Glossary of Terms

A type of paper folding in which each fold runs in the opposite di

A transparent or translucent plastic sheet material of a variety of colors, used as a basis for artwork and overlays.

In photographic reproduction, the primary colors of red, green, and blue are mixed to form all other colors.

In photographic reproduction, the primary colors of red, green, and blue are mixed to form all other colors.

Water-soluble plate coatings, which are less toxic and less polluting.

All illustrated material, ornamentation, photos, and charts, etc., that is prepared for reproduction.

Extra ink area that crosses trim line, used to allow for variations that occur when the reproduction is trimmed or die-cut.

A design or bas relief impression that is made without using inks or metal foils.

The term is given due to the unfinished stage of bookmaking when the pages are folded, gathered, and stitched-in but not yet cover bound.

A pamphlet that is bound in booklet form.

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

A term is given to any copy, artwork, etc., that is prepared for photographic reproduction.

Books bound using hard board (case) covers.

A paper that is coated and then pressured dried using a polished roller which imparts an enamel like hard gloss finish.

To gather sheets or signatures together in their correct order. (see Gather)

This term refers to a color test strip, which is printed on the waste portion of a press sheet. It is a standardized (GATF-Graphic Arts Technical Foundation) process which allows a pressman to determine the quality of the printed material relative to ink density, registration, and dot gain. It also includes Star Target, which is a similar system designed to detect inking problems.

The processes of separating the primary color components for printing.

A term referring to the relative amount of pigmentation in an ink.

Image made of non-discernable picture elements which give the appearance of a continuous spectrum of grey values or tones.

The degree of tonal separation or gradation ranges from black to white.

Refers to any typewritten material, art, photos, etc., to be used for the printing process.

Marks on a final printed sheet that indicate the trim lines. Also, known as Crop Marks. Always offset marks by 1/8" to ensure they don't accidentally appear on the finished piece. This is generally found in the settings or output menu before making a PDF of the final project.

A term describing a general type of papers used for the covers of books, pamphlets, etc.

Delamination

Result of added thickness of folded sheets being behind one another in a folded signature. Outer edges of sheets creep away from the back most fold as more folded sheets are inserted inside the middle.

To eliminate a portion of the art or copy as indicated by crop marks.

Marks on a final printed sheet that indicate the trim lines. Also, known as Corner Marks. Always offset marks by 1/8" to ensure they don't accidentally appear on the finished piece. This is generally found in the settings or output menu before making a PDF of the final project.

Elements that cross page boundaries and land on two consecutive pages (usually rules).

A term used to describe the effect of ink from an image, rule, or line art on one printed page, which carries over to another page of a bound work.

Not lying flat and tending to form into cylindrical or wavy shapes. A term to describe the differences of either side of a sheet relative to coatings, absorbency, etc.; the concave side is the curl side.

Machine for accurately cutting stacks of paper to desired dimensions...can also be used to crease. Also trims out final bound books' top size (softcover).

An optical device used by printers and photographers to measure and control the density of color.

The degree of tone, the weight of darkness, or color within a photo or reproduction; measurable by the densitometer. Reference, densitometer.

Design, letters or shapes, cut into metal (mostly brass) for stamping book covers or embossing. An engraved stamp used for impressing an image or design.

A method of using sharp steel ruled stamps or rollers to cut various shapes i.e. labels, boxes, image shapes, either post press or in line. The process of cutting paper in a shape or design by the use of a wooden die or block in which are positioned steel rules in the shape of the desired pattern.

An intaglio process for printing from images engraved into copper or steel plates.

An electronic color proof is used to speed the proof approval process on a project. Typically a PDF is emailed to the customer for approval prior to printing.

Occurs when you fold into a fold (such as a letter fold). At the side of one of the creases, you get an indentation. It may look like a small inverted triangle.

Darkening of halftone image due to ink absorption in paper causing halftone dots to enlarge. Terms to describe the occurrence whereby dots are printing larger than they should.

The actual drilling of holes into paper for ring or comb binding.

A shadow image placed strategically behind an image to create the effect of the image lifting off the page.

Any matte finished paper.

A term used to describe the preliminary assemblage of copy and art elements to be reproduced in the desired finished product; also called a comp.

Color reproduction from monochrome original. Keyplate usually printed in dark color for detail, the second plate printed in light flat tints. A two-color halftone reproduction generated from a one-color photo.

To raise in relief a design or letters already printed on card stock or heavy paper by an un-inked block or die. In rubber and plastic plate making the process is usually done by heat. Also, see Blind Emboss.

The form used by the printer to calculate the project for the print buyer. This form contains the basic parameters of the project including size, quantity, colors, bleeds, photos, etc.

One who computes or approximates the cost of work to be done on which quotation may be based.

Paper folding that emulates an accordion or fan, the folds being alternating and parallel.

The surface quality of the paper.

Markings at top edges that show where folds should occur.

The machine used to fold signatures down into sections.

The characters make up a complete typeface and size.

Folder with printing on one side so that when folded once in e

The bundling of two or more different printing projects on the same sheet of paper. This generally saves time and cost on projects that have low quantities and require the same paper specifications.

Assembling sheets of paper and signatures into their proper sequence; collating.

An image that appears as a lighter reversed image on a subsequent page or sheet due to offsetting of ink from previous image areas. In someway during the drying process, the paper has not received the proper air space between the sheets or has not been allowed enough drying time to properly dry the ink before handling. Handling of wet ink can also create a smudging or smearing effect on adjacent sheets that are handled before they are dry.

An area of the image where halftone dots range continuously from one density to another.

The direction of fibers in a sheet of paper governing paper properties such as increased size changes with relative humidity, across the grain, and better folding properties along the grain.

The grippers of the printing press move the paper through the press by holding onto the leading edge of the sheet; this edge is the gripper edge. No printed ink can be printed in this leading-edge as it goes through the press. See also Press Image Area.

Tone graduated image composed of varying sized dots or lines, with equidistant centers.

Imperfections in presswork due to dirt on press, trapping errors, etc. Generally, appear as small white hollow circles on the finished piece.

The lightest tones of a photo, printed halftone, or illustration. In the finished halftone, these highlights are represented by the finest dots.

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

Inside back cover.

Inside front cover.

High resolution, large format device for producing the film from electronically generated page layouts. More modern Image Setters output the layouts directly onto a plate, thus skipping the film stage. This means better quality plates and end product.

Arrangement of pages so that they print correctly on a press sheet, and the pages are in proper order when the sheets are folded. This is done in-house at the printer using the specific software for their specific process of manufacturing. See also Printer Spreads, Reader Spreads, and Individual Pages.

The product resulting from one cycle of the printing machine.

Markings are pre-printed on mailing envelopes to replace the stamp. Generally, this mark is a square approximately 1-inch square and referencing a permit number assigned to the mail house that will handle the mailing.

Extra printed pages either inserted loosely or stitched into printed pieces. Sometimes this can be things like a poster in the center of a magazine or an order form with an envelope.

A number assigned to a printing project used for record-keeping and job tracking at the printer. Also used to retrieve old jobs for exact reorders and alterations. This number is useful for referencing a new job to an old job for either size or paper etc.

To vibrate or rearrange a loose stack of finished pages so that they are tightly aligned for final trimming or binding.

This can reference either manually airing and collecting paper into an orderly stack of lined up paper or a vibrating, sloping platform that evens up the edges of stacks of paper.

A rendition that shows the placement of all the elements, roughs, thumbnails, etc., of the final printed piece before it goes to print. Also, reference Native File.

Printing that utilizes inked raised surfaces to create the image.

An alternate term for grain direction.

Generally referred to as the material used during the process of adjusting final plate location on the press. This material is then used to set up the next machines in the job process.

White space around the edge of the page or in-between elements.

To write up instructions, as on a dummy or proof.

A coated paper finish that goes through minimal calendaring. Reference, calendaring.

A term used to describe finished artwork that is camera ready for reproduction, including all types, photos, illustrations, etc.

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

A term used to describe spotty or uneven ink absorption.

A term to describe papers that have a color similar to that of wood; also called cream, off-white, or ivory.

The film contains the same images as the original print, except that all colors and shades are reversed. Reference, positive.

Outside front cover.

The most commonly used printing method, whereby the printed material does not receive the ink directly from the printing plate but from an intermediary cylinder called a blanket which receives the ink from the plate and transfers it to the paper.

A term for uncoated book paper.

Quality of papers defines its opaqueness or ability to prevent two-sided printing from showing through.

The ink that completely covers any ink under itself.

Surplus of copies printed.

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

Any printing that is done in an area that has already been printed.

The type that is set in excess of the allotted space.

Pixels per inch. Usually used to reference images on the screen. Once they are reproduced on press using dots the term changes to dots per inch. See also DPI.

One side of a leaf.

A sheet that is larger than the cut stock of the same paper. Used in sheet-fed applications and can range in size from 8.5" x 11" up to 28" x 40".

Markings usually dotted lines at edges showing where perforations should occur.

The binding process where the backs of sections are cut off, roughened and glued together, and rung in a cover. The cover wraps around the pages to form a square-edged spine on the finished book.

Printing both sides of the paper (or other material) on the same pass through the printing machine.

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

An occurrence in printing whereby the tack of ink pulls fibers or coating off the paper surface, leaving spots on the printed surface.

Failure of printed ink to form a completely continuous film, visible in the form of small holes in the printed areas.

Reproduction of type or cuts in metal, plastic, rubber, or other material, to form a plate bearing a relief, planographic, or intaglio printing surface.

The film contains an image with the same tonal values as the original; the opposite of a negative.

That portion of the printing plate carries the ink and prints on paper. This is limited by the guides and grippers on an individual press. Each machine is different. Also, see Gripper Edge.

Actual press sheet to show the image, tone values, and colors as well as imposition of frame or press-plate.

Printing inks, usually in sets of four colors. The most frequent combination is yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, which are printed, one over another in that order, to obtain a colored print with the desired hues, whites, blacks, and grays.

A finished project used for correction and to check the accuracy of layout, type matter, tone, and color reproduction. See also, Press Proof and Digital Proof.

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

Any crossmarks or other symbols used on layout to assure proper registration.

A term that denotes folds that are 90 degrees to each other.

A term given to copy that accommodates the lines of a picture or other image or copy.

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

A smooth delicately embossed finished paper with sheen.

The enlargement or reduction of an image or copy to fit a specific area.

Impressions or cuts in flat material to facilitate bending or tearing.

A cover made out of the same paper stock as the internal sheets.

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

A problem that occurs when the printing on one side of a sheet is seen from the other side.

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

A term to describe the process of cutting printed sheets by the cutting wheels of a printing press.

The back edge of a book.

A binding whereby a wire or plastic is spiraled through holes punched along the binding side.

Referencing a specific ink color to be used on an entire job or as an additional color. Referencing a Pantone number in which to keep the ink standard.

A process of generating multiples by taking an image and stepping it according to a predetermined layout.

A term for unprinted paper or other material kept on hand to be printed. Common size or weight material kept in-house. Also known as house stock.

A dense, thick, strong paper stock.

A high-quality printing paper used as a lighter alternative to heavier cover paper. Easier to fold and bind.

A printing process whereby slow drying ink is applied to paper and while the ink is still wet, it is lightly dusted with a resinous powder. The paper then passes through a heat chamber where the powder melts and fuses with the ink to produce a raised surface.

Inks that do not block out the colored inks that they print over, but instead blend with them to create intermediate colors.

The process of slightly overprinting inks to decrease the possibility of white showing between the colors of a piece. In most cases, the small overlap is not noticeable with the naked eye.

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

Clear shiny ink used to add gloss or dullness to printed pieces.

An abbreviation for work and back. Reference, sheetwise.

An abbreviation for work and turn. A process in which to save a set of plates and work time on press. Must have an equal number per sheet to achieve this style of printing.

The procedure of cleaning a particular ink from all of the printing elements (rollers, plate, ink fountain, etc.) of a press.

A translucent logo is embossed during the papermaking process while the paper slurry is on the dandy roll.