Lithographic

Offset lithography is mainly suited to printing illustrated work on a broad range of papers upto 350gsm and it is the main process for most types of printed matter on paper. Lithographic printing is ideal for:

Promotional literature, brochures and illustrated books Magazines, newspapers, directories and catalogues Printed stationery and forms Security documents Sheet labels and folding boxboard cartons Spot colours, metallics and pastel colours

Digital

These are just some of the benefits of choosing digital print at Swallowtail Print

Our digital print facilities can produce finished material much faster than lithographic printing

We can print different versions of the same project within a single print-run, for example, variable data printing

We can personalise printed material with names, addresses or other relevant information – all at the same time

Simply tell us your needs and we’ll help you decide the best and most cost-effective printing method.

4:0 or 4:1 or 4:4 etc

Refers to the number of colours used per side. Can be referred to as four back zero / four back one / four back four.

4 Colour Process

Technique of printing that uses the four process colours of ink to simulate colour photographs or illustrations. See CMYK.

4pp

A product that has four pages and usually consists of a sheet folded in half. The 'outside right cover' is the first page, the 'inside' forms pages two and three, and the fourth page is the 'outside left cover'. For instance, an A4 sheet folded in half becomes an A5 4pp brochure.

4pp A4 

A product where an A3 sheet is folded in half to create a multi-page A4 product. The first page is the outside right front cover, the second page is the inside left, the third page is the inside right, and the fourth page is the outside left cover. It is also known as double A4.

6pp 

A product that has six pages and usually consists of a sheet folded into thirds. Each of the six panels are referred to as pages. For instance, an A4 page folded into three becomes a 6pp DL brochure.

8pp

A product that has eight pages and usually consists of a sheet folded into quarters. Each of the eight panels are referred to as pages. For instance, an over-sized A4 page folded into four becomes an 8pp DL brochure.

- A -

Abrasion Resistance

The resistance to scratching or scuffing of a surface of paper

Resistance to frictional rubbing as distinct from resistance to knocks and impacts. Abrasion tests may be made by means of the finger alone, or with a cloth or a pad with or without a mildly abrasive powder. The pressure, speed and time of rubbing as well as the character of the rubbing agent should be controlled when making comparisons of abrasion resistance.

Accordion Fold

A type of paper folding in which each fold of a brochure runs in the opposite direction to the previous fold of the brochure creating an accordion affect

Acetate

A thin flexible, clear or translucent plastic sheet material of a variety of colours used as an overlay usually

Additive Colours

In photographic reproduction the primary colours of red, green, and blue which are mixed to form all other colours. Also known as RGB

Adhesive Binding

Style of unsewn binding in which the backs of gathered sections are cut off and the leaves are held together at the binding edge by glue. Also referred to as perfect bound.

Aerate

This refers to a process whereby air is blown onto paper sheets to separate the sheets

Against the grain

At right angles to the grain direction of paper.

Agate

Type size of 5 ½ points

Airbrush

A compressed air tool that dispenses a fine mist of ink; used in illustration and photo retouching software to create effects

Alley

Space between columns of type on a page.

Alteration

Change in copy or specifications made after production has begun.

Amberlith

Was used in laying film and stripping. Red-orange acetate used for masking mechanicals when photographing for plates. The Amberlith area appears black to the camera, and prints clear on the resulting film. Not used much anymore

Anodized Plate

In lithography, a plate manufactured with a barrier of aluminum oxide, which prevents chemical reactions that break down the plate; it provides optimum press performance and can carry very small dot %'s

Antique Finish

Paper with a rough surface

Antiskinning Agent

An antioxidant agent used to prevent inks from skinning over in the can or on press

Aqueous Coating

Water soluble coating that protects ink and enables quick handling of piece. Comes in gloss, satin, and dull-Usually done in-line

Aqueous Plate

Water soluble plate coatings, which are less toxic and less polluting which enables quick handling of paper and high level of gloss

Art Board/Paper

A term used for coated papers

Art Work

Any materials or images which are prepared for graphic reproduction and can be produced manually or by software

Art-Lined Envelope

An envelope that is lined with fine paper; can be colored patterned or foiled

Artwork

The images/text that are to be printed (usually supplied digitally as a PDF). As a general rule, artwork should be supplied as a high resolution PDF at 300 dpi, with crop marks and 3mm bleed.

ASCII

Acronym for American Standard Code for Information Interchange, a standard code used to help interface digital equipment.

A-Sizes

The most common paper sizes used for stationery, leaflets and other publications

A0 - 841 x 1189 mmA1 - 594 x 841 mmA2 - 420 x 594 mmA3 - 297 x 420 mmA4 - 210 x 297 mmA5 - 148.5 x 210 mmA6 - 105 x 148.5 mmA7 - 74 x 105 mmA8 - 52 x 74 mmA9 - 37 x 52 mmA10 - 26 x 37 mm

Authors Amendments

Changes made by the customer, usually at the proofing stage. These are sometimes chargeable, as opposed to in-house errors which are not

Author or Customer Alterations (AA, CA's)

Changes made after the proof stage where a customer is responsible for additional charges

- B -

Back Lining

The fixing of material, either paper or cloth, to the inside of a book before it is bound. Can be colored, textured or finishes

Back to Back

Printing applied to both side of a sheet of paper

Backbone

The spine of the binding which connects the front of the book with the back of the book; also called back or spine

Background

Image that appears faintest and the type is usually printed over the background and used as effect

Back slant

Type that tilts to the left of backward direction; opposite of italic type, which is to the right

Back Up

To print on the reverse of a sheet which has already been printed on one side

Banding

Method of packaging printed pieces using paper, rubber, or fiberglass bands.

Banner

The top primary headline usually spanning the entire width of a page. Used to draw eye or grab attention

Base

The support onto which printing plates are fixed and is usually metal

Base Film

The foundation material onto which the film positives are stripped for making printing plates and becomes obsolete and was used primarily in the stripping process

Base Line

Term used to describe the imaginary horizontal line upon which stand capitals, lower case letters, punctuation points, etc.

Base Size

Standard size of paper stock; even though it is required size may be smaller or larger. It is different for types of paper, book and cover weight

Basis Weight

Basis weight refers to the weight, in pounds, of a ream (500 sheets) of paper cut to standard size for that particular paper grade and varies based on coated, uncoated, book and cover

Bed

The steel flat table of a cylinder printing press upon which the type or die sits during the printing process

Bible Paper

A thin but strong paper (opaque)

Binder's Board

A heavy paperboard with a cloth covering that is used for hardback or case back binding of books.

Bindery

Print shop department or separate business that does trimming, folding, binding, and other finishing tasks.

Binding

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

Adhesive Binding

Style of unsewn binding in which the backs of gathered sections are cut off and the leaves are held together at the binding edge by glue. Also referred to as perfect bound.

Burst Binding

Method of unsewn adhesive binding widely used on paperbacks. The back fold is burst through (nicked) in short lengths during folding so that the glue can reach each leaf as well as section without having to remove the usual 3mm as in perfect binding, unless PUR glue is utilised.

Due to the fact that each leaf and section is adhered with the glue, burst binding is considered to be a more robust form of binding than perfect binding.

As folded sheets are required to burst through, this method of binding does not lend itself to digital print processes.

Comb Bind

To bind by inserting the teeth of a flexible plastic comb through holes punched along the edge of a stack of paper.

Loose Leaf

Single sheets of paper or board bound together in a ring or similar device, which allows for easy removal or addition of pages.

Perfect Binding

An adhesive form of binding. Signatures that are folded will have a section of spine cut off with the back edge rougheed, glue will then be applied and the cover attached.

As perfect binding is able to utilise loose sheets, it is a suitable method for binding digitally produced work also. Perfect binding does not have the same robustness which a burst bound book offers, unless PUR glue has been used. PUR glue will create a bound book of similar robustness to that of a sewn book.

Spiral Bind

A form of binding using a spiral of continuous wire or plastic looped through punched holes in the documents back margin. This can be either metal or plastic.

Saddle Stitched

A form of binding that uses staple shaped wires through the middle fold of collated sheets. In saddle stitched work that printed sections are inserted one inside the other on a saddle before stapling along the back fold.

Although dependent on the stock weight, ideally most suitable for books with fewer that 80 pages.

Wire-O Binding (or Wiro)

A metal preformed binding, which is clamped through a series of punched holes on the binding edge.

Wire-O offers a variety of cover options, most common are:

- Standard Binding – separate front and back covers.

- Full Canadian – partially hidden wiro is exposed on front and back cover.

- Half Canadian – wiro is exposed on the back cover.

- Easel – a free standing triangular cover.

Samples of wire-o binding methods are illustrated below:

Standard Wiro Binding

Most common cover style. Separate front and back covers. Opens easily back to back.

   

Full Canadian Wiro (Square Back)

The partially hidden wiro is exposed on the front and back cover. Flat spine allows for

easy identification.

   

Half Canadian Wiro (Back Cover Bind) 

The partially hidden wiro is exposed on the back cover. Flat spine allows for easy

identification.

   

Cased In Wiro

Standard wiro pasted into a hard case with all the advantages of opening.

   

Reverse Wiro Binding

Allows for an expandable inside cover where a large spread image is important. The

binding is hidden and the spine is flat. Back flap can be pasted down or left free.

   

Catalogue/Publishers Wiro

An intriguing one-piece cover style that opens “in reverse”, creating a flat spine for

identification.

   

Concealed Wiro (Pasted Back)

Wiro bound insert is pasted inside a one-piece, flat spine cover. Binding is concealed. The

spine can be printed.

   

Easel Wiro

A free-standing, triangular cover. Pages flip easily.

   

Calendar Wiro

The best way to bind wall or desk calendars – with or without a hanger and or thumb cut.

Pages always

The advantages of wiro binding are:

- Pages turn easily.

- Sheets will also stay flat whenever the book is opened (impossible with gluing or stitching).

- Back to back opening without ever damaging the spine.

- Secure retention of pages.

- Perfect registration – ideal for overlays and double page spreads.

- Different materials and thickness can be combined anywhere in the book.

- Easy removal or replacement of sheets.

- Virtually no size restrictions.

Sewn With Drawn On Cover

Providing that extra robustness when required. A paper or board book cover that is attached to a sewn book block by gluing the spine and then trimmed to final size.

In producing the sewn book block, after gathering of signatures, the sewing machine inserts threads through the spine of each section and then uses further thread to join the sections to each other to form the book block.

Sewn books will generally tend to lie flatter when opened as opposed to a burst, perfect or saddle bound book.

PUR gluing will provide similar results to that of a sewn booklet.

Black

Ink that is one of the process colours. Also known as K in CMYK.

Blanket

On offset presses a fabric-reinforced sheet of rubber to transfer the impression from the plate onto the impression cylinder.

Blanket to Blanket Press

A printing method in which there are two blanket cylinders thought which a sheet of paper is passed and printed on both sides. Used on smaller presses or duplicators.

Blanket Cylinder

Cylinder of a press on which the blanket is mounted.

Bleed

Where the image to be printed extends (usually by 3mm) over the crop marks. This makes trimming easier and means the finished documents will run to the edges

Blind Emboss

Raising of the image on paper using a die and counter die with no ink involved.

Blind Embossing

Raising of images that are not inked or gold leafed.

Blind Folio

Page number not printed on page.

Blind Image

A problem that arises in the lithography process when an image loses it ink receptivity and fails to print.

Blind Emboss

A type of embossing where no ink is used. Instead, the design or text is only visible as a raised area on the paper/card. Also see debossing which has the opposite effect

Block

Illustrations or line are etched into zinc or cooper plates mounted to wood and used in letterpress printing.

Block Foiling

Where a design is stamped into the cover, usually in a metallic foil.

Blow-up

Enlargement of photos, copies or line art.

Blue-Line

Photographic proof made from flats for checking accuracy, layout and imposition before plates are made. Becoming obsolete.

Board paper

Grade of paper commonly used for file folders, display, and postcards.

Boldface

Type that has a heavier stroke that makes it more bold.

Bond

A grade of durable writing, printing and typing paper that has a standard size of 17 x 22 inches. Used in business correspondence. Strong, uncoated paper often used for stationery

Book

A general classification to describe papers used to print books bookweight; its standard size is 25 x38 inches. A printed work that contains mare than 64 pages. Can be bound in a number of ways.

Bookbinder

Alternate term for Trade Bindery.

Bristol Board

A board paper of various thickness; having a smooth finish and used for printing and drawing.

Brocade

A heavily embossed paper.

Brochure

A pamphlet to convey or promote message.

Bronzing

A printing method whereby special ink is applies to sheets and then a powder is applied producing a metallic effect. Particles will come off on hand or in printers.

B-Sizes

Larger than A-sizes, most sheet-fed print presses take these paper sizes. It then allows for trimming to A-sizes

B0 - 1000 × 1414 mmB1 - 707 × 1000 mmB2 - 500 × 707 mmB3 - 353 × 500 mmB4 - 250 × 353 mmB5 - 176 × 250 mmB6 - 125 × 176 mmB7 - 88 × 125 mmB8 - 62 x 88 mmB9 - 44 × 62 mmB10 - 31 × 44 mm

Buckle Folder

A piece of binding machinery with rollers that fold the paper.

Bulk

Thickness of paper measured in Microns (thousandths of an inch or pages per inch – ppi), as opposed to the weight (see GSM)

Bullet

A boldface square or dot used before a sentence to emphasize its importance.

Burn

A term used in plate making to describe applying light to "burn" the image onto plate.

Burnish

A term used for the process of "rubbing down" lines and dots on a printing plate.

Burst Binding

Method of unsewn adhesive binding widely used on paperbacks. The back fold is burst through (nicked) in short lengths during folding so that the glue can reach each leaf as well as section without having to remove the usual 3mm as in perfect binding, unless PUR glue is utilised.

Due to the fact that each leaf and section is adhered with the glue, burst binding is considered to be a more robust form of binding than perfect binding.

As folded sheets are required to burst through, this method of binding does not lend itself to digital print processes.

Butt

To join without overlapping or space between.

Butt fit

Ink colours overlapped only a hairline so they appear perfectly butted.

- C -

C1S

Paper coated on one side.

C2S

Paper coated on both sides.

CS

Graphics software

Caliper

The measurement of thickness of paper expressed in thousandths of an inch or mils.

Camera Ready

A term given to any copy, artwork etc., that is prepared for photographic reproduction. Can be manually created or created on computer.

Caps & Lowercase

Instructions in the typesetting process, that indicate the use of a capital letter and the rest of the letters in lower case.

Caps & Small Caps

Two sizes of capital letters made in one size of type.

Cardboard

General term for stiff, bulky paper such as index, tag or bristol.

Case

The thick cover of a hardbound book.

Case Binding

Books bound using hard board (case) covers.

To bind using glue to hold signatures together into a case made of binder board covered with fabric, plastic or leather to form a hardbound book. Case bound books are available in both round and square back formats.

Printed sheets will be folded into page signatures then collated and sewn by machine, the edges are then trimmed to form a book block. Endpapers are then attached to the first and last sections of the book block. The use of PUR glue will remove the need to sew in most instances.

The back edge of the book block is then coated with glue and a strip of gauze glued to the spine. This is then placed within the case (cover) on a casing-in machine which pastes the end papers to the case and fits the cover.

Also called cloth edition, hard bind or hard cover.

Casing In

the process of placing in and adhering a book to its case covers.

Cast Coated

A paper that is coated with clay and then pressure dried using a polished roller which gives an enamel like hard extra high gloss finish.

Center marks

Lines on a mechanical, negative, plate, or press sheet indicating the center of a layout.

CEPS

Abbreviation for colour electronic prepress systems, a high-end, computer-based system that is used to colour correct scanned images and assemble image elements into final pages

Chalking

Print on paper where the absorption is so great that it breaks up ink image creating loose pigment dust.

Chancery Italic

The roots of italic design

Chase

Frame of steel, or cast or wrought iron, in which images are locked up for printing and is used in letterpress or cylinder presses

Chrome

Alternate term for Transparency

Cleat bind

Alternate term for Side Stitch.

CMYK

Abbreviation of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black. These make up the standard 4 colour process used for printing in full colour

Coated Paper

Paper which has a coating on one or both sides. This can have a gloss or silk (matt) finish. Coated papers are used for the majority of printed products, but not for stationery where an uncoated (or bond) paper is used

Collate

To assemble sheets into proper sequence.

Colour Bar

Strip of colours printed near the edge of a press sheet to help evaluate ink density.

Colour break

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

Colour Control Bars

A film test printed or exposed onto a film or substrate to produce an assortment of measurable colour and gray patches that are used to measure and control the printing process.

Colour correct

To retouch or enhance colour separation negatives.

Colour Matching System

System of numbered ink swatches that facilities communication about colour.

Colour Process

Alternate term for 4-colour process printing.

Colour Separation

Set of four halftone negatives for making plates for 4-colour process printing.

Colour Swatch

Sample of an ink colour.

Comb Bind

To bind by inserting the teeth of a flexible plastic comb through holes punched along the edge of a stack of paper.

Combination Stamp

Process where embossing and foil stamping are done at the same time.

Comprehensive dummy

A detailed dummy or sketch of a design, intended to give a client or the printer a clear sense of how the finished publication will or should look when reproduced. Desktop publishing systems can easily create comps using low-resolution black and white or colour printers. Every job submitted for printing must be accompanied with a colour-broken comprehensive clearly indicating colour breaks.

Contact Sheet

Alternative term for Proof Sheet.

Contract Proof

A colour proof that represents an agreement between the printer and the client regarding exactly how the printed product will appear.

Copy

For and Editor or Typesetter, all written material. For a graphic designer or printer, everything that will be printed: art, photographs, and graphics as well as words.

Copyright

Ownership of creative work by the writer, photographer, or artist who made it.

Copywriter

Person who writes copy for advertising.

Corner marks

Lines on a mechanical, negative, plate, or press sheet showing the corners of a page or finished piece.

Corrugated

Characteristic of board for boxes made by sandwiching fluted kraft paper between sheets of paper or cardboard.

Cotton content paper

Paper made from cotton fibres rather than wood pulp.

Cover paper

Grade of paper made for covers and post cards.

Crash Printing

Letterpress printing on carbon or carbonless forms so image prints simultaneously on all sheets in the set.

Crease

Where a line is scored to allow for easier and tidier folding. Any board over 170gsm in weight will need to be creased before folding.

Creep

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

Cromalin

DuPont trade name for integral colour proof.

Crop

To eliminate portions of an illustration or photograph so the remainder is more clear, interesting, or able to fit the layout.

Crop Marks

Lines marking where the paper is to be trimmed after printing. These should be part of the artwork.

Crossover

Image that continues from one page of a publication across the gutter to the opposite page.

C-Sizes

Paper sizes used for envelopes. These correspond to A-sizes (e.g. C4 envelope will hold A4 sheets)

C3 - 324 x 458 mmC4 - 229 x 324 mmC5 - 162 x 229 mmC6 - 114 x 162 mmDL - 110 x 220 mm (holds A4 folded twice)

Cutoff

The circumference of the impression cylinder of a web press, therefore also the length of the sheet the press will cut from the roll of paper.

Cut Star

  The CutStar short-grain sheeter offers you the best of both worlds - the cost benefits of web offset and the flexibility of sheetfed offset. CutStar is installed right in front of the feeder. It allows you to process stock weights of between 40 and 300 gsm. The printing stock is unwound from the reel, cut to the required format in CutStar and then shingled. The stream of shingled stock is then fed into the feeder.

CutStar allows you to use inexpensive reel stock rather than more costly sheeted stock, saving you up to 15 percent. With special printing materials such as foils or aluminized paper, the saving is often even greater.

When starting a new job, either the reel can be changed in a matter of minutes or CutStar can be disengaged from the feeder at the touch of a button. A motor moves the CutStar cutting unit to one side to allow easy access to the feeder. The press can then continue working in sheetfed mode.

The high level of automation make CutStar extremely simple to operate

Cut Stock

Paper distributor term for paper 11 x 17 or smaller.

Cutting

Process of cutting paper with guillotine cutter

Cutting Forme (or Die)

The custom made cutter used when die-cutting

Cyan (C)

One of the ink colours (blue) that is used as a process colour (CMYK)

- D -

Dampener fountain

Alternate term for Water fountain on a press.

Dampening solution

Alternate term for Fountain solution.

Data conversion

To change digital information from its original code so that it can be recorded by an electronic memory using a different code.

Debossing

Where an image is pressed or stamped into the paper creating a depression as opposed to an embossed, raised impression

Densitometer

Instrument used to measure light reflecting from or transmitted through copy.

Density

Relative darkness of copy, ink on paper, or emulsion on film, as measured by a densitometer.

Density range

Expression of contrast between darkest and lightest areas of copy.

Design Brief

Written description of how a printed piece is intended to look and the requirements for reproducing it.

Die

Sharp metal rule used for die cutting or block of metal used for embossing or foil stamping.

Die Cut

Where an irregular shape is cut from the paper instead of trimming square edges. This can be any shape but requires a die or cutting forme to be made up specially

Digital Printed Proofs

Proofs printed digitally (not lithographically). These are suitable for checking layout and pagination but not for colour. The reason being they will be printed on different paper and/or using a different machine to the finished product. These can usually be offered free of charge.

Digital Printing

Low cost method of printing best suited for short run jobs. It works directly from electronic data without the need for printing plates. This makes the process very quick but the print quality, although a good alternative is not on par with lithography. Also, you can not use specific spot colours or metallic inks

Distribution Rollers

The rubber coated rollers responsible for the distribution of ink from the fountain to the ink train in presses

DL

Envelope size to hold an A4 sheet folded twice (or a compliment slip). 220 x 110mm. See C-sizes

Docutech

Xerox machine that is high end production copier and only does black/black using toner

Dog Ear

A dog Ear occurs when you fold into a fold (such as a letter fold). At the side of one of the folds an indentation forms. It may look like a small inverted triangle. This usually happens when folds are too tight.

Dot

The smallest individual element of a halftone which can be expressed in %

Dot Gain

A Dot Gain occurs due to ink absorption in paper causing halftone dots to enlarge or spread

Double Gatefold

In double gatefolds there are three parallel folds. The left and right edges of the paper fold and meet in the middle, without overlapping, along a center fold. The outer panels (the ones that fold in to the middle) are usually 1/32" to 1/8" smaller than the inner panels (the ones covered by the panels that fold in) to allow for proper folding and nesting.

DPI

Dots per inch, or the image resolution. For print, all images in a document should always be a minimum of 300dpi

Draw-down

Test of ink colour before going to press. Solid stripes on paper to show what ink will look like

Drawn On Covers

A paper back cover with the text pages glued in (see perfect binding & burst binding)

Drier

Describes additives to ink which hasten the drying process

Drilling

The actual drilling of holes into paper for ring or comb binding which uses a bit that turns with sharp edges. This is essentially hole punching but on a larger scale.

Drop Shadow

A shadow image placed strategically behind an image to create the affect of a shadow from light

Dry Gum Paper

Label paper with glue that can be activated by water.

Ductor Roller

The roller between the inking and the dampening rollers

Dull Finish

Any matte finished paper that has very little reflection

Dummy

A Mock up of the finished product. This can be printed or unprinted, depending on the purpose. See proofs

Duotone

A two-colour halftone reproduction generated from a one-colour photo with use of accent colour

Duplex Paper

Paper which has a different colour on each side

Duplicator

Small offset press using paper 12 x 18 or smaller

Dutch Cut

Odd number of cuts or pieces placed in different directions

Dutch Cutting

A process of cutting many sheets from the same parent sheet in which the smaller sheets have a different grain direction

- E -

Edition Bind

Alternate term for Case Bind.

Eggshell Finish

Finish of paper surface that resembles an eggshell achieved by omitting the calendar process. Toothy feel or rough

Electronic Composition

Composition of text, graphics and pictures

Electronic image assembly

Assembly of new image from portions of existing images or elements using a computer.

Electronic memory

Disk, magnetic tape, or other memory device that holds digital information.

Electronic page assembly

Assembly and manipulation of type, graphics, and other visual elements on a computer screen.

Electronic Proof

Proof generated from the computer file directly -Inkjet, dye sublimation, digital halftone.

Electronic publishing

Publishing by printing with a computer-controlled photocopy machine.

Electronic retouching

Using a computer to enhance or correct a scanned photograph.

Elliptical Dot

Dots are actually elongated to produce improved middle tones

Em

A unit of measurement equaling 12 points

Embossed

Paper finishing where a pattern is pressed into the paper when it is dry which also applies to using die and counter die to impress image into substrate

Embossing

Where designs are pressed in to the paper to leave a raised effect.

Emulsion

A light sensitive substance used as a coating for film; made from a silver halide compound

Enamel

A term that describes coating on paper

Encapsulation

Where printed material is fully enclosed and sealed in plastic. This leaves a small, clear plastic border around the sheet where it is sealed. Encapsulation is durable and water resistant.

End Sheets

Sheets that attach the inside pages of a case bound book to its cover.

Engraving

A printing process whereby images are etched onto a plateWhen ink is applied, the etched areas act as small well to hold the ink; paper is forced against this die and the ink is injected into the paper creating raised images

EPS

EPS stands for Encapsulated PostScript. PostScript was originally designed only for sending to a printer. But PostScript's ability to scale and translate (move the origin of) what follows makes it possible to embed pieces of PostScript and place them where you want on the page. These pieces are usually EPS files. EPS is considered a graphic file format.

Estimate

Price that states what a job will probably cost based on initial specifications from customer.

Etch

Producing an image on a plate by the use of acid

Exposure

That stage of the photographic process where the image is produced on the light sensitive material

- F -

Fan Fold

Paper folding that emulates an accordion or fan

Felt Finish

The smoother side of paper usually a soft weave pattern used for book papers

Felt Side

It is the top side of the sheet in the paper making process that does not lie on the Fourdrinier wire

Film Laminate

Thin sheet of plastic adhered to printed paper for protection.

Final Count

Number of printed pieces delivered and charged for.

Finish

The surface quality of paper

Finished Size

The size once trimmed and folded

Finishing

Inclusive term sometimes used for all bindery operations.

Finish Size

Size of printed product after production is complete.

Fit

The registration of the print on the substrate

Flat Size

The size before folding, after trimming. Can also be used if a product is to be supplied creased but unfolded.

Flexography

Method of printing on a web press using rubber plates with raised images.

Flood

To cover a sheet with ink or varnish.

Flop

To reproduce a photograph or illustration so that its image faces opposite from the original.

Flush Cover

Book or booklet etc. having the cover trimmed to the same size as the text.

Flute

Paper pleat between the walls in corrugated cardboard.

Foil Emboss

To foil stamp and emboss an image.

Foil Stamping

Process where foil is transferred via pressure and heat

Fold Marks

Markings that show where folds should occur which are located outside of a trimmed area

Folder

Machine used to fold signatures or brochures

Folding

There are a large number of different folding options. Some common folds are:

Concertina or Z fold Gate fold – where left and right edges fold to the centre Double gate fold Roll fold – like a takeaway menu

Folding Options

4 pagesingle fold

1/3rd A4 6 page concertina fold

6 pagegate fold

6 pagestandard fold

8 page parallel double fold

8 page french fold right single

8 page roll fold over and outer

8 page parallel map fold

8 page reverse map fold

10 page concertina fold

12 page standard letter fold

12 page concertina fold

Folio or Page Number

Number of pages at top or bottom

Font

Characters that make up a typeface and size

Form

Another name for a die-cutting block.

Format

Size, shape and overall style of a layout or printed piece.

Form Rollers

The rollers that come into direct contact with the plate of a printing press

Formula Pricing

Printing prices based on standard papers, formats, ink colour and quantities.

Fountain

Reservoir for ink or water on a press.

Fountain Solution

Mixture of water and chemicals that dampens a printing plate to prevent ink from adhering to its non-image are.

Four Colour Printing

Usually means process printing (CMYK)

Fourdrinier

A machine with a copper wire screen that receives the pulp slurry in the paper making process which become the final paper sheet

Free Sheet

Paper that is free from wood pulp

French Fold

Two folds at right angles to each other. With French folds the paper is folded with crossfolds (right angle folds), often with a short first fold. The shorter portion or head in french folds may be folded to the inside (heads in) or outside (heads out).

Eight-panel french folds with even panels (no short heads) are commonly called quarter-fold or 8-panel right angle folds.

French folds are often used for greeting cards and wedding invitations.

FSC

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC.org) is an independent, non-governmental, not for profit organisation established to promote the responsible management of the world's forests. Certain paper brands are accredited by the FSC.

Full Colour

Printing in CMYK, as opposed to using spot colours. Although you can print full colour with additional spot colours.

- G -

Gang or Ganging

Grouping multiple jobs or forms on same press sheet

Gate Fold

Fold where both outside edges fold into the middle thus creating a gate

Gas Ghosting

Image from one side of sheet showing through to other side due to ink gasses being trapped

Gather

To assemble sections into single copies of complete sets for binding

Ghosting

Noticeable difference in density of ink in certain areas next to larger solid areas due to ink rollers running out of capacity to carry enough ink

Gilding

Treating Gold leaf edges of books with a liquid agent and made permanent with burnishing tools

Gloss

Characteristic of paper, ink, or varnish that reflects relatively large amounts of light.

Gloss coated paper

These papers have a smooth surface and a high shine, perfect for producing printed promotional items e.g brochures, flyers and leaflets

Graduated Screen

An area of image where halftone dots range continuously from one % to another gradually

Grade

One of seven major categories of paper: bond, uncoated book, coated book, text, cover, board and specialty.

Grain

The direction of the fibres of paper. It is easier to fold with the grain.

Graphic Designer

Professional who conceives of the design for, plans how to produce, and may coordinate production of a printed piece.

Graphics

Art and other visual elements used to make messages more clear.

Gravure (Rotogravure or Gravure for short)

Is a type of intaglio printing process; that is, it involves engraving the image onto an image carrier. In gravure printing, the image is engraved onto a cylinder because, like offset printing and flexography, it uses a rotary printing press. Once a staple of newspaper photo features, the rotogravure process is still used for commercial printing of magazines, postcards, and corrugated (cardboard) product packaging.

Gray Scale

Strip of swatches of tone values ranging from white to black used by process camera operators to calibrate exposure times.

Gripper

Metal fingers that hold each sheet of paper as it passes through each unit of the printing press

Gripper Edge

The side of the paper that the grippers hold to run through the press

GSM

Grams per square metre. This is the standard measurement of weight for paper.

Guillotine Cutter

Machine that trims paper excess

Gusset

Expandable portion of a bag, file folder or envelope.

Gutter

Space between pages in the printing sheet

- H -

Hairline

Very thin line or gap about the width of a hair: 1/100 inch

Hairline Register

Very tight register which is the thinnest of the standard printers' rules

Halftone

Tone graduated image composed of varying sized dots or lines to make a image or picture

Halftone Dots

Dots that by their varying sizes create the illusion of shading or a continuous-tone image.

Halftone Screen

Ruled right-angled lines, used to translate the full tone of a photo to the halftone dot image required for printing

Half Web

Web press whose width and cutoff allow printing eight 8 ½ x 11 pages on one press sheet.

Hard Bind

Alternate term for Case Bind.

Hard Cover

Bound with a case of binder’s board.

Head Margin

The margin between the top of the printed copy and the trimmed edge

Head Stops

Adjustable posts on register unit of a press that properly position leading edge of a sheet.

Heat-Set Web

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

Hickies

Imperfections in presswork due to dirt on press, in ink or in paper. Donut-shaped spot or imperfection in printing, most visible in areas of heavy ink coverage.

High Bulk Paper

Stock that is thicker than normal in relation to its basis weight

High Contrast

Few or no tonal gradations between dark and light areas.

Highlights

The lightest tones of a photo, printed halftone or illustration

Hi Res

Hot Melt

An adhesive used in the binding process

House Sheet

This is a term that refers to a paper that a printer keeps on hand in his shop

- I -

IBC

Inside back cover

IFC

Inside front cover

Illustrator

Graphic Software

Image Area

Area of the printing plate that carries the ink and prints on paper

Image Setter

High resolution output device for producing film from electronically generated page layouts

Imposition

The pages of the artwork are arranged such that after printing, cutting and folding, the pages will be in the correct order. Sometimes seen when an imposition proof is supplied electronically, the pages will not be in chronological order.

Impression

Product resulting from one cycle of printing machine where image is transferred to paper

Impression Cylinder

Cylinder on a press that presses paper against the blanket (offset) or plate (gravure).

Imprint

To print additional copy on a previously printed sheet.

Index Paper

Light weight paper board paper for writing and easy erasure.

Indicia

Printed information to replace stamp

Ink Fountain

The well which holds ink and distributes in to the inking rollers

Ink Holdout

Ability of paper to not allow absorption on ink into paper

Inkjet

Type of proofing process or low quality production machine

Italic

Type that is slanted body forward

- J -

Jacket

The paper cover that goes over a hardbound book

Job Ticket

Alternate term for Work Order.

Jog

To vibrate a stack of finished pages so that they are even

Jogger

Vibrating platform that evens up the edges of stacks of paper

Jpeg

A file format for photos it is typically used because of its ability to compress files. (It creates a smaller file than a TIFF file and it is used mainly on the Internet.) Printers prefer TIFF over Jpeg files.

- K -

Kerning

The measure of space between letters

Keyline

Alternate term for Mechanical.

Keylines

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

Keys

Screws on an ink fountain that control ink flow.

Kiss Cut

A light die cut that cuts through first layer but leaves base substrate uncut

Kiss die cut

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

Knock out

Alternate term for Mask out.

Knockout film

Alternate term for Masking material such as Rubylith.

Kraft Paper

Strong paper, usually brown, used for wrapping and to make bags.

- L -

Laid Finish-

Grid of parallel lines on paper simulating surface of handmade paper.

Laminate

To bond plastic film to paper, or to glue paper to chipboard or corrugated cardboard.

Laminating

Where a thin plastic film is fixed to one or both sides of the paper. This can create a silky matt or a high gloss finish, depending on the intended purpose and personal preference. It also acts as a protective barrier if the print needs to be more durable or is likely to encounter a demanding environment.

Landscape

Where a document is oriented so the long edges are at the top and bottom. As opposed to portrait

Large-format camera

Camera that makes negatives 4 x 5 or larger.

Laser printing

Method of photocopying using a laser beam to charge the drum.

Layout

A dummy that shows the placement of all the elements. Sketch or drawing of a design for a proposed printed piece showing position, size, and colour of copy.

Leading

Space between the lines of type

Leading Edge

Edge of a sheet of paper that enters the press first, also known as the Gripper edge.

Ledger Paper

Strong, smooth bond paper used for keeping business records.

Legible

Characteristic of copy having sufficient contrast with the paper on which it appears and determined by such features as typeface, size, leading, and quality of printing.

Letterpress

Letterpress printing is relief printing of text and image using a press with a "type-high bed" printing press and movable type, in which a reversed, raised surface is inked and then pressed into a sheet of paper to obtain a positive right-reading image. It was the normal form of printing text from its invention by Johannes Gutenberg in the mid-15th century until the 19th century and remained in wide use for books and other uses until the second half of the 20th century. In addition to the direct impression of inked movable type onto paper or another receptive surface, letterpress is also the direct impression of inked printmaking blocks such as photo-etched zinc "cuts" (plates), linoleum blocks, wood engravings, etc., using such a press.[citation needed]

In the 21st century, commercial letterpress has been revived by the use of 'water-wash' photopolymer plates that are adhered to a near-type-high base to produce a relief printing surface typically from digitally-rendered art and typography

Light Table

Translucent glass surface lit from below, used by production artists and strippers.

Light weight paper

Book grade paper of basis weight 40# or less with high opacity for its weight.

Line conversion screen

Piece of film containing line patterns that break light into those patterns as it passes through.

Line Copy

Any copy that can be reproduced with out the use of halftone screens. Type, rules, clip art, and other images that are high contrast.

Line negative

High contrast negative usually made from line copy.

Linen

A paper that copies the look and texture of linen cloth

Linen Tester

Alternate term for Graphic arts magnifier.

Lines per inch

The number of lines or rows of dots there are per inch in a screen and therefore in a screen tint, halftone, or separation.

Linotype

Mergenthaler trade name for machine that sets lines of metal type.

Liquid laminate

Plastic applied to paper as a liquid, then bonded and cured into a hard, glossy finish.

Lithography / Lithographic (or litho)

The most popular print process, a metal plate is treated so that the image area attracts the oil-based inks, while the wet non-image areas resist them

Live area

Alternate term for Image area.

Logo

Assembly of type and art into a distinctive symbol unique to an organization, business, or product.

Long grain

Alternate term for Grain long (paper).

Loop Stitch

To saddle stitch with staples that are also loops which slip over rings of binders.

Loose Leaf

Single sheets of paper or board bound together in a ring or similar device, which allows for easy removal or addition of pages.

Loose proof

Proof of one colour separation.

Loupe

Alternate term for Graphic arts magnifier.

- M -

M

Roman numeral for 1,000.

Magenta

One of the four process colours; also known as process red. One of the primary colours (CMYK)

Mailing service

Business specializing in addressing and mailing large quantities of printed pieces.

M Weight

The actual weight of 1000 sheets of any given size of paper

Mailing Service

Business specializing in addressing and mailing large quantities of printed pieces.

Make Ready

Process of adjusting final plate on the press to put work in register.All activities required to set up a press before production begins. Also refers to paper used in the process.

Manilla Paper

Strong, buff-coloured paper used to make envelopes and file folders.

MAP fold

Map Fold The piece of paper is firstly folded in half along the short edge. This folded sheet is then concertina folded and finally folded in half. The map is then small enough to be carried easily and still be available for use without having to unfold them entirely.

Margin

Space forming border of a page or sheet.

Masking material

Opaque material, often film, used in pasteup to outline photographs or in platemaking to withhold light from non-image areas.

Mask out

To cover selected copy or art so it will not appear on a negative or plate.

Master

Paper or plastic offset printing plate. Also, paper plate for spirit duplicating.

Matchprint

3M trade name for integral colour proof. Photographic proof made from colour flats to form a composite proof showing colour quality this is now done digitally.

Matte finish

Slightly dull finish on coated, lightly calendered paper. A coated paper finish that has very little reflection of light or dull finish

Matte ink or varnish

Ink or varnish that appears dull when dry.

Mechanical

A term used to describe finished artwork that is camera ready for reproduction, including all type, photos, and illustrations Camera-ready assembly of type, graphics, and other line copy complete with instructions to the printer.

Mechanical artist

Alternate term for Production artist.

Mechanical separation

Mechanical prepared using a separate overlay for each colour to be printed.

Media conversion

Alternate term for Data conversion from one digital coding to another.

Medium format camera

Camera that makes 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 negatives.

Medium screen

Screen with ruling of 133 or 150 lines per inch.

Metallic ink

Ink containing powdered metal that sparkles in light.

Mill swatch

Paper sample book provided by a mill.

Mimeograph

Method of printing using a plastic stencil mounted on a rotating drum containing ink.

Mimeograph bond

Highly absorbent paper made for the mimeograph method of printing.

Mill swatch

Paper sample book provided by a mill.

Mimeograph

Method of printing using a plastic stencil mounted on a rotating drum containing ink.

Mimeograph bond

Highly absorbent paper made for the mimeograph method of printing.

Mock-up

See dummy

Model release

Contract authorizing commercial use of a photograph that includes image of a recognizable person or private property.

Modem

Short for modulator/demodulator, a device that converts digital signals to analog tones and vice versa so that systems based on electronic memories can interface over telephone lines.

Moiré

An undesirable halftone pattern produced by the incorrect angles of halftone screens

Mottle

A term used to describe spotty or uneven ink absorption

Mounting board

Any thick, smooth piece of board paper used to paste up copy or mount photographs.

Mylar

DuPont trade name for polyester film.

- N -

Natural

Papers that have a colour similar to cream, off white or ivory

Negative

Film that contains the same images s the original print, except that all colours and shades are reversed, becoming obsolete. Characteristic of an image on film or paper in which blacks in the original subject are white or clear and whites in the original are black or opaque. Also, piece of film on which negative image appears.

Negative space

Alternate term for White space.

Non-image area

Portion of mechanical, negative, or plate that will not print.

Non-reproducing blue

Light blue colour that does not record on graphic arts film, therefore may be used to write instructions on mechanicals.

Novelty printing

Printing on products such as pencils, balloons, and ashtrays.

- O -

OBC

Outside back cover

OFC

Outside front cover

Offset

The most commonly used printing method. The image is transferred from plate to blanket to impression cylinder to paper. Thereby the image is being offset. Alternate term often used for Setoff.

Offset Paper

A term used for uncoated paper stock

Offset powder

Fine powder sprayed on freshly printed sheets to prevent transfer of wet ink as they accumulate in the delivery stack.

Offset printing

Method of lithographic printing that transfers ink from a plate to a blanket, then from the blanket to paper.

Offshore Paper

Any papers made outside the US and Canada

On Demand Printing

Printing done to meet immediate demand needs

Onionskin

A light bond paper used for typing. It is very uncommon these days

Opacity

Ability to prevent two sided printing from showing side to side. Characteristic of paper that helps prevent printing on one side from showing on the other.

Opaque

A quality of paper that allows little light to pass through. Not transparent. Also, a verb meaning to cover flaws in negatives with paint or tape. Also, the paint used for this purpose.

Opaque Ink

Ink that completely covers through which light cannot shine through. Heavily pigmented ink that blocks out colour of underlying ink or paper.

Open web

Web press without a drying oven. thus unable to print on coated paper.

Origination

The files to be printed which make up the artwork. Usually a print ready PDF

Outline halftone

Halftone in which background has been removed to isolate or silhouette an image.

Overhang Cover

A cover of a book that extends over the trimmed signatures it contains

Overlay

Sheet of tissue or acetate taped to a mechanical so that it covers the mounting board.

Overlay proof

Colour proof consisting of acetate sheets covering each other in register, one for each colour to be printed.

Overprint

To print over a previously printed image. Any printing that is done on an area that has already been printed

Overs

Printed pieces in an overrun.

Over Run

Surplus of quantity ordered. The number of pieces that were printed in excess of the quantity specified.

- P -

Pad

To bind by applying glue along one edge of a stack of sheets.

PageMaker

Graphics Software

Page

One side of a sheet of paper -whether printed or not.

For example, an A4 sheet has 2 pages. An A4 sheet folded in half to A5 has 4 pages.

Page count

Total number of pages, including blanks and printed pages without numbers.

Pages per inch

Number of pages per inch of thickness of a bound publication. Each sheet has two pages.

Page Makeup

The assemblage of all the necessary elements required to complete a page.

Pagination

Assembly of type with other line copy into page format. When done by hand, this is makeup or pasteup; when done electronically, it is computer aided pagination (CAP).

Pallet

Wooden platform used as a base for loading and moving paper and printed products.

Pantone®

See spot colours

The Pantone Color Matching System is largely a standardized color reproduction system. By standardizing the colors, different manufacturers in different locations can all refer to the Pantone system to make sure colors match without direct contact with one another.

One such use is standardizing colors in the CMYK process. The CMYK process is a method of printing color by using four inks — cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. A majority of the world's printed material is produced using the CMYK process, and there is a special subset of Pantone colors that can be reproduced using CMYK .[citation needed] Those that are possible to simulate through the CMYK process are labeled as such within the company's guides.

However, most of the Pantone system's 1,114 spot colors cannot be simulated with CMYK but with 13 base pigments (15 including white and black) mixed in specified amounts.[6]

The Pantone system also allows for many special colors to be produced, such as metallics and fluorescents. While most of the Pantone system colors are beyond the printed CMYK gamut, it was only in 2001 that Pantone began providing translations of their existing system with screen-based colors. (Screen-based colors use the RGB color model — red, green, blue — system to create various colors.)[7] The Goe system has RGB and LAB values with each color.[8]

Pantone colors are described by their allocated number (typically referred to as, for example, "PMS 130"). PMS colors are almost always used in branding and have even found their way into government legislation (to describe the colors of flags). In January 2003, the Scottish Parliament debated a petition (reference PE512) to refer to the blue in the Scottish flag (saltire) as "Pantone 300". Countries such as Canada and South Korea and organizations such as the FIA have also chosen to refer to specific Pantone colors to use when producing flags. U.S. states including Texas have set legislated PMS colors of their flags.[9]

Paper dummy

Unprinted sample of a proposed printed piece trimmed, folded, and, if necessary, bound using paper specified for the job.

Paper distributor

Merchant selling paper wholesale to printers and other buyers of large quantities.

Paper Over Board Folder

Paper over board really offers a high quality litho printed feel maybe a retro or recycled look.

Like a Chameleon they will be made to fit your requirement. Sizes and Ring mechanisms are variable to cater for a wide variety of contents. This example has been Litho printed and has a multi creased curved spine.

Parallel Fold

All folds are parallel to each other

Parchment

A hard finished paper that emulates old paper

Parent Sheet

A sheet that is larger than the cut stock. Paper distributor term for sheet 17 x 22 or larger.

Paste bind

To bind by adhering sheets with glue along the fold of the spine.

Paste up

To adhere copy to mounting boards and, if necessary, overlays so it is assembled into a camera ready mechanical.

PDF

Portable Document Format. Universal file format which combines images and text.

Percentage wheel

Alternate term often used for Proportional scale.

Perf Marks

Markings usually dotted lines showing where the perforations should occur

Perfect

A term used to describe the binding process where the book makes a squared spine

Perfect Binding

Perfect Binding is a method for binding printed sheets suitable for binding documents where they are too thick to saddle stitch. Where the text pages are glued in to the cover. Perfect Binding is most commonly used on paperback books. See also burst binding and drawn on covers

Perfecting Press

A printing press that prints on both sides of the page in a single pass

Perforating

Punching small holes or slits in a sheet of paper to facilitate tearing along a desired line

Photocopy

Method of printing that transfers images electrostatically and creates them on paper with powder bonded by heat.

Photosensitive

Characteristic of paper, film, and printing plates coated with light-sensitive chemicals.

Photostat

Process used to make positive paper prints of line copy and halftones. Often used as alternate term for PMT.

Pica

Standard of measurement, 1/6 inch. 1 pica = 12 points 72 points = 1 inch

Picking

When the tack of ink is stronger than the surface strength of the paper, some lifting of the paper surface occurs; this is referred to as picking. Undesirable phenomenon of bits of fiber or coating coming loose from paper during printing.

Pigment

Finely-ground particles giving colour and opacity to ink.

Pinholes

Tiny holes in the emulsion of negatives or printing plates.

Pixel

Short for picture element, referring to a part of a dot made by a scanner or other digital device.

Plate

Reproduction of type or cuts in metal, plastic, rubber, or other material, to form a plate bearing an image that can be transferred

Plate Cylinder

The cylinder on the printing press on which the plate is mounted

Platemaker

In quick printing, process camera that makes plates automatically after photographing mechanicals. In commercial printing, machine used to expose plates from flats.

Plate Making

Making a printing plate

Platen press

A letterpress that opens and closes like a clamshell.

Plate-ready film

Alternate term for Flat.

Plate Setter

Machine that images plates directly from digital file.

Pleasing colour

Colour that is satisfactory even though it doesn't match original samples, scenes, or objects.

Plugged up

Undesirable characteristic of printing when ink fills in around halftone dots, causing loss of shadow detail.

PMS

Pantone Matching System. Followed by 3 or 4 digits to make up a code e.g. PMS 072. See spot colours

Point

A measurement unit equal to 1/72 of an inch. 12 points to a pica, 72 points to an inch.

Polyprop Binder Folder

Polypropylene in sheet form has been around for about 40 years. In that time it has been developed into probably the most durable and flexible material for making binders, folders and packaging. The variety in both colours available and thickness must be unique and is always under review to be sure it remains fashionable.

Portfolio

Collection of best work by an artist, photographer, or designer for showing during meetings with prospective clients.

Portrait

Where a document is oriented so the long edges are on either side. As opposed to landscape

Positive

Characteristic of an image on film or paper in which blacks in the original subject are black or opaque and whites in the original are white or clear.

PP

Printed pages. Refers to the number of pages in a document e.g. 12pp (12 pages)

PPI

Pixel per inch.

Premium-

Any paper that is considered better than #1 by its manufacturer.

Prepress

Alternate term for Preparation.

Preprint

To print work in advance to be ready for inserting or imprinting.

Press check

Event at which test sheets are examined before production run is authorized to begin.

Press proof

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

Press run

The number of pieces printed.

Press sheet

One sheet as it comes off the press.

Price break

Quantity level at which unit cost of paper or printing drops.

Primary Colours

In printing the four primary colours are cyan (blue), magenta (red), yellow and black

Printer

In printing trade, person who owns or manages print shop or runs printing press. In 4-color process printing, one of the separation negatives.

Printing

Any process that repeatedly transfers an image from a plate, die, negative, stencil, or electronic memory.

Printing plate

Surface carrying image to be printed.

Process blue

Alternate term for Cyan.

Process colours

The colours needed for 4-color process printing: yellow, magenta, cyan, and black.

Process Inks

CMYK, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black that create images in full colour

Process Printing

CMYK printing - Alternate term for 4-color process painting.

Process red

Alternate term for Magenta.

Progressive proof

Press proof showing each colour of a job separately or several colours in combination.

Proof

Proofs are an example of what is to be printed so both parties are in agreement. Any errors or amendments should be picked up at this stage. This can take the form of a digital proof, usually supplied as a PDF, or a printed proof. See digital proofs and wet proofs for more details

Proof OK

Customer signature approving a proof and authorizing the job to advance to the next stage.

Proofread

To examine copy or a proof for errors in writing or composition.

Proof sheet

Photographer term for sheet of images made by contact printing negatives.

Proportional scale

Device used to calculate percent that an original image must be reduced or enlarged to yield a specific reproduction size.

Publish

To produce and sell or otherwise make available printed communication to the public.

Pulp

Mixture of wood and/or cotton fibers, chemicals, and water from which mills make paper.

PUR Glue — (Polyurethane Reactive)

The most flexible and strong adhesive you can use in soft cover binding. Also used in Adhesive Case Bound books.

- Q -

Quark

Graphics Software

Quick printer

Printer whose business attitude emphasizes basic quality, small presses, and fast service.

Quotation

Printer's offer to print a job for a specific price calculated from specifications and dummies provided by customer.

- R -

Rag Paper

Paper with a complete or partial content of cotton fibbers

Ragged Lift

The term given to right-justified type that is uneven on the left

Ragged Right

The term given to left-justified type that is uneven on the right

Railroad board

Heavy board paper used for posters and signs.

Raised printing

Alternate term for Thermography.

RC paper

Resin-coated paper for typesetting and PMTs that, when properly processed, will not yellow.

Readable

Characteristic of messages that are written and edited and set in type selected and composed to make them easy to understand.

Ream

500 sheets of paper

Recto

Right-hand page of an open publication.

Reducer

Any substrate that reduces the tack of ink

Reflective copy

Copy that is not transparent.

Register

The arrangement of two or more images in exact alignment with each other

Register Marks

Any cross marks or other symbols used on layout to assure proper registration

Reprographics

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

Retouch

To enhance a photo or correct its flaws.

Reverse

Type or other image reproduced by printing the background rather than the image itself, allowing the underlying colour of paper or previously printed ink to show in the shape of the image.

Right Angle Fold

A term that denotes fold that are 90 degrees to each other

Right reading

Copy reading correctly (normally) from left to right.

Roll Fold

Ring Binder

Mechanism

The capacity depends on how many sheets are to be accommodated, the thickness of the material and whether or not tabbed dividers are required.

Essentially there are two types of mechanism, round 'O' and 'D'. 'O' rings are fixed into the binder spine and 'D' Rings onto the inside back cover. The 'D' is a little more expensive. The decision to use one or other style of mechanism usually depends on whether or not the binder is to include dividers. The 'D' Ring is designed so that the contents sit flat on the back cover and square on the right hand edge therefore a wider cover is necessary. As the mechanism is riveted to the back cover, the spine area is clear for printing.

The 'O' ring can be fitted to the inside back cover, but this is not common. When it is riveted to the spine it can interfere with the print on the outside and care must be taken at the quoting/artwork stage to ensure the client is aware of this.

Measurements for quoting are Sheet size, Cover size, Spine width, and Flat size.

Number of Rings

Most binders use a 2 ring mechanism. The benefit of using a 4 ring is that the content is held more squarely and securely. This is especially important when larges amounts of paper are being carried. The 4 ring spreads the weight. Find out how the binder contents are being supplied. If they are coming from their Printer, they will probably be pre-punched. Remind them to advise their Printer accordingly. If the material is being produced in house, they will need a 4 hole punch and most offices only use 2 hole punches.

Binds with 6 ring mechanisms are usually the Organiser type, either A5 or the 'Filofax' size which carries a sheet size 170mm x 95mm wide. Organiser mechanisms usually have triggers for easy opening. As with 4 ring binders, clients need reminding about hole punching. Six ring mechanisms are not available for A4.

The most cost effective ring mechanism is a 25mm capacity 2 round ring. Larger and smaller rings are more expensive. Ring mechanisms can be 'dipped' to a colour, but an exact Pantone match is not possible.

Rotogravure (Roto or Gravure for short)

Is a type of intaglio printing process; that is, it involves engraving the image onto an image carrier. In gravure printing, the image is engraved onto a cylinder because, like offset printing and flexography, it uses a rotary printing press. Once a staple of newspaper photo features, the rotogravure process is still used for commercial printing of magazines, postcards, and corrugated (cardboard) product packaging.

Rough layout

Simple sketch giving general idea of size and placement of type and art.

Rub Resistance

Measure of inks ability to resist rubbing or scuffing

Rubine

A pigment redder than true magenta and is used primarily in mixing other ink colours

Rubylith

Ulano trade name for red masking film.

Run

Total number of copies ordered or printed.

Running head or foot

Title or other information at the top or bottom of every page of a publication.

- S -

Saddle Stitching

Stitching where the wire staples pass through the spine from the outside and are clinched in the centre which is only used with folded sections in four page increments

Safety Paper

A paper that can not be altered or tampered with easily

Satin Finish

An uncoated paper very similar to matte paper

Scale

To identify the percent by which images should be enlarged or reduced.

Scanner

Electronic device used to make colour separations and sometimes halftones and duotones.

Score

Light indentation to help folding or tearing. Reduces or prevents cracking of folds

Screen

Piece of film with dots of uniform density, used to make plates that will print screen tints. See also Halftone screen.

Screen Angles

The placement of halftone screen in printing to avoid unwanted moiré patternsFrequently used angles are black 45deg, magenta 75deg, yellow 90deg, and cyan 105deg

In offset printing, the screen angle is the angle at which the halftones of a separated colour is outputted to a lithographic film, hence, printed on final product media.

Screen density

Amount of ink, expressed as percent of coverage, that a specific screen allows to print.

Screen Printing

The oldest method of printing. Ink is applied to a porous silk screen and passes through a stencil or template to leave an impression. Normally used when printing on fabric and banners and when printing on board that is too thick to pass through a standard litho print press

Screen ruling

The number of rows or lines of dots per inch in a screen for tint or halftone.

Screen tint

Area of image printed with dots so ink coverage is less than 100% and simulates shading or a lighter colour.

Scumming

Ink film on paper due to lack of water balance

Seal or Sealer

A coating applied over the print to fix it. This helps prevent set off and smudging

Self Cover

A cover made out of the same paper stock as the internal (guts) sheets

Self-cover. Publication made entirely from the same paper so that cover is printed simultaneously with inside pages.

Self-mailer

Printed piece designed to be mailed without an envelope.

Separation

Alternate term for Colour separation.

Set Off

This is where the ink from one sheet is transferred on to the reverse of the sheet above. Leaving ample time for the ink to dry and applying a sealer helps to prevent this.Undesirable transfer of wet ink from the top of one sheet to the underside of another as they lie in the delivery stack of a press.

Sew

To use thread to fasten signatures together at the spine of a book.

Shadows

Darkest areas in a photograph or halftone.

Sharp

Characteristic of an image in clear focus.

Sheeter

Device to cut roll of paper into sheets.

Sheet-fed

A sheet-fed printing press uses individual sheets, instead of continuous rolls of paper used on web offset presses

Sheetwise

The printing of two different images on two different sides of a sheet of paper by turning the paper by turning the page over after the first side is printed and using the same gripper and side guides on press. Also known as a work and back

Shingling

Allowance made during pasteup or stripping to compensate for creep.

Short grain

Alternate term for Grain abort (paper).

Short Run Printing

Denotes runs with small quantities

Show Through

When the printing on one side of a sheet is seen from the other side and can be helped by using a more opaque sheet

Shrink wrap

Method of tightly wrapping packages or products in plastic film.

Side Guide

The guides on the sides of the press that position the sheet sideways as the paper is led towards the front guides. This controls the sheet position sideways for registration.

Side Stitching

Stitching where the staples pass through the paper gathered upon each other and are closed on the underside

Signature

Printed sheet that consists of a number of pages of a book, paginated so they will fold and bind together as a section of a book-The printed sheet after folding.

Silk Coated Paper

Silk papers have a low surface shine, a smooth finish, but not glossy.

Sizing

Chemicals mixed with pulp that make paper less able to absorb moisture.

Slip sheet

Blank sheet placed between newly-made printed products to prevent setoff or scuffing during handling and shipping.

Slit

To cut paper using a disk or wheel.

Slitting

A term to describe the process of cutting of printed sheets by the cutting wheels of a folding machine

Slur

Undesirable phenomenon of halftone dots becoming slightly elongated during printing.

Soft bind

Alternate term for Perfect bind.

Soft cover

Bound without a case; usually perfect bound, but also sewn and bound with a paper cover.

Solid

Any area of the sheet that has received 100% ink coverage

Special effects

General term for reproduction of photographs using techniques such as line conversion and posterization.

Speciality advertising

Printed advertising on products such as mugs, matchbooks, jewelry, and pencils.

Speciality papers

Paper distributor term for carbonless, pressure-sensitive, synthetic, and other papers made for special applications.

Speciality printer

Printer specializing in making a particular product.

Specifications

Complete and precise descriptions of paper, ink, binding, quantity, and other features of a printing job.

Spec sheet

Short for sheet on which specifications are written.

Spine

Back edge of a book

Spiral Bind

A form of binding using a spiral of continuous wire or plastic looped through punched holes in the documents back margin. This can be either metal or plastic.

Split fountain

Technique of printing more than one ink colour at a time from a single printing unit.

Spot Colour

Area printed in a second colour, other than black

Spot vamish

Varnish applied to portions of a sheet.

Spread

The amount of increase in size of image to create ink trap

Stabilization paper

Paper for typesetting and PMTs that begins deteriorating a few weeks after use.

Stamping

Alternate term for Foil stamping.

Static Neutralizer

Device on a printing press that minimizes the amount of static build up on paper as it passes through the press to enable it run faster

Step and Repeat

A process of generating multiple exposures by taking an image and stepping it in a set measurement

Stet

A proofreaders’ symbol that indicates that the copy, which was marked for correction is actually ok

STITCHING –

Loop Stitching - Loop Stitching is a method of binding one or more printed sections together, with or without a cover, by means of loop wire staples (stitches) through the spine and centrefold. The loops enable the printed item to be inserted into a Ring Binder

Saddle stitching - Stitching where the wire staples pass through the spine from the outside and are clinched in the centre. Only used with folded sections, either single sections or two or more sections inset to form a single section.

Side stitching - Stitching where the wire staples pass through the pile of sections or leaves gathered upon each other and are clinched on the underside.

Spine

SPINE WIDTH CALCULATOR

How do I know how wide the spine will be? There’s a simple formula which determines that width. Just take the number of pages in your book and divide that figure by your text paper’s PPI (Pages Per Inch). Where do you get the PPI? It depends on what kind of paper you’re using and it usually appears on the printer’s estimate or quote. If for some reason it doesn’t appear there, ask the printer for it. Let’s say your book has 200 pages and you are printing it on a web press using a paper which has a PPI of 400. Then the width of your book’s spine will be 200 ÷ 400 or half an inch. That’s for a paperback. For a hard cover book, you have to add the thickness of the boards. The easiest way to do this accurately is to have your printer provide you with a template.

Spiral bind

To bind using a spiral of wire or plastic looped through holes.

Spirit duplicating

Method of printing that uses a chemical fluid to dissolve a trace of carbon from the plate to make each impression.

Spoilage

Paper wasted during make ready, printing, or bindery operations.

Spot Colours

Refers to solid colours which are found in commercially obtainable colour ranges such as Pantone®, these are mostly used in addition to CMYK where CMYK is not available e.g. Printing gold or silver. When using Pantone colours, it is worth bearing in mind for future jobs that should you want to print in CMYK, the chosen Pantone® may not have a suitable CMYK equivalent, which may in turn lead to the expense of using additional plates

Spot Gloss UV Varnish

A high gloss finish applied to specific areas of print. This differs from gloss laminating which has to cover the whole sheet

Stabbing - To receive a pile of sections or leaves, the required number of staples is first inserted from one side. The wire feed control is set so that the shank of the staple is not long enough to pass through the underside of the pile. 

Stationery

Letterhead, envelopes, cards, and other printed materials for business correspondence.

Stencil

Piece of fabric or film carrying image for screen printing or mimeograph.

Stitch bind

To bind with wire staples

Stock

A term for paper or other material to be printed

Stock photo

Photograph in a collection maintained for commercial purposes.

Stripping

Assembling negatives in flats in preparation for making printing plates.

Substance weight

Alternate term for Basis weight used when referring to bond papers.

Substrate

Any surface on which printing is done.

Sub weight

Short for substance weight.

Surprint

Alternate term for Overprint.

Swatch book

Book with small samples of paper or ink colours.

Super Calendaring

A machine that produces a high finished paper surface that is extremely smooth and exceptional for printing. (Usually on coated paper)

Surprint

Alternate term for Overprint.

Swatch book

Book with small samples of paper or ink colours.

Synthetic Papers

Substrate not made from wood or cotton pulp. Usually petroleum based plastic materials.

- T -

Tack

Adhesive quality of inks

Tag

A dense, strong uncoated paper stock

Text

High quality uncoated paper

Thermography

Raised printing used to simulate engraving, which is printed offset with resin powder and heat that melts the resin on the ink

Thumbnail sketch

Rough sketch of a design.

Tick marks

Alternate term for Crop marks.

TIFF (Tagged Image File Format)

A graphics file format developed by Aldus, Adobe, and Apple that is especially suited for representing large bitmaps, such as scanned black and white or colour images.

Tinning

Method of binding by crimping a metal strip along edges of sheets.

Tint

A solid screen that contains all the same % size dots

Tip in or on

To glue one edge of a sheet to another sheet or signature.

Tissue

Thin, translucent paper used for overlays.

Tonal range

Photographer term for density range.

Toner

Type of solid ink particles that can be black or colour and used on some types of short run digital machines

Toning

Alternate term for Scumming.

Tooth

The rough surfaced finish of papers such as vellum or antique (Not smooth)

Trade bindery

Business specializing in trimming, folding, binding, and other finishing operations.

Trade camera service

Alternate term for Camera service.

Trade custom

Business terms and policies followed by businesses in the same field and often codified by a trade association.

Trade shop

Printer or other service working primarily for other graphic arts professionals.

Transfer key

3M trade name for integral colour proof.

Translite

Piece of glass or plastic lit from behind and on which a photographic image has been reproduced for display.

Transparency

Positive photographic image, usually in colour, on film allowing light to pass through.

Trapping

Spreading or overlapping of colours or images into each other to not show white.

Trim Marks

Marks placed on the sheet to indicate where to cut the page

Trim size

Size of the printed product after last trim is made.

Turnaround time

Amount of time needed to complete a job or one stage of it.

- U -

Uncalendared

Papers that are not smoothed by going through the calendaring press

Uncoated Paper

Paper which has not been coated, not gloss or silk

Undercolor removal

Technique of making and printing colour separations that minimizes amount of cyan, magenta, and yellow ink in shadow areas.

Underrun

Production run of fewer copies than the amount specified.

Up

Printing two up or three up means printing the identical piece twice or three times on one sheet of paper in one impression.

UV coating

Liquid laminate bonded and cured with ultraviolet light.

- V -

Varnish

A clear shiny material used to add gloss to printed pieces. (Also available in satin or dull)

Vellum

A finish of paper that is rough, and has a degree of tooth

Verso

Left-hand page of an open publication.

Vignette

Fade to white of illustration (A photo or illustration etc., in which the tones fade gradually away)

- W -

W&B

An abbreviation for work and back (Reference sheetwise/Does not change gripper)

W&F

An abbreviation for work and flop (Changes gripper)

W&T

An abbreviation for work and turn (Does not change gripper)

Wash-up

Cleaning a particular in from all of the printing elements (rollers, plate, ink fountain etc.) of a press

Waste

Alternate term for Spoilage.

Water fountain

Reservoir on a press to hold fountain solution.

Watermark

A translucent mark that is embossed during the papermaking process

Web

The roll of paper that is used in web printing

Web Offset

A method of printing which uses a continuous roll of paper. They are very fast presses and are only suitable for large print runs on relatively thin paper stocks

Web offset printing

Web offset is a form of offset printing in which a continuous roll of paper is fed through the printing press. Pages are separated and cut to size after they have been printed. Web offset printing is used for high-volume publications such as mass-market books, magazines, newspapers, catalogues and brochures.

There are two methods of web offset printing, known as heatset and coldset (or non-heatset). In the heatset process, the ink is dried rapidly by forced-air heating. In the non-heatset or coldset process, the ink dries more slowly by ordinary evaporation and absorption.

Some web offset presses transfer text and images to only one side of the print medium at a time. Others can print on both sides simultaneously. The paper width is usually between 11 and 56 inches (approximately 28 and 142 centimetres). The paper is fed through the system at speeds ranging from 5 to 50 feet per second (approximately 1.5 to 15 meters per second).

Web offset printing differs from sheet-fed offset printing , in which individual pages of paper are fed into the machine. Sheet-fed offset printing is popular for small and medium-sized fixed jobs such as limited-edition books.

Web Press

Cylinder printing machine in which the paper is fed from a continuous reel, as opposed to sheet fed.

Weight

See Basis weight (of paper).

Wet Proof

This is a fully made up, printed proof. The same machine and materials will be used as for the finished product. Whilst this is quite expensive, it does leave you with an exact mock up of what is to be printed. This is suitable for colour checking. Only recommended for large runs and specialist items

White space

Designer term referring to non-image area that frames or sets off copy.

Widow

A single word or two left at the right end or a paragraph

Window

Block of masking material on a mechanical that shows position of a photograph or other visual element. Also, an area cut out of masking material.

Wire Stitching or Stapling

To fasten together sheets, signatures, or sections with wire staples

Wire-O

Trade name for method of mechanical binding using double loops of wire.

With the grain

Parallel to the grain direction of paper.

Work order

Form used by printing companies to specify and schedule production of jobs and record the time, materials, and supplies that each job requires to complete.

Wove finish

Relatively smooth finish on paper achieved by moderate calendaring.

Writing Paper

Another name for bond paper

Wrong reading

Image that is backwards compared to the original.

- X -

Xerographic Paper

Papers made to reproduce well in copy machines and laser printers

- Y -

Yankee dryer.

A device that dries as it comes off the wet end of the paper making machine by pressing one side of the paper against a cylinder that seam-heats it and imparts a glazed finish at the same time.

Yellow (Y)

Also one of process colours (CMYK)

- Z -

Z Fold

Brochure that is folded in the pattern of a "Z"