Print Online Custom Business Cards, Magnetic Promotional products & Marketing Materials

Paper made from pulp containing little or no acid so it resists deterioration from age; also called alkaline paper, archival paper, neutral pH paper, permanent paper and thesis paper.

Accordion Fold

It is a term for two or more parallel folds that result in the sheet opening like a fan; Accordion folds are used on products such as brochures and maps.

Ad Copy

Lettering imprinted on a product; usually an advertiser's name, sales message, trademark or slogan.

Advertising Speciality

A useful or interesting item of merchandise usually carrying an imprinted advertising or promotional message and given with no obligation. Another, though older, term for promotional products.

Additive Color

An additive color model involves light emitted directly from a source or illuminant of some sort. The additive reproduction process usually uses red, green and blue light to produce the other colors.

A4 Paper

A4 paper is an International / European paper size established by the ISO, the International Standards Organization; it measures 210 x 297 millimeters.

Against the Grain

At right angles to the grain direction of the paper being used, as compared to with the grain; also called across the grain and cross grain. See also Grain Direction (Folding or feeding paper at right angles to the grain direction of the paper).

Agate Line

A measure of space, usually one column wide and 1/14 of an inch deep, used especially for classified advertisements.

Airbrush

Graphic technique in which ink is applied with compressed air, similar to spray painting, to render a soft, airy effect; frequently used in retouching; an atomizer to spray paint by means of compressed air

Alley

Space between columns of type on a page

Amberlith

Another trade name for orange masking material; a yellow colored, masking film called Amberlith®, that is not light safe but easier to use for masking when not employing a photo-resist.

Alteration

Any change made by the customer after copy or artwork has been given to the service bureau, separator or printer. The change could be in copy, specifications or both; also called AA, author alteration and customer alteration.

Alignment

The arrangements of type so that the bottoms of the characters are in a straight line or the pages are precisely juxtaposed with each other

Anodized Plate

An offset printing plate having a treated surface in order to reduce wear for extended use.

Anti-offset Powder

Fine powder lightly sprayed over the printed surface of coated paper as sheets leave a press; also called dust, offset powder, powder and spray powder.

Antique Paper

Roughest finish offered on offset paper.

Anti-aliasing

The process of averaging between pixels of different colors; this results is a smoother, more blended transition between the edge of two areas rather than a distinctly jagged appearance.

Aqueous Coating

An aqueous coating is a fast-drying, water-based, protective coating which is applied while the paper stock is on the press to achieve a variety of finishes at a lower price than varnish.

Artwork

The elements that constitute a mechanical, as type, proofs, and illustrations; the production of artistic or craft objects.

Art Proof

An impression of a print taken in the printmaking process to see the current printing state

ASCII

Acronym for American Standard Code for Information Interchange, a standard code used to help interface digital equipment.

Ascender

An ascender is the portion of a letter in a Latin-derived alphabet that extends above the mean line of a font. That is, the part of the letter that is taller than the font's x-height. Ascenders, together with descenders, increase the recognizability of words.

Author's Alterations (AA's):

Author’s alterations, also referred to as change orders, are adjustments made by the Customers after the copy and artwork have been received by the printer. Alterations may occur at any stage of the printing process, and are considered an additional cost to the client usually.

Back Up

To print a sheet again on its other side and to adjust an image on one side of a sheet so that it aligns back-to-back with an image on the other side.

Backslant

Any type that tilts to the left or backward direction; opposite of italic type

Balloon

In an illustration, any line that encircles copy or dialogue

Banding

Method of packaging printed pieces using paper, rubber, or fiberglass bands

Bangtail Envelope

Promotional envelope with a perforated flap that can be removed and used as an order form; Bangtail envelopes are frequently used for film development promotion inserts in newspapers or magazines.

Bas Relief

Design that is impressed into its base material; opposite of "intaglio" which is raised

Base Art

Copy pasted up on the mounting board of a mechanical, as compared to overlay art; also called base mechanical.

Base line

The imaginary horizontal line upon which stand capitals, lower case letters, and punctuation points, etc.

Base Negative

Negative made from copy pasted to mounting board, not overlays

Basic Size

The one standard size of each grade of paper used to calculate basis weight.

Basis Weight

In the United States and Canada, the weight, in pounds, of a ream (500 sheets) of paper cut to the basic size. Also called ream weight and substance weight (sub weight). In countries using ISO paper sizes, the weight, in grams, of one square meter of paper - also called grammage and ream weight.

Benday

A method of adding a tone to a printed image by imposing a transparent sheet of dots or other patterns on the image at some stage of a photographic reproduction process

Bible Paper

A thin but strong paper (opaque), used for bibles and books

Bind

Usually in the book arena, but not exclusively, the joining of leafs or signatures together with either wire, glue or other means.

Binder

Usually a department within a printing company responsible for collating, folding and trimming various printing projects

Binder's Board

Very stiff paper board used to make covers of case bound books.

Bindery

The facility that binds together books, magazines, or pamphlets; "Binding" means wiring with staples; sewing or plasticizing depending on thickness and appearance desired.

Bind-In

A promotional piece that includes a business reply card or order form. Typically on postcard stock, (usually with a caliper of .007"), this piece is bound into a magazine with the response portion perforated for easy removal.

Black Printer

The plate during the prepress printing process that is used with the cyan, magenta and yellow printers to enhance the contrast and to emphasize the neutral tones and detail in the final reproduction shadow areas

Blank Dummy

A full-size, mock-up model of a point-of-purchase display that has no printing or art on it

Blank

Category of paperboard ranging in thickness from 15 to 48 points

Blanket Cylinder

Cylinder of a press on which the blanket is mounted.

Blanket

Rubber-coated pad, mounted on a cylinder of an offset press that receives the inked image from the plate and transfers it to the surface to be printed.

Bleed Advertisement

A printed advertisement that fills the entire page to its edges without margin

Bleed

Any element that extends up to or past the edge of a printed page

Blind Emboss

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

Blind Folio

A page number not printed on the page. (In the book arena, a blank page traditionally does not print a page number.)

Blind Image

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

Blocking

Sticking together of printed sheets causing damage when the surfaces are separated

Blow-Up

An enlargement, usually used with graphic images or photographs

Blow-In

A promotional piece inserted between the pages of a magazine and held in place by the pressure of the pages. Because this piece is not bound in the book, it gets the reader's immediate attention by falling out as soon as the publication is opened.

Blueline

A print made on light-sensitive paper and used as a proof for checking the position of stripped-up negatives or positives and copy prior to plate-making.

Blurb

A brief advertisement or announcement, esp. a laudatory one

Board Paper

General term for paper over 110# index, 80# cover or 200 gsm that is commonly used for products such as file folders, displays and post cards; also called paperboard.

Body Copy

The actual text that is distinguished from headlines, captions and subheads

Body

The shank of a type, supporting the face; portions of a letter character other than the ascenders and descenders

Boiler Plate

Syndicated or ready-to-print copy, used esp. by weekly newspapers

Boldface

Type or print that has thick, heavy lines, used for emphasis, headings, etc.

Bond Paper

A superior grade of strong white paper made wholly or in part from rag pulp; originally made for printing documents

Bonded Premium

Point-of-purchase premium attached to a product by a bond of plastic, paper or tape

Book Block

Folded signatures gathered, sewn and trimmed, but not yet covered.

Book Paper

A general term to describe a type of paper suitable for printing, (except newsprint and Bristol), especially offset printing, book paper can have many different finishes and may be coated or uncoated. Premium book paper is also called Bible grade.

Bookbinder

Alternate term for Trade bindery

Border

An ornamental strip or design around the edge of a printed page, a drawing, etc.

Bounce

A repeating registration problem in the printing stage of Production; customer unhappy with the results of a printing project and refuses to accept the project

Bowe Cutter

Receives continuous forms in either roll or boxed form and cuts them into single forms for processing in the folder. This cutter has the ability to communicate with the Laser Printer to detect web movement. The Bowe Cutter can accommodate web widths up to 18 inches.

Break for Color

Printing process that involves breaking an image into its component primary colors

Bristol Paper

Bristol paper is a heavyweight paper with a bulk thickness of .006" or higher. Bristol paper may be made by layering or laminating papers together to the desired thickness. The basic size is 22.5" x 28.5". The name comes because this type of paper, originally made from rags, came from Bristol, England. Also Known As: Bristol board

Broadside

A broadside is a large sheet of paper, generally printed on one side and folded into a smaller size, often used as a direct-mail piece or for door-to-door distribution. Traditionally, printed works were printed on broadside sheets, then folded and cut to produce books of a smaller page size than the original sheet.

Broken Carton

Less than one full carton of paper

Bronzing

To apply a fine metallic powder to (the ink of a printed surface) in order to create a glossy effect

Bug

A label printed on certain matter to indicate that it was produced by a union shop.

Build a Color

To overlap two or more screen tints to create a new color. Such an overlap is called a build, color build, stacked screen build or tint build.

Bulk Pack

To pack printed pieces in boxes without prior wrapping in bundles

Bulk

Bullet

A heavy dot for marking paragraphs or otherwise calling attention to or itemizing particular sections of text, esp. in display advertising

Burn in

To darken part of (a photograph print) by exposing unmasked areas.

Burst Perfect Bind

A binding technique that entails nicking the backfold in short length during the folding process, which allows glue to reach each individual leaf and create a strong bond

Burster

Paper bursters, also known as form bursters, effectively separate perforated forms, gift certificates, or coupons. Bursters also cut the tractor-feed edges off of computer form paper and checks.

Butt Fit

Printed colors that overlap one row of dots so they appear to butt

Butt Register

Register where ink colors meet precisely without overlapping or allowing space between, as compared to lap register. Also called butt fit and kiss register.

C print

C-print or Kodak C-print is a common brand name for a "color coupler print" or "digital color coupler print" and refers specifically to a photographic print made from a color negative using the same extremely light-sensitive silver salts as found in silver gelatin prints, except the silver salts 'couple' with colored dyes to form high-resolution color images rather than black and white ones.

C1S and C2S

C/1S and C/2S are used to indicate which side of a particular paper has a coating on it. C/1S indicates "coated on one side." C/2S indicates "coated on two sides."

Calender

A machine in which paper or cloth is made smooth and glossy by being pressed through rollers.

Caliper

(1) 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). (2) Device on a sheetfed press that detects double sheets.

Camera Service

Business using a process camera to make PMTS, halftone negatives, printing plates, etc

Camera-Ready Art

Any artwork or printed material with very high black and white contrast that needs no further touch-up, design or re-arranging before use as ad copy. It must be clean and ready to be photographed by the plate-maker. Computer artwork with clean laser prints can often be used as camera-ready art

Camera-ready Copy

Camera-ready copy refers to the final proofs sent to the printer

Caps

To write or print in capital letters, or make an initial letter a capital; capitalize.

Carbonless Paper

Carbonless copy paper or NCR paper is an alternative to carbon paper, used to make a copy of an original, handwritten document without the use of any electronics.

Cardboard

A material similar to thick, stiff paper that is made of pressed paper pulp or pasted sheets of paper; it is used for making cartons and signs

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 sheets, depending on the size of sheets and their basis weight.

Case Bind

To bind signatures using glue to a binder board case covered with fabric, plastic or leather; also known as cloth bind, edition bind, hard bind and hard cover.

Case

A tray of wood, metal, or plastic, divided into compartments for holding types for the use of a compositor and usually arranged in a set of two, the upper (upper case) for capital letters and often auxiliary types, the lower (lower case) for small letters and often auxiliary types, now generally replaced by the California job case.

Casting

To determine the quantity of type or space that a given amount of text will occupy when set.

Catalog Paper

Catalog paper is a strong but light weight grade of paper which may be coated or uncoated. Its basic size is 24" x 36" and has a basis weight of 9 to 28 lbs.

Center Marks

Lines on a mechanical, negative, plate, or press sheet indicating the center of a layout.

Center Spread

The two facing pages in the center of a magazine or newspaper

CEPS

Color Electronic Prepress Systems (CEPS) are used for separate functions in most prepress environments; stripping, color correction, and retouching.

CHAD

Scraps or bits of paper, such as the perforated edges of paper for tractor feed printers or the tiny rectangles punched out from data cards.

Chain Dot

1) Alternate term for elliptical dot, so called because midtone dots touch at two points, so look like links in a chain. (2) Generic term for any midtone dots whose corners touch.

Chain Lines

The thick lines are referred to as the "chain line", AND are visible lengthways in a whole sheet of paper (opposite: wire lines alias thin lines)

Chalking

Deterioration of a printed image caused by ink that absorbs into paper too fast or has long exposure to sun, and wind making printed images look dusty; also called crocking.

Character

A style of writing or printing

Check Copy

(1) Production copy of a publication verified by the customer as printed finished and bound correctly. (2) One set of gathered book signatures approved by the customer as ready for binding.

Cheshire Labels

Mailing label that has been computer printed on a page in groups and then cut by a Cheshire machine into individual labels. Cheshire labels are applied with glue to the mailing piece. They are approximately one half the costs of pressure-sensitive labels.

Chipboard

A type of paperboard generally made from reclaimed paper stock, the term generally used in the US (‘Particle board’ is used in the UK)

Choke/Choking

A technique in printing for adjusting colors in the production of color separations

Chop-And-Nest

A technique for manufacturing two or more components of a direct mail package by folding and cutting a single sheet of paper

Chrome

Alternate term for Transparency

Clean-Up (or Wash Up) Charge

Factory charge added for labor costs involved in cleaning the printing press after using a nonstandard ink color

Cleat Bind

Alternate term for Side stitch

Clip Art

Ready-made pieces of printed or computerized graphic art, such as illustrations, borders, and backgrounds that can be electronically copied and used to decorate a document

Cloisart

Hot-stamp procedure in which the desired logo/copy is foil hot-stamped on a solid brass or metal base, then covered with epoxy dome.

Close Up

A mark used to indicate closing space between characters or words; usually used in proofing stages.

CMYK

A color model that describes each color in terms of the quantity of each secondary color (cyan, magenta, yellow), and "key" (black) it contains. The CMYK system is used for printing. For mixing of pigments, it is better to use the secondary colors, since they mix subtractively instead of additively. The secondary colors of light are cyan, magenta and yellow, which correspond to the primary colors of pigment (blue, red and yellow).

Coarse Screen

Type of screen used in a photoengraving printing process that requires that the reproduced copy (artwork) have contrast in the form of light, medium, and dark tonal qualities (called halftone copy).

Coated Dull Paper

Emboss-finished coated paper that has also gone through a super calendering process; exhibits low gloss and high ink holdout. Used for jobs that requires high-quality color reproduction with minimal paper gloss.

Coated Gloss Paper

Coated glossy and semi-gloss papers are popular for proofing, graphic design, marketing materials, greeting and note cards, business printing, and much more.

Coated Matte Paper

Coated Matte Paper is a versatile media economically priced for short-term indoor applications. It is light-weight, easy to fold, and boasts an ink-receiving coating that delivers truly brilliant colors. Coated Matte 90 g offers the same finish features of the 140 g, but at an even lighter, easy-to-work weight.

Coated Paper

Paper with clay or other coating applied to one or both sides is coated paper. The coating can be dull, gloss, matte, or other finishes. Coated paper generally produces sharper, brighter images and has better reflectivity than uncoated paper

Coated Stock

Paper that has been treated to smooth over the porous holes in natural paper fiber; this produces less color bleeding in inkjet printer printouts. Coated stock paper is more expensive than plain paper.

Cold Color

In printing, a color that has bluish tones

Cold Type

Typesetting, such as photocomposition, done without the casting of metal

Collate

To examine (gathered sheets) in order to arrange them in proper sequence before binding

Collateral Materials

Advertising materials that are not transmitted to consumers via advertising media; collateral materials would include catalogs, shelf cards, posters, specification sheets and trade information materials

Collating Marks

Black step-marks printed on the back of folded sheets, to facilitate collating and checking of the sequence of book signatures.

Collotype

Collotype is a dichromate-based photographic process developed for large volume mechanical printing before the existence of cheaper offset lithography. It can produce results difficult to distinguish from metal-based photographic prints because of its microscopically fine reticulations which comprise the image.

Colophon

A colophon is “an inscription placed at the end of a book or manuscript usually with facts relative to its production.”

Color Balance

In photography and image processing, color balance (sometimes gray balance, neutral balance, or white balance) refers to the adjustment of the relative amounts of red, green, and blue primary colors in an image such that neutral colors are reproduced correctly. Color balance changes the overall mixture of colors in an image and is used for generalized color correction.

Color Bar

Strip of colors printed near the edge of a press sheet to help evaluate ink density.

Color Blanks

Press sheets printed with photos or illustrations, but without type; also called shells.

Color Break

In multicolor printing, the point or line at which one ink color stops and another begins.

Color Cast

The predominance of a particular color which affects the whole image in the original, proof or reproduction; a color cast is due to an excess of a color pigment or of light. It is most obvious in gray and near gray areas.

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; also called color bar, color guide and standard offset color bar.

Color Correct

To retouch or enhance color separation negatives.

Color Curves

Complete curve control over every primary as well as white. Unlike other programs, there are no limits. Each curve can be independently set with up to 256 points and solved as a curve or straight line.

Color Gamut

The gamut is the set of possible colors within a color system. No one system can reproduce all possible colors in the spectrum.

Color Key Proof

An overlay proof composed of an individual acetate sheet for each color (see Progressive Proof)

Color Key

A Color Key is an overlay proof created from the film separations that places each ink color on a separate clear acetate sheet then assembles them together over white paper.

Color Matching System

System of numbered ink swatches that facilitates communication about color

Color Model

A color model is an abstract mathematical model describing the way colors can be represented as tuples of numbers, typically as three or four values or color components.

Color Process

Alternate term for 4-color process printing

Color Proof

A first or early print of a finished color advertisement combining impressions from each of the separate progressive color plate

Color Separating

The processes of separating the primary color components (CMYK) for printing.

Color Sequence

Order in which inks are printed; also called laydown sequence and rotation

Color Shift

Change in image color resulting from changes in register, ink densities or dot gain during four-color process printing.

Color Swatch

Sample of an ink color

Color Transparency

A positive color image photographically produced on transparent film or glass and viewed by transmitted light, usually by projection.

Column Inch

A measure of printed media space one column wide by one inch high

Column Width

The horizontal measure of a column

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 and GBC bind (a brand name).

Commercial Printer

Printer producing a wide range of products such as announcements, brochures, posters, booklets, stationery, business forms, books and magazines; also called job printer because each job is different

Complementary Flat(s)

The second or additional flat(s) used when making composite film or for two or more burns on one printing plate

Composite Art

Composite Art is an artistic technique used to create a drawing from individually described parts into a single image. It is intended to be a likeness or similarity of a victim's or witness's perception of a suspect or subject at the time a person was viewed. It is used by law enforcement for the identification of a wanted suspect.

Composite Film

Film made by combining images from two or more pieces of working film onto one film for making one plate.

Composite Proof

A color proof showing all of the final copy, graphics, type and color separations

Composition

The setting up of type for printing

Comprehensive Dummy

Simulation of a printed piece complete with type, graphics and colors. Also called color comprehensive and comp.

Comprehensive Layout

Also called a "comp," this is a layout for a prospective printed piece that is complete enough to order finished illustrations and photography and to set type by.

Condensed Type

A typeface that has characters that have been reduced in width but not height; the characters are more tightly spaced so you can get more characters per inch.

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.

Consignment Memo

Alternate term for photographer's Delivery memo

Contact Platemaker

Device with lights, timing mechanism and vacuum frame used to make contact prints, duplicate film, proofs and plates; also called platemaker and vacuum frame.

Contact Print

A contact print is a photographic image produced from a film, usually a negative, occasionally from a film positive. The defining characteristic of a contact print is that the photographic result is made by exposing through the film original onto a light sensitive material pressed tightly to the film.

Contact Sheet

Alternate term for Proof sheet

Continuous Tone Art

Photograph, painting or other piece of art in which black and white tones gradually merge into one another; requires halftone reproductions and screens

Contract Proof

The contract proof is usually a color proof that is looked on as a contract between the printer and client as the final proof before going to press.

Contrast

The relative difference between light and dark areas of a print or negative

Converter

Business that combines printed sheets with other materials to make boxes, displays, etc.

Copy Preparation

In typesetting, marking up manuscript and specifying type. In paste-up and printing, making mechanicals and writing instructions to ensure proper placement and handling of copy

Copy

Written material, in contrast to photographs or other elements of layout, in a large number of contexts, including magazines, advertising, and book publishing

Copyboard

Part of a process camera that holds copy in position to be photographed.

Ownership of creative work by the writer, photographer, or artist who made it

Corner Card

The imprint of the sender; return address on an outer envelope or catalog, which may include the logo and/or slogan of the firm.

Corner Marks

Lines on a mechanical, negative, plate, or press sheet showing the corners of a page or finished piece, also known as Crop Marks

Cotton Content Paper

Papers which are made from cellulose fibers derived from COTTON LINTERS, cotton or linen cuttings, and lint cotton.

Cover

Thick paper that protects a publication and advertises its title; parts of covers are often described as follows: Cover 1=outside front; Cover 2=inside front; Cover 3=inside back, Cover 4=outside back.

Cover Paper

Grade of paper made for covers and post cards.

Cover Stock

A term for paper durable enough to be used as a cover on catalogs, pamphlets, etc

Crash Printing

A printing process, such as letterpress, using hard type and heavy impressioning to create an image on the top sheet of a multiple part form, which will transfer through to the other parts. Part 1 is printed with ink and the image on the other part is transferred by the use of carbon (or, carbonless paper) between each part.

Creep

Phenomenon of middle pages of a folded signature extending slightly beyond outside pages

Cromalin Proof

A facsimile of a full-color reproduction, created chemically

Crossover

Type or art 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

Cut Charge

A factory charge for producing a cut; if the customer has a cut in the correct size, this charge often can be eliminated

Cut Score

A score that goes beyond depressing the material to actually cutting it partially through to facilitate ease of folding

Cut Sizes

Paper sizes used with office machines and small presses

Cut Stock

Paper distributor term for paper 11 x 17 or smaller

Cut

A broad term encompassing all plates associated with letterpress and hot-stamp printing

Cutoff

The circumference of the impression cylinder of a web press, therefore also the length of the sheet the press will cut from the roll of paper.

Cutting Die

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

Cutting Machine

A machine that cuts stacks of paper to desired sizes. The machine can also be used in scoring or creasing.

Cyan

A primary subtractive color for light; has a blue-green color

Dampener Fountain

Alternate term for Water fountain on a press

Dampening Solution

Alternate term for Fountain solution

Dampening

An essential part of the offset printing process whereby rollers distribute a solution to the plate that covers the non-printing area of the plate, repelling ink in those areas. Some newer presses use a waterless ink technology that does not use dampening.

Dandy Roll

A light, open cylinder of wire gauze in a papermaking machine, for smoothing wet pulp and for impressing a watermark

Deboss

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

Decal Transfer

Apparatus and method for transfer and application of an offset, heat release decal to an article surface. A thin, supported, silicone membrane is indexed through successive work positions where the membrane is heated, picks up a heated decal and brings the decal into contact with the article surface for printing.

Deckle Edge

The ragged edge of the paper as it comes from the papermaking machine is the deckle edge. Handmade paper normally has 4 deckle edges while machine-made paper has two.

Delivery Memo

Form sent by photographers and stock photo services to clients for signature to verify receipt of photos and agreement to contract terms.

Densitometer

A densitometer is a device that measures the degree of darkness (the optical density) of a photographic or semitransparent material or reflecting surface. The densitometer is basically a light source aimed at a photoelectric cell which determines the density of the sample from differences in the readings.

Density

The degree of tone, weight of darkness or color within a photo or reproduction measured by a densitometer

Depth of Field

Photographer term for relative sharpness of features in an image regardless of their distance from the camera when photographed

Descender

A descender is the portion of a letter in a Latin-derived alphabet that extends below the baseline of a font. For example, in the letter y, the descender would be the "tail," or that portion of the diagonal line which lies below the v created by the two lines converging.

Design Brief

A design brief is a comprehensive written document for a design project developed in concert by a person representing the business need for design and the designer. The document is focused on the desired results of design – not aesthetics

Desktop Publishing

Creating materials to be printed using a personal computer, as opposed to taking non-electronic documents to a commercial printing company to be prepared for printing.

Device Independent Colors

Hules identified by wavelength or by their place in systems such as developed by CIE. 'Device independent' means a color can be described and specified without regard to whether it is reproduced using ink, projected light, photographic chemistry or any other method.

Diazo

Light-sensitive coating on paper or film for making contact prints of technical drawings

Die

A mold into which molten metal, plastic or other material is forced to make a special shape, such as pen barrels or rings. Also a tool made of very hard material used to press a special shape into or onto a softer material such as coins and emblems

Die-Casting (Injection Molding)

Molten metal is injected into the cavity of a carved die. In the case where a double-sided impression is necessary, two dies are placed together, carved sides facing the inside, and the molten metal is injected between them. Fine detail is available, and thinner lines available than with die-struck products. Used in metals such as jewelry, pins and belt buckles

Die-Cutting

Process of cutting special shapes from printed sheets by pressure and with thin steel blades so that part of the sheet is excised; used to achieve visual and functional special effects in printed material. Usually done on a relatively strong, heavy paper stock, though die-cutting is sometimes done on lighter weight papers.

Die-Stamp

Steel plate engraved with desired image used to "stamp" (apply) gold or silver leaf

Die-Strike

A "first-off" proof struck from the die to determine cutting accuracy

Diffusion Transfer

Photo-processing method, exemplified by Polaroid film, consisting of a light-sensitive coating on a piece of film used to produce a negative that is transferred to a paper sheet producing a positive image photograph.

Digital Dot

Dot created by a computer and printed out by a laser printer or image-setter. Digital dots are uniform in size, as compared to halftone dots that vary in size.

Digital Proof

Color separation data is digitally stored and then exposed to color photographic paper creating a picture of the final product before it is actually printed with ink.

Dimensional Stability

Ability of paper and other substrates to retain their exact size despite the influence of temperature, moisture, or stretching

Direct Digital Color Proof (DDCP):

Color proof made by a laser, ink jet printer or other computer-controlled device without needing to make separation films first.

Direct Halftone

A halftone reproduction made by actually photographing the actual object rather than a picture of the object. This type of halftone produces the highest quality reproduction.

Display Type

Large, contrasting blocks of copy that are set apart from ordinary text matter

Dithering

Dithering is used in computer graphics to create additional colors and shades from an existing palette by interspersing pixels of different colors. On a monochrome display, areas of grey are created by varying the proportion of black and white pixels. In color displays and printers, colors and textures are created by varying the proportions of existing colors.

Doctor Blade

Metal strip used in gravure printing to wipe ink off the nonprinting areas of the printing cylinder or plate, leaving ink inside the printing areas of the plate.

Dodge

To shade (an area of a print) from exposure for a period, while exposing the remainder of the print in order to lighten or eliminate the area

Dog Ear

A letter fold at the side of one of the creases, an indentation occurs.

Dot Etching

A method of making corrections in halftone positives or negatives by using chemicals to reduce the size of halftone dots

Dot Gain

Phenomenon of halftone dots printing larger on paper than they are on films or plates, reducing detail and lowering contrast. Also called dot growth, dot spread and press gain.

Dot Size

Relative size of halftone dots as compared to dots of the screen ruling being used; there is no unit of measurement to express dot size. Dots are too large, too small or correct only in comparison to what the viewer finds attractive.

Dots-per-inch

Dots per inch (DPI) is a measure of printing resolution, in particular the number of individual dots of ink a printer or toner can produce within a linear one-inch (2.54 cm) space.

Double Black Duotone

Duotone printed from two halftones, one shot for highlights and the other shot for midtones and shadows.

Double Burn

To expose film or a plate twice to different negatives and thus create a composite image

Double Dot Halftone

Halftone double burned onto one plate from two halftones, one shot for shadows, the second shot for midtones and highlights.

Doubling

Printing defect appearing as blurring or shadowing of the image; doubling may be caused by problems with paper, cylinder alignment, blanket pressures or dirty cylinders.

DPI

Dots per inch: a measure of resolution used for printed text or images, the more dots per inch, the higher the resolution.

Draw Down

Sample of specified ink and paper, used to evaluate color

Drop Out

To eliminate halftone dots or fine lines due to overexposure during camera work or plate-making. The lost copy is said to have dropped out.

Drop Shadow

Graphic device in which type or other element is reproduced with an offset second image on one edge, giving a "shadow" effect which visually "lifts" the primary type and makes the image appear three-dimensional

Dropout Halftone

Halftone in which contrast has been increased by eliminating dots from highlights

Dry Back

Phenomenon of printed ink colors becoming less dense as the ink dries.

Dry Gum Paper

Label paper with glue that can be activated by water.

Dry Offset

Using metal plates in the printing process, which are etched to .15mm (.0006 in) creating a right reading plate, printed on the offset blanket transferring to paper without the use of water.

Dry Trap

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

Dual-purpose Bond Paper

Bond paper suitable for printing by either lithography (offset) or xerography (photocopy); abbreviated DP bond paper.

Dull Finish

A semi-gloss finish on paper that is less glossy than gloss and more than matte paper.

Dummy

Preliminary drawing or layout showing visual elements; also a simulation of a printed piece using paper specified for a job

Duotone

A method of printing an illustration either in a dark and a tinted shade of the same color or in two different colors from two plates of a monochrome original made from negatives at different screen angles.

Duplex Paper

Paper with a different color or finish on each side

Duplicator

Small offset press using paper 12 x 18 or smaller (not to be confused with spirit duplicator).

Dye Sublimation

A photographic looking color print created by heating dyes on a substrate instead of using inks. Often used for proofing.

Dylux

DuPont trade name for photographic paper used to make blueline proofs.

Electronic Front End (Electronic Composition):

General term referring to a prepress system based on computers.

Edition Bind

Alternate term for Case bind

Electronic Image Assembly

Assembly of a composite image from portions of other images and/or other page elements using a computer

Electronic Page Assembly

Assembly and manipulation of type, graphics, and other visual elements on a computer screen.

Electronic Proof

A process of generating a prepress proof in which paper is electronically exposed to the color separation negatives and passed through electrically charged pigmented toners, which adhere electrostatically, resulting in the finished proof.

Electronic Publishing

Publishing by printing with a computer-controlled photocopy machine

Electronic Retouching

Using a computer to enhance or correct a scanned photograph.

Emboss

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

Embroidery

A design stitched onto a material through the use of high speed, computer controlled sewing machines. The design is reproduced with tightly-stitched thread. Embroidery is most commonly used on logo patches and directly on some wearables. Fine detail is difficult to achieve

Emulsion

Casting of light-sensitive chemicals on papers, films, printing plates and stencils

Enamel Paper

Alternate term for coated paper with gloss finish

Encapsulated PostScript file

Computer files containing both images and PostScript commands; abbreviated EPS file

End Sheets

Sheets that attach the inside pages of a case bound book to its cover.

English Finish

Smooth finish on uncoated book paper; smoother than eggshell, rougher than smooth

Engraving

Printing method using a plate, also called a die, with an image cut into its surface.

EPS

Encapsulated Post Script, a known file format usually used to transfer post script information from one program to another.

Equivalent Paper

Paper that is not the brand specified, but looks, prints and may cost the same; also called comparable stock.

Etch

To use chemicals to carve an image into metal, glass or film

Exposure Time

Time required for light to record an image while striking light-sensitive emulsion.

Face

Edge of a bound publication opposite the spine; also called foredge

Factory Pack

A premium offered inside a package, on the package or as a container premium

Fake Duotone

	Halftone in one ink color printed over screen tint of a second ink color. Also called dummy duotone, dougraph, duplex halftone, false duotone, flat tint halftone and halftone with screen


	Fast Color Inks
	Inks with colors that retain their density and resist fading as the product is used and washed


	Fast Film
	Film that requires relatively little light to record an image


	Feeding Unit
	Component of a printing press that moves paper into the register unit


	Felt Finish
	A finish created at the wet end of the paper machine using woven wool and synthetic felts with distinctive patterns to create a similar texture on the finished sheets. These papers exhibit excellent opacity and are strong enough for use with special procedures such as stamping and embossing. They are well-suited for jobs with large non-printed areas that display their interesting texture. Care should be taken when specifying halftones on felt-finished papers; they tend to absorb ink, and tonal areas may be lost.


	Fifth Color
	Ink color used in addition to the four needed by four-color process.


	Film Coat
	Paper with a very thin coating


	Film Gauge
	Thickness of film; the most common gauge for graphic arts film is 0.004 inch (0.1 mm).


	Film Laminate
	Thin sheet of plastic bonded to a printed product for protection or increased gloss.


	Filter
	Colored glass or gelatin used to reduce or eliminate specific colors from light before it strikes film or paper.


	Final Count
	Number of printed pieces delivered and charged for


	Fine Papers
	Papers made specifically for writing or commercial printing, as compared to coarse papers and industrial papers; also called cultural papers and graphic papers.


	Fine screen
	Screen with ruling of more than 150 lines per inch.


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


	Fit
	Refers to ability of film to be registered during stripping and assembly; good fit means that all images register to other film for the same job.


	Fixed Costs
	Costs that remain the same regardless of how many pieces are printed. Copyrighting, photography and design are fixed costs.


	Fixer
	Chemical that prevents deterioration of images on photosensitive paper.


	Flat Color
	(1) Any color created by printing only one ink, as compared to a color created by printing four-color process. Also called block color and spot color. (2) Color that seems weak or lifeless


	Flat Plan (Flats)
	Diagram of the flats for a publication showing imposition and indicating colors


	Flat Size
	Size of product after printing and trimming, but before folding, as compared to finished size


	Flat
	In photography, characteristic of an image that lacks contrast; in printing, an assembly of negatives taped to masking material and ready for plate-making.


	Flexography
	A flexible rubber plate is wrapped around a cylinder for speed and control. As the paper moves under the printing plate, it is pressed against the printing plate by another roller, and the ink is transferred onto the paper. A separate plate is needed for each individual color; typically done on less expensive materials than screen printing. The inks are very thin and not as durable as those used in screen printing