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The ability of a material to take up moisture

Author's Correction

A type of paper folding in which each fold runs in the opposite direction to the previous fold creating a pleated or accordion effect.

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 which are mixed to form all other colors.

The condition of type and or art materials as they level up on a horizontal or vertical line.

Any materials or images that are prepared for graphic reproduction.

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

Changes made after composition stage where customer is responsible for additional charges.

Print applied to both sides of a sheet of paper.

That portion of a photograph or line art drawing that appears furthest from the eye; the surface upon which the main image is superimposed.

A term used to describe the aesthetic or harmony of elements, whether they are photos, art or copy, within a layout or design.

Also called wallet flap; the wallet flap has more rounded flap edges.

The primary headline usually spanning the entire width of a page.

This is a term used to describe the imaginary horizontal line upon which stand capitals, lower case letters, punctuation points etc.

This term refers to a standard size of paper stock; even though the required size may be smaller or larger.

Basis or basic weight refers to the weight, in pounds, of a ream (500 sheets) of paper cut to a given standard size for that particular paper grade.

A heavy paperboard with a cloth covering that is used for hardback binding of books.

Various methods of securing folded sections together and or fastening them to a cover, to form single copies of a book.

On offset presses a fabric-reinforced sheet of rubber to transfer the impression from the plate onto the paper.

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.

Embossed forms that are not inked, or gold leafed.

Illustrations or line art etched onto zinc or copper plates and used in letterpress printing.

Any enlargement of photos, copies or line art.

The main shank or portion of the letter character other than the ascenders and descenders. Also: A term used to define the thickness or viscosity of printer's ink.

The point size of a particular type character.

Any type that has a heavier black stroke that makes it more conspicuous.

A registration problem, usually on copiers, where the image appears to bounce back and forth. A bounce usually occurs in one direction depending on how the paper is passing through the machine. This is usually accented by card stock (especially if it's over the machine's spec). When a customer refuses a job for whatever reason.

A pamphlet that is bound in booklet form.

A boldface square or dot used before a sentence to emphasize its importance.

Two sizes of capital letters made in one size of type.

A 13th century handwriting style which is the roots of italic design.

Paper coated with clay, white pigments and a binder. Better for printing because there is less picking.

Any paper that has a mineral coating applied after the paper is made, giving the paper a smoother 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 the Star Target, which is a similar system designed to detect inking problems.

The processes of separating the primary color components for printing.

The assembly of characters into words, lines and paragraphs of text or body matter for reproduction by printing.

A narrow, elongated type face.

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 or register indicators.

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

When the rubber blanket on a cylinder moves forward due to contact with the plate or paper. Result of added thickness of folded sheets being behind one another in a folded signature. Outer edges of sheets creep away from 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.

Markings at edges of original or on guide sheet to indicate the area desired in reproduction with negative or plate trimmed (cropped) at the markings.

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

Sharp edged device, usually made of steel, to cut paper, cardboard, etc., on a printing press.

A shade of blue used in the four-color process; it reflects blue and green and absorbs red.

The rough or feathered edge of paper when left untrimmed.

An instruction given to remove an element from a layout.

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

The lay of paper fibers relative to tightness or looseness which affects the bulk, the absorbency and the finish of the paper.

The degree of tone, 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.

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.

The smallest individual element of a halftone.

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 affect of the image lifting off the page.

Pasting with heat sensitive adhesives.

The roller between the inking and the dampening rollers.

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, second plate printed in light flat tints. A two-color halftone reproduction generated from a one-color photo.

Paper which has a different color or finish on each side.

The assembly of characters into words, lines and paragraphs of text or body matter with graphic elements in page layout form in digital format for reproduction by printing.

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

Halftone screens in which the dots are actually elongated to produce improved middle tones.

A method of paper finishing whereby a pattern is pressed into the paper when it is dry.

To raise in relief a design or letters already printed on card stock or heavy paper by an uninked block or die. In rubber and plastic plate making the process is usually done by heat.

A term that describes a glossy coating on paper.

Attaching the final sheet of a signature of a book to the binding.

A grade of uncoated book paper with a smooth uniform surface.

A printing process whereby images such as copy or art are etched onto a plate. When ink is applied, these etched areas act as small wells to hold the ink; paper is forced against this die and the ink is lifted out of the etched areas creating raised images on the paper.

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.

Type with width greater than normal producing a rectangular effect.

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

A fault in printing where the ink fills in the fine line or halftone dot areas.

Machine used to fold signatures down into sections.

Number of page at top or bottom either centered, flushed left or flushed right often with running headline.

Group of frames or impositions in the same forme of different jobs arranged and positioned to be printed together.

To assemble or collect sections into single copies of complete books for binding.

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

An orange colored paper with gridlines, used to assemble materials for exposure for platemaking.

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

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.

A paper embossed to resemble various textures, such as leather, alligator, wood, etc.

A series of metal fingers that hold each sheet of paper as it passes through the various stages of the printing process.

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.

Space between pages in the printing frame of a book, or inside margin towards the back or binding edge. The blank space or margin between the type page and the binding of a book.

Printing registration that lies within the range of plus or minus one half row of dots. It is the thinnest of the standard printers' rules.

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

A sheet of film or glass containing ruled right-angled lines, used to translate the full tone of a photo to the halftone dot image required for printing.

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

Inside back cover.

Inside front cover.

That portion of the printing plate that carries the ink and prints on paper.

Arrangement of pages so that they print correctly on a press sheet, and the pages are in proper order when the sheets are folded.

Product resulting from one cycle of printing machine. The pressure of the image carrier, whether it be the type, plate or blanket, when it contacts the paper.

Extra printed pages inserted loosely into printed pieces.

Text that is used to denote emphasis by slanting the type body forward.

A number assigned to a printing project used for record keeping and job tracking. Also used to retrieve old jobs for reprints or reworking by customer.

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

Vibrating, sloping platform that evens up the edges of stacks of paper.

The narrowing of space between two letters so that they become closer and take up less space on the page.

A parallel lined paper that has a handmade look.

A paper cutting technique whereby laser technology is utilized to cut away certain unmasked areas of the paper. The cutting is a result of the exposure of the paper to the laser ray, which actually evaporates the paper.

Edge of a sheet of paper being fed into a printing press.

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

The dots or dashes used in type to guide the eye from one set of type to the next.

Space between lines of type; the distance in points between one baseline and the next.

A paper that emulates the look and texture of linen cloth.

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

Commonly taken as the area between highlight and shadow area of a subject's face in halftone image.

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

A light, low cost groundwood paper made especially for newspapers. Reference, groundwood.

When the basis weight of paper differs from the actual weight, the term nominal weight is used.

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 that defines its opaqueness or ability to prevent two-sided printing from showing through.

A quality of paper that allows relatively little light to pass through.

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

One side of a leaf.

The assemblage of all the necessary elements required to complete a page.

Proofs made up from pages.

A hard finished paper that emulates animal skin; used for documents, such as awards, that require writing by hand.

Preparation of positive materials into a layout for photographing to film negatives.

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

A term used to describe the binding process where the signatures of a book are held together by a flexible adhesive.

Binding process where backs of sections are cut off, roughened and glued together, and rung in a cover.

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

A printing press that prints on both sides of the page in a single pass.

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

Standard of measurement, 1/6 inch. 1 pica = 12 points 72 points = 1 inch

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

Making a printing plate from a film or flat including preparation of the plate surface, sensitizing, exposing through the flat, developing or processing, and finishing.

Photomechanical transfer.

A measurement unit equal to 1/72 of an inch. 12 points to a pica, 72 points to an inch.

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

Any paper that is considered better than #1 by its manufacturer.

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

In printing the four primary colors are cyan (blue), magenta (red), yellow and black.

Two consecutive pages as they appear on a flat or signature.

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.

Printing from two or more half tones to produce intermediate colors and shades.

Impression from composed type or blocks, taken for checking and correction, from a lithographic plate to check accuracy of layout, type matter, tone and color reproduction.

Papers with a complete or partial content of cotton fibers.

The term given to right-justified type that is uneven on the left.

The term given to left-justified type that is uneven on the right.

Two consecutive pages as they appear in printed piece.

500 sheets of paper.

Any substance that softens and reduces the tack of ink.

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 pigment somewhat redder than true magenta.

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

A term used to describe how well a paper runs on a printing press.

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 lowest density of a halftone image.

To decrease the dot size of the halftone which in turn decreases the color strength.

The guides on the sides of the sheet fed press that position the sheet sideways as the paper is led towards the front guides.

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

Printed sheet (or its flat) that consists of a number of pages of a book, placed so that they will fold and bind together as a section of a book. The printed sheet after folding.

A halftone with the background screen removed.

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

Back edge of a book.

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

Small area printed in a second color.

A film image that is larger than the original image to accommodate ink trapping. Reference, trapping

To bind a series of pages with wire staples such that staples enter from the front and back simultaneously, neither side being long enough to exit the opposite side.

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

A proofreader's symbol that is usually written in the copy margin, that indicates that the copy, which was marked for correction, should be left as it was.

A term for unprinted paper or other material to be printed.

A paper's ability to withstand pressure.

A high quality printing paper.

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 printing wet ink over printed ink which may be wet or dry.

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

The difference in feel and appearance of either side of a sheet of paper due to the papermaking process having a felt and wire side.

A clear shiny ink used to add gloss to printed pieces. The primary component of the ink vehicle. Reference, vehicle.

An abbreviation for work and turn.

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

The roll of paper that is used in web or rotary printing.

A tear in a web roll during the printing process.

Cylinder printing machine in which the paper is fed from a continuous reel, as opposed to sheet fed.

The term given to the tension or pull exerted by the web press on the web roll.

A single word or two left at the end of a paragraph, or a part of a sentence ending a paragraph, which loops over to the next page and stands alone. Also, the last sentence of a paragraph which contains only one or two short words.

To fasten together sheets, signatures, or sections with wire staples. 3 methods... saddle stitching, side stitching, and stabbing.

The unevenly dried surface of printed inks.