A

Antique Paper

Roughest finish offered on offset paper.

Aqueous Coating

A water based coating applied like ink by a printing press, to protect and enhance the printing underneath.

 

B

Bind

The joining of leafs or signatures together with wire, glue or other means.

Bindery

A department within a printing company responsible for collating, folding and trimming printing projects.

Bleed

Printing that extends beyond the edge of the finished size of a sheet or page.

Blind Folio

A page number not printed on the page.

Blind Image

Image embossed, debossed or stamped, but not printed with ink or foil.

 

C

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, hard bind and hard cover.

Cast-coated Paper

High gloss, coated paper made by pressing the paper against a polished, hot, metal drum whilst the coating is still wet.

Catalogue Paper

Coated paper basis weight from 50 to 75gsm commonly used for catalogues and magazines.

Choke

A trapping technique where one colour area is made slightly smaller. Used in conjunction with another trapping technique called "spread," where another area of colour is made slightly larger to allow for mis-registration on press.

CMYK

Abbreviation for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key (black), the four process colours.

Coated Paper

Paper with a coating of clay and other substances that improves reflectivity and ink holdout. Mills produce coated paper in the four major categories cast, gloss, dull and matte.

Collate

To organize printed matter in a specific order as requested.

Colour Cast

Unwanted colour, affecting an entire image or portion of an image.

Colour Control Bar

Strip of small blocks of colour on a proof or press sheet to help evaluate features such as density and dot gain. Also called colour bar, colour guide and standard offset colour bar.

Colour Gamut

The entire range of hues possible to reproduce using a specific device, such as a computer screen, or system, such as four-colour process printing or hexachrome.

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 plastic bind.

Creep

Where the middle pages of a folded signature extend slightly beyond the outside pages.

Crop Marks

Lines near the edges of an image indicating portions to be reproduced. Also called cut marks and tick marks.

Crossover

Copy or an image that continues from one page of a book or magazine across the gutter to the opposite page. Also called bridge, gutter bleed and gutter jump.

Cure

To dry inks, varnishes or other coatings after printing to ensure good adhesion and prevent setoff.

Cutting Die

Usually a custom ordered item to trim specific and unusual sized printing projects.

 

D

Data Compression

Technique of reducing the amount of storage required to hold a digital file to reduce the disk space the file requires and allow it to be processed or transmitted more quickly.

Deboss

To press an image into paper so it lies below the surface.

Die

Device for cutting, scoring, stamping, embossing and debossing.

Die Cut

To cut irregular shapes in paper or board using a die.

Digital Proofing

Page proofs produced electronically, transferred onto paper via laser or ink-jet.

Digital Dot

Dot created by a computer and printed out by a laser printer or imagesetter. Digital dots are uniform in size, as compared to halftone dots that vary in size made by a laser, ink jet printer or other computer-controlled device.

 

E

Emboss

To press an image into paper so it lies above the surface. Also called cameo and tool.

 

F

Fifth Colour

Ink colour used in addition to the four needed by four-colour process.

Fine Papers

Papers made specifically for writing or commercial printing, as compared to coarse papers and industrial papers.

Finished Size

Size of product after production is completed, as compared to flat size. Also called trimmed size.

Flexography

Method of printing on a web press using rubber or plastic plates with raised images. Abbreviated flexo.

Flush Cover

Cover trimmed to the same size as inside pages, as compared to overhang cover. Also called cut flush.

Flyleaf

Leaf, at the front and back of a casebound book that is the one side of the end paper not glued to the case.

Foil Emboss

To foil stamp and emboss an image. Also called heat stamp.

Foil Blocking

Method of printing that releases foil from its backing when stamped with a heated die.

Folder

A bindery machine dedicated to folding printed matter.

Fold Marks

With printed materials, markings indicating where a fold is to occur, usually located at the top edges.

Foldout

Gatefold sheet bound into a publication, often used for a map or chart. Also called gatefold and pullout.

Folio

The actual page number in a publication.

Format

Size, style, shape, layout or organisation of a layout or printed product.

Four-color Process Printing

Technique of printing that uses cyan, magenta, yellow and black to simulate full-colour images. Also called colour process printing, full colour printing and process printing.

Full-range Halftone

Halftone ranging from 0% coverage for highlights to 100% coverage for shadows.

 

G

Gloss

The shininess or reflective properties of paper, ink, laminate, UV coating or varnish.

Gloss Ink

Inks containing an extra quantity of varnish which, gives a glossy appearance when dry.

Graduated Screen Tint

Screen tint that changes densities gradually and smoothly, not in distinct steps. Also called vignette.

Grain Direction

Predominant direction in which fibres in paper become aligned during manufacturing. Also called machine direction.

Grain Long Paper

Paper whose fibres run parallel to the long dimension of the sheet. Also called long grain paper and narrow web paper.

Grain Short Paper

Paper whose fibres run parallel to the short dimension of the sheet. Also called short grain paper and wide web paper.

Gravure

Method of printing using metal cylinders etched with millions of tiny wells that hold ink.

Grind Edge

Alternate term for binding edge when referring to perfect bound products.

Grind off

Approximately 3 mm of the spine that is ground off gathered signatures before perfect binding.

Gripper Edge

Edge of a sheet held by grippers on a sheetfed press, thus going first through the press. Also called feeding edge and leading edge.

 

H

Heat-set Web

Web press equipped with an oven to dry ink, thus able to print coated paper.

Hickey

Spot or imperfection in printing, most visible in areas of heavy ink coverage, caused by dirt on the plate or blanket.

Hinged Cover

Perfect bound cover scored 3mm from the spine so it folds at the hinge, instead of along the edge of the spine.

Hue

A specific colour such as yellow or green.

 

I

Imposition

Arrangement of pages so they will appear in proper sequence after press sheets are folded and bound.

Impression

(1) Referring to an ink colour, one impression equals one press sheet passing once through a printing unit. (2) Referring to speed of a press, one impression equals one press sheet passing once through the press.

Impression Cylinder

Cylinder, on a press, that pushes paper against the plate or blanket, thus forming the image. Also called impression roller.

Imprint

To print new copy on a previously printed sheet, such as imprinting an employee's name on business cards.

Ink Jet Printing

Method of printing by spraying droplets of ink through computer-controlled nozzles.

Inserts

Within a publication, an additional item positioned loose into the publication (not bound in).

Interleaves

Printed pages loosely inserted in a publication.

 

J

 

K

Kiss Die Cut

To die cut the top layer, but not the backing layer of a sheet.

 

L

Laminate

A thin transparent plastic sheet (coating) applied to usually a thick stock (covers, post cards, etc.) providing protection against liquid and heavy use. It usually accents existing colour, providing a glossy effect.

Landscape

Of a sheet, where the width is greater than the height. (Opposite of portrait).

Laser Ink

Ink that will not fade or blister as the paper on which it is printed is used in a laser printer.

Leaf

One sheet of paper in a publication. Each side of a leaf is one page.

Linen Finish

Embossed finish on text paper that simulates the pattern of linen cloth.

Lithography

Method of printing using plates whose image areas attract ink and whose non-image areas repel ink. Non-image areas may be coated with water to repel the oily ink or may have a surface, such as silicon, that repels ink.

Loose-leaf binding

Binding method allowing insertion and removal of pages in a publication.

 

M

Magenta

One of the four process colours.

Makeready

(1) All activities required to prepare a press or other machine to function for a specific printing or bindery job, as compared to production run. Also called setup. (2) Paper used in the makeready process at any stage in production. Makeready paper is part of waste.

Making Order

Order for paper that a mill makes to the customer's specifications, as compared to a stock order.

Male Die

Die that applies pressure during embossing or debossing.

Matte Finish

Flat (not glossy) finish on coated printing paper.

Metallic Ink

Ink containing powdered metal or pigments that simulate metal.

Metallic Paper

Paper coated with a thin film of plastic or pigment whose colour and gloss simulate metal.

Midtones

In a photograph or illustration, tones created by dots between 30 percent and 70 percent of coverage, as compared to highlights and shadows.

Moiré

Undesirable pattern resulting when halftones and screen tints are made with improperly aligned screens, or when a pattern in a photo, such as a plaid, interfaces with a halftone dot pattern.

 

N

Nested

Signatures assembled inside one another in the proper sequence for binding, as compared to gathered.

News Print

Paper used in printing newspapers. Considered low quality and has a short shelf life.

Non-impact Printing

Printing using lasers, ions, ink jets or heat to transfer images to paper.

 

O

Offset Printing

Printing technique that transfers ink from a plate, to a blanket, to paper instead of directly from plate to paper.

Opacity

(1) Characteristic of paper or other substrate that prevents printing on one side from showing through the other side. (2) Characteristic of ink that prevents the substrate from showing through.

Overprint

To print one image over a previously printed image, such as printing type over a screen tint.

 

P

Perfect Bind

To bind sheets that have been ground at the spine that are then held to the cover by glue. Also called adhesive bind, cut-back bind, glue bind, paper bind, patent bind, perfecting bind, soft bind and soft cover.

Perforating

Taking place on a press or a binder machine, creating a line of small dotted holes for the purpose of tearing-off a part of a printed matter.

Pixel

Short for picture element, a dot made by a computer, scanner or other digital device.

Plate

Piece of paper, metal, plastic or rubber carrying an image to be reproduced using a printing press.

Portrait

Of a sheet, where the height is greater than the width. (Opposite of Landscape.)

Post Bind

To bind using a screw and post inserted through a hole in a pile of loose sheets.

Process Colour (Inks)

The colours used for four-color process printing: cyan, magenta yellow and key (black).

 

Q

 

R

Raster Image Processor

Device that translates page description commands into bitmapped information for an output device such as a laser printer or imagesetter.

Recycled Paper

New paper made entirely or in part from old paper.

Register

To align printing properly with regard to the edges of paper and other printing on the same sheet.

Register Marks

Cross-hair lines on proofs and plates that help keep printing in register.

Resolution

Sharpness of an image on film, paper, computer screen or other medium.

Run ons

Additional printed matter beyond order, in accordance with a printers terms and conditions.

 

S

Saddle Stitch

To bind by stapling sheets together where they fold at the spine, as compared to side stitch.

Satin Finish

Alternate term for dull finish on coated paper.

Score

To compress paper along a straight line so it folds more easily and accurately. Also called crease.

Screen Printing

Method of printing by using a squeegee to force ink through an assembly of mesh fabric and a stencil.

Screen Tint

Colour created by dots instead of solid ink coverage.

Selective Binding

Placing signatures or inserts in magazines or catalogues according to demographic or geographic guidelines.

Self Cover

A publication only using text stock throughout.

Self Mailer

A printed item independent of an envelope. A printed item capable of travel in the mailing arena independently.

Sheetfed Press

Press that prints sheets of paper, as compared to a web press.

Side stitch

To bind by stapling through sheets along, one edge, as compared to saddle stitch. Also called cleat stitch and side wire.

Solid

Any area of the sheet receiving 100 percent ink coverage, as compared to a screen tint.

Soy-based Inks

Inks using vegetable oils instead of petroleum products as pigment vehicles thus are kinder to the environment.

Spiral Bind

To bind using a spiral of continuous wire or plastic looped through holes.

Spot Colour or Varnish

One ink or varnish applied to portions of a sheet.

Stock Order

Order for paper that a mill or merchant sends to a printer or a warehouse. Usually only standard sizes.

Substrate

Any surface or material on which printing is done.

Supercalendered Paper

Paper calendered using alternating chrome and fibre rollers to produce a smooth, thin sheet. Abbreviated SC paper.

T

Thermography

Method of printing using colourless resin powder that takes on the colour of the underlying ink.

Trap

To print one ink over another or to print a coating, such as varnish, over an ink. The first liquid traps the second liquid.

 

U

Uncoated Paper

Paper that has not been coated with clay.

UV Coating

Liquid applied to a printed sheet, then bonded and cured with ultraviolet light.

 

V

Varnish

Liquid applied as a coating for protection and appearance.

Vignette Halftone

Halftone whose background gradually and smoothly fades away.

Virgin Paper

Paper made exclusively of pulp from trees or cotton, as compared to recycled paper.

VOC

Abbreviation for volatile organic compounds, petroleum substances used as the vehicles for many printing inks.

 

W

Wash Up

To clean ink and fountain solutions from rollers, fountains, screens, and other press components.

Web Press

Press that prints from rolls of paper, usually cutting it into sheets after printing. Also called reel-fed press. Web presses come in many sizes, the most common being mini, half, three quarter (also called 8-page) and full (also called 16-page).

Wet Trap

To print ink or varnish over wet ink, as compared to dry trap.

With the Grain

Parallel to the grain direction of the paper being used, as compared to against the grain.

Woodfree Paper

Made with chemical pulp only. Paper usually classified as calendered or supercalendered.

 

X

 

Y

 

Z

 

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