GLOSSARY OF PRINTING TERMS top
The following is a glossary of common printing terms.
A
Absorption
In paper, the property which causes it to take up liquids or vapors in contact with it.
Additional Color
Color added to the four primary colours for printing, used in direct tint.
Additive Primaries
Red, green and blue are the primary colors of light from which all other colours can be made.
Against The Grain
Folding or feeding paper at right angles to the grain direction of the paper.
Aliasing
Visibly jagged steps along angled or object edges, due to sharp tonal contrasts between pixels.
Alterations
Changes made in text copy or art after a job has been set in type or shot and proofs have been
pulled for checking.
Application File
Format
When a document is created using desktop publishing software, the resulting files or files are
typically saved to the computer's hard disk. This file is said to be in an Application File Format. This
format is unique to the software used and enables the user to continue to work with the document.
Apron
White space added to margins of text area on a page to accommodate a foldout.
Archive
When referring to electronic archiving, it means the ability to electronically store documents for
future electronic, on-demand printing. The files are commonly stored in a print ready format and are
not accessible for editing. However, changes to the stored document can be incorporated by
replacing pages or entire sections with updated pages.
Artwork
Illustrations, drawings, photographs, renderings, paintings, sketches, or copy of any kind - except
text copy - that is being prepared or used for reproduction.
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B
Bindery
The phase of the print job in which the job is finished - that is, where the printed sheet is
manipulated into its final format by such processes as folding, stitching, gluing, and cutting.
Bindery Operations
Operations normally performed after press operations. Such operations may include punching,
fastening, drilling, folding, trimming, slitting, numbering and affixing.
Bit Depth
The number of bits used to represent each pixel in an image to determine its colour or tone.
Bit Map
In computer imaging, the electronic representation of a page, indicating the position of every
possible spot (zero or none).
Bitmapped
(Rasterized) Image
A graphic or character represented by pixels or dots that display the graphic's light or dark spots
arranged horizontally and vertically. Each pixel is indicated as a 1 (dark spot) or a 0 (light spot) to
the computer in binary code.
Black Point
A reference point that defines the darkest area in an image, causing all other areas to be adjusted
accordingly.
Blanket
A covering on the printing cylinder of an offset press. The blanket receives the impression from the
plate and transfers it to the paper. Since the blanket acts as a transfer agent, it will have a "mirror"
image of the images on the plate and substrate.
Blanket-to-Blanket
press
In offset printing, a configuration in which a continuous web of paper is fed between two blanket
cylinders, printing both sides at once. Also called a perfecting press.
Bleed
That part of the image which extends beyond the trim-line of the page (i.e., the printed matter
designed to run off the edge of the paper). Illustrations which spread to the edge of the page and
allow no margins are described as bled-off.
Blow Up
A photographic enlargement.
Bottom Printing
Printing on the underside of translucent film or paper, so the design reads through the top.
Browser
A software application that permits browsing, retrieval and viewing of content on the Internet, World
Wide Web and intranets.
Bulk
The degree of thickness of paper. In book printing, the number of pages per inch for a given basis
weight.
Burn
In platemaking, a common term used for a plate exposure.
Byte
A measurement unit equal to 8 bits of digital information.
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C
CD-ROM
Acronym for Compact Disc-Read-Only Memory. A CD-ROM drive uses the CD format as a
computer storage medium.
Centerfold/spread
Facing pages in the center of a section. Center spreads are also called naturals.
Clipping
The conversion of all tones lighter than a specified grey level to white, or darker than a specified
grey level to black, causing loss of detail. This also applies to individual channels in a color image.
Coated
Term used to describe paper or board that has a top layer of china clay (a mineral) to give a smooth
finish. Coated stock reproduces a sharper dot that uncoated substrates (i.e., paper) and usually has
a higher level of gloss. Glossy magazines, for example, are printed on coated paper. Also known as
enamel paper or surface paper.
Coated Paper
Paper or board covered with a mat or brilliant shiny effect to get a better print.
Coating
In printing, an emulsion, varnish or lacquer applied over a printed surface to protect it.
Cold Color
In printing, a color with a bluish cast.
Cold-Set Ink
A solid ink that, when used on a "hot press" (one that has a heated cylinder), melts into a liquid that
then solidifies on contact with the paper.
Collate
To organize, gather and assemble the various parts of a printed piece or business form.
Color Cast
An overall color imbalance in an image, as if viewed through a colored filter.
Color Correction
Any method such as masking, dot-etching, re-etching and scanning, or editing used to improve color
rendition.
Color Separation
The division of colors of a continuous tone multicolored original or line copy into basic portions, each
of which is to be reproduced by a separate printing plate.
Color Separations
Color process printing uses four colours: (1) cyan; (2) yellow; (3) magenta; and (4) black {also
known as CYMK}. These print as tiny dots of solid color, which combine to give the full color range
of the original. The copy is broken down into the process colors by photographic or electronic color
separation. In separation, the original copy is photographed four times using colored filters, to
produce a different separation negative for each color.
Color Swatch
A series of color guides, which may be graded in a standardised fashion as in the Pantone matching
system.
Compression
The reduction in size of an image file.
Continuous Tone
A photographic image which contains gradient tones from black to white.
Contra Vision
A print substrate whose panels typically provide one-way vision, see-through graphic
advertisements and signs.
Copy
The complete advertising message to be displayed on the advertising structure.
Corrugated
Board composed of one or several fluted paper sheets glued between or on one more flat facings.
Counter Dispenser
Advertising material placed on the counter with on its front side several products exposed to the
consumer for self-service, contrary to a stocking material where the products are placed at the back
side of the display and thus on the seller's side.
Coverage
Extent to which ink covers the substrate (paper). Ink coverage is usually expressed in percentage
terms.
Creasing
Partial shaping of cardboard through stamping to allow it to fold.
Cromalin
A type of color proof, produced from color separated film, used to give an indication to the client of
how the full-color print job will look.
Crop
To eliminate portions of the copy, usually on a photograph or plate, indicated on the original by
cropmarks.
Crop Marks
In design, the lines drawn on an overlay or in the margins of an illustration to define the portion of
the image that will appear in the reproduction.
Cropping
Trimming or masking sections of the artwork that are not required to be printed.
Crossover
An image that continues from one page of a publication across the gutter to the opposite page.
Curl
A waviness or rolling effect that sometimes occurs at the edge of a paper sheet. It is usually
associated with the improper moisture balance within the sheet, or uneven drying when the
orientation with the sheet, improper refining of pulp or mechanical stresses during manufacture or
printing.
Cutting or Creasing
An operation carried out on a special finishing machine when special shapes need to be cut and
creased. For each job, a form is made up to shape with cutting and/or creasing rules to the required
design.
Cyan
The special blue used in four-color process printing.
CYMK
The process colors Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black which are combined in varying amounts to
represent colors in an original image. K is used for Black to avoid confusion with Blue.
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D
Decompression
The expansion of compressed image files.
Density
The degree of darkness (light absorption or opacity) of a photographic image.
Density
The degree of opacity of a light absorbing filter, pigment or exposed photographic emulsion.
Descender
That part of a lower case letter which extends below the main body, as in "p,"
Descreening
Removal of halftone dot patterns during or after scanning printed matter by defocusing the image.
Die
A tool made from steel and wood used for cutting irregular shapes from paper or board. Also called
a form.
Die Cutting
Using a form to cut holes or irregular outlines in display work or printed pieces.
Die Stamping
A printing technique that uses a die to emboss a relief image onto a surface. Ink or metallic foil is
generally used to add color, but if not the surface is said to be blind-stamped. Also known as relief
stamping.
Die Press
A machine that is used to die cut or emboss a shape into paper or board.
Digital Color Proof
A color proof produced from digital data without the need for separation films.
Direct-To-Plate
Direct exposure of image data onto printing plates, without the intermediate use of film.
Direct-To-Press
Elimination of intermediate film and printing plates by the direct transfer of image data to printing
cylinders in the press.
Document Reader
An OCR (Optical Character Recognition) device that reads one or several lines of data when the
document is moved past one or more read heads.
Dot
The individual element of a halftone.
Dot Gain
In printing, a defect in which dots print larger than they should, causing darker tones or stronger
colors.
DPI
Acronym for "Dots Per Inch". A 300 DPI printer, for instance is capable of printing 300 dots across
and 300 down within one inch square. DPI is a measurement of resolution for scanning, displaying,
or printing.
Dummy
A preliminary layout showing the position of illustrations and text as they are to appear in the final
reproduction. A set of blank pages made up in advance to show the size, shape, form and general
style of a piece of printing.
Duotone
A two-color halftone reproduction from a one-color photograph.
Dupe
To create an identical duplicate of an original piece of film.
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E
em
In composition, a unit of measurement exactly as wide an high as the point size being set.
Embossing
Process producing raised images on thin materials such as paper, cardboard, leather or certain
supple plastics : dry embossing or ink embossing.
Emulsion
A light-sensitive coating on film or stencils.
en
In composition, one-half the width of an em.
Enamel Paper
Coated Paper. Term used to describe paper or board that has a top layer of china clay (a mineral) to
give a smooth finish. Coated stock reproduces a sharper dot than uncoated substrates (paper) and
usually has a higher level of floss. Glossy magazines, for example, are printed on coated paper.
Also known as coated paper or surface paper.
EPS
Encapsulated PostScript. A file format often used for images generated in object-orientated drawing
applications like "Illustrator" or "Freehand" and for scanned images.
Exposure
Represents the opportunity for an advertising message to be seen and read.
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F
Facing
Number of products of a same range represented in the front line of the store shelf.
Feeder
In printing presses, the section that separates the sheets and feeds them in position for printing.
Fibre Optic Display
An innovative use of electronic light transmitting fibres to create changeable copy displays.
Film
Negative/Positive Sheets or rolls or a clear and stable plastic containing line and/or tone
reproductions of the image. Used during the making of printing stencils.
Film Negative
A reverse photographic image in which dark areas appear light and vice versa. Film negatives are
used to make printing plates.
Film Positive
A piece of clear acetate or other film upon which the image appears as it did in the original.
Finished Size
The size of a printed product after production is complete.
Finishing
All production operations after printing. The processes include cutting, punching, stitching and
gluing.
Flatbed Scanner
Any scanning device that incorporates a flat transparent plate, on which original images are placed
for scanning.
Font
In composition, a complete assortment of letters, numbers, punctuation marks, etc. of a given size
and design. For example, Times or Helvetica.
Format
All elements that make up the individual character of a publication. Format includes size, style, type,
page margins, printing requirements, binding, etc.
Four Colour
Process
A technique of printing that uses the three process colours of ink (cyan, magenta, yellow) and black
to simulate colour photographs or illustrations.
Four Color Process
Inks
The inks used in four-color process printing.
FTP
Acronym for "File Transfer Protocol". A networking protocol for moving files between computers.
Full Color
Synonymous with Four-Colour Process.
Full-Bleed
Image printing 1/8" - 1/4" beyond the trim marks on all sides. This is done to aid the printer in
preventing a white edge from appearing if the paper is not trimmed perfectly.
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G
Gamma Correction
The correction of tonal ranges in an image, normally by the adjustment of tone curves.
Ghosting
Phenomenon of a faint, unintended image on a printed sheet.
Gigabyte (Gb)
1,024 megabytes, or 1,048,576 kilobytes of digital data.
Gold Stamping
A process that gives a gold metallic look at impression.
Grammage
(g/m2). Refers to a method of indicating the weight of paper. Written as "gsm".
GSM
(g/m2). Refers to a method of indicating the weight of paper.
Greyscale
A continuous tone image comprising black, white and grey data only.
Guillotine
Machine to trim paper or board before or after printing.
Gutter
The inner margin of a page, from the edge of the printing area to the binding edge
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H
Halftone
Artwork reproduced by breaking down the original tone image into a pattern of dots of varying size.
Small dots produce light areas and larger dots produce darker areas.
Hard Copy
The permanent visual record of the output of a computer or printer. (Generally, a high resolution
laser print.)
Hickies
In printing, spots or defects caused by foreign matter on the printing plate or screen. Ink hickies
appear as dark specks with a white ring around them; paper hickies appear as white specks.
Hue
The part of a color that produces its main attribute - for example its redness or blueness - rather
than its shade (lightness or darkness).
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I
Illustrator
Popular object-oriented drawing application produced by Adobe.
Image Resolution
The fineness or coarseness of a digitised image. Measured in Dots Per Inch (DPI).
Imagesetter
Laser output device which records images and text at high resolution on photosensitive paper or
film.
Imposition
The arranging of pages in a press form to ensure the correct order after the printed sheet is folded
and trimmed.
Impression
In production, one revolution of the printing cylinder. It refers to the pressure of the type, plate, or
stencil as it contacts the paper and produces printed copy. An impression is any printed page.
In House
Refers to material produced within a company or organization. Not produced using outside services.
Ink Transparency
The degree to which a substrate will show through a printed ink.
In-Line
Any work done to a specific job that does not involve taking it off press, or require human
intervention beyond the initial printing press set up.
Interpolation
In the image manipulation context, this is the increase of image resolution by the addition of new
pixels throughout the image, the colors of which are based on neighboring pixels.
ISDN
A digital telephone line which allows very rapid, reliable and low-cost transmission of data between
two computers.
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J
Job Estimate
Documentation indicating the price of a specific printing job; given to printing customers before a job
is run. Also referred to as a job quote.
Job Ticket
A comprehensive job information form containing all pertinent job requirements including size, run,
paper, color, etc.
JPEG
Joint Photographic Experts Group. An organization that has defined various file compression
techniques.
Justification
The alignment of text in a paragraph so that the margins are all straight on the right side, or the left
side, or both. (Right Justification, Left Justification, Justified)
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K
Kerning
In typesetting, an effort to eliminate excessive white space in a document by reducing the space
between certain letters.
Keyline
An outline showing the shape for a diecut, crease or perforation.
Kilobyte (Kb)
1,024 bytes of digital data.
Knick Out
When an image or text is reversed out of a background color giving the illusion of white due to the
unprinted portion of the paper.
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L
Laminating
Applying transparent or colored plastic films, usually with a high gloss finish, to printed matter to
protect or to enhance it. Various films are available with different gloss, folding and strength
characteristics. Typically done using the ultra-violet (UV) process.
Landscape
Page orientation in which the width is greater than the height.
Laser Printer
Although a number of devices employ laser technology to print images, this normally refers to
desktop printers which use the dry toner, xerographic printing process.
Lay Edges
The two edges of a sheet that are placed flush with the side and front (the "front lay edge") marks
("lay gauges") on a printing machine to make sure the sheet will be removed properly by the
grippers and have uniform margins when printed
Lay Sheet
The first of many sheets passed through a press to check such things as register.
Leading
In typesetting systems, to lead is to add spaces between lines of type.
Light Box
A partially or completely transparent box equipped with luminous electrical fillings presenting texts
or images.
Light Box
A box with a translucent glass top lit from below, giving a balanced light suitable for colour matching
on which colour transparencies, prints and proofs can be examined or compared.
Line Art
Images containing only black and white pixels. Also known as bilevel images. The term line art is
sometimes used to describe drawings containing flat colors without tonal variation.
Line Color
Where a color is printed using a specific color of ink rather than creating it from the process colors.
Line Copy
Reproducible copy consisting of solid blacks and whites. In text, line copy consists of letters,
numerals, punctuation marks, rules, borders, dots, or any other marks in black and white. Black line
illustrations on white paper are also line copy.
Line Drawings
Solid black line artwork that does not require halftone reproduction.
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.
Lithographic
Printing
A printing process where the image and non-image surfaces are on the same plane while the paper
makes contact with the whole plate surface. The printing area is treated to accept ink and the nonprinting surface is treated to attract water or other solutions so that it rejects ink.
Lossy
Image compression that functions by removing minor tonal and/or colour variations, causing visible
loss of detail at high compression ratios.
LPI
The number of lines or rows of dots there are per inch in a screen and, therefore, in a screen tint,
halftone or separation.
LZW
The Lempel-Ziv-Welch image compression technique.
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M
Machine Proof
A proof made on a machine similar to the one which it will be printed.
Magenta
One of the colors used in four color process reproduction. Often referred to as "process red", it
reflects blue and red light and absorbs green light. It is also one of the filters used in making color
separations.
Make Ready
In printing, all work done to set up a press for printing.
Masking
A reproduction technique for color correction in the preparation of separations on a camera or
enlarger.
Masking
In the graphic arts, preventing a specific portion of an illustration from being reproduced by placing
paper over it before exposure. In offset lithography, masking refers to the use of opaque material to
protect non-printing areas of the printing plate during exposure.
Matchprint
3M trade name for a color proof.
Matte Finish
Dull paper finish without gloss or luster. Usually achieved using a finishing technique such as a
matte varnish.
Media
Media is the physical material used to store electronic files. Typical media includes: CD's, tapes,
disks, Zip disks & Jaz disks.
Megabyte (Mb)
1,024 kilobytes or 1,048,576 bytes of digital data.
Merchandising
Technique designed to optimise sales, based on the planned product displays on-shelf to form an
attractive appealing and informative presentation for the customer.
Metallic Inks
Inks in which the normal pigments are replaced by very fine metallic particles, typically gold or silver
in color.
Midtone
The middle range of tones in an image.
Modular System
Elements that can be assembled in various dimensions and sizes according to the space available.
Moir
A checkered pattern which is created when the screen angles are not set out correctly in color work.
Can happen when a digital scan is made from printed materials rather than from the original
photographic print or transparency.
Monochrome
Single-colored. An image or medium displaying only black and white or greyscale information.
Greyscale information displayed in one color is also monochrome.
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N
Negative
A reverse photographic image on film or paper in which the dark areas appear light and the light
areas appear dark.
Noise
In the scanning context, this refers to random, incorrectly read pixel values, normally due to
electrical interference or device instability.
Non-Lossy
Image compression without loss of quality.
Non-Read
In optical scanning, a term referring to information that is intended to be ignored by the scanning
device but can be read by the human eye. Non-read information located in the scan area of a form
must be printed in a colour that is highly reflective to the scanner while still offering sufficient
contrast for human reading. However, non-read information located outside the scan area of a form
may be printed in a machine readable color.
Non-Reflective Inks
Inks that present sufficient contrast with the background color of the paper to be read by an optical
scanning device. When viewed by optical scanners, these inks reflect relatively little light (and thus
appear black to the mechanism), so the scanner recognizes these areas as marks or characters
and converts them to machine language. Also called "read inks" or "scan inks".
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O
OCR
Acronym for "Optical Character Recognition" which refers to optical machine reading of humanreadable characters.
Off Print
An article or other part of a publication printed with the main run, but produced as a separate item.
Also called a separate.
Offset Printing
Also called litho printing. A printing process in which the inked image is transferred from the plate to
an intermediate blanket before being printed on the substrate. There are two types of offset printing
- wet offset and dry offset. Wet offset is based on the principle that oil (ink) and water do not mix.
Both the image and non-image areas are on the same plane of the image and non-image areas are
on the same plane of the plate. A dampening solution is used, and the image and non-image areas
are separated chemically. Dry offset printing uses a plate with relief (raised) type, so no dampening
solution is required.
One-Up
A single printing of a single signature or image on a press sheet.
Opacity
The quality of being impenetrable by liquids or light. With paper, it is the ability to keep print form
showing through to the other side. Opacity is the opposite of porosity.
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 colour beneath it.
Optical Character
Reader
An optical device that scans and identifies characters on a printed page.
Optical Disk
A storage medium commonly used for storing large volumes of data. CD-ROM, Rewritable, and
WORM are the most common types of optical disks.
Origination
All items or materials that the client supplies to the printer to use in the printing of the job.
Out of Register
When inks are printed over one another are not in alignment, resulting in "out of focus" images.
Overprinting
Double printing; printing over an area that already has been printed. Used as a cost savings in
customizing small batches from larger quantities of printed material.
Overrun
Manufactured and delivered quantity that exceeds the number ordered. As long as the overrun does
not exceed the percentage which is usually tolerated according to legal agreement, the customer
must accept. Also refered to as "overs".
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P
Pantone
Pantone's ink colour-matching system. Each colour bears a description of its formulation (in
percentages) for subsequent use by the printer.
Paper Weight
Weight in gram of a square meter of paper or cardboard.
Pass
A cycle of a press or phototypesetting system. To print in one pass means that all the colours are
laid down as the substrate travels once through the press; to print in two passes means that he
stock has to travel twice through the press, and so on. A four colour project on a four colour press
passes through once. A six color project on a four colour press passes through twice, etc.
Pass Sheet
A printed sheet of optimum print quality that is removed from the run, so subsequent sheets can be
compared with it
Perfect Register
Term used by the printer to indicate a perfect juxtaposition of colors, producing a perfect image.
Photomechanical
The preparation of printing plates involving photographic techniques.
PhotoShop
The industry-standard software package used for image manipulation, produced by Adobe.
Pica
Printer's unit of measurement used principally in typesetting. One pica equals approximately 1/6 of
an inch.
Pixel
Abbreviation for "picture element". The smallest, most basic component of an image on a display
screen. A pixel is comparable to an individual dot in a printed photograph. The number of pixels in
an image determines its resolution.
Plate
The surface from which a print is made and that bears the image to be reproduced.
Platemaking
The process of making an image on a printing plate by whatever means, but usually
photomechanically transferring it from film.
Platen
A large cutting and creasing press that may be integrated with printing machines.
Plugging
An aberration in platemaking in which dot areas become filled in, caused by damage to the plate.
PMS Color
Pantone Matching System color. This system was devised by the Pantone Corporation as a means
of standardizing custom colors of ink. The PMS system includes several hundred colors, several
metallics, flourescents, and several shades of black.
Point
Printer's unit of measurement, used principally for designating type sizes. There are 12 points to a
pica; approximately 72 points to an inch.
Portrait
A vertical format - the shorter dimension being at the width
PostScript
The now-standard operating language through which desktop page makeup (DTP) systems
operate. Pre-press systems are now described as PostScript-compatible or not.
PostScript File
A PostScript file is a special file that is created to be sent directly to the printer. Unlike an Application
file, a PostScript file includes all the information necessary to print that file, including the graphics
and fonts. This is the most readily accepted file format for printing. A PostScript file cannot be
opened or easily modified.
ppi/ppcm
Pixels per inch or pixels per centimeter. Units of measurement for scanned images.
Premake Ready
The final checking of plates before they are made ready on press.
Prepack
Display serving as packaging. It is delivered packed with products.
Prepress
Camera work, artwork layout, color editing, stencil making, plate making, and other activities
performed by a graphic designer, production manager, or printer before press work begins.
Preprint
An item printed in advance of a publication, later inserted loosely into bound copies. Also called a
blow-in.
Press Check
The press check is made at the beginning the press run. The art director, production manager and
pressman check that the printed piece matches the job proof as closely as possible, (or adjusts
them to their preference), and that colors are in register.
Press Run
The total number of copies of a piece produced during one printing.
Primary Color
A base color that is used to compose other colors.
Process Blue
Another term for the "cyan" used in Process Color Printing.
Process Color
CYMK / Four-Color Process. The term used to describe colour printing by means of the three
primary colors (yellow, magenta, and cyan) and black that when combined through a particular
process, creates the illusion of the full color spectrum. (Virtually all color printing is done using the
Four Color Process method.)
Process Red
Another term for the "magenta" used in Process Color Printing.
Process Yellow
Another term for the "yellow" used in Process Color Printing.
Progressive Proof
A series of colour proofs showing the individual, variously combined, and collectively combined
colours used in four colour process printing. Each colour is shown separately in combination with
each other colour, and in combination with every possible colour combination - finally concluding
with a four colour simulation of the printed piece. These proofs are used to determine the density of
each colour and each colour's effect on the other colours, especially in the order they are printed on
the press.
Proof
A sheet of printed copy that is a test representation made to show how the printed job will appear
when finished.
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Q
QuarkXPress
A page layout application produced by Quark.
Quotation
A statement of price, terms of sale, and description of goods or services offered by a vendor to a
prospective client.
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R
Ready for Press
A machine signed acceptance of a proof before the start of the actual printing.
Register
For the printed reproduction of work, all four process colours must be "in register" -- i.e., they must
fit together perfectly. It is easy to tell if print is out of register by looking at the edge of the image
through a magnifying glass. If you see a line of cyan, magenta, yellow, or black dots, that colour is
out of register.
In production, marks placed on a printed piece to assist in the proper positioning of a production
Register
operation (such as punching, perforating, or folding). In the graphic arts, register marks are target
(Registration) Marks
marks or "bull's eyes" placed on camera copy to assist in registration.
Register Sheet
A sheet used to obtain correct position and register when printing.
Registration
In printing, registration refers to the alignment of printed images.
Resolution
The measure of detail in an image.
RGB
Red, Green Blue. The colours used to create the image on VDU screens. Most scanners capture
their image in RGB values, necessitating the conversion of the image to CYMK values for
reproduction.
RIP
RIP stands for Raster Image Format and is a print ready file format. This means that the files to be
printed have been converted, through any number of steps, from their Application File Format into a
format that can be understood by the printer.
Roll-to-Roll Printing
Rewinding a continuous printed web onto another roll.
Rotary Press
Any printing press in which the printing surface is on a rotating cylinder. Paper can be delivered to
rotary presses in either sheet or web form.
Rough
Quick sketch of a project.
Run On
Sheets printed in addition to the basic quantity.
S
Sans Serif
A class of typefaces without serifs (the small terminating strokes on individual letters and
characters). Helvetica and Futura are examples of sans serif typefaces.
Scanner
Device used in photoengraving to allow the analysis, memorization and reproduction of an image.
Scanning
A process by which images are optically sensed by a scanner and converted by special software
into binary codes that correspond to the image's dark and light spots.
Score
A partial cut through cardboard to allow bending.
Screen Frequency
The number of rows or lines of dots in a halftone image within a given distance, normally stated in
lines per inch (LPI) or lines per centimeter (Lpcm). A frequency of 200 lpi would only be used in
high-quality printing.
Screen Ruling
A measure of the quality or fineness of the dot structure used to reproduce a halftone image or tint,
expressed in lines per inch or centimeter.
Screen-Printing
Formally called Silk Screen. Rather than print from a plate or cylinder, a stencil is prepared by hand
or photographically on a screen mesh. Ink is then forced through the screen and onto the substrate.
Serif
The small terminating strokes on individual letters and characters, except in san serif faces. Most
text is set in serif typefaces (fonts) because it is easier to read long passages in serif faces than in
sans serif faces. (Times and Palatino are serif typefaces).
Set-Up
All work done to prepare the machines and printing presses before the printing starts.
Shadow
The darkest area of an image.
Self Cover
To print the cover of a multipage page job using the same stock as the body pages. Generally, a
more economical method of printing a cover since it requires no additional labor or set-up to
accomadate the differences in paper stocks.
Signature
A printed section made up of 16 pages (or a multiple of 4 pages) that is printed all on a single sheet
which is folded down or trimmed to produce a section of a book. Generally, the most economical
method of printing a large number of pages since the substarte (paper) is designed to accomadate
16 pages at a time when using standard page sizes with little or no wasted space. Most magazines
and books are printed in signatures.
Slatwall
Wooden panels designed to receive wire hooks to hang products on them.
Solids
Large printed areas which are comprised of a color. Solids use a lot more ink than non solid areas
do.
Specifications
Complete and precise descriptions of paper, ink, binding, quantity, and other features of a printing
job.
Spot Color
Also refered to as line color. Where a color is printed using a specific color of ink rather than
creating it from the process colours. Generally identified using the Pantone Matching System codes
(PMS)
Standee
Person or object cut out in their real size.
Stitch
To sew, staple or otherwise fasten paper or board together. (However, most commonly refers to
staples.)
Stock
Paper or other material to be printed.
Stripping
Attaching an opaque masking paper to raw film, in proper position, so that the plate maker can burn
a printing plate. Quickly becoming an obsolete process with the advent of straight to plate/digital
printing.
Stut
Foldable brace fixed at the back side of a display or a panel for vertical stability.
Substrate
Any material on which printing is to be done.
Swatch
A collection of color patches to show the color of papers or inks.
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T
TIFF
Acronym for "Tag Image File Format". This is a common type of image file format for illustrations
created or scanned into desktop publishing software. Other common image formats include: PICT,
DXF, IGES, HGL, BMP and EPS
Tints
Various even tone areas (strengths) of a solid color. Transparency --A photograph, especially a
positive color image, on transparent material. Available in several formats, transparencies are, at
present, the best means of conveying images to the pre-press system.
Tone Curves
Also known as gamma curves. These are used to smoothly adjust the overall tonal range of an
image, or the individual tonal ranges of each color channel.
Transparency
Process to reproduce 4 colors on transparent underground.
Transparency
A transparent positive photograph.
Trapping
The technique of slightly overlapping one image on an adjacent one to avoid unsightly white gaps if
misregister occurs in printing.
Trim
To cut or square the edges of paper either before or after printing.
Trim Marks
In printing, marks placed on the copy to indicate the edge of the page.
Trim Size
Size of the printed product after the last trim is made.
Two-Up
A method of printing two copies of each page on a single sheet. They are eventually trimmed into
separate entities after binding.
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U
Uncoated
Term used to describe paper or board that does not have a top layer of china clay (mineral).
Unit
In multicolor presses, refers to the combination of inking, plate and impression operations to print
each other. OPCO's 4-color Heidelberg press has 4 printing units each with its own inking, plate and
impression functions.
Up
In printing, two-up, three-up, four-up, etc. refers to imposition of material to be printed on a larger
size sheet to take advantage of full press capacity.
USM
Unsharp masking. A process used to sharpen images.
UV coating
Coating employed after printing through ultra-violet radiation. Generally glossy, but also available
with matte finish. Has a plastic-like feel and appearance.
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V
Varnish
Varnish or lacquer applied to printed matter to improve its appearance or possibly to increase its
durability. Not as strong or glossy as lamination or UV coating.
Vignette
An illustration in which the background fades gradually away until it blends into the unprinted paper.
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W
Warm Colour
In printing, a colour with a yellowish or reddish cast.
Wash-Up
The process of cleaning the press, rollers, plate and ink fountain when changing ink colors on the
press.
Web (Printing)
Press
A rotary printing press that uses continuous paper from a large roll that is fed through a series of
rollers (cylinders) on which the plates are mounted. The impression from the plate is offset onto a
blanket before being printed onto the paper.
Web Offset
A rotary printing press that uses continuous reel-fed paper "web" where the impression (image) from
the plate is offset onto a blanket (usually rubber) before being printed onto the paper. There are
three main systems: blanket to blanket; three-cylinder systems; and satellite or planetary systems.
WYSIWYG
An acronym for "What You See Is What You Get", or the same image on the computer screen as on
the laser print.
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Y
Yellow (Y)
Hue of a subtractive primary and a 4-color process ink. It reflects red and green light and absorbs
blue light.
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Z
Zip
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Removable disk storage medium, suitable for smaller files up to 100Mb.