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Home | Overview of the Profession | Graphic Design Overview | Definitions | Resources | Articles
Definitions
of Key Terms
Graphic Design, the Printing Process, and Related Topics
by Justine Nielsen
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N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
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A4 paper ISO paper size 210mm X 297mm used for letterhead. absorption In paper, the property which causes it to take up liquids or vapors in contact with it. In optics, the partial suppression of light through a transparent or translucent material. accordion fold In binding, a term used for two or more parallel folds which open like an accordion. acid-free paper Paper made from pulp containing little or no acid so it resists deterioration from age. Also called archival paper. Acrobat Adobe software that embodies the PDF format. A/D converter Device or software to convert an analog signal to a digital signal. See digitizer. additive color Color produced by light falling onto a surface. The additive primary colors are red, green and blue. When lights of these colors are added together, they produce the sensation of white light. advertising printer Printer that specializes in products such as free-standing inserts and direct mailers. advertising specialties Items such as a calendars, coffee cups, hats, matchbooks and pencils printed with advertising. against the grain Folding or feeding paper at right angles to the grain direction of the paper. At right angles to the grain direction of the paper being used. Also called across the grain and cross grain. airbrush In artwork, a small pressure gun shaped like a pencil that sprays watercolor pigment. Used to correct and obtain tone or graduated tone effects. In platemaking, used with an abrasive-like pumice to remove spots or other unwanted areas. In electronic imaging, a retouching technique. alkaline paper Paper made with a synthetic alkaline size and an alkaline filler like calcium carbonate which gives the paper over four times the life (200 years) of acid-sized papers (40-50 years). allocation Quantity of a product, such as a brand of paper, that is rationed to distributors and customers until a specified date. alteration Any change made by the customer after sending files to the printer. AM (Amplitude Modulation) Halftone screening, as opposed to FM screening, has dots of variable size with equal spacing between dot centers. See halftone. analog color proof Off-press color proof made from separation films. anilox inking In flexography, two-roll inking system with a smooth fountain roll that transfers inks to an etched metal or ceramic-coated metal roll with cells of fixed size and depth that transfer the ink to the plate. Also used in keyless offset. anti-halation backing In photography, coating applied to back of film to prevent halation. anti-offset or set-off spray In printing, dry spray of finely powdered starch used on press to prevent wet ink from transferring from the top of one sheet to the bottom of the next sheet. antique finish A term describing the surface, usually on book and cover papers, that has a natural rough finish. Roughest finish offered on offset paper. aperture In photography, lens opening or lens stop expressed as an f/no. such as f/22. apochromatic In photography, color-corrected lenses which focus the three colors, blue, green and red, in the same plane. application Computer program used for specific tasks such as word processing, editing photographs or laying out pages. APR (Automatic Picture Replacement) The replacement of a low resolution image by a high resolution image. aqueous coating Coating in a water base and applied like ink by a printing press to protect and enhance the printing underneath. archival paper Alternate term for acid-free paper.
archive Cache of documents and files saved for
possible use in later jobs. art All illustration copy used in preparing a job for printing. artboard Alternate term for mechanical art. ascender That part of a lower-case letter which rises above the main body as in "b". ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) A standard means of representing text as numerical data. author's alterations Also know as "AA's". Changed and additions in copy after it has been typeset. automatic processor In photography, a machine to automatically develop, fix, wash and dry exposed photographic film. In platemaking, a machine to develop, rinse, gum and dry printing plates. |
backbone The back of a bound book connecting the two covers; also called spine.backing up Printing the reverse side of a sheet already printed on one side. Printing on one side of a page must align correctly with printing on the other side. bad break In composition, starting a page or ending a paragraph with a single word, or widow. banding Method of packaging printed pieces of paper using rubber or paper bands. basic size The standard size of sheets of pa per used to calculate basis weight in the U.S. and Canada. In inches, 25 x 38 for book papers, 20 x 26 for cover papers, 22 1/2” x 28 1/2” or 22 1/2” x 35 for bristols, 25 1/2” x 30 1/2” for index. basis weight In the U.S. and Canada, the weight, in pounds, of a ream (500 sheets) of paper cut to the basic size. In countries using ISO paper sizes, the weight, in grams, of one square meter of paper. 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"x38" of 50-lb. book paper weigh 50 pounds. Also called grammage, ream weight, and substance weight. bearers In presses, the flat surfaces or rings at the ends of cylinders that come in contact with each other during printing and serve as a basis for determining packing thickness. beta site A test site for computer software or systems. bezier curve The description of a character, symbol or graphic by its outline used by drawing programs to define shapes. bible paper Very thin, opaque paper used for products such as bibles and dictionaries. Also called India paper. bimetal plate In lithography, a plate used for long runs in which the printing image base is usually copper and the non-printing area is aluminum, stainless steel or chromium. bind To fasten sheets or signatures with wire, thread, glue. or by other means. bindery The finishing department of a print shop or firm specializing in finishing printed products. bit In computers, the basic unit of digital information; contraction of BInary digiT. bitmap Computer image consisting of pixels or halftone dots. black-and-white Originals or reproductions in single color, as distinguished from multicolor. Abbreviation: B/W. black point Reference point defining the darkest area in an image. black printer In color reproduction, the black plate, made to increase contrast of dark tones and make them neutral. blade coating Method of coating paper that ensures a relatively thick covering and level surface, as compared to film coating. Also called knife coating. Gloss, dull and matte papers are blade coated. blanket In offset printing, a rubber-surfaced fabric which is clamped around a cylinder, to which the image is transferred from the plate, and from which it is transferred to the paper. bleed An extra amount of printed image which extends beyond the trim edge of the sheet or page. blind 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. blowup An image enlargement. blueline Prepress proof where all colors show as blue images on white paper. Blueline is a generic term for proofs made from a variety of materials having similar appearances that may also be called blueprint, position proof, silverprint, Dylux and VanDyke. board Alternate term for mechanical. board paper General term for paper over 11 Q# index, 80# cover, or 200 gsm that is commonly used for products such as file folders, displays and postcards. Also called paperboard. 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 stock Paper on which the text or main part of a publication is printed, as compared to cover stock. body type A type used for the main part or text of a printed piece, as distinguished from the heading. bold-face type A name given to type that is heavier than the text type with which it is used. bond paper A grade of writing or printing paper where strength, durability and permanence are essential requirements; used for letterheads, business forms, etc. The basic size is 17"x22". bond & carbon Business form with paper and carbon paper. book paper Category of paper suitable for books, magazines, catalogs, advertising and general printing needs. Book paper is divided into uncoated paper (also called offset paper) and coated paper (also called art paper, enamel paper, gloss paper and slick paper). The basic size is 25"x38". bpi Bits per inch bps Bits per second break for color In artwork and composition, to separate the parts to be printed in different colors. brightness In photography, light reflected by the copy. In paper, the reflectance or brilliance of the paper. bristol paper General term referring to paper six points or thicker with basis weight between 90# and 200# (200-500 gsm). Used for products such as index cards, file folders and displays. brochure A pamphlet bound in booklet form. broke Trimmings, defective sheets, and other unprinted paper collected at the mill and from converters and printers. Broke is preconsumer waste that mills recycle back into pulp. broken carton Carton of paper from which some of the sheets have been sold. Also called less carton. bronzing Printing with a sizing ink, then applying bronze powder while still wet to produce a metallic lustre. build a color To overlap two or more screen tints to create a new color. Such an overlap is called a build, color build or tint build. bulk The degree of thickness of paper. In book printing, the number of pages per inch for a given basis weight. bulk pack Boxing printed product without wrapping or banding. bulking dummy Dummy assembled from the actual paper specified for a printing job. 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. burst perfect bind To bind by forcing glue into notches along the spines of gathered signatures before affixing a paper cover. Also called burst bind, notch bind and slotted bind. butt Joining images without overlapping. butt fit Printed colors that overlap one row of dots so they appear to butt. buy out To subcontract for a service that is closely related to the business of the organization. Also called farm out. Work that is bought out is called outsourced or referred to as being out of house. byte In computers, a unit of digital information, equivalent to one character or 8 to 32 bits. |
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CADD (Computer-Aided Drafting or Design) In graphics, the production of drawings and plans for architecture and engineering systems. CADD systems are specialized workstations or high-performance personal computers that employ CADD software packages and input devices such as graphic tablets and scanners. CIS and C2S Abbreviations for coated one side and coated two sides. calender To make the surface of paper smooth by pressing it between rollers during manufacture. calender rolls A set or stack of horizontal cast-steel rolls with polished ground surfaces at the end of a paper machine. The paper is passed between the rolls to increase the smoothness and gloss of its surface. caliper Thickness of paper or other substrate expressed in thousandths of an inch (mils or points), pages per inch (ppi), thousandths of a millimeter (microns) or pages per centimeter (ppc). camera-ready copy Mechanicals, photographs and art that are fully prepared for reproduction according to the technical requirements of the printing process being used. 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 typefaces. carbonless Pressure sensitive writing paper that does not use carbon. carload Selling unit of paper that may weigh anywhere from 20,000 to 100,000 pounds (9,090 to 45,454 kilos), depending on which mill or merchant uses the term. Abbreviated CL. carton Selling unit of paper weighing approximately 150 pounds (60 kilos). A carton can contain anywhere from 500 to 5,000 sheers, depending on the size of sheets and their basis weight. case Covers and spine that, as a unit, enclose the pages of a casebound (or hardbound) book. case bind To bind using glue to hold signatures to a case made of binder board covered with fabric, plastic or leather. Also called cloth bind, edition bind and hard bind. cast-coated paper High-gloss, coated paper made by pressing the paper against a polished, hot, metal drum while the coating is still wet. catalog paper Coated paper rated #4 or #5 with basis weight from 35# to 50# (50 to 75 gsm) commonly used for catalogs and magazines. CCD (Charge Coupled Device) In digital prepress, a semiconductor light sensitive electronic device that emits an electrical signal proportional to the amount of light striking it. Used in scanners and video cameras CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory) In digital prepress, a laser encoded optical storage disc that can store 650 Megabytes to over 1 Gigabyte of data on a disc about the size of a traditional 5-inch floppy disk. CEPS (Color Electronic Prepress System) In digital prepress, a high-end computer-based system that is used to color correct scanner images and assemble image elements into final pages. They are device dependent systems. 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. change order Alternate term for alteration. character generation The production of typographic images using font master data. Generated to screens or output devices. chemical pulp In papermaking, treatment of groundwood chips with chemicals to remove impurities such as lignin, resins and gums. There are two types, sulfite and sulfate. chemistry In photography and platemaking, a term used to describe the composition of processing solutions. chipboard Solid (not corrugated) cardboard. chokes and spreads Overlap of overprinting images to avoid color or white fringes or borders around image detail. Also called shrink and skinny. Called trapping in digital imaging systems. chroma Strength of a color as compared to how close it seems to neutral gray. Also called depth, intensity, purity, and saturation. chrome A term for a transparency. CIE (Commission International de 1'Eclairage) The organization that developed color standards used in PostScript and other software. CIE
color spaces These are three dimensional color mapping systems
such as ClELab, CIEL*a*b*, and CIELUV which are used to plot the three
color attributes, X, Y, Z. closed loop system In printing, a completely automatic control system. CMY (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow) Subtractive primary colors, each of which is a combination of two additive primary colors (RGB). CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) The subtractive process colors used in color printing. Black (K) is added to enhance color and contrast. coated paper Paper having a surface coating of clay and other substances which produces a smooth finish, improves reflectivity and ink holdout. Surfaces vary from eggshell to glossy. coating In platemaking, the light-sensitive polymer or mixture applied to a metal plate. In printing, an emulsion, varnish or lacquer applied over a printed surface to protect it. cockle finish Slightly puckered surface on bond paper. cold color In printing, a color with a bluish cast. collate In binding, the gathering of sheets and signatures. collateral Printed pieces, such as newsletters and brochures, that support or supplement display or broadcast advertising. collotype A screenless printing process of the planographic ink-water type in which the plates are coated with bichromated gelatin, exposed to continuous-tone negatives, and printed on lithographic presses with special dampening. color balance The correct combination of cyan, magenta and yellow to (1) reproduce a photograph without a color cast, (2) produce a neutral gray, or (3) reproduce the colors in the original scene or object. color bar A quality control term regarding the spots of ink color on the tail of a sheet. color break In multicolor printing, the point, line or space at which one ink color stops and another begins. color cast Unwanted color affecting an entire image. color control bar Strip of small blocks of color on a proof or press sheet to help evaluate features such as density and dot gain. color correction To adjust the relationship among the process colors to achieve desirable colors. Any method such as masking, dot-etching, re-etching and scanning, used to improve color rendition. color curves Instructions in software that allow users to change or correct colors. Also called HLS and HVS tables. 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 red, green, and blue (RGB). color gamut The entire range of hues possible to reproduce using a specific device or process. colorimeter An instrument for measuring color the way the eye sees color. color keys Off-press overlay color proofs using 3M Color Key® materials. color matching system System of numbered ink swatches that facilitates communication about color. color model Way of categorizing and describing the infinite array of colors found in nature. color proofs See analog color proof, digital color proof. color separation 1. Technique of using a camera, scanner or computer to divide continuous-tone color images into four halftone negatives. 2. The film, proof or printed product resulting from color separating. color sequence Order in which inks are printed. With process colors, the sheetfed sequence is often black first, then magenta, cyan, and yellow last. The web sequence is often cyan, magenta, yellow, with black either first or last. Also called laydown sequence and rotation. color shift Change in image color resulting from changes in register, ink densities or dotgain. comb bind To bind by inserting the teeth of a flexible plastic comb through holes punched along the edge of a stack of paper. Also called GBC bind. commercial match Acceptable difference between the color on a sample of ink or paper, or the color on a proof, and the color achieved on press. commercial printer Printer producing a wide range of products such brochures, posters, booklets, stationery and business forms. Also called job printer because each job is different. commercial register Informal trade recognition that acceptable quality allows slight variation of register throughout the press run. The misregister allowable is within ± one row of dots. commodity Refers to paper or printing produced quickly and in high volumes, thus relatively inexpensive. common impression cylinder press In flexography, letterpress lithography and digital printing, a press with a number of printing units around a large impression cylinder. commingled mailing Combined mailing of magazines of the same size to the same address to save costs. composite film Combining two or more images on one or more pieces of film. composite proof Proof of halftones and separations in position with graphics and type. composition The arrangement of type, graphics and other elements on the page. comprehensive dummy Simulation of a printed piece complete with type, graphics and colors. Abbreviated “comp.” compressed files Files with nonessential data deleted to make them easier to store and transmit. computer, analog A computer that solves a mathematical problem by using analogs, like voltage or density, of the variables in the problem. computer, digital A computer that processes information in discrete digital form. computerized composition An all-inclusive term for the use of computers to automatically perform the functions of hyphenation, justification and page formatting. condensed type A narrow or slender typeface. condition To keep paper in the pressroom for a few hours or days before printing so that its moisture level and temperature equal that in the pressroom. Also called cure, mature, and season. conductivity A property of fountain solutions that must be controlled along with ph. contact print A photographic print made from a negative or positive in contact with sensitized paper, film or printing plate. contact screen A halftone screen on film having a dot structure of graded density used in vacuum contact with the photographic film to produce halftones. continuous tone An image which contains gradient tones from black to white. contone Abbreviation for continuous tone. contract proof A color proof representing an agreement between the printer and the customer regarding how the printed product will look. contrast The tonal gradation between the highlights, middle tones and shadows in an original or reproduction. copy Any furnished material (typewritten manuscript, pictures, artwork, etc.) to be used in the production of printing. copy preparation Directions for, and checking of, desired size and other details for illustrations, and the arrangement into proper position of various parts of the page to be photographed or electronically processed for reproduction. cover paper A term applied to a variety of papers used for the covers of catalogs, brochures, booklets and similar pieces. crash number Numbering paper by pressing an image on the first sheet which is transferred to all parts of the printed set. crimping Puncture marks holding business forms together. Cromalin Trade name for DuPont color proofs. crop To eliminate portions of the copy, usually on a photograph or plate, indicated on the original by cropmarks crop marks Printed lines showing where to trim a printed sheet. crossover Printing across the gutter or from one page to the facing page of a publication. 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. crossmarks See register marks. CTP (Computer To Plate) In platemaking, Computer-to-Plate systems or platesetters eliminate the need for having a separate film-to-plate exposure system. curl In paper, the distortion of a sheet due to differences in structure or coatings from one side to the other, or to absorption of moisture on an offset press. cutoff In web printing, the cut or print length. cutscore In die-cutting, a sharp-edged knife, several thousandths of an inch lower than the cutting rules in a die, made to cut part way into the paper or board for folding purposes. cyan Hue of a subtractive primary and a 4-color process ink. It reflects or transmits blue and green light and absorbs red light. cylinder gap In printing presses, the gap or space in the cylinders of a press where the mechanism for plate (or blanket), clamps and grippers (sheetfed) is housed. |
dampening system In lithography, the mechanism on a press for transferring dampening solution to the plate during printing. DCS (Desktop Color Separation) In digital prepress, a data file standard defined to assist in making color separations with desktop publishing systems. Using DCS five files are created: four color files, containing the cyan, magenta, yellow, and black image data, and a composite color viewfile of the color image. 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. density The degree of darkness (light absorption or opacity) of a photographic image. descender That part of a lower case letter which extends below the main body as in "p". desktop publishing Process of composing pages using a standard computer, off-the-shelf software, a device independent page description language like PostScript and outputting them on a printer or imagesetter. 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. device dependent A characteristic of a Color Electronic Prepress System (CEPS). device independent The characteristic of a computer program or system that allows different output devices to image the same file more or less the same. diazo In photography, a non-silver coating for contact printing. In offset platemaking, a light-sensitive coating used on presensitized and wipe-on plates. die Metal rule or imaged block used to cut or place an image on paper in the finishing process. diecutting The process of using sharp steel rules to cut special shapes for labels, boxes and containers, from printed sheets. Diecutting can be done on either flatbed or rotary presses. Rotary diecutting is usually done inline with the printing. die-stamping An intaglio process for the production of letterheads, business cards, etc., printing from lettering or other designs engraved into copper or steel. diffusion transfer In photography and platemaking, a system consisting of a photographic emulsion on which a negative is produced, and a receiver sheet on which a positive of the image is transferred during processing. digital color proof A color proof produced from digital data without the need for separation films. digital inks See toner. 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. digitizer A computer peripheral device that converts an analog signal (images or sound) into a digital signal. dimensional stability Ability to maintain size; resistance of paper or film to dimensional change with change in moisture content or relative humidity. direct screen halftone In color separation, a halftone negative made by direct exposure from the original on an enlarger or by contact through a halftone screen. display type In composition, type set larger than the text. dithering In computer graphics, a technique for alternating the values of adjacent dots or pixels to create the effect of intermediate values. Dithering refers to the technique of making different colors for adjacent dots or pixels to give the illusion of a third color. doctor blade In gravure, a knife-edge blade pressed against the engraved printing cylinder which wipes away the excess ink from the non-printing areas. DOS (Disk Operating System) In digital imaging, a program containing instructions for a computer to read and write data to and from a disk. An operating system (set of programs) that instructs a disk-based computing system to manage resources and operate peripheral equipment. dot The individual element of a halftone. In AM screening the dots vary in size. In FM screening the dots are very small and usually all the same size. 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. double burn Exposing a plate to multiple images. download Sending information to another computer or to an output. draw-down In inkmaking, a term used to describe ink chemist's method of roughly determining color shade. A small glob of ink is placed on paper and drawn down with the edge of a putty knife spatula to get a thin film of ink. drop-out Portions of originals that do not reproduce, especially colored lines or background areas (often on purpose). drum scanner Uses photo multiplier tubes (PMT) and produces color separations with higher resolution and dynamic range than CCD scanners. dryer In inkmaking, a substance added to hasten drying. DTP Desktop Publishing. dummy A preliminary layout showing the position of illustrations and text as they are to appear in the final reproduction. A set of blank pages made up in advance to show the size, shape, form and general style of a piece of printing. duotone In photomechanics, a term for a two-color halftone reproduction from a one-color photograph. duplex paper Paper with a different color or finish on each side. duplicating film A film for making positives from positives, and negatives from negatives. In color reproduction, a special film used for making duplicates of color transparencies. DVD (Digital Video or Versatile Disk) A CD-ROM that can store audio, video and computer data at four or more gigabytes per disk. Dylux Photographic paper made by DuPont and used for bluelines. dynamic range Density difference between highlights and shadows of scanned subjects. |
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electronic printing In digital printing, any technology that reproduces pages without the use of traditional ink, water or chemistry or plates. Also known as plateless printing. electrophotography Image transfer systems used in copiers to produce images using electrostatic forces and toners. electrostatic assist In gravure, use of electrostatic forces to help draw ink from gravure cells to reduce skips in highlights. electrostatic plates Plates for high speed laser printing using zinc oxide or organic photoconductors. electrotype Duplicate relief plate used for letterpress printing. elliptical dot In halftone photography, elongated dots which give improved gradation of tones particularly in middle tones and vignettes. Also called chain dots. em In composition, a unit of measurement exactly as wide and high as the point size being set. So named because the letter "M" in early fonts was usually cast on a square body. embossed finish Paper with a raised or depressed surface resembling wood, cloth, leather or other pattern. embossing Impressing an image in relief to achieve a raised surface; either overprinting or on blank paper (called blind embossing). EME (electromechanical engraver) In gravure, machine used to make gravure printing cylinders. emulsion side In photography, the side of the film coated with the light-sensitive silver halide emulsion. en In composition, one-half the width of an em. enamel A term applied to a coated paper or to a coating material on a paper. english finish A grade of book paper with a smoother, more uniform surface than machine finish. EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) In digital prepress, a file format used to transfer graphic images within compatible applications. A file containing structured PostScript code, comments and a screen display image. etch 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. eurobind A patented method of binding perfect bound books so they will open and lay flatter. expanded type A type whose width is greater than normal. exposure In photography and platemaking, the step in photographic or photomechanical processes during which light or other radiant energy produces the image on the photo-sensitive coating. |
fake color In color reproduction, producing a color illustration by using one image as a key and making the other separations from it manually. fanout In printing, distortion of paper on the press due to waviness in the paper caused by absorption of moisture at the edges of the paper, particularly across the grain. feeder In printing presses, the section that separates the sheets and feeds them in position for printing. felt side The smoother side of the paper for printing. The top side of the sheet in paper manufacturing. file A group of related information, such as text, graphics, page instructions and picture information stored on magnetic disks. filling in (or filling up) In letterpress or offset lithography, a condition where ink fills the area between the halftone dots or plugs up (fills in) the type. film rip See RIP film. fixing Chemical action following development to convert unexposed silver halide to a water-soluble salt and make the image stable and insensitive to further exposure. flash exposure In halftone photography, the supplementary exposure given to strengthen the dots in the shadow areas of negatives. flat In offset lithography, the assembly of negatives on goldenrod paper or positives on film, ready for platemaking. In photography, a photograph lacking in contrast. flatbed scanner A device that scans images in a manner similar to a photocopy machine; the original art is positioned face down on a glass plate. flood To cover a printed page with ink, varnish, or plastic coating. flop The reverse side of an image. flush cover A cover that has been trimmed to the same size as the inside text pages as in this book. flush left (or right) In composition, type set to line up at the left (or right). This page is set flush left and right. flush paragraph A paragraph with no indention. flying paster In web printing, an automatic pasting device that splices a new roll of paper onto an expiring roll, without stopping the press. FM (Frequency Modulation) screening A means of digital screening. See stochastic screening. focal length In photography, the distance from the center of the lens to the image of an object at infinity. At same size, the distance from copy to image is four times the focal length of the lens. fog In photography, silver density in the non-image areas. foil A metallic or pigmented coating on plastic sheets or rolls used in foil stamping and foil embossing. foil emboss Foil stamping and embossing a image on paper with a die. foil stamping Using a die to place a metallic or pigmented image on paper. folio The page number. font In composition, a complete assortment of letters, numbers, punctuations, etc., of a given size and design. form In offset, the assembly of pages and other images for printing. In letterpress, type and other matter locked in a chase for printing. form rollers The rollers, either inking or dampening, which directly contact the plate on a printing press. format The size, style, type page, margins, printing requirements, etc., of a printed piece. fountain solution In lithography, a solution of water, a natural or synthetic gum and other chemicals used to dampen the plate and keep non-printing areas from accepting ink. four-color-process The process of combining four basic colors to create a printed color picture or colors composed from the basic four colors. FPO (For Position Only) In digital imaging, typically a low-resolution image positioned in a document to be replaced later with a higher resolution version of the same image. free sheet Paper free of mechanical wood pulp. French fold Two folds at right angles to each other. front end system In electronic publishing, the workstation or group of workstations containing the applications software for preparing pages of type and graphics. "f" stops In photography, fixed stops for setting lens apertures. |
gamma A measure of contrast in photographic images. gapless Plate or blanket cylinders without gaps. gang Getting the most out of a printing press by using the maximum sheet size to print multiple images or jobs on the same sheet. A way to save money. GATF Graphic Arts Technical Foundation. gathering In binding, the assembling of folded signatures in proper sequence. GCR (Gray Component Replacement) Wherever three color inks overprint, the two predominant ones determine the hue of the color and the lesser third color indicates the final color’s grayness or saturation. An amount of the three colors equivalent to the lesser third color can be removed from the color and replaced with black ink. Not only does this technique save on ink costs, it increases color saturation, speeds makereadies on the press, and improves print consistency. gear streaks In printing, parallel streaks appearing across the printed sheet at the same interval as gear teeth on the cylinder. generation Stages of reproduction from original copy. A first generation reproduction yields the best quality. ghost bars A quality control method used to reduce ghosted image created by heat or chemical contamination. ghosting A faint printed image that appears on a printed sheet where it was not intended. More often than not this problem is a function of graphical design. It is hard to tell when or where ghosting will occur. Sometimes you can see the problem developing immediately after printing the sheet, other times the problem occurs while drying. However the problem occurs it is costly to fix, if it can be fixed. Occasionally it can be eliminated by changing the color sequence, the inks, the paper, changing to a press with a drier, printing the problem area in a separate pass through the press or changing the racking (reducing the number of sheets on the drying racks). Since it is a function of graphical design, the buyer pays for the increased cost. GB (gigabyte) One billion bytes. gloss A shiny look reflecting light. goldenrod paper In offset lithography, a specially-coated masking paper of yellow or orange color used by strippers to assemble and position negatives for exposure on plates. grain In papermaking, the direction in which most fibers lie which corresponds with the direction in which the paper is made on a paper machine. grammage A term in the metric system for expressing the basis weight of paper. It is the weight in grams of a square meter of the paper expressed in g/m2. gray balance The dot values or densities of cyan, magenta and yellow that produce a neutral gray. gray level The number of gray values that can be distinguished by a color separation filter — usually 28 or 256. gray scale A strip of standard gray tones, ranging from white to black, placed at the side of original copy during photography to measure tonal range and contrast (gamma) obtained. gripper edge The leading edge of paper as it passes through a printing press. Also, the front edge of a lithographic or wrap-around plate secured to the front clamp of a plate cylinder. gripper margin Unprintable blank edge of paper on which grippers bear, usually 1/2" or less. grippers In sheetfed printing presses, metal fingers that clamp on paper and control its flow as it passes through. groundwood pulp A mechanically-prepared wood pulp used in the manufacture of newsprint and publication papers. GUI (Graphical User Interface) Pronounced "gooey," in digital imaging, a technical term for a system that lets users manipulate files by pointing to pictures (icons) with a mouse or other pointing device instead of having to type in key commands. gum arabic In offset lithography, used in platemaking and on press to protect the non-printing areas of plates. gumming In platemaking, the process of applying a thin coating of gum to the non-printing areas of a lithographic plate. gutter The blank space or inner margin from printing area to binding. |
hairline register Register within ± 1/2 row of dots. halation In photography, a blurred effect, resembling a halo, usually occurring in highlight areas or around bright objects. halftone The reproduction of continuous-tone images, through a screening process, which converts the image into dots of various sizes and equal spacing between centers (AM screening), or dots of equal size with variable spacing between them (FM screening). hard dot Halftone dot with little or no fringe and prints with little or no dot gain or sharpening. See soft dot. hard copy The permanent visual record of the output of a computer or printer on a substrate. 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. head margin The white space above first line on a page. He/Ne Helium-Neon red laser with wave length of 632nm. hickeys In offset lithography, spots or imperfections in the printing due to dirt on the press, dried ink skin, paper particles, etc. high-bulk paper A paper made thicker than its standard basis weight. high contrast In photography, a reproduction with high gamma in which the difference in darkness (density) between neighboring areas is greater than in the original. highlight The lightest or whitest parts in a 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. HSV (Hue, Saturation and Value) A color space used in some graphic programs. HTML
(HyperText Markup Language) In imaging for the World Wide
Web, the coding language that is used to create Hypertext documents
for use on the World Wide Web. hydrophilic Water receptive. hydrophobic Water repellent. hypertext Links to other documents. Words or phrases in the document that are so defined that they can be selected and then cause another document to be retrieved, opened, and displayed. |
image assembly See stripping. imagesetter In digital imaging, a generic term that applies to film-output devices for type and graphics. The difference between an imagesetter and a typesetter is in the format of the data that has been converted from discrete-character raster lines to raster data using bitmaps. imposetter In digital imaging, an imagesetter capable of outputting a film flat with 4, 8 or more pages in imposed position. imposition In image assembly, the positioning of pages on a signature so that after printing, folding and cutting, all pages will appear in the proper sequence. impression Putting an image on paper. impression cylinder In printing, the cylinder on a printing press against which the paper picks up the impression from the inked plate in direct printing, or the blanket in offset printing. imprint Adding copy to a previously printed page. indicia Postal information place on a printed product. ink fountain In printing presses, the device which stores and supplies ink to the inking rollers. ink-jet printing In digital printing, a plateless printing system that produces images directly on paper from digital data using streams of very fine drops of dyes which are controlled by digital signals to produce images on paper. ink mist Flying filaments or threads formed by long low-tack inks like newspaper ink. See long ink. Inkometer In ink testing, an instrument for measuring the tack of printing inks. insert A printed piece prepared for insertion into a publication or another printed piece. IR (infrared) Abbreviation for infrared radiation above 700 nm. italic The style of letters that slant, in distinction from upright, or roman, letters. Used for emphasis within the text. |
justify In composition, to space out lines uniformly to line up left and right. |
key To code copy to a dummy by means of symbols, usually letters. Insertions are sometimes keyed in like manner. keyboard The input device to input information directly into a typesetter, computer, workstation or, as a stand-alone unit, to record it on paper or magnetic tape. keyline In artwork, an outline drawing of finished art to indicate the exact shape, position and size for such elements as halftones, line sketches, etc. kilobyte (K or kb or KB) 1024 bytes, the most common measure of computer file length. kiss die cut To cut the top layer of a pressure sensitive sheet and not the backing. kiss impression In printing, a very light impression, just enough to produce an image on the paper. knock out To mask out an image. kraft A paper or board containing unbleached wood pulp (brown in color) made by the sulfate process. |
laid finish Paper with a pattern of parallel lines at equal distances, giving a ribbed effect, simulating the surface of handmade paper. lamination A plastic film bonded by heat and pressure to a printed sheet for protection or appearance. LAN (local area network) Communication link in a localized area, such as an office, building, complex of buildings or campus, with technology that provides a high-bandwidth, low-cost medium to which many computer nodes can be connected. laser (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) The laser is an intense light beam with very narrow bandwidth used in digital-imaging devices to produce images by electronic impulses from computers or facsimile transmission. layflat See Eurobind. layout The drawing or sketch of a proposed printed piece. In platemaking, a sheet indicating the settings for a step-and-repeat machine. leaders In composition, rows of dashes or dots to guide the eye across the page. Used in tabular work, programs, tables of contents, etc. leading (pronounced ledding) In composition, the distance between lines of type measured in points. LED (light emitting diode) Used in place of lasers for some output systems. ledger paper A grade of business paper generally used for keeping records where it is subjected to appreciable wear so it requires a high degree of durability and permanence. letterspacing The placing of additional space between each letter of a word. line copy Any copy suitable for reproduction without using a halftone screen. LPI (lines per inch) The number of rows of dots per inch in a halftone. 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. loupe A magnifying glass used to review a printed image, plate and position film. lower case The small letters in type, as distinguished from the capital letters. |
machine coated Paper which is coated one- or two-sides on a paper machine. machine direction Same as grain direction in paper. magenta Hue of a subtractive primary and a four-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. marginal words Call-outs for directions on various parts of a business form. mask In color separation photography, an intermediate photographic negative or positive used in color correction. In offset lithography, opaque material used to protect open or selected areas of a printing plate during exposure. master A plate for a duplicating machine. See paper master. Matchprint Trade name for 3M integral color proof. matte finish Dull paper finish without gloss or luster. measure In composition, the width of type, usually expressed in picas. mechanical A term for a camera-ready pasteup of artwork. It includes type, photos, line art, etc., all on one piece of artboard. mechanical pulp In papermaking, groundwood pulp produced by mechanically grinding logs or wood chips. It is used mainly for newsprint and as an ingredient of base stock for lower grade publication papers. mechanical separation Mechanical art overlay for each color to be printed. megabyte (Mbyte, MB, Meg, or M) One million character codes on the computer. One million bytes or characters, often written MB or Mbyte. A unit of measurement equal to 1,024 kilobytes, or 1,048,576 bytes. megahertz (MHz) Frequency equal to one million cycles per second. Measures bandwidth or analog electronic signals. menu In electronic publishing, a method for selecting alternative functions displayed as a list on a workstation screen. Selection via mouse, key or sequence of keys. metric system A decimal system adopted by most countries for solid, liquid and distance measurements. See grammage. micrometer Instrument used to measure the thickness of different papers. middletones The tonal range between highlights and shadows of a photograph or reproduction. modem (MOdulator, DEModulator) A device that enables a computer to talk to other computers through phone systems by converting computer signals (data) into high-frequency voice communications signals, and vice versa. moiré In color process printing, the undesirable screen pattern caused by incorrect screen angles of overprinting halftones. molleton In offset lithography, a thick cotton fabric similar to flannel used on the dampening rollers of a press. monitor A video screen on a workstation. montage In artwork, several photographs combined to form a composite illustration. mottle The spotty or uneven appearance of printing, mostly in solid areas. mouse A hand-held device that moves the cursor on a workstation by moving the device on a flat surface. mullen tester A machine for testing the bursting strength of paper. Mylar® In offset preparation, a polyester film specially suited for stripping positives because of its mechanical strength and dimensional stability. |
negative In photography, film containing an image in which the values of the original are reversed so that the dark areas in the subject appear light on the film and vice versa. See positive. network Two or more computers which are linked and share resources to perform related tasks. Group of computers that are connected to each other by communications lines to share information and resources. newsprint Paper made mostly from groundwood pulp and small amounts of chemical pulp; used for printing newspapers. non-impact printer An electronic device like a copier, laser or ink-jet printer that creates images on a surface without contacting it. non-reproducing blue A blue color the camera cannot see. Used in marking up artwork. no-screen exposure See bump exposure. |
oblong A booklet or catalog bound on the shorter dimension. OCR (Optical Character Recognition) An electronic means of scanning (reading) copy and converting the scanned image to an electronic equivalent. The ability to "read" printed text (characters) and convert it to digitized files that can be saved on disk and edited as a text file. 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 In printing, the process of using an intermediate blanket cylinder to transfer an image from the image carrier to the substrate. Short for offset lithography. Also, an unpleasant happening when the images of freshly printed sheets transfer images to each other. See set-off. offset gravure Printing gravure by the offset principle. Generally done on a flexographic press by converting the anilox roller to a gravure image cylinder and covering the plate cylinder with a solid rubber plate. offset paper Term for uncoated book paper. OK sheet Final approved color inking sheet before production begins. oleophilic Oil receptive. oleophobic Oil repellent. 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. OPI (Open Prepress Interface) An extension to PostScript that automatically replaces low-resolution placeholder images with high-resolution images. orthochromatic Photographic surfaces insensitive to red but sensitive to ultraviolet, blue, green and yellow rays. outline halftone Removing the background of a picture or silhouetting an image in a picture. overhang cover A cover larger in size than the pages it encloses. overlay In artwork, a transparent covering over the copy where color break, instructions or corrections are marked. Also, transparent or translucent prints which, when placed one on the other, form a composite picture. overlay proof A color proof produced with four dyed or pigmented overlay films. overprinting Double printing; printing over an area that already has been printed. |