Glossary: A

Abrasion resistance

Ability to withstand the effects of repeated rubbing and scuffing. Also, called scuff or rub resistance.

Abrasion test 

A test designed to determine the ability to withstand the effects of rubbing or scuffing.

Absorption

In paper, the property which causes it to take up liquid or vapors in contact with it. In optics, the partial suppression of light through a transparent or translucent material.

Acetate

An overlay or strike sheet made with cellulose acetate plastic.

Accordion fold

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

Acrylic  

A general chemical term of a particular family or thermoplastic resins based on acrylic acid and its derivatives.  Most water-base coatings are made from acrylic polymers.

Adhesion

The state in which two surfaces are held together by interfacial forces; measure of the strength with which one material sticks to another.

Adjustable die

Made in a fashion so as to allow various size and shapes to be cut with a single die.

Adjustment wheel

To vary or control the function.

Against the grain

Folding or feeding paper at right angles to the grain direction of the paper.

Agate line

A standard of measurement for depth of columns of advertising space.  Fourteen agate lines make one column inch.

Age resistance or Shelf life

The resistance to deterioration by oxygen and ozone in the air, by heat and light, or by internal chemical action.

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.

Air knife

A method of coating paperboard in which a nozzle the width of the paper machine distributes air to remove excess moisture and smooth the surface.

Alkali

Chemical agent, generally soluble in water, capable of neutralizing acids.  Usually caustics; pH of 7 is neutral, up to 14 indicates degree of alkalinity base.

All-steel die

Made totally from steel.

Alterations

In composition, changes made in the copy after it has been set in type.  Same word applied to changes in a die.

Amberlith (Brand Name)

A red or orange material for preparing art and dummies. Transparent to the eye but appears opaque to light sensitive materials.

Analine  (See Flexographic Printing)

Anilox system

The application system commonly employed in flexograhic presses consisting of an elastomer-covered fountain roller running in the ink pan, adjustable against a contacting engraved metering roll, the two as a unit adjustable to the printing place roll, elastomer design roll or plain elastomer coating roll as the case may be.  Coating is flooded into the engraved cells of the metering roll, excess doctored off by the wiping or squeezing action of the fountain roll or a doctor blade and that which remains beneath the surface of the metering roll is transferred to the printing plate.

Angle of Slip

The maximum angle before sliding that a weighted sled wrapped with paperboard can be tilted.

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.

Antioxidant

A substance which prevents or reduces the rate of oxidation due to exposure of the material to air or oxygen.

Anti-Skid coating

A generally clear resin coating formulated and applied to large flexible packaging to retard slippage during the stacking and handling.  Also referred to as non-skid and commonly used on beverage carriers and multi-wall bags.

Antique finish

A term describing the surface, usually on book and cover papers, that has a natural rough finish. 

Anvil

The press plate against which the die cuts.

Applicator roll

Coating roll, print roll, tint roll, lacquer or varnish roll.

Apochromatic

In photography, color-corrected lenses which focus the three colors, blue, green and red, in the same plane.

Art

All illustration copy used in preparing a job for printing.

Art bag

Contains all supplied or reproduced materials pertaining to a particular job in-house.

Artboard

All drawings, painting, photographs, special ruling, hand lettering, etc., supplied by customer or provided by art department.

A.S.T.M. 

American Society for Testing Materials

Ascender

That part of the letter which rises above the main body,

as in "b".

Automatic press

Other than manually tripped or operated. 

Glossary:  B           <TOP RETURN>

Backbone

The back of a bound book connecting the two covers; also called spine.

Backing roll

Cylinder used to support the web as a process is being applied to the opposite side.  Some processes are: brush polishing, coating, and calendering.

Backing up

Printing the reverse side of a sheet already printed on one side.

Back lining

A paper or fabric adhering to the backbone or spine in a hard cover book.

Backtrapping  See Piling

Bad break

In composition, the setting of a hyphenated line as the first line of a page.  Also, starting a page with a "widow".

Baltic die boards

Die lumber, usually birch, from the area of the Baltic Sea.

Barrier coating

A coating film that prevents or limits the passage of substances such as: oil, grease, water, or oxygen.

Base

Often used in referring to a full strength ink or toner.  Generally refers to the major ingredient used in a clear lacquer, varnish or ink. May refer to either the solvent or binder system.  A cylinder before it is engraved.  Base film before addition of coating.

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. The standard, or basic, size ream varies with different grades of paper according to trade practices.  Some papers and boards are made to a certain caliper, or thickness, rather than to a specific weight.  Some examples are: blanks, heavy cover, tough check, stencil board, pattern and template papers.

Bearers

In photoengraving, the dead metal left on a plate to protect the printing surface when molding in composition, type-high slugs locked up inside a chase to protect the printing surface when molding.  In presses, the flat surfaces or rings at the ends of cylinders that come in contact with each other during printing (on American presses), and serve as a basis for smoothing out printing thickness.  Also die-cutting presses.

Bend

Other than straight, to any degree or angle, fold, break, bend, etc.

Bender

A bench tool used to form cutting or creasing rule.

Bending, Die steels

The process of curving the steel in freehand forming dies to shape dimensions desired.

Bending dies

Small dies that insert in a bender to produce desired shapes.

Bending rules

The process of curving the cutting rule in forming dies to the shape and dimensions desired.

Bevels

To form a sloping or slanting edge, container, part, or rules.

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.

Binder

The adhesive components of an ink, normally supplied by the resin formulation; the ink vehicle.  In paper, an adhesive component used to cement inert filler, such as clay, to the sheet or to affix short fibers firmly (securely) to paper or board stock.

Bit

In computers, the basic unit of digital information; contraction of Binary digit.

Bit map

In computer imaging, the electronic representative of a page, indicating the positions of every possible spot (zero or one).

Black liquor

The spent chemicals obtained from the kraft chemical pulping process.

Black printer

In color reproduction, the black plate, made to give emphasis to neutral tones and details.

Black-and-white

Originals or reproductions in single color, as distinguished from multicolor.

Blank

Any die cut, scored, and corner cut section of boxboard in the flat to be formed into a rigid box or part thereof.  Also, a folding carton after cutting and scoring but before folding and gluing.

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.

Blanking die

This die type is covered here because it employs a form of steel rule, although it is used to convert metal. Normally, the die is made of two parts: the top (female) section, of steel rule set into dense material, sometimes maple plywood; the bottom section (male), a hardened plate which mates with the inside line of the top section to form a shearing effect on the materials being cut. This die is also known as a shearing die, stamping die or metal blanking die.

Bleach manilla lined news

Clean, white top liner containing some ground wood on chipboard, news bottom liner.

Bleaching

The process of chemically treating pulp fibers to reduce or remove coloring matter so that the whiteness or brightness of the pulp is increased.

Bleed

Sometimes used to describe a condition caused by lack of drying or preceding color which makes trapping color lose its color value–such as a red printing over a wet white causing it to turn pinkish shade. To diffuse, run or migrate into unwanted areas adjacent to printed areas, when partially dissolved by liquid or solvent plasticizers in certain substrates. In Inks-to run, diffuse or migrate into unwanted areas adjacent to printed areas. To print an area beyond the cut edge or score so that the design is either cut off or folded under, resulting in printed area that extends completely to the edge.

Blind embossing

A design which is stamped without metallic leaf or ink, giving a bas-relief effect.

Blind image

In lithography, an image that has lost its ink receptivity and fails to print.

Blistering

A defect caused by the development of air pockets in the paperboard, caused by drying too suddenly on the drying cylinders, or poor ply adhesion in multiply board.

Block die

Series of blocks of wood that are cut on a table saw to exact sizes to conform to a pattern.  The rule is inserted between these blocks and are held firm within a metal frame with wedges or quoins.

Blocking

An undesired adhesion between touching layers of material such as might occur under moderate pressure and/or temperature in storage or use; to the extent that damage to at least one surface is visible upon their separation.

Blowup

A photographic enlargement.

Blueline

In offset lithography and photoengraving, a photo print made from stripped-up negatives or positives, used as a proof to check position of image elements.

Blushing

A milky, foggy or flat appearance in an ink or coating due to precipitation or incompatibility of one of the ingredients.  Most often caused by excessive moisture condensations.

Board

A heavy weight, thick sheet of paper or other fiber substances, usually of a thickness of .0006" or over.  The distinction between board and paper is not definite.

Board, cylinder

Any type of fibreboard or boxboard made on a cylinder machine.  Has a characteristic grain direction.

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 strengths, durability, and permanence are essential requirements; used for letterheads, business forms, etc.

Bonding

The natural chemical and physical mechanism by which individual fibers adhere to each other.

Book paper

A general term for coated and uncoated papers.  The basic size is 25 x 38.

Box

A complete paper box, including base and lid, or one piece.

Boxboard

Paperboard of sufficient caliper and test to be used in the manufacturer of paperboard boxes.

Braceless die

Varying interpretations of this term.

Break for color

In artwork and composition, to separate the parts to be printed in different colors.

Breaking strength

The ability of a material to resist rupture by tension. (See also bursting strength)

Bridge

Small areas left uncut in a jig die for purpose of holding the die together.

Bridger

A bench tool used to remove metal from the steel rule, to pass over the bridge.

Brightness

In photography, light reflected by the copy. In paper, the reflectance or brilliance of the paper.

Brilliancy

The intensity, chroma, brightness or apparent strength of a color to the eye.

Broadside

Any printed advertising circular.

Brochure

A pamphlet bound in booklet form.

Broke

Pulp recovered from paperboard trimmings, damaged paperboard, or off spec product anywhere in the manufacturing process.

Bronzing

Printing with a sizing ink, then applying bronze powder while still wet to produce a metallic luster.

Brown stock

Brown pulp from the chemical pulping process.

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.

Bursting strength

Resistance of paper to rupture under pressure, as indicated in pounds per square inch on a Mullen or "pop" tester.

Butt to rule

Any subject matter that is to fit directly against a printing rule.

Byte

In computers, a unit of digital information, equivalent to one character or 8 to 32 bits.

Glossary:  C           <TOP RETURN>

CAD/CAM

An acronym for Computer Assisted Design/Computer Assisted Makeup or Manufacturing.

Cady tester

A machine used to test the bursting strength of paper, paperboard or fibreboard. (See mullen and bursting strength)

Calender

A mill process using polished rollers under high pressure to smooth out a surface.

Calender rolls

A set or stack or 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). This is the measure of thickness if board.  It is commonly referred to as "points". Board is generally available single ply in calipers from sixteen point (.016) through seventy point (.070) inches.  Single plies may be combined through laminating to obtain "pasted board" of higher calipers.

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.

Carton

Folding paper box.

Case

In bookbinding, the covers of a hard-bound book.

Cast coated 

Coated paper dried under pressure against a polished cylinder to produce a high-gloss enamel finish.

Catalyst

A substance which alters (initiates or accelerates) the velocity of a reaction between two or more substances without changing itself in chemical composition.

Catching up

In lithography, a term which indicates that the non-image areas of a press plate are taking ink or scumming.

Caustic

Alkaline having a corrosive action.

CCD

Acronym for Charge 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.

Center spread

The two center pages of a signature.

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.

Chase  

A rectangular metal frame in which type and plates are locked up for letterpress.  A metal frame holds a block type die together under pressure.

Checking

A defect resulting from excessive decurling.

Chemical pulp

In papermaking, treatment of ground wood 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.

Chipboard

Paperboard used in making rigid boxes.  Made in varying densities according to desired smoothness from reclaimed paper fibre to give high stiffness and internal strength for scoring.

Chokes and spreads

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

Chopper knives

Steel rule in a die to cut up scrap in smaller pieces.

Choppers

Cutting rule in dies for the purpose of cutting the waste into smaller pieces to facilitate self-stripping and to make smaller pieces of waste to accommodate the waste removal system.

Chroma

The optical measurement of color saturation and/or intensity.

Chromalin proof

A 4-color proofing system.  It is made with four process color toners, plus layers of photo polymer. Laminated into 1 piece, Chromalin is a DuPont trade name.

Circular screen

A circular-shaped halftone screen which enables the camera operator to obtain halftones without disturbing the copy.

Clarification

The removal of suspended solids by settling process solutions.

Clay coated box board

A one side coated board (white) with good fold and scoring quality used for rigid and folding boxes.  Coating provides satisfactory printing surface, a smooth flexible sheet for good bend at score line.

Clicker press

Generic term now referring to all swing arm diecutting presses used in much of the soft goods converting areas.

Cling

Tendency of adjacent materials to adhere to each other, as in blocking, except that the surfaces can be separated without any visible damage.  A slight noise, referred as kiss noise, may occur upon separation.

Clicker block

Anvil surface of wood to cut against.

Clicker pad

Disposable anvil surface of various materials.

Closed loop system

In printing, a completely automatic control system.

Closed time 

Time the glue joint is under compression while the adhesive is setting.

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 over a printed surface to protect it.

Coating, heat seal

A coating applied to a substrate capable of sealing to another material by heat and dwell time.

Coating, thermoplastic

A material applied to a substrate which is heat sealable.

Cobb test

A method of measuring the water receptivity of sized paperboard by determining the weight of liquid absorbed into the surface over a specified period of time.

Cockling

A rippling effect given to the surface of a sheet of paper which has not been properly dried.  Moisture pickup of the sheet can also cause the cockling or wavy edge.

Cohesion

The attractive force that internally binds a material.

Cold color

In printing, a color with a bluish cast.

Cold set adhesive

A liquid adhesive, used in carton forming, which when applied dewaters through the substrate, dries, and bonds to the substrate.

Collate

In binding, the gathering of sheets or signatures.

Color balance

The correct combination of cyan, magenta and yellow to (1) reproduce a photograph without a color cast, (2) produce a neutral gray, or (3) reproduce the colors in the original scene or object.

Color bar

A series of solid rectangles on a film which are shot on each plate.  These are used to set and control ink densities on press.

Color correction  

Any method such as masking, dot-etching, re-etching and scanning, used to improve color rendition.

Color density

Optical density (or hue saturation) of a particular color.

Color filter

A sheet of 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 overlay 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.

Color wheel

Diagrammatic arrangement of primary and secondary colors used as a visual aid in determining relationship and harmony among colors.

Combination jig/block die

Contains both jigsawed areas and block sawed.

Combination plate

In photoengraving, halftone and line work combined on one plate; etched for both halftones and line depth.

Commercial register

Color printing on which the misregister allowable is within ± one row of dots.

Common impression cylinder press

In flexography, letter-press and lithography, a press with a number of printing units around a large impression cylinder.

Composite

A single negative made from a series of exposures on 1 piece of film.

Computerized composition

Unjustified type is produced on a keyboard and subsequently run through a computer which makes line-end, hyphenation and other typographical decisions.  Sometimes, a computer-produced second tape is then used as input for photosetting (or linecasting) equipment.

Condensed type

A narrow or slender type face.

Conditioning

Exposure of paperboard to accurately controlled and specified atmospheric conditions, so that its moisture content reaches equilibrium with the surrounding atmosphere.

Conductivity

A property of fountain solutions that must be controlled along with pH.

Conglomerate die

A die utilizing more than one die type in it to allow for greater wear resistance, etc. at a given point.  This die type is usually employed in the plastics trades for trimming contoured, vacuum-formed

parts.

Consistency

Property of a material which is evidenced by its resistance to flow.  The general body characteristics of an ink, for example, viscosity; uniformity mostly used to describe the rheological property of an ink, such as "thick", "thin" and "buttery". In paper making, percentage, by weight, of fiber in pulp slurry.

Contact

A photographic conversion of a positive to a negative or vice versa.

Contact angle

The initial angle formed by a droplet of liquid on the paperboard surface where it rests. Used as a measure of surface tension.

Containerboard

The fabricated material from which containers are manufactured.  A general term applied both to solid fibreboard and corrugated fibreboard.

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 halftone.

Continuous tone

A photographic image which contains gradient tones from black to white.

Contrast

The tonal graduation between the highlights, middle tones and shadows in an original or reproduction.

Converter

A processor who fabricates one form of material into a more advanced form.

Copolymer  

Polymer produced from a combination of two or more monomers.  See Polymer.

Copy

Any furnished material (typewritten manuscript, pictures, artwork, etc..) to be used in the production of printing.

Copyboard

A frame that holds original copy while it is being photographed on the camera.

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.

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.

Corrosion

Deterioration of a material by chemical action, usually as a result of galvanic, acid or alkali action of oxidation.

Corrugated board, double-faced

A container board consisting of a fluted inner member glued between two facings or liners.  Used in making corrugated fibreboard boxes and products.

Corrugated board, double wall

A container board consisting of two fluted members and three liners

combined in the following sequence: facing (liner), fluted member, center liner, fluted member, facing  (liner).

Corrugated board, single-faced

A container board consisting of a fluted member glued to one facing permitting free bending in one direction.  Used for wrapping and cushioning.

Corrugated medium

The container board, usually .009 inch thick, used as the fluted member of corrugated fibreboard.

Counter

The press board or other kind of cardboard that is glued into the outside of the jacket into which scores are cut.

Cover paper

A general term applied to a great variety of papers used for the outside covers of catalogs, brochures, booklets, and similar pieces.

Crawling

That property of a coating or ink in which the wetting of the surface is very poor, causing the film to contract into drops, leaving a discontinuous covering.

Creasibility

Physical property paperboard that allows a carton to be folded along the score or crease line.

Creasing rules

The rules that crease the sheet.  They may be of varying widths to best suit the thickness of the stock being creased.

Creasing rule die

Only to crease or score.

Creep

In offset, the forward movement of a blanket during printing.  Can also apply to the movement of the packing under the plate or blanket during printing.

Crinkle

Wrinkly/wad film severely to determine ink flexibility.

Crop

To eliminate portions of the copy, usually on a photograph or plate, indicated on the originals by cropmarks.

Cross direction

In paper, the direction across the grain. Paper is weaker and more sensitive to changes in relative humidity in the cross direction than the grain direction.

Crossline screen (glass screen)

In halftone photography, a grid pattern with opaque lines crossing each other at right angles, thus forming transparent squares or "screen apertures".

Crosslinkers

Additive used to complete a chemical reaction; used in paperboard, also with coatings, ink, etc.

Crossmarks See register marks.

Crossover

Two page spread where image crosses over both pages.

Crystallization

A condition in which a dried ink film repels a subsequent ink or coating which must be printed on to it.  This word has an entirely different meaning in chemistry.

CTP

Acronym for computer-to-plate.

Curl

The tendency of a sheet of paper to roll into the form of a cylinder.  It is caused by the inequality in water content or stress levels between the two sides of the paper.  Wet Curl is the result of application of water to the paper surface, as in lithographic printing.  Atmospheric (Dry) Curl is the result of the exchange of water vapor between paper and air of higher or lower relative humidity.  Mechanical Curl is the result of mechanical stresses on the paper, other than that of swelling or shrinkage, due to moisture.

Curtain coater  

A machine that creates a vertical "curtain" of liquid coating material. A constant stream that falls from a coating head. Board passing under the curtain will be covered by the coating.  The amount of coating to be applied is regulated by the thickness of the curtain and speed at which the board passes through it.

Curved die boards

Used for rotary dies, usually hard-wood plywood.

Curved plate

In letterpress, an electrotype or stereotype which is precurved to fit the cylinder of a rotary press.

Curved rotary rule

Used vertically on a curved die board cutting corrugated.  Furnished 45° or 90°, relative to shaft center lines.

Cut

In letterpress, a photoengraving of any kind.

Cut creaser

A machine used in production of folding cartons.  It uses steel rule dies with sharp knives to cut through the board: dull knives to crease board along fold lines.

Cut-AWL saw

A commercial machine that is commonly used in the production of rotary dies.  A curved base is used in this application.

Cut-off

In web printing, the cut or print length corresponding to the circumference of the plate cylinder.

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.  Cutting knives or rule that cut only partially through the stock for purposes of bending.  Used only where creases are not desired.

Cutter

A term used to describe a bench tool used to cut steel rule.

Cutting die

Term covering total family of numerous types of "cutting dies".

Cutting head

Generic form of numerous definitions.

Cutting knives

The sharp, steel rule that cuts the sheets of material.  This rule is usually hardened, whereas a softer rule is needed for curves.

Cutting scores

Cutting the scores in the counter into which the creasing rules must register to make the proper creases for folding.

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

In flexography, for no particular reason, most rollers in the printing presses are called rolls with the exception of that upon which the rubber plates are mounted, and the one which receives the impression, and these are usually referred to as cylinders, e.g.: plate cylinders or impression cylinder.

Cylinder gap

In printing presses, the gap or space in the cylinders of a press where the mechanism for plate (or blanket), clamps and gripper (sheetfed) is housed.

Cylinder liner

Container board made on cylinder machines from blends of virgin pulp and paper fibers reworked from various grades of paper stock.  The sheet is formed on a series of rotating cylinders.

Cylinder press

A rotary printing press utilizing curved plates.

Glossary:  D           <TOP RETURN>

Dampening system

In lithography, the mechanism on a press for transferring dampening solution to the plate during printing.

Dandy roll

In papermaking, a wire cylinder on papermaking machines that makes woven or laid effects on the texture, as well as the watermark itself.  Used in the manufacture of better grades of business and book papers.

DDES

Acronym for Digital Date 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.

Decurling

The elimination of roll set (machine direction) curl by mechanical counteraction of stresses, often with the assistance of a decurling device.

Deep-etch

In offset-lithography, a positive-working plate used for long runs where the inked areas are slightly recessed below the surface.

Deflection

Deviation from a straight line under load.  Fountain roll pressure against the anilox roll causes both to bend or bow slightly.  Excessive bending of both or either one will result in uneven ink metering and subsequent nonuniform printing.

Defoamers

Chemicals added to a solution to prevent the formation of foam.

Delete 

Removing unwanted images by way of honing, opaquing, taping out.

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.

Dermatitis

In lithography, a skin disease, characterized by an itching rash or swelling caused by photographic developers, chromium compounds and solvents.

Descender

That part of the 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 offset platemaking, a coating used on presensitized and wipe-on plates.

Die  

The form that contains the rules which are surrounded and held in place with wood.  Those cutting tools to die-cut a specific part or parts. Generic term for least seven classes (types) of knife-edged cutting forms for use with a variety of presses to produce cut parts of consistent sizes from a wide scope of principally non-metallic materials.

Dieboard

Used as the carrier for steel rule in cutting dies, usually hardwood plywood.

Die classes

An as yet undetermined number of cutting die types.  These may be combined to form hybrid types of dies; these may be used successfully on more than one type of press.  Most are made for one type of press.  The best known types of dies, along with their variously known names are: forged die, steel rule die, flex die, machine die, mallet die, conglomerate die, and blanking die.

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 in line with the printing.

Die-cutting press

Machine that holds the die, blanks or cuts the material into piece parts.

Die-cutting surface  

Area to be die cut.

Die cylinder

In rotary die cutting, the rotating shaft that holds the die.

Die-making

The process of forming or manufacturing a cutting die.  The action of manufacturing any of the die classes; to make a cutting die for converting purposes.

Dies bending

Male and female bending dies used to accomplish desired angle or curves when bending rule.

Die-stamping

An intaglio process for the production of letterheads, cards, etc., printing from lettering or other designs engraved into copper or steel.

Die steel

(a) The strip steel used in making forged dies. (b) The strip used in making flex dies. (c) The flat ground stock used in making some machine dies.

Die stock Same as die steel.

Diffusion

A spreading out of equalized dispersion of a material, force or condition into the surrounding medium; the diffusion of heat by conduction; the diffusion of light through a translucent material or reflection from a rough surface; the diffusion of gases, liquids or granular solids into the surrounding medium.

Diffusion sheet

Frosted mylar used for dual purpose of flaring dots as an aid to registration and duping spreads and shrinks.

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 arrangements 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.

Dilatent

Having the property of increasing in viscosity with increase in shear.  Dilatent fluids are solid or highly viscous when stirred, and fluid when undisturbed.  The condition can occur in flexo inks but is normally considered highly undesirable and one to be avoided through formulation.

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 halftone screen.

Dispersion

A uniform distribution of solid particles in a vehicle by mixing or milling.

Display type

In composition, type set larger than the text.

Distributing rollers

Rubber covered rollers which convey ink from the fountain onto the ink drum of a printing press.

Doctor blade

A sharp edged device used to wipe the surface of an etched cylinder.

Doctor roller

In lithography, the roller in both inking and dampening mechanisms on a press which

alternately contacts fountain roller and vibrating drum roller.

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 Loss

Disappearance or reduction of a dot, either during exposure, development, or on the press.

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.

Double dot halftone

In lithography, two halftone negatives combined into one printing plate, having greater tonal range than a conventional halftone.  One negative reproduces the highlights and shadows; the other

reproduces middletones.  This should not be confused with duotones, or printing with two black plates.

Double-double facet

In steel rule, a centered cutting edge with a 2 star bevel on each side.

Draw-down

In inkmaking, a term used to describe ink chemistâs 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, chemicals used in inks to accelerate oxidation which makes the inks harder.

Drop-out

Portions of originals that do not reproduce, especially colored lines or background areas (often on purpose).

Dryer

The auxiliary unit of printing press through which the printed substrate travels and is dried.

Dryback

The change in print density, color, or finish of an ink film as it dries, generally attributed to a decrease in gloss.

Dry strength 

Strength of paperboard at standard conditions.

Dry-up

See catching up.

Dummy

A preliminary layout showing the position of illustrations and text as they are to appear in 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

A two-color halftone reproduction from a monochrome original and requiring two halftone negatives at proper screen angles.  One image is usually in black ink and the other in color.

Dupe

To create an identical duplicate of an original piece of film.

Duplex paper 

Paper having 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 used for making duplicates to film or paper transparencies.

Duplicator paper

A smooth, hard-surface paper made for use on spirit duplicators.

Dusting

Offset press blanket whitening which may occur predominantly in early press units as an accumulation of fiber or coating dust on the press blanket.

DX

Double burn, can also mean any one of several additional exposures two times.

Dynamic range

Density difference between highlights and shadows of scanned subjects.

Glossary:  E           <TOP RETURN>

Elasticity

The property of substance which enables it to return to its original size or shape after being stretched or deformed.

Electronic dot generation (EDG)

A method of producing halftones electronically on scanners and prepress systems.

Electrophotography

Image transfer systems used in copiers to produce images using electrostatic forces.  Electrofax uses a zinc oxide coating: Xerography uses a selenium surface.

Electrotype

Duplicate relief plate used for letterpress printing.

Elliptical dot

In halftone photography, elongated dots which give improved graduation of tones particularly in middle tones and vignettes–also called chain dots.

EM

In composition, the square of a type body.  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).

Embossing Die

Engraved or cast.

Emulsion

A type of mixture wherein two or more immiscible (or unmixable) materials are held together in a homogenous mixture by the action of a third agent.  The term "emulsifying agent" is applied to the material which is added to hold the emulsion.  Differs from a solution in which one material is dissolved in another.

Emulsion side

In Photography, the side of the film coated with the silver halide emulsion.

Emulsion to emulsion

To contact printing of photographic films or film to plates, emulsion is exposed to a light source.

EN

One-half the width of an em.

Enamel

A term applied to a coated paper or to a coating material on a paper.

Envelope die

All steel die to cut envelope.

English Finish

A grade of book paper with a smoother, more uniform surface than machine finish.

Engraving

A general term normally applied to any pattern which has been cut in or incised in a surface by hand, mechanical or etching processes.

Etch

In photoengraving, to produce an image on a plate by chemical or electrolytic action. In offset lithography, an acidified gum solution 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.

Evaporation

The changing from the liquid to the gaseous or vapor state, as the solvent leaves the printed ink film.

Exposure

The step in photographic processes during which light produces the image on the light-sensitive coating.

Extended type

A type whose width is greater than normal.

Extenders

Any material added to an ink to reduce its color strength and/or velocity.

Extrusion

The production of a continuous sheet or film (or other shapes not connected with flexography) by forcing hot thermoplastic material through a dye or orifice.

Extrusion coating

A process whereby paper stock is coated by extrusion, normally plastic such as polyethylene; extrusion laminating.

Extrusion coating process

This process uses an extruder to apply plastic coating (i.e. polyethylene) at elevated temperatures to a moving web of paper.

Glossary:  F           <TOP RETURN>

FPM

Abbreviation for feet per minute; a measure of surface speed.

Face

The printing surface is a piece of type.

Facsimile

The exact reproduction of a letter, document or signature.  Sometime abbreviated as "facsim" or "fax".

Fadeometer

An instrument used to measure the fading properties of inks and other pigmented coatings.

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.

Fibreboard

The general term applied to fabricated material used in container manufacture.  May be of either corrugated or solid construction.

Fibreboard (solid)

Container board made of two or more plies of paperboard laminated into a solid sheet.  Thicknesses generally range from .005 to .120 inches.

Filler

A substance added to the pulp stock to occupy the spaces between fibers.

Filling in (or filling up)

In letter presses or offset lithography, a condition where ink fills the area between the halftone dots or plugs up (fills in) the type.

Film

A photographic emulsion coated on a flexible translucent or transparent plastic base.

Film gauge

A number indicative of the thickness of films.

Film processor

Photographic developer machine which also fixes, rinses, and dries line and halftone film.

Filter

A device, commonly of gelatin or glass placed between the subject being photographed and the photographic material in order to reduce or eliminate light of certain colors while allowing light of other colors to reach the emulsion.

Finish, dry

A finish on paper or paperboard that has not been dampened or steamed before going through the calender rolls.

Finish, matte

A dull finish; flat.

Finish, satin

A type of dull finish, somewhat finer and glossier than matte.

Finish, supercalender

A smooth high finish applied to paper by running it through a calender stack, providing a better printing surface, finer than a calender finish.

Finnish dieboards

Die lumber from Finland-usually die birch.

Fitting rule  

Process of fabricating the rule, length, shape, etc. into the die.

Fixer

A chemical solution which removes the unexposed silver salts in an emulsion without affecting the metallic silver which has been deposited by the developer.  This renders the photographic image permanent.

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.

Flash point 

The lowest temperature at which a substance can be ignited under standard test conditions.

Flat

In offset lithography, the assembled composite of negatives or positives ready for platemaking. Also, a picture that is lacking in contrast.

Flat die

Fabricated flat for cutting of flat materials on reciprocating presses (flat).

Flat etching

The chemical reduction of the silver deposit in a continuous-tone of halftone plate, brought about by placing it in a tray containing an etching solution.

Flex die

This die type is an outgrowth of steel rule.  However, it utilizes the making processes of forged dies and, in conjunction with modern hydraulic presses, is taking over much of the work done previously only by forged dies.  Diemakers can attain a good degree of skill within a short time.  The basic die material is totally prefinished and needs only bending and welding to finished form.  This die type is known also as swedish die, light-weight die and cutting rule die. Many of the misnomers attached to forged dies are also attached to the type.

Flex die steel 

Pre-sharpened edge hardened die steel that can be cold formed.  Generally 6-8 point thickness.

Flexographic printing  

Printing from a raised surface, generally rubber plates.  Limited to line, solid, or Ben Day printing.  Rotary type printing using a very fluid solvent or aqua ink.  This was formerly called the aniline process.

Flexography

A method of direct rotary printing using resilient raised image printing plates, affixed to variable repeat plate cylinders, inked by a roll or doctor-blade-wiped engraved metal roll, carrying fluid or paste-type inks to virtually any substrate.

Flop

Changing the orientation of the emulsion of film by the emulsion to emulsion exposure.

Flow

The property of a coating to level out as it is applied.

Fluidity

The ability of material to flow.  The ease of flow of a material.  In terms of viscosity; the greater the viscosity the less the fluidity.

Flush

The lining up of image or copy to the left or right with another image or copy.

Flush cover

A cover that has been trimmed the same size as the inside text pages.

Flush left (or right)

In composition, type set to line up at the left (or right).

Flush paragraph

A paragraph with no indentation.

Flute

The wave-shaped formation of the center component of corrugated fibreboard.  Flutes most commonly used are the A-flute (approx. 36 flutes per lineal foot); B-flute (approx. 51 flutes per lineal foot); and C-flute (approx. 42 flutes per lineal foot).  The less common E-flute has 90 flutes per lineal foot.

Flying paster

In web printing, an automatic pasting device that splices a new web of paper onto an expiring roll, without stopping the press.

Fog

In photography, density in the non-image areas.

Folio

The printing term for a page number.

Font

In composition, a complete assortment of letters, numbers, punctuation marks, etc. of a given size and design.

Foot

The bottom of a page, book or column.

Forged die

A cutting die made from steel which is heat-treated, welded, ground and filed in proper dimensions of the parts it is to cut.

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 area from accepting ink.

Four-Color process

Printing process in which all colors may be produced by using primary colors, magenta, yellow and cyan, with the addition of black.

Fourdrinier 

A machine to make paper, particularly Kraft paper.

Free sheet

Paper free of mechanical wood pulp.

"F" Stops

Fixed sizes for setting lens apertures.

Fullbleed 

Image printing beyond the trim marks _ " on all sides.

Furnish

The mixture of various materials that are blended in a stock solution from which paperboard is made.

Furniture

In lockup, wood or metal blocks used to fill the blank spaces in a form.

Fuzz

Fibers projecting from the surface of a sheet of paper.

Glossary:  G           <TOP RETURN>

Galley

A shallow metal tray used to hold type.

Galley proof

A proof taken of type standing in a galley, before being made up into pages.

Gamma

A measure of contrast in photographic images.

Gathering

The assembling of folded signatures in proper sequence.

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 the original copy.

Ghosting

The printing term used to describe a faint, shadowy duplication of a printed image deposited anywhere on the printing sheet.

Gigabyte (GB)

One billion bytes.

Gloss

The reflectivity of a surface; related to its smoothness.

Gloss meter

An instrument used to measure the gloss intensity of a surface.

Glueability

Carton integrity evaluated in terms of glue joint strength.

Glue joint

Area where an adhesive joins two parts of a carton.

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 onto plates.

Grain

In papermaking, the direction in which most fibers lie which corresponds with the direction the paper is made on a paper machine.

Graining

In lithography, subjecting the surface of metal plates to the action of abrasives.  Greater water-retention and adhesion of coating is imparted to an otherwise non-porous surface.

Gravure printing

A printing process in which the image is composed of cells engraved or etched into a rotating cylinder.

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 2? 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.

Grind

A relative measurement of particle size in inks to determine coarse or undispersed pigment.

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

Unprinted blank edge of paper on which grippers bear, usually ¸ä 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.

Glossary:  H           <TOP RETURN>

Hairline register 

Register within ± ¸ row of dots.

Halation

In photography, a blurred effect, resembling a halo, usually occurring in highlight areas or around 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 photography

The process of converting photographs into halftone dots for printing.

Hammer die

Same as mallet die.

Hand feed

To feed material (sheets) by hand.

Hand made sample

Fabricated by hand as "pilot model".

Handwork

Any work done by hand; patching, tooling, outlining, etc.

Hard copy

The permanent visual records of the output of a computer or printer. Also, the material sent to a typesetter in typed form, for conversion into typeset material.

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 operating hardware.

Hard dot See soft dot.

Hardening

Heat treatment of bent and welded forged dies; heat treatment of soft, bent steel rule.

Hardness

Referring to the range of tempering available in finished forged dies, pre-finished flex die steel and in selected steel rules.

Head

The top of a page or book, film, photo, etc.

Head margin

The white space above first line of a page.

Heat plate

Surface for thermo-setting.

Heatset

Process of drying ink on paper by use of heater and gas ovens.

Height of cutting knives

No standard height–varies generally from .918" to 2.000".

Hickeys

In offset lithography, spots or imperfections in the printing due to dirt on the press, dried ink skin, paper particles, etc.

High die  

Die made higher than standard cutting rule heights.

High folio

All pages falling behind the centerspread of a form.

Highlight

The lightest or whitest parts in a photograph 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.

Honing

A mechanical method used to remove unwanted image areas from plate by rubbing image away with an abrasive material.

Hot melt adhesive 

A solid adhesive used in carton forming, which when heated to its application temperature becomes liquid.  After application, the adhesive quickly cools and bonds to the substrate.

Hot metal composition

Cast metal type set either by hand or in a linecasting machine.

Hue

In color, the main attribute of a color which distinguishes it from other colors.

Hydraulic press

Force or action derived from hydraulic cylinders.

Hydrophilic

Water receptive.

Hydrophobic

Water repellent.

Hypo

An abbreviation for sodium thiosulfate, or sodium hyposulfite, a chemical used to fix the image on a photographic film after it has been developed.

Glossary:  I           <TOP RETURN>

Idiot tape

In computerized photosetting, raw, unhyphenated, unjustified paper or magnetic tape.

Illustration

A pictorial representation of a drawing, logo, symbol, figure, diagram, etc., to be reproduced as a printed image.

Image

The area of a plate which prints or reproduces.

Imagesetter

In computer imaging, a device that outputs type, line art and photos in position.

Imposition

The laying out of pages in a press form so that they will be in the correct order after the printed sheet is folded.

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 impressions from the inked plate in direct printing, or the blanket in offset printing.

Imprint

Added printing to previously printed copy such as version changes, requiring an additional unit or pass on the press.

Independent single facer

A machine that fastens fluted corrugated medium to a single sheet of linerboard.

Infrared light

Refers to infrared rays, the longer wave length below the red in the spectrum; used as source of heat.

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 specially printed piece usually prepared for insertion in a publication.

Insert die

A cutting die with removable portions and sometimes other portions that can be substituted for this removed piece to change the cutting or scoring configuration.

Intaglio

An engraved or etched design which is below the surface as cells in an anilox roll or gravure cylinder.

International Standards Organization (ISO)

The publisher of International Standards.  ISO is a federation  of national standards bodies which promotes the development of standardization in all fields except electrical and electrical engineering.

Italic

The style of letters that slant, in distinction from upright, or roman, letters. Used for emphasis within the text.

Glossary:  J           <TOP RETURN>

Jig die or Jigged die

Solid piece of plywood where the pattern is cut with a jigsaw blade and the steel rule is inserted into this cut.

Jig saw

A reciprocating saw used to make "jigged" cutting dies.

Jigging

The art of jig-sawing.

Job ticket  

Comprehensive job information form containing all pertinent job requirements including size, run, paper, color, etc.

Jog

To align sheets of paper into a compact pile.

Joint manufacturer's construction

The "joint" is that part of box where box manufacture joins body of box together by taping, stitching, gluing, etc.

Justify

In composition, to space out lines uniformly to the correct length.

Glossary:  K           <TOP RETURN>

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 half-tones, line sketches, etc.

Key plate

In color printing, the plate used as a guide for the register of other colors.  It normally contains the most detail.

Kicker

Additional colors used as an overprint on a black background to enhance the richness.  Frequently utilizing a stayback on additional colors. Usually 30% or 40% blue.

Kilobyte (KB)

1,000 bytes.

Kiss contact (kiss ImpressioN)

The lightest possible impression which will transfer the film of ink from the transfer roll to the plate and from the plate to the material being printed.

Knife-edged die

Ground sharp.

Knifing

The function of cutting, notching, bending, and inserting the rule into the die board.

Knockout

A reverse image on printing background leaving that area white on paper.

Kraft

A paper or board containing unbleached wood pulp (brown in color) made by the sulfate process.

Kraft paper

A high strength paper made of sulphate fibre pulp.  An alkaline process of pulp manufacture.  Made on a fourdrinier machine from virgin pine fibers.

Glossary:  L           <TOP RETURN>

Lacquer

A clear coating, usually glossy, applied to a printed sheet for protection or appearance.

Laid paper  

Paper with a pattern of a parallel lines at equal distances giving a ribbed effect.

Laminated wood

A plywood used in making steel rule dies.  It is made of different ply thoroughly seasoned and glued together, usually with the grain of the different ply at right angles to prevent warping and shrinking.

Lamination

A plastic film bonded by heat and pressure to a printed sheet for protection or appearance.

Lap

Excess paper located on the high or low follo used for binding and saddle stitching. Usually carries sig ID.

Laser diemaking

To fabricate die boards automatically with laser machine.

Layout

The drawing or sketch of a proposed printed piece. In platemaking, a sheet indicating the settings for a step-and-repeat machine.

Lead

In composition, a thin strip of metal used for spacing between line of type.

Lead edge

The long horizontal piece of straight rule which is the first to cut into the material as it goes through the letterpress.

Leaders

In composition, rows of dashes or dots used to guide the eye across the page.  Used in tabular work, programs, table of contents, etc.

Ledger paper

A grade of business paper generally used for keeping records.  It is subjected to appreciable wear and requires a high degree of durability and permanence.

Letterpress

A printing process in which type or plates bearing raised surfaces are used to transfer the paste type ink to the printing surface through direct contact.

Letterset (dry offset)

The printing process which uses a blanket (like conventional offset) for transferring the image from plate to paper.  Unlike lithography, it uses a relief plate and requires no dampening system.

Letterspacing

The placing of additional space between each letter of a word.

Library

Film file storage room where worked up film and sample books are recorded and organized for future use.

Lightness 

The attribute of an object by which the object appears to reflect more or less of the incident light.

Lignon

A natural glue which holds wood fibers together.

Line art

Copy to be reproduced consisting of solid colored images.

Line copy 

Any copy suitable for reproduction without using a halftone screen.

Lines per inch

Lines of dots per linear inch of screen ruling, normally associated with process printing resolution.

Lineshot

Line art to be shot (converted into a negative piece of film) on camera and stripped in, includes basic artboards, separate mechanically, line illustrations and overlays.

Linting

An accumulation of fiber particles from the paperboard surface and/or edges.

Lithography (Litho, Offset)

Any process in which the printing is done from a flat plane (planographic) surface, e.g. a surface without indentations or raised portions: normally by offset, involving transferring the printing from plate to blanket.

Live matter 

Any printing image.

Lock up

In letterpress, to position a form in a chase for printing.  Procedure of securing the wooden blocks in a die under pressure within the metal chase.

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 small letters in type, as distinguished from the capital letters.

Low folio 

All pages falling in front of the center spread of a form.

Glossary:  M           <TOP RETURN>

M

Abbreviation for a quantity of 1000.

Machine coated

Paper which is coated one-or-two sides on a paper machine.

Machine, cylinder

A type of paper and board making machine in which the web is formed by revolving wire-covered cylinders partially immersed in a vat of furnish (pulp and water). The web is built up to desired thickness by carrying the web on a felt over successive cylinders.  The furnish in each cylinder vat may be varied to provide desired characteristics in the finished sheet.

Machine die  

Is commonly used in conjunction with a specifically designed press manufactured by concerns like Freeman, Western Supplies, etc.  The die performs several functions, often in two stroke positions, in the machine.  Usually, it re-trims, creases, perforates and sometime folds leather cloth parts and pockets and cuffs for clothing.  Usually, the die is a patented form and requires a high degree of skill to make, utilizing a complete machine shop with metal-working equipment.  A patent type of die used with specific machines, which may perform cutting, creasing, embossing and perforating in one stage.

Machine direction

Same as grain direction in paper.

Machine, fourdrinier  

A type of paper and paperboard making machine on which the web is formed by depositing pulp furnish on a moving endless wire screen. The screen shakes as it travels, thus causing the pulp fibres to criss-cross and mat.  Water is removed by gravity and suction.  Caliper or basis weight of the paper or board is determined by the consistency and rate of feed of the furnish, and the length and travel of the screen.

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.

Magnetic 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 pages or sections of proper length.

Mallet

A special hammer made of lead, leather, plastic, etc., to drive steel rule into a cutting die.

Mallet Die

Dies are still made to be hit with a mallet or maul.  Even the ASTM (American Society of Technical Management) decrees that certain rubber testing samples be cut with a highly precise forged die as a uniform procedure.  Since most of the companies involved in testing the rubber may have little or no need for die-cutting presses, such dies are attached to a solid steel stock which is both a handle and a striking stock.  The end of the stock is stuck with a maul and the die cuts the rubber, giving the user a sample of material which can be used in a tensile tester, for instance.  Other uses for mallet dies are for smaller shops making leather goods and for other labor-intensive trades which will not die-cut in any other form.  These dies are also known as hand dies and chopping dies, since they are often used against a wooden cutting block, the same as a butcher would use.  A simple form of cutting die is held in one hand while the other uses a maul to strike the top post of the die to cut the part.

Manual Press

Hand operated.

Maple

Often used in die boards.  Usually white maple hardwood from Northern areas.

Maple block

Similar to "butcher block"; normally end grain.

Margin

The unprinted area around the edges of a page.  Margins as designated in a book.  Specifications refer to margins remaining after the book has been trimmed.

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

Positive film diagram of a layout showing dimension and proportions of a signature.

Matte finish

Dull paper finish without gloss or luster.

Matte print

Photoprint having a dull finish.

Mean

The arithmetic average of a group of numbers.

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 press

Delivering a force by mechanical means.

Mechanical pulp

In papermaking, groundwork 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.

Mechanical swing arm press

Like clicker press.

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.

Metal blanking die

Having a male and female section, with shearing action.

Metric system

A decimal system adopted by most countries for solid, liquid and distance measurements.

Middle tones 

The total range between highlights and shadows of a photograph or reproduction.

Mil

A unit of measure used to define paperboard thickness.  One thousandth of an inch.

Mimeograph paper

A paper with the toothy, absorbent surface required for mimeographing.

Mitre

To trim the ends of rule so that the cutting edge or bevels come together flush at a corner joint.

Modem

(Modulator/DeModulator) A device that converts computer data into high-frequency signals or vice versa, for transmission over phone lines.

Moire

In color process printing, the undesirable screen pattern caused by incorrect screen angles of overprinting halftones.

Moisture content 

The water content of paper, usually defined in weight percent.

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.

Mortise

Trapping (overlapping) of two subjects along three or more sides.

Mottle

The spotty or uneven appearance of printing, mostly in solid areas.

Mounting material

The carrier sheet for printing.  Most pronounced in solid areas.

Mouse

A hand-held device that moves the cursor on a workstation by moving the device on a flat surface.

Mullen

Also stated as "pop" is the bursting film made by DuPont specially suited for stripping positives because of its mechanical strength and dimensional stability.  Commonly used for die "strike sheets" or "overlays".

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 strengths and dimensional stability. 

Glossary:  N           <TOP RETURN>

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. (See positive).

Newsprint

Paper made mostly from groundwood pulp and small amounts of chemical pulp; used for printing newspapers.

Newton rings

Rainbow effect seen when film to film or film to plate are in tight contact under a glass surface such as a vacuum frame.

Nicking die

Nicks that are put into cutting knives to produce occasional breaks in a continuous line of cutting so that there will be enough stock left uncut to hold the sheet together for delivery purposes.

Nonvolatile

That portion of a material which does not evaporate at ordinary temperatures.

Notcher

A bench tool used to make a bridge or notch in steel rule. Synonymous with bridger.

Notches

Indentations in the bottom of rotary cutting rule to facilitate curving of the rule to conform with the die cylinder.

Notching

Cutting out a section on the back edge of rule to fit over a bridge left in the dieboard. Bridging sometime used interchangeably.

Glossary:  O           <TOP RETURN>

Oblong

In binding, 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 the CPU, by performing those calculations in a dedicated or specialized processor.

Off-press proofs 

Proofs made by photomechanical or digital means in less time and at lower cost than press proofs.

Offset

See set-off.

Offset lithography

Printing process which utilizes a planographic plate and oil base ink.  Water rolled on the plate moistens the non-printing area repelling the ink so that it adheres only to the image area.  Ink is then transferred (offset) to a rubber blanket which, in turn, transfers the ink to the material being printed.

Oleophillic

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.

Open die 

Having open cavity.

Optical brightener 

A chemical added to paper or coating during their manufacture to improve the brightness or whiteness.

Orthochromatic

Photographic surfaces insensitive to red but sensitive to ultraviolet, blue, green, and yellow rays.

Overhand 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 on the other, form a composite picture.

Overlay proof

An off-set press color 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.

Overset

 In composition, type in excess of space needs in publications.

Glossary:  P           <TOP RETURN>

Packaging, flexible

Packaging using such films as foils, transparent films, paper, flexible sheeting, etc. to form a container such as a bag.  The sheets that are carried on the cylinder under the jacket.  They are approximately .012 thick.

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.

Palette

The collection of colors or 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 electro photography.

Paste drier

In inkmaking, a type of drier, usually a combination of drying compounds.

Pasteup See mechanical.

Patch proof

Add-on patch of corrected material onto completed blueline or color key.

Patent Base

In letterpress, a slotted metal base on which unmounted electrotypes are secured for printing.

Pattern

Sample or other reference to follow.

Pebbling

A process of embossing paper after printing to give a uniform ripple or pebbled effect.

Perfect bound

A style of binding in which all pages are cut and roughed up at the back or binding edge and held together by adhesive.

Perfecting press

A printing press that prints both sides of the paper in one pass through the press.

Perforating rule  

A cutting rule that produces perforations.

Perforations

Intermittent cuts in paper to facilitate folding or tearing.

pH Value

A number used for expressing the acidity or alkalinity of solutions. A value of 7 is neutral in a scale ranging from 0 to 14. Solutions with values below 7 are acid, above 7 are alkaline.

Photomechanical

Pertaining to any platemaking process using photographic negative or positives exposed onto plates or cylinders covered with photosensitive coatings.

Photopolymers

Generic name for a mixture of materials that can change physical properties on exposure to ultraviolet or visible light.  With image-wise exposure they are used intensively as offpress proofing materials and printing plates.

Photo typesetting

The method of setting type photographically.

PI

Type mixed, and in an unstable condition.