. In letterpress, the bed on which metal type is leveled and locked up.
Stopping out
In photomechanics, application of opaque to photographic negatives; application of special lacquer to protect areas on films in dot etching; staging of halftone plates during relief etching.
Strike-on composition
Type set by a direct-impression method, or on typewriter composing machines. Also known as cold type.
Strike-through
See show-through.
Stripping
In offset lithography, the positioning of negatives (or positives) on a flat to compose a page or layout for platemaking.
Substance
The weight in pounds of a ream (500 sheets) of paper cut to the standard size (17” x 22”) for business papers (bond, ledger, mimeograph and duplicator): e.g., 20 pounds. Similar to basis weight of other grades of paper.
Subtractive primaries
Yellow, magenta, and cyan, the hues used for process color printing inks.
Sulphate pulp
Paper pulp made from wood chips cooked under pressure in a solution of bisulphate of lime.
Supercalender
In papermaking, a calendar stack, separate from the papermaking machine, with alternate metal and resilient rolls, used to produce a high finish on paper.
Surprint
In photomechanics, exposure from a second negative or flat superimposed on an exposed image of a previous negative or flat.
SWOP
Acronym for Specifications for Web Offset Publications.
Tack
In printing inks, the property of cohesion between particles; the separation force of ink needed for proper transfer and trapping on multicolor presses. A tacky ink has high separation forces and can cause surface picking or splitting of weak papers.
Tackoscope
See Inkometer.
Tagged image file format (TIFF)
A file format for exchanging bitmapped images (usually scans) between applications.
Terabyte (TB)
One trillion bytes.
Text
The body matter of a page or book, as distinguished from the headings.
Thermal dye sublimation
Like thermal printers, except pigments are vaporized and float to desired proofing stock. Similar to Thermal Dye Diffusion Transfer, or D2T2.
Thermal printers
These printers use a transfer sheet that carries ink in contact with the paper of transparency, and a heated printhead driven by digital data that touches the transfer sheet to transfer images to the right points on the page.
Thermo-mechanical pulp
In papermaking, made by steaming wood ships prior to and during refining, producing a higher yield and stronger pulp than regular groundwood.
TIFF
See Tagged Image File Format.
Tints
Various even tone areas (strengths) of a solid color.
Tissue overlay
A thin, translucent paper placed over artwork (mostly mechanicals) for protection; used to indicate color break and corrections.
Tolerances
The specification of acceptable variations in register, density, dot size, plate or paper thickness, concentration or chemicals and other printing parameters.
Toner
Imaging material used in electrophotography and some off-press proofing systems. In inks, dye used to tone printing inks, especially black.
Toning
See scum.
Tooth
A characteristic of paper, a slightly rough finish, which permits it to take ink readily.
Transparent copy
In photography, illustrative copy such as a color transparency or positive film through which light must pass in order for it to be seen or reproduced.
Transparent ink
A printing ink which does not conceal the color beneath. Process inks are transparent so that they will blend to form other colors.
Transpose
To exchange the position of a letter, word or line with another letter, word or line.
Trapping
In printing, the ability to print a wet ink film over previously printed ink. Dry trapping is printing wet ink over dry ink. Wet trapping is printing we ink over previously printed wet ink. In prepress, refers to how much overprinting colors overlap to eliminate white lines between colors in printing.
Trim marks
In printing, marks placed on the cop to indicate the edge of the page.
Twin-wire machine
In papermaking, a fourdrinier paper machine with two wires instead of one producing paper with less two sidedness.
Two-sheet detector
In printing presses, a device for stopping or tripping the press when more than one sheet attempts to feed into the grippers.
Two-sidedness
In paper, the property denoting difference in appearance and printability between its top (felt) and wire sides.
Type gauge
In composition, a printer’s tool calibrated in picas and points used for type measurement.
Type high
0.918 inch; the standard in letterpress.
UCA
Acronym for UnderColor Addition.
UCR
Acronym for UnderColor Removal- In process multicolor printing, color separation films are reduced in color in neutral areas where all three colors overprint and the black film is increased an equivalent amount in these areas. This improves trapping and can reduce makeready and ink costs.
Undercut
In printing presses, the difference between the radius of the cylinder bearers and the cylinder body, to allow for plate (or blanket) and packing thickness.
Unit
In multicolor presses, refers to the combination of inking, plate and impression operations to print each color. A 4-color pres has 4 printing units each with its own inking, plate and impression functions.
UV ink
Solventless ink that is cured by UV radiation.
Vacuum frame
In platemaking, a vacuum device for holding copy and reproduction material in contact during exposure.
Varnish
A thin, protective coating applied to a printed sheet for protection or appearance. Also, in inkmaking, it can be all or part of the ink vehicle.
Vehicle
In printing inks, the fluid component which acts as a carrier for the pigment.
Vellum finish
In papermaking, a toothy finish which is relatively absorbent for fast ink penetration.
Video display terminal (VDT)
A cathode ray tube (CRT) device with keyboard to display copy, make corrections, combine copy elements and perform other imaging functions.
Vignette
An illustration in which the background fades gradually away until it blends into the unprinted paper.
Viscosity
In printing inks, a broad term encompassing the properties of tack and flow.
Warm color
In printing, a color with a yellowish or reddish cast.
Washup
The process of cleaning the rollers, form or plate, and sometimes the ink fountain of a printing press.
Waterless printing
In offset, printing on a press using special waterless plates and no dampening system.
Web
A roll of paper used in web or rotary printing.
Web press
A press which prints on roll- or web-fed paper.
Web tension
The amount of pull or tension applied in the direction of travel of a web of paper by the action of a web press.
Widow
In composition, a single word in a line by itself, ending a paragraph, or staring a page, frowned upon in good typography.
Wipe-on plate
In offset-lithography, a plate on which a light sensitive coating is wiped on or applied with a coating machine.
Wire side
In papermaking, the side of a sheet next to the wire in manufacturing; opposite form felt or top side.
Wire-o binding
A continuous double series of wire loops run through punched slots along the binding side of a booklet.
With the grain
Folding or feeding paper into a press parallel to the grain of the paper.
Woodcut
An illustration in lines of varying thickness, cut in relief on plank-grain wood, for the purpose of making prints.
Word processor
A typewriter connected to a computerized recording medium to input, edit and output data.
Work and tumble
To print one side of a sheet of paper, then turn it over from the gripper to back using the same side guide and plate to print the second side.
Work and turn
To print one side of a sheet of paper, then turn it over form left to right and print the second side using the same gripper and plate but opposite side guide.
WORM
Acronym for Write Once Read Many Times—a type of optical memory device.
Wove paper
Paper having a uniform unlined surface and a soft smooth finish.
Wraparound plate
In rotary letterpress, a thin one-piece relief plate which is wrapped around the press cylinder like an offset plate. Can be used for direct or indirect (offset) printing.
Wrinkles
Creases in paper occurring during printing. In inks, the uneven surface formed during drying.
Wrong font
In proofreading, the mark “WF” indicates a letter or figure of the wrong size or face.
Wysiwyg
In electronic publishing, an acronym for What You See Is What You Get which means that the composite page viewed on the screen of a workstation essentially represents what the printer will output.
Xerography
An electophotographic copying process that uses a corona charged selenium photoconductor surface, electrostatic forces and dry or liquid toner to form an image.
Yellow
Hue of a subtractive primary and a 4-color process ink. It reflects red and green light and absorbs blue light.
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