Glossary of Terms
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
accordion fold
A series of parallel folds in which the paper is ‘pleated’ by making each fold in the opposite direction.
author alteration
Change in copy or specifications made by the client after production has begun.
B
bitmap fonts
The first of three categories of fonts to be developed. They were created for the dot-matrix printers and are defined by a grid. Bitmap fonts evolved into what is now known as screen fonts.
bitmapped image
A digital image that is made up of a collection of pixels rather than shapes. Enlarging a bitmapped image causes the individual squares to become more clearly visible, yielding “jaggies.”
bleed
Inked area that runs off the trimmed edge of the finished sheet. Bleeds usually increase the amount of paper needed as well as production costs.
C
clip art
Pre-made, ‘off-the-rack’ illustrations/headlines/graphics.
coated stock
Paper that has been given a special coating in the production process. It is available in gloss and matte (sometimes referred to as silk or velvet) finishes.
coil binding
A durable plastic coil that is inserted into holes punched along the binding edge of book pages. It is ideal for books that must lie open flat.
color separations
A printout of every color you have specified in your document.
crop
Trimming or masking of photos/graphics/illustrations. Cropping may include changes in size.
crop marks
On a mechanical/paste-up, indicates where the paper will be cut.
crossover
Image that continues from one page of a publication across the gutter or spine to the facing page.
D
digital color printing
digital printing
Reproduction of digital images on a physical surface, such as common or photographic paper, film, cloth, plastic, etc. Every impression made onto the paper can be different. The ink or toner does not absorb into the paper and generally requires less waste in terms of chemicals used and paper wasted in set up. It is excellent for small print runs.
dots per inch
In halftone screens, a measurement of resolution or detail. Refers to the number of dots in a linear inch of screen material. Sometimes called lines per inch. Lowest in common use. 65. Highest. 300. Common. 85, 100, 133. Also, in computers and digital output devices, a measurement of resolution or detail. Refers to the number of dots rendered in a square inch of material such as film or resin-coated paper. Lowest in common use: 72; Highest: 5080; Common: 300, 600, 1270, 2540.
dummy
Facsimile of artwork or finished piece used in planning or indicating production. Not necessarily to size. Types of dummies include: pagination dummy, folding dummy, color call-out dummy or combination.
E
eps (encapsulated postscript)
A graphic file format that allows PostScript data to be stored and edited.
F
finish size
Size of printed product when production is complete.
flood
To cover a sheet with ink or varnish.
flush left
Block of type aligned to the left margin and ragged on the right margin.
flush right
Block of type aligned to the right margin and ragged on the left margin.
fold marks
Indicates on a mechanical/paste-up where the sheet is to fold.
font
A specific typestyle in a type family (sometimes refers to the entire type family). For example, ‘Berkeley’ is the name of a type family while the fonts in the family are named thus: Berkeley Book, Berkeley Book Italic, Berkeley Medium, Berkeley Medium Italic, Berkeley Bold, Berkeley Bold Italic, etc.
for position only (fpo)
Facsimile of artwork/graphic/photo indicating size/position of image for stripping.
FTP
Short for File Transfer Protocol, the protocol for exchanging files over the Internet.
G
gang run
Two or more printing jobs run simultaneously on the same press. After printing, the sheets are cut into the separate jobs.
GBC binding
A plastic spiral comb used in binding books whose pages are punched with rectangular holes along the binding edge.
gripper edge
Edge of the sheet that goes through the printing press first. Usually a non-image area 3/8” wide.
H
halftone
Photographic process that converts a continuous-tone photograph to line art (black & white, no grays, solid dots of varying sizes).
hard copy
Any output from a machine that is readable copy on paper. Examples are typewriter copy and computer printouts.
I
imposition
The arrangement of pages for printing of a large sheet in such a way that they appear in order when the sheet is folded or trimmed.
J
justified
Column or block of type aligned equally to both left and right margins.
K
keyline
A solid outline around the edge of a photograph indicating a flood or other large bleed.
knock-out
To cover selected copy or graphics so it will not appear on a negative or plate. The opposite of overprint.
L
lines per inch
A measurement of video or digital output resolution.
logo
See mark.
logotype
Typography used to set a visual identity for an organization, club, etc. Also known as a wordmark.
M
mark
Graphic symbol of an organization, club, etc. Usually an illustration or specialized typography.
O
offset
The printing process that uses an intermediary surface called a blanket to transfer the image from the plate to the sheet.
outline or silhouette halftone
Halftone in which the background has been removed to isolate or silhouette an image.
overprint
To print one ink over another.
P
perfect binding
To bind sheets by trimming at the spine and gluing them to a paper cover.
perfecting press
A type of press that simultaneously prints both sides of the paper as it passes through two cylinders.
pms
Pantone Matching System. A system for color selection, mixing and matching.
print font
Contains the information that is sent to the laser printer/imagesetter and is used to correctly render each character.
process color
Color separations made using standard inks of cyan (blue), magenta (red), yellow, black.
proof
Digital laser, press, Hi-Res Color, Press Sheet (press check) or other facsimile of publication made from camera-ready originals or digital files to reveal errors or flaws, predict results, and record how a printing job is to appear. Proofs can focus on one or more aspects of a job and may not be a reflection of the actual completed job. When examining ‘technical’ proofs, great care should be taken.
proofread
To examine copy or a proof for errors in writing or composition.
R
registration
To position printing in proper relation to edges of paper and other printing on the same sheet. Such printing is said to be in register.
registration marks
Cross-hair lines on mechanicals/paste-ups and negatives that are used as guides by strippers and printers.
resolution
In computer graphics, an expression of ‘dots per inch’ (square inch). Standard resolutions include 72, 144, 300, 600, 1270, 2540, etc.
RIP
Raster image processing is the process and the means of turning vector digital information such as a PostScript file into a high-resolution raster image.
S
saddle stitch
Binding by stapling sheets together where they fold at the spine.
screen font
Contains pixel information that computers use to display the font on the screen.
self cover
Using the same paper for the cover and the inside pages.
separate cover
Using a different paper for the cover than is used for the inside pages.
show through
Printing on one side of the paper that can be seen on the other side.
shrink wrap
A material made of polymer plastic film. When heat is applied to this material, it shrinks tightly over whatever it is covering.
soft proofing
A means of reviewing on your computer monitor what your print will look like when it is on paper. It is based on a printer profile provided by your service provider
spot color/spot varnish
Isolated areas of ink or varnish applied to paper. Usually denotes simple registration.
spread
Photographic process used to fatten an image so that inking areas overlap slightly. Also, two facing pages in a brochure.
T
tape binding
A fabric-like adhesive tape applied with heat. It offers a professional appearance and eliminates the time and cost of other types of binding that requires the punching or drilling of the sheets to be bound.
trapping
Utilized in color printing to prevent visible gaps from appearing between butting colors. Usually involves expanding the lighter of the two colors to overlap into the darker color.
trim marks
Marks indicating where to trim. Also called crop marks, or cut marks.
true type fonts
One of three digital font categories, the others being Bitmap and Postscript Type 1. They are scalable fonts, but unlike Type 1 fonts they rely on quadratic curves for their definition. They do not reliably print to an imagesetter.
type 1 fonts
One of three digital font categories. Developed by Adobe Systems, they are scalable outline fonts that are defined using Postscript’s Bézier curves and work best with imagesetters. Type 1 fonts consists of two parts: the screen font and the printer font. Both parts are necessary for output to a printing or imaging device.
typography
Refers to a set or group of fonts chosen for a specific design purpose.
V
variable data printing
A form of on-demand printing in which elements such as text, graphics, and images may be changed from tone printed piece to the next without stopping or slowing down the printing process, using information from a database or external file.
vector graphics
Defined by points and curves rather than by pixels. They are scalable and therefore are not resolution dependent.
W
window
Block of masking material on a mechanical that shows position of a photograph or other visual element that will be stripped in during negative assembly. Also, an area cut out of masking material. Also, a clear area in a negative.
wire-o binding
Trade name for a method of mechanical binding using loops of wire.
work and tumble
Similar process as work and turn except after the first side is printed the sheet is turned head over heels, creating a new gripper edge and is printed on the second side.
work and turn
Sheet-fed printing procedure where the front and back images share a single plate. The sheet is printed on one side and then turned right over left and printed again with the same image. The gripper edge remains the same.
