Definitions of printing and publishing terms!

A, B

Acid-free Paper            

Paper made from pulp containing little or no acid so it resists deterioration from age. Can be called alkaline paper, archival paper, or neutral pH paper.

A4 Paper

Paper size 210 x 297mm.

Airbrush

Pen-shaped tool that sprays a fine mist of ink or paint to retouch photos and create continuous-tone illustrations.  Can be used digitally in Photoshop.

Alteration

Any change made by the customer after copy or artwork has been given to the printer.

Artwork

All original copy, including type, photos and illustrations, intended for printing. Also called art.

Binding

The joining pages together with either wire, glue, comb, spiral, or other means.

Bindery

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

Bleed

Printing that extends to the edge of a sheet or page after trimming.

Blurb

A description or commentary of an author or book content positioned on the book jacket.

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

The main text of work not including the headlines.

Bond paper

Category of paper commonly used for writing, printing and photocopying. Also called business paper, communication paper, correspondence paper and writing paper.

Border

The decorative design or rule surrounding matter on a page.

C

C1S and C2S

Abbreviations for coated one side and coated two sides.

Camera-ready

Mechanicals, photographs and art fully prepared for reproduction or printing.

CIP

            Cataloguing in Publication.  Used, in Canada by the Library and Archives Canada and in the USA by the Library of Congress, to catalogue books for libraries and bookstores. 

CMYK

Abbreviation for cyan, magenta, yellow and key (black), in the four printing process.

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.   Often used to insert color pages in a black and white book.

Color Balance

Refers to amounts of process colors that simulate the colors of the original scene or photograph.

Color Cast

Unwanted color affecting an entire image or portion of an image.

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).

Contrast

The degree of tones in an image ranging from highlight to shadow.

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.

Coverage

Extent to which ink covers the surface of a substrate. Ink coverage is usually expressed as light, medium or heavy.

Cover Paper

Category of thick paper used for products such as posters, menus, folders and covers of paperback books.

Creep

Phenomenon of middle pages of a folded signature extending slightly beyond outside pages. Also called feathering, out push, push out and thrust.

Crop Marks

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

Cure

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

Cut Sizes

Paper sizes used with office machines and small presses.

Cyan

One of the four process colors. Also known as process blue.  The C in CMYK.

D, E

Density

(1) Regarding ink, the relative thickness of a layer of printed ink. (2) Regarding color, the relative ability of a color to absorb light reflected from it or block light passing through it. (3) Regarding paper, the relative tightness or looseness of fibers.

Desktop Publishing

Technique of using a personal computer to design images and pages, and assemble type and graphics, then using a laser printer or image setter to output the assembled pages onto paper, film or printing plate. Abbreviated DTP.

Die

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

Die Cut

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

Digital Proofing

Page proofs produced through electronic memory transferred onto paper via laser or ink-jet.

Dog Ear

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

DPI - Dots-per-inch

Measure of resolution of input devices such as scanners, display devices such as monitors, and output devices such as laser printers, image setters and monitors. Abbreviated DPI. Also called dot pitch.

DPI

Considered as "dots per square inch," a measure of output resolution in relationship to printers, image setters and monitors.

Duo tone

Black-and-white photograph reproduced using two halftone negatives, each shot to emphasize different tonal values in the original.

Duplicator

Offset press made for quick printing.

Electronic Publishing

(1) Publishing by printing with device, such as a photocopy machine or ink jet printer, driven by a computer that can change the image instantly from one copy to the next. (2) Publishing via output on fax, computer bulletin board or other electronic medium, as compared to output on paper.

Emboss

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

Emulsion

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

EPS - Encapsulated PostScript file

Computer file containing both images and PostScript commands. Usually used to transfer post script information from one program to another.

End Sheet

Sheet that attaches the inside pages of a case bound book to its cover. Also called paste down or end papers.

Engraving

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

Estimate

Price that states what a job will probably cost. Also called bid, quotation and tender.

Etch

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

F, G

Face

Edge of a bound publication opposite the spine. Also called foredge. Also, an abbreviation for typeface referring to a family of a general style.

Finish

(1) Surface characteristics of paper. (2) General term for trimming, folding, binding and all other post press operations.

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.

Flat Size

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

Flush Cover

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

Foil Emboss

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

Foil Stamp

Method of printing that releases foil from its backing when stamped with the heated die. Also called block print, hot foil stamp and stamp.

Folder

A bindery machine dedicated to folding printed materials.

Fold Marks

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

Format

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

Gate Fold

A sheet that folds where both sides fold toward the gutter in overlapping layers.

Ghosting

(1) Phenomenon of a faint image appearing on a printed sheet where it was not intended to appear. Chemical ghosting refers to the transfer of the faint image from the front of one sheet to the back of another sheet. Mechanical ghosting refers to the faint image appearing as a repeat of an image on the same side of the sheet. (2) Phenomenon of printed image appearing too light because of ink starvation. 

Glossy

Consider the light reflecting on various objects in the printing industry (e.g., paper, ink, laminates, UV coating, varnish).

Glossy Ink

Ink used and printed on coated stock (mostly litho and letterpress) such as the ink will dry without penetration.

Grade

General term used to distinguish between or among printing papers, but whose specific meaning depends on context. Grade can refer to the category, class, rating, finish or brand of paper.

Graphic Design

Arrangement of type and visual elements along with specifications for paper, ink colors and printing processes that, when combined, convey a visual message.

Graphics

Visual elements that supplement type to make printed messages more clear or interesting.

Gray Scale

Strip of gray values ranging from white to black. Used by process camera and scanner operators to calibrate exposure times for film and plates. Also called step wedge.

GSM

The unit of measurement for paper weight (grams per square meter).

Gutter

In the book arena, the inside margins toward the back or the binding edges.

H, I, J, K

Hairline (Rule)

Subjective term referring to very small space, thin line or close register. The meaning depends on who is using the term and in what circumstances.

Half-scale Black

Black separation made to have dots only in the shadows and mid tones, as compared to full-scale black and skeleton black.

Halftone

(1) To photograph or scan a continuous tone image to convert the image into halftone dots. (2) A photograph or continuous-tone illustration that has been half toned and appears on film, paper, printing plate or the final printed product.

Halo Effect

Faint shadow sometimes surrounding halftone dots printed. Also called halation. The halo itself is also called a fringe.

Head(er)

At the top of a page, the margin.

High-key Photo

Photo whose most important details appear in the highlights.   Portrait taken with a white or very light background.

Highlights

Lightest portions of a photograph or halftone, as compared to mid tones and shadows.

Hinged Cover

Perfect bound cover scored 1/8 inch (3mm) from the spine so it folds at the hinge instead of, along the edge of the spine.

HLS

Abbreviation for hue, lightness, saturation, one of the color-control options often found in software, for design and page assembly. Also called HVS.

Hot Spot

Printing defect caused when a piece of dirt or an air bubble caused incomplete draw-down during contact plate making, leaving an area of weak ink coverage or visible dot gain.

House Sheet

Paper kept in stock by a printer and suitable for a variety of printing jobs. Also called floor sheet.

Hue

A specific color such as yellow or green.

Image Area

The actual area on the printed matter that is not restricted to ink coverage,

Imprint

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

Ink Fountain

Reservoir, on a printing press, that holds ink.

Ink Jet Printing

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

Inserts

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

Interleaves

Printed pages loosely inserted in a publication.

ISBN

A number assigned to a published work and usually found either on the title page or the back of the title page. Considered an International Standard Book Number.

Jogger

A vibration machine with a slopping platform to even-up stacks of printed materials.

K

Abbreviation for black in four-color process printing. Hence the 'K' in CMYK.

Key

(1) The screw that controls ink flow from the ink fountain of a printing press. (2) To relate loose pieces of copy to their positions on a layout or mechanical using a system of numbers or letters. (3) Alternate term for the color black, as in 'key plate.'

Kraft Paper

Strong paper used for wrapping and to make grocery bags and large envelopes.

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, and usually accents existing color, providing a glossy (or lens) effect.

Landscape

Artist style in which width is greater than height. (Portrait is opposite.)

Layout

A sample of the original providing (showing) position of printed work (direction, instructions) needed and desired.

Leading

Amount of space between lines of type.

Leaf

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

Ledger Paper

Strong, smooth bond paper used for keeping business records.  Usually 8 1/2 x 14.

Letter fold

Two folds creating three panels that allow a sheet of letterhead to fit a business envelope. Also called barrel fold, C fold, and wrap around fold. 

Letter Paper

In North America, 8 1/2' x 11' sheets. In Europe, A4 sheets.

Legal Deposit

A legal requirement in Canada by any company or person printing a new publication, electronic or on paper.  One or two copies of the published work must be submitted by a certain time frame.  See Mandatory Deposit for USA.

Legend

Directions about a specific matter (illustrations) and how to use. In regard to maps and tables, an explanation of signs (symbols) used.

Logo 

A company, partnership, or corporate design that is a graphic, photo, letters, art work, or combination of those items, used to create a symbol of that company.

Loose leaf

Binding method allowing insertion and removal of pages in a publication (e.g., trim-4-drill-3).

Low Key Photo

Photo whose most important details appear in the shadows.   Often done with a black or very dark background.  Gives a formal look.

M

Magenta

One of the four process colors. The M in CMYK.

Mandatory Deposit

A legal requirement in the USA by any company or person printing a new publication, electronic or on paper.  One to three copies of the published work must be submitted by a certain time frame.

Manuscript 

An author's original form of work (hand written, typed, or on disk) submitted for publication.

Margin

The space around the edge of the printed material.

Mask

To prevent light from reaching part of an image, therefore isolating the remaining part. Also called knock out.  Often used in Photoshop and other programs to isolate certain objects.

Master

The original copy.

Matte Finish

Flat (not glossy) finish.

Mid tones

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

Mil

The thickness of plastic films as printing substrates are expressed in mils. 1/1000 Inch

Mock Up

A reproduction of the original printed matter and possibly containing instructions or direction.

Monarch

Paper size (7' x 10') and envelope shape often used for personal stationery.

Mottle

Spotty, uneven ink absorption. Also called sink age. A mottled image may be called mealy.

M Weight

Weight of 1,000 sheets of paper in any specific size.

N

Natural Color

Very light brown color of paper. May also be called antique, cream, ivory, off-white or mellow white.

Neutral Gray

Gray with no hue or cast.

News Print

Paper used in printing newspapers. Considered low quality and "a short life use."

Nipping

In the book binding process, a stage where air is expelled from it's contents at the sewing stage.

Novelty Printing

Printing on products such as coasters, pencils, balloons, golf balls and ashtrays, known as advertising specialties or premiums.

O, P

Offset Printing

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

Opaque

Not transparent. 

Page

One side of a leaf in a publication.

Page Count

Total number of pages that a publication has.

Pagination

In the book arena, the numbering of pages.

Panel

One page of a brochure, such as one panel of a rack brochure. One panel is on one side of the paper. A letter-folded sheet has six panels, not three.

Paper Board

            See Board Paper.

Pasteboard

Chipboard with another paper pasted to it.

Perfect Bind

To bind sheets that have been ground at the spine and are 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. See also Burst Perfect Bind.

Perforating

Taking place on a press or a binder machine, creating a line of small dotted wholes for the purpose of tearing-off a part of a printed matter (usually straight lines, vertical or horizontal).

Pica

A unit of measure in the printing industry. A pica is approximately 0.166 in. There are 12 points to a pica.

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. 

Point

Regarding type, a unit of measure equaling 1/12 pica or .013875 inch (.351mm).

Portrait

An art design in which the height is greater than the width. (Opposite of Landscape.)

Prepress

Camera work, color separations, stripping, plate making, and other functions performed by the printer, separator or a service bureau prior to printing on a press.

Printing

Any process that transfers to paper or another substrate an image from an original such as a film negative or positive, electronic memory, stencil, die or plate.

Process Color (Inks)

The colors used for four-color process printing: yellow, magenta, cyan, and black.

Proof

Test sheet made to reveal errors or flaws, predict results on press and record how a printing job is intended to appear when finished.

Proofreader Marks

Standard symbols and abbreviations used to mark up manuscripts and proofs. Also called correction marks.

Q, R

Quality

Subjective term relating to expectations by the customer, printer and other professionals associated with a printing job and whether the job meets those expectations.

Quarto

(1) Sheet folded twice, making pages one-fourth the size of the original sheet. A quarto makes an 8-page signature. (2) Book made from quarto sheets, traditionally measuring about 9' x 12'.

Ream

500 sheets of paper.

Recycled Paper

New paper made entirely or in part from old paper.

Register

To place printing properly with regard to the edges of paper and other printing on the same sheet. Such printing is said to be in register.

Register Marks

Cross-hair lines on mechanicals and film that help keep flats, plates, and printing in register. Also called cross marks and position marks.

Relief Printing

Printing method whose image carriers are surfaces with two levels having inked areas higher than non inked areas. Relief printing includes block printing, flexography and letter press.

Resolution

Sharpness of an image on film, paper, computer screen, disc, tape or other medium.   Usually 260 to 300 dpi is required for professional printed.  Higher resolution may be needed for photographic or magazine printing.

Reverse

Type, graphic or illustration reproduced by printing ink around its outline, thus allowing the underlying color or paper to show through and form the image. The image 'reverses out' of the ink color. Also called knockout.

RGB

Abbreviation for red, green, blue, the additive color primaries used in light.  Most printers use CMYK, where as web and photographs use RGB. 

S

Saddle Stitch

To bind by stapling sheets together where they fold at the spine, as compared to side stitch. Also called pamphlet stitch, saddle wire and stitch bind.

Satin Finish

Alternate term for dull or matt finish on coated paper.

Scale

To identify the percent by which photographs or art should be enlarged or reduced to achieve, the correct size for printing.

Scanner

Electronic device used to scan an image.

Score

To compress or scrape paper along a straight line so it folds more easily and accurately. Can be like a crease.

Screen Printing

Method of printing by using a squeegee to force ink through an assembly of mesh fabric and a stencil.  Used for banners, odd shaped objects, fabric, etc.

Separations

Usually in the four-color process arena, separate film holding images of one specific color per piece of film. Black, Cyan, Magenta and Yellow. Can also separate specific pantone colors.

Shade

Hue made darker by the addition of black, as compared to tint.

Shadows

Darkest areas of a photograph or illustration, as compared to mid tones and high-lights.

Sheet fed 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. Like stapling a group of paper at one edge.

Signature

Printed sheet folded at least once, possibly many times, to become part of a book, magazine or other publication.

Specifications

Complete and precise written description of features of a printing job such as type size and leading, paper grade and quantity, printing or binding method.

Specular Highlight

Highlight area with no printable dots, thus no detail. Purest white.

Spine

Back or binding edge of a publication

Spiral Bind

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

Spread

Two pages that face each other and are designed as one visual or production unit.

Stock Order

Order for paper that a mill or merchant sends to a printer from inventory at a warehouse, as compared to a custom order.

Stumping (Blocking)

In the book arena, hot die, foil or other means in creating an image on a case bound book.

Swash Book

A book in a variety of forms, indicating specific stock in specific colors in a specific thickness.

T, U

Tabloid

Using a broadsheet as a measure, one half of a broadsheet.   Usually 11 x 17.

TIFF or Tagged Image File Format

Computer file format used to store images from scanners and video devices. Abbreviated TIFF.

Template

Concerning a printing project's basic details in regard to its dimensions. A standard layout.

Text Paper

Paper that is generally a lighter more all purpose weight.

Thumbnails

Small images of an original file.  Used most often to pre-view many files at once.

Tint

Screening or adding white to a solid color to lighten that specific color.

Transparency

Not opaque, allowing the background to fade into the foreground.  Also, positive photographic image on film or plastic allowing light to pass through.

Trim Size

The finial size of the printed material when it is finish (e.g., the finished trim size is 5 1\2 x 8 1\2).

Uncoated Paper

Paper that has not been coated with clay. Also called offset paper.

Unsharp Masking

Technique of adjusting dot size to make a halftone or separation appear sharper (in better focus) than the original photo or the first proof. Also called edge enhancement and peaking.

Up

Term to indicate multiple copies of one image printed in one impression on a single sheet. "Two up" or "three up" means printing the identical piece twice or three times on each sheet.

UV Coating

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

V, W, X, Y, Z

Value

The shade (darkness) or tint (lightness) of a color. Also called brightness, lightness, shade and tone.

Vignette

Decorative design or illustration fade to white.  A darkening in the corners of a photography.  A negative feature on photographs, that can be caused when taking a picture using a flash with wide angle lens and a lens shade.

Watermark

Translucent logo or other mark.

Web Press

Press that prints from rolls of paper, cut into sheets after printing. Web presses come in many sizes, the most common being mini, half, three quarter (also called 8-pages) and full (also called 16-pages).   Used for large runs, usually over 10, 000.

Yellow

One of the four process colors. The Y in CMYK.

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