Click on a letter below to view the glossary. CLOSE WINDOW
Abrasion resistance
Ability to withstand the effects of repeated rubbing and scuffing. Also, called scuff or rub resistance.
Abrasion test
A test designed to determine the ability to withstand the effects of rubbing or scuffing.
Absorption
In paper, the property which causes it to take up liquid or vapors in contact with it. In optics, the partial suppression of light through a transparent or translucent material.
Acetate
An overlay or strike sheet made with cellulose acetate plastic.
Accordion fold
In bonding, a term used for two or more parallel folds which opens like an accordion.
Acrylic
A general chemical term of a particular family or thermoplastic resins based on acrylic acid and its derivatives. Most water-base coatings are made from acrylic polymers.
Adhesion
The state in which two surfaces are held together by interfacial forces; measure of the strength with which one material sticks to another.
Adjustable die
Made in a fashion so as to allow various size and shapes to be cut with a single die.
Adjustment wheel
To vary or control the function.
Against the grain
Folding or feeding paper at right angles to the grain direction of the paper.
Agate line
A standard of measurement for depth of columns of advertising space. Fourteen agate lines make one column inch.
Age resistance or Shelf life
The resistance to deterioration by oxygen and ozone in the air, by heat and light, or by internal chemical action.
Airbrush
In artwork, a small pressure gun shaped like a pencil that sprays watercolor pigment. Used to correct and obtain tone or graduated tone effects. In platemaking, used with an abrasive-like pumice to remove spots or other unwanted areas. In electronic imaging, a retouching technique.
Air knife
A method of coating paperboard in which a nozzle the width of the paper machine distributes air to remove excess moisture and smooth the surface.
Alkali
Chemical agent, generally soluble in water, capable of neutralizing acids. Usually caustics; pH of 7 is neutral, up to 14 indicates degree of alkalinity base.
All-steel die
Made totally from steel.
Alterations
In composition, changes made in the copy after it has been set in type. Same word applied to changes in a die.
Amberlith (Brand Name)
A red or orange material for preparing art and dummies. Transparent to the eye but appears opaque to light sensitive materials.
Analine (See Flexographic Printing)
Anilox system
The application system commonly employed in flexograhic presses consisting of an elastomer covered fountain roller running in the ink pan, adjustable against a contacting engraved metering roll, the two as a unit adjustable to the printing place roll, elastomer design roll or plain elastomer coating roll as the case may be. Coating is flooded into the engraved cells of the metering roll, excess doctored off by the wiping or squeezing action of the fountain roll or a doctor blade and that which remains beneath the surface of the metering roll is transferred to the printing plate.
Angle of Slip
The maximum angle before sliding that a weighted sled wrapped with paperboard can be tilted.
Anti-offset or set-off spray
In printing, dry spray of finely powdered starch used on press to prevent wet ink from transferring from the top of one sheet to the bottom of the next sheet.
Antioxidant
A substance which prevents or reduces the rate of oxidation due to exposure of the material to air or oxygen.
Anti-Skid coating
A generally clear resin coating formulated and applied to large flexible packaging to retard slippage during the stacking and handling. Also referred to as non-skid and commonly used on beverage carriers and multi wall bags.
Antique finish
A term describing the surface, usually on book and cover papers, that has a natural rough finish.
Anvil
The press plate against which the die cuts.
Applicator roll
Coating roll, print roll, tint roll, lacquer or varnish roll.
Apochromatic
In photography, color-corrected lenses which focus the three colors, blue, green and red, in the same plane.
Art
All illustration copy used in preparing a job for printing.
Art bag
Contains all supplied or reproduced materials pertaining to a particular job in-house.
Artboard
All drawings, painting, photographs, special ruling, hand lettering, etc., supplied by customer or provided by art department.
A.S.T.M.
American Society for Testing Materials
Ascender
That part of the letter which rises above the main body,
as in “b”.
Automatic press
Other than manually tripped or operated.
Backbone
The back of a bound book connecting the two covers; also called spine.
Backing roll
Cylinder used to support the web as a process is being applied to the opposite side. Some processes are: brush polishing, coating, and calendering.
Backing up
Printing the reverse side of a sheet already printed on one side.
Back lining
A paper or fabric adhering to the backbone or spine in a hard cover book.
Backtrapping See Piling
Bad break
In composition, the setting of a hyphenated line as the first line of a page. Also, starting a page with a “widow”.
Baltic die boards
Die lumber, usually birch, from the area of the Baltic Sea.
Barrier coating
A coating film that prevents or limits the passage of substances such as: oil, grease, water, or oxygen.
Base
Often used in referring to a full strength ink or toner. Generally refers to the major ingredient used in a clear lacquer, varnish or ink. May refer to either the solvent or binder system. A cylinder before it is engraved. Base film before addition of coating.
Basis weight
The weight in pounds of a ream (500 sheets) of paper cut to a given standard size for that grade; e.g., 500 sheets 25 x 38 in. of 50 lb. book paper weigh fifty pounds. The standard, or basic, size ream varies with different grades of paper according to trade practices. Some papers and boards are made to a certain caliper, or thickness, rather than to a specific weight. Some examples are: blanks, heavy cover, tough check, stencil board, pattern and template papers.
Bearers
In photoengraving, the dead metal left on a plate to protect the printing surface when molding in composition, type-high slugs locked up inside a chase to protect the printing surface when molding. In presses the flat surfaces or rings at the ends of cylinders that come in contact with each other during printing (on American presses), and serve as a basis for smoothing out printing thickness. Also die-cutting presses.
Bend
Other than straight, to any degree or angle, fold, break, bend, etc.
Bender
A bench tool used to form cutting or creasing rule.
Bending, Die steels
The process of curving the steel in freehand forming dies to shape dimensions desired.
Bending dies
Small dies that insert in a bender to produce desired shapes.
Bending rules
The process of curving the cutting rule in forming dies to the shape and dimensions desired.
Bevels
To form a sloping or slanting edge, container, part, or rules.
Bimetal plate
In lithography, a plate used for long runs in which the printing image base is usually copper and the non-printing area is aluminum, stainless steel, or chromium.
Binder
The adhesive components of an ink, normally supplied by the resin formulation; the ink vehicle. In paper, an adhesive component used to cement inert filler, such as clay, to the sheet or to affix short fibers firmly (securely) to paper or board stock.
Bit
In computers, the basic unit of digital information; contraction of Binary digit.
Bit map
In computer imaging, the electronic representative of a page, indicating the positions of every possible spot (zero or one).
Black liquor
The spent chemicals obtained from the kraft chemical pulping process.
Black printer
In color reproduction, the black plate, made to give emphasis to neutral tones and details.
Black-and-white
Originals or reproductions in single color, as distinguished from multicolor.
Blank
Any die cut, scored, and corner cut section of boxboard in the flat to be formed into a rigid box or part thereof. Also, a folding carton after cutting and scoring but before
folding and gluing.
Blanket
In offset printing, a rubber-surfaced fabric which is clamped around a cylinder, to which the image is transferred from the plate, and from which it is transferred to the paper.
Blanking die
This die type is covered here because it employs a form of steel rule, although it is used to convert metal. Normally, the die is made of two parts: the top (female) section, of steel rule set into dense material, sometimes maple plywood; the bottom section (male), a hardened plate which mates with the inside line of the top section
to form a shearing effect on the materials being cut. This die is also known as a shearing die, stamping die or metal blanking die.
Bleach manilla lined news
Clean, white top liner containing some ground wood on chipboard, news bottom liner.
Bleaching
The process of chemically treating pulp fibers to reduce or remove coloring matter so that the whiteness or brightness of the pulp is increased.
Bleed
Sometimes used to describe a condition caused by lack of drying or preceding color which makes trapping color lose its color value-such as a red printing over a wet white causing it to turn pinkish shade. To diffuse, run or migrate into unwanted areas adjacent to printed areas, when partially dissolved, by liquid or solvent plasticizers in certain substrates. In Inks-to run, diffuse or migrate
into unwanted areas adjacent to printed areas. To print an area beyond the cut edge or score so that the design is either cut off or folded under, resulting in printed area that extends completely to the edge.
Blind embossing
A design which is stamped without metallic leaf or ink, giving a bas-relief effect.
Blind image
In lithography, an image that has lost its ink receptivity and fails to print.
Blistering
A defect caused by the development of air pockets in the paperboard, caused by drying too suddenly on the drying cylinders, or poor ply adhesion in multiply board.
Block die
Series of blocks of wood that are cut on a table saw to exact sizes to conform to a pattern. The rule is inserted between these blocks and are held firm within a metal frame with wedges or quoins.
Blocking
An undesired adhesion between touching layers of material such as might occur under moderate pressure and/or temperature in storage or use; to the extent that damage to at least one surface is visible upon their separation.
Blowup
A photographic enlargement.
Blueline
In offset lithography and photoengraving, a photo print made from stripped-up negatives or positives, used as a proof to check position of image elements.
Blushing
A milky, foggy or flat appearance in an ink or coating due to precipitation or incompatibility of one of the ingredients. Most often caused by excessive moisture condensations.
Board
A heavy weight, thick sheet of paper or other fiber substances, usually of a thickness of .0006" or over. The distinction between board and paper is not definite.
Board, cylinder
Any type of fibreboard or boxboard made on a cylinder machine. Has a characteristic grain direction.
Body
In inkmaking, a term referring to the viscosity, or consistency, of an ink (e.g., an ink with too much body is stiff).
Body type
A type used for the main part or text of a printed piece, as distinguished from the heading.
Bold-face type
A name given to type that is heavier than the text type with which it is used.
Bond paper
A grade of writing or printing paper where strengths, durability, and permanence are essential requirements; used for letterheads, business forms, etc.
Bonding
The natural chemical and physical mechanism by which individual fibers adhere to each other.
Book paper
A general term for coated and uncoated papers. The basic size is 25 x 38.
Box
A complete paper box, including base and lid, or one piece.
Boxboard
Paperboard of sufficient caliper and test to be used in the manufacturer of paperboard boxes.
Braceless die
Varying interpretations of this term.
Break for color
In artwork and composition, to separate the parts to be printed in different colors.
Breaking strength
The ability of a material to resist rupture by tension. (See also bursting strength)
Bridge
Small areas left uncut in a jig die for purpose of holding the die together.
Bridger
A bench tool used to remove metal from the steel rule, to pass over the bridge.
Brightness
In photography, light reflected by the copy. In paper, the reflectance or brilliance of the paper.
Brilliancy
The intensity, chroma, brightness or apparent strength of a color to the eye.
Broadside
Any printed advertising circular.
Brochure
A pamphlet bound in booklet form.
Broke
Pulp recovered from paperboard trimmings, damaged paperboard, or off spec product anywhere in the manufacturing process.
Bronzing
Printing with a sizing ink, then applying bronze powder while still wet to produce a metallic luster.
Brown stock
Brown pulp from the chemical pulping process.
Bulk
The degree of thickness of paper in book printing. The number of pages per inch for a given basis weight.
Bump exposure
In photography, an exposure in halftone photography, especially with contact screens, in which the screen is removed for a short time. It increases highlight contrast and drops out the dots in the whites.
Burn
In platemaking, a common term used for a plate exposure.
Bursting strength
Resistance of paper to rupture under pressure, as indicated in pounds per square inch on a Mullen or “pop” tester.
Butt to rule
Any subject matter that is to fit directly against a printing rule.
Byte
In computers, a unit of digital information, equivalent to one character or 8 to 32 bits.
CAD/CAM
An acronym for Computer Assisted Design/Computer Assisted Makeup or Manufacturing.
Cady tester
A machine used to test the bursting strength of paper, paperboard or fibreboard. (See mullen and bursting strength)
Calendar
A mill process using polished rollers under high pressure to smooth out a surface.
Calendar rolls
A set or stack or horizontal cast-iron rolls at the end of a paper machine. The paper is passed between the rolls to increase the smoothness and gloss of its surface.
Caliper
The thickness of paper, usually expressed in thousandths of an inch (mils). This is the measure of thickness if board. It is commonly referred to as “points”. Board is generally available single ply in calipers from sixteen point (.016) through seventy point (.070) inches. Single plies may be combined through laminating to obtain “pasted board” of higher calipers.
Camera-ready
Copy which is ready for photography.
Caps and small caps
Two sizes of capital letters made in one size of type, commonly used in most roman type faces.
Carton
Folding paper box.
Case
In bookbinding, the covers of a hard-bound book.
Cast coated
Coated paper dried under pressure against a polished cylinder to produce a high-gloss enamel
finish.
Catalyst
A substance which alters (initiates or accelerates) the velocity of a reaction between two or more substances without changing itself in chemical composition.
Catching up
In lithography, a term which indicates that the non-image areas of a press plate are taking ink or scumming.
Caustic
Alkaline having a corrosive action.
CCD
Acronym for Charge Couple Device. An electronic scanning device used in imaging systems.
CD-ROM
Acronym for Compact Disc-Read-Only Memory. A CD-ROM drive uses the CD format as a computer storage medium.
Center spread
The two center pages of a signature.
Chalking
In printing, a term which refers to improper drying of ink. Pigment dusts off because the vehicle has been absorbed too rapidly into the paper.
Character generation
The production of typographic images using font master data. Generated to screens or output devices.
Chase
A rectangular metal frame in which type and plates are locked up for letterpress. A metal frame holds a block type die together under pressure.
Checking
A defect resulting from excessive decurling.
Chemical pulp
In papermaking, treatment of ground wood chips with chemicals to remove impurities such as lignin, resins and gums. There are two types, sulfite and sulfate.
Chemistry
In photography and platemaking, a term used to describe the composition of processing solutions.
Chipboard
Paperboard used in making rigid boxes. Made in varying densities according to desired smoothness from reclaimed paper fibre to give high stiffness and internal strength for scoring.
Chokes and spreads
Overlap of overprinting images to avoid color or white fringes or borders around image detail. Called trapping in digital imaging systems.
Chopper knives
Steel rule in a die to cut up scrap in smaller pieces.
Choppers
Cutting rule in dies for the purpose of cutting the waste into smaller pieces to facilitate self-stripping and to make smaller pieces of waste to accommodate the waste removal system.
Chroma
The optical measurement of color saturation and /or intensity.
Chromalin proof
A 4 -color proofing system. It is made with four process color toners, plus layers of photo polymer. Laminated into 1 piece, Chromalin is a DuPont trade name.
Circular screen
A circular-shaped halftone screen which enables the camera operator to obtain halftones
without disturbing the copy.
Clarification
The removal of suspended solids by settling process solutions.
Clay coated box board
A one side coated board (white) with good fold and scoring quality used for rigid and folding boxes. Coating provides satisfactory printing surface, a smooth flexible sheet for good bend at score line.
Clicker press
Generic term now referring to all swing arm diecutting presses used in much of the soft goods converting areas.
Cling
Tendency of adjacent materials to adhere to each other, as in blocking, except that the surfaces can be separated without any visible damage. A slight noise, referred as kiss noise, may occur upon separation.
Clicker block
Anvil surface of wood to cut against.
Clicker pad
Disposable anvil surface of various materials.
Closed loop system
In printing, a completely automatic control system.
Closed time
Time the glue joint is under compression while the adhesive is setting.
CMYK
Acronym for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black-subtractive primary colors. Printing colors for process color reproduction.
Coated paper
Paper having a surface coating which produces a smooth finish. Surfaces vary from eggshell to glossy.
Coating
In platemaking, the light-sensitive polymer or mixture applied to a metal plate. In printing, an emulsion, varnish or lacquer over a printed surface to protect it.
Coating, heat seal
A coating applied to a substrate capable of sealing to another material by heat and dwell time.
Coating, thermoplastic
A material applied to a substrate which is heat sealable.
Cobb test
A method of measuring the water receptivity of sized paperboard, by determining the weight of liquid absorbed into the surface over a specified period of time.
Cockling
A rippling effect given to the surface of a sheet of paper which has not been properly dried. Moisture pickup of the sheet can also cause the cockling or wavy edge.
Cohesion
The attractive force that internally binds a material.
Cold color
In printing, a color with a bluish cast.
Cold set adhesive
A liquid adhesive, used in carton forming, which when applied dewaters through the substrate, dries, and bonds to the substrate.
Collate
In binding, the gathering of sheets or signatures.
Color balance
The correct combination of cyan, magenta and yellow to (1) reproduce a photograph without a color cast, (2) produce a neutral gray, or (3) reproduce the colors in the original scene or object.
Color bar
A series of solid rectangles on a film which are shot on each plate. These are used to set and control ink densities on press.
Color correction
Any method such as masking, dot-etching, re-etching and scanning, used to improve color rendition.
Color density
Optical density (or hue saturation) of a particular color.
Color filter
A sheet of dyed glass, gelatin or plastic, or dyed gelatin cemented between glass plates, used in photography to absorb certain colors and transmit others. The filters used for color separation are blue, green and red.
Color keys
Off-press overlay color proofs using 3M Color Key® materials.
Color proofs
See off-press proofs, progressive proofs.
Color separation
In photography, the process of separating color originals into the primary printing color components in negative or positive form.
Color wheel
Diagrammatic arrangement of primary and secondary colors used as a visual aid in determining relationship and harmony among colors.
Combination jig/block die
Contains both jig sawed areas and block sawed.
Combination plate
In photoengraving, halftone and line work combined on one plate; etched for both halftones and line depth.
Commercial register
Color printing on which the misregister allowable is within ± one row of dots.
Common impression cylinder press
In flexography, letter-press and lithography, a press with a number of printing units around a large impression cylinder.
Composite
A single negative made from a series of exposures on 1 piece of film.
Computerized composition
Unjustified type is produced on a keyboard and subsequently run through a computer which makes line-end, hyphenation and other typographical decisions. Sometimes, a computer-produced second tape is then used as input for photosetting (or linecasting) equipment.
Condensed type
A narrow or slender type face.
Conditioning
Exposure of paperboard to accurately controlled and specified atmospheric conditions, so that
its moisture content reaches equilibrium with the surrounding atmosphere.
Conductivity
A property of fountain solutions that must be controlled along with pH.
Conglomerate die
A die utilizing more than one die type in it to allow for greater wear resistance, etc. at a given point. This die type is usually employed in the plastics trades for trimming contoured, vacuum-formed
parts.
Consistency
Property of a material which is evidenced by its resistance to flow. The general body characteristics of an ink, for example, viscosity, uniformity mostly used to describe the rheological property of an ink, such as “thick”, “thin” and “buttery”. In paper making, percentage, by weight, of fiber in pulp slurry.
Contact
A photographic conversion of a positive to a negative or vice versa.
Contact angle
The initial angle formed by a droplet of liquid on the paperboard surface where it rests. Used as a measure of surface tension.
Containerboard
The fabricated material from which containers are manufactured. A general term applied both to solid fibreboard and corrugated fibreboard.
Contract print
A photographic print made from a negative or positive in contact with sensitized paper, film or printing plate.
Contact screen
A halftone screen on film having a dot structure of graded density, used in vacuum contact with the photographic film to produce halftone.
Continuous tone
A photographic image which contains gradient tones from black to white.
Contrast
The tonal graduation between the highlights, middle tones and shadows in an original or reproduction.
Converter
A processor who fabricates one form of material into a more advanced form.
Copolymer
Polymer produced from a combination of two or more monomers. See Polymer.
Copy
Any furnished material (typewritten manuscript, pictures, artwork, etc..) to be used in the production of printing.
Copyboard
A frame that holds original copy while it is being photographed on the camera.
Copyfitting
In composition, the calculation of how much space a given amount of copy will take up in a given size and typeface. Also, the adjusting of the type size to make it fit in a given amount of space.
Copy preparation
Directions for, and checking of, desired size and other details for illustrations, and the arrangement into proper position of various parts of the page to be photographed or electronically processed for reproduction.
Corrosion
Deterioration of a material by chemical action, usually as a result of galvanic, acid or alkali action of oxidation.
Corrugated board, double-faced
A container board consisting of a fluted inner member glued between two facings or liners. Used in making corrugated fibreboard boxes and products.
Corrugated board, double wall
A container board consisting of two fluted members and three liners
combined in the following sequence: facing (liner), fluted member, center liner, fluted member, facing (liner).
Corrugated board, single-faced
A container board consisting of a fluted member glued to one facing permitting free bending in one direction. Used for wrapping and cushioning.
Corrugated medium
The container board, usually .009 inch thick, used as the fluted member of corrugated fibreboard.
Counter
The press board or other kind of cardboard that is glued into the outside of the jacket into which scores are cut.
Cover paper
A general term applied to a great variety of papers used for the outside covers of catalogs, brochures, booklets, and similar pieces.
Crawling
That property of a coating or ink in which the wetting of the surface is very poor, causing the film to contract into drops, leaving a discontinuous covering.
Creasibility
Physical property paperboard that allows a carton to be folded along the score or crease line.
Creasing rules
The rules that crease the sheet. They may be of varying widths to best suit the thickness of the stock being creased.
Creasing rule die
Only to crease or score.
Creep
In offset, the forward movement of a blanket during printing. Can also apply to the movement of the packing under the plate or blanket during printing.
Crinkle
Wrinkly/wad film severely to determine ink flexibility.
Crop
To eliminate portions of the copy, usually on a photograph or plate, indicated on the originals by cropmarks.
Cross direction
In paper, the direction across the grain. Paper is weaker and more sensitive to changes in relative humidity in the cross direction than the grain direction.
Crossline screen (glass screen)
In halftone photography, a grid pattern with opaque lines crossing each other at right angles, thus forming transparent squares or “screen apertures”.
Crosslinkers
Additive used to complete a chemical reaction; used in paperboard, also with coatings, ink, etc.
Crossmarks See register marks.
Crossover
Two page spread where image crosses over both pages.
Crystallization
A condition in which a dried ink film repels a subsequent ink or coating which must be printed on to
of it. This word has an entirely different meaning in chemistry.
CTP
Acronym for computer-to-plate.
Curl
The tendency of a sheet of paper to roll into the form of a cylinder. It is caused by the inequality in water content or stress levels between the two sides of the paper. Wet Curl is the result of application of water to the paper surface, as in lithographic printing. Atmospheric (Dry) Curl is the result of the exchange of water vapor between paper and air of higher or lower relative humidity. Mechanical Curl is the result of mechanical stresses on the paper, other than that of swelling or shrinkage, due to moisture.
Curtain coater
A machine that creates a vertical “curtain” of liquid coating material. A constant stream that falls from a coating head. Board passing under the curtain will be covered by the coating. The amount of coating to be applied is regulated by the thickness of the curtain and speed at which the board passes through it.
Curved die boards
Used for rotary dies, usually hard-wood plywood.
Curved plate
In letterpress, an electrotype or stereotype which is precurved to fit the cylinder of a rotary press.
Curved rotary rule
Used vertically on a curved die board cutting corrugated. Furnished 45°or 90°, relative to shaft center lines.
Cut
In letterpress, a photoengraving of any kind.
Cut creaser
A machine used in production of folding cartons. It uses steel rule dies with sharp knives to cut through the board: dull knives to crease board along fold lines.
Cut-AWL saw
A commercial machine that is commonly used in the production of rotary dies. A curved base is used in this application.
Cut-off
In web printing, the cut or print length corresponding to the circumference of the plate cylinder.
Cutscore
In die-cutting, a sharp-edged knife, usually several thousandths of an inch lower than the cutting rules in a die, made to cut part way into the paper or board for folding purposes. Cutting knives or rule that cut only partially through the stock for purposes of bending. Used only where creases are not desired.
Cutter
A term used to describe a bench tool used to cut steel rule.
Cutting die
Term covering total family of numerous types of “cutting dies”.
Cutting head
Generic form of numerous definitions.
Cutting knives
The sharp, steel rule that cuts the sheets of material. This rule is usually hardened, whereas a softer rule is needed for curves.
Cutting scores
Cutting the scores in the counter into which the creasing rules must register to make the proper creases for folding.
Cyan
Hue of a subtractive primary and a 4-color process ink. It reflects or transmits blue and green light and absorbs red light.
Cylinder
In flexography, for no particular reason, most rollers in the printing presses are called rolls with the exception of that upon which the rubber plates are mounted, and the one which receives the impression,
and these are usually referred to as cylinders, e.g.: plate cylinders or impression cylinder.
Cylinder gap
In printing presses, the gap or space in the cylinders of a press where the mechanism for plate (or blanket), clamps and gripper (sheetfed) is housed.
Cylinder liner
Container board made on cylinder machines from blends of virgin pulp and paper fibers reworked from various grades of paper stock. The sheet is formed on a series of rotating cylinders.
Cylinder press
A rotary printing press utilizing curved plates.
Dampening system
In lithography, the mechanism on a press for transferring dampening solution to the plate during printing.
Dandy roll
In papermaking, a wire cylinder on papermaking machines that makes woven or laid effects on the texture, as well as the watermark itself. Used in the manufacture of better grades of business and book papers.
DDES
Acronym for Digital Date Exchange Specifications.
Deckle
In papermaking, the width of the wet sheet as it comes off the wire of a paper machine.
Deckle edge
The untrimmed feathery edges of paper formed where the pulp flows against the deckle.
Decurling
the elimination of roll set (machine direction) curl by mechanical counteraction of stresses, often with the assistance of a decurling device.
Deep-etch
In offset-lithography, a positive-working plate used for long runs where the inked areas are slightly recessed below the surface.
Deflection
Deviation from a straight line under load. Fountain roll pressure against the anilox roll causes both to bend or bow slightly. Excessive bending of both or either one will result in uneven ink metering and subsequent nonuniform printing.
Defoamers
Chemicals added to a solution to prevent the formation of foam.
Delete
Removing unwanted images by way of honing, opaquing, taping out.
Densitometer
In photography, a photoelectric instrument which measures the density of photographic images, or of colors. In printing, a reflection densitometer is used to measure and control the density of color inks on the substrate.
Density
The degree of darkness (light absorption or opacity) of a photographic image.
Dermatitis
In lithography, a skin disease, characterized by an itching rash or swelling caused by photographic developers, chromium compounds and solvents.
Descender
That part of the letter which extends below the main body, as in “p”.
Desensitizer
In lithographic platemaking, chemical treatment to make non-image areas of a plate repellant to ink. In photography, an agent for decreasing color sensitivity of photographic emulsion to facilitate development under comparatively bright light.
Developer
In photography, the chemical agent and process used to render photographic images visible after exposure to light. In lithographic platemaking, the material used to remove the unexposed coating.
Diazo
In offset platemaking, a coating used on presensitized and wipe-on plates.
Die
The form that contains the rules which are surrounded and held in place with wood. Those cutting tools to die-cut a specific part or parts. Generic term for least seven classes (types) of knife-edged cutting forms for use with a variety of presses to produce cut parts of consistent sizes from a wide scope of principally non-metallic materials.
Dieboard
Used as the carrier for steel rule in cutting dies, usually hardwood plywood.
Die classes
An as yet undetermined number of cutting die types. These may be combined to form hybrid types of dies; these may be used successfully on more than one type of press. Most are made for one type of press. The best known types of dies, along with their variously known names are: forged die, steel rule die, flex die, machine die, mallet die, conglomerate die, and blanking die.
Die-cutting
The process of using sharp steel rules to cut special shapes for labels, boxes and containers from printed sheets. Die-cutting can be done on either flatbed or rotary presses. Rotary die-cutting is usually done in line with the printing.
Die cutting press
Machine that holds the die, blanks or cuts the material into piece parts.
Die cutting surface
Area to be die cut.
Die cylinder
In rotary die cutting, the rotating shaft that holds the die.
Die making
The process of forming or manufacturing a cutting die. The action of manufacturing any of the die classes; to make a cutting die for converting purposes.
Dies bending
Male and female bending dies used to accomplish desired angle or curves when bending rule.
Die-stamping
An intaglio process for the production of letterheads, cards, etc., printing from lettering or other designs engraved into copper or steel.
Die steel
(a) The strip steel used in making forged dies. (b) The strip used in making flex dies. (c) The flat ground stock used in making some machine dies.
Die stock Same as die steel.
Diffusion
A spreading out of equalized dispersion of a material, force or condition into the surrounding medium; as, the diffusion of heat by conduction; the diffusion of light through a translucent material or reflection from a rough surface; the diffusion of gases, liquids or granular solids into the surrounding medium.
Diffusion sheet
Frosted mylar used for dual purpose of flaring dots as an aid to registration and duping spreads and shrinks.
Digital color proof
An off-press color proof produced from digital data without the need for separation films.
Digital plates
Printing plates that can be exposed by lasers or other high energy sources driven by digital data in a platesetter.
Digital printing
Printing by plateless imaging systems that are imaged by digital data from prepress systems.
Digitized typesetting
In typographic imaging, the creation of typographic characters and symbols by the arrangements of black-and-white spots called pixels or pels.
Digitizer
A computer peripheral device that converts an analog signal (images or sound) into a digital signal.
Dilatent
Having the property of increasing in viscosity with increase in shear. Dilatent fluids are solid or highly viscous when stirred, and fluid when undisturbed. The condition can occur in flexo inks but is normally considered highly undesirable and one to be avoided through formulation.
Dimensional stability
Ability to maintain size; resistance of paper or film to dimensional change with change in moisture content or relative humidity.
Direct screen halftone
In color separation, a halftone negative made by direct exposure from the original on an enlarger or by contact through a halftone screen.
Dispersion
A uniform distribution of solid particles in a vehicle by mixing or milling.
Display type
In composition, type set larger than the text.
Distributing rollers
Rubber covered rollers which convey ink from the fountain onto the ink drum of a printing press.
Doctor blade
A sharp edged device used to wipe the surface of an etched cylinder.
Doctor roller
In lithography, the roller in both inking and dampening mechanisms on a press which
alternately contacts fountain roller and vibrating drum roller.
Dot
The individual element of a halftone.
Dot etching
In photography, chemically reducing halftone dots to vary the amount of color to be printed. Dot etching on negatives increases color; dot etching on positives reduces color.
Dot Loss
Disappearance or reduction of a dot, either during exposure, development, or on the press.
Dot gain
In printing, a defect in which dots print larger than they should, causing darker tones or stronger colors.
Dots per inch (dpi)
A measure of the resolution of a screen image or printed page. Spots per inch (spi) is a more appropriate term.
Double dot halftone
In lithography, two halftone negatives combined into one printing plate, having greater tonal range than a conventional halftone. One negative reproduces the highlights and shadows; the other
reproduces middletones. This should not be confused with duotones, or printing with two black plates.
Double-double facet
In steel rule, a centered cutting edge with a 2 star bevel on each side.
Draw-down
In inkmaking, a term used to describe ink chemist’s method of roughly determining color shade. A small glob of ink is placed on paper and drawn down with the edge of a putty knife spatula to get a thin film of ink.
Drier
In inkmaking, chemicals used in inks to accelerate oxidation which makes the inks harder.
Drop-out
Portions of originals that do not reproduce, especially colored lines or background areas (often on purpose).
Dryer
The auxiliary unit of printing press through which the printed substrate travels and is dried.
Dryback
The change in print density, color, or finish of an ink film as it dries, generally attributed to a decrease in gloss.
Dry strength
Strength of paperboard at standard conditions.
Dry-up
See catching up.
Dummy
A preliminary layout showing the position of illustrations and text as they are to appear in final reproduction. A set of blank pages made up in advance to show the size, shape, form and general style of a piece of printing.
Duotone
A two-color halftone reproduction from a monochrome original and requiring two halftone negatives at proper screen angles. One image is usually in black ink and the other in color.
Dupe
To create an identical duplicate of an original piece of film.
Duplex paper
Paper having a different color or finish on each side.
Duplicating film
A film for making positives from positives, and negatives from negatives. In color reproduction, a special film used for making duplicates to film or paper transparencies.
Duplicator paper
A smooth, hard-surface paper made for use on spirit duplicators.
Dusting
Offset press blanket whitening which may occur predominantly in early press units as an accumulation of fiber or coating dust on the press blanket.
DX
Double burn, can also mean any one of several additional exposures two times.
Dynamic range
Density difference between highlights and shadows of scanned subjects.
Elasticity
The property of substance which enables it to return to its original size or shape after being stretched or deformed.
Electronic dot generation (EDG)
A method of producing halftones electronically on scanners and prepress systems.
Electrophotography
Image transfer systems used in copiers to produce images using electrostatic forces. Electrofax uses a zinc oxide coating: Xerography uses a selenium surface.
Electrotype
Duplicate relief plate used for letterpress printing.
Elliptical dot
In halftone photography, elongated dots which give improved graduation of tones particularly in middle tones and vignettes-also called chain dots.
EM
In composition, the square of a type body. So named because the letter “m” in early fonts was usually cast on a square body.
Embossed finish
Paper with a raised or depressed surface resembling wood, cloth, leather or other pattern.
Embossing
Impressing an image in relief to achieve a raised surface; either overprinting or on blank paper (called blind embossing).
Embossing Die
Engraved or cast.
Emulsion
A type of mixture wherein two or more immiscible (or unmixable) materials are held together in a homogenous mixture by the action of a third agent. The term “emulsifying agent” is applied to the material which is added to hold the emulsion. Differs from a solution in which one material is dissolved in another.
Emulsion side
In Photography, the side of the film coated with the silver halide emulsion.
Emulsion to emulsion
To contact printing of photographic films or film to plates, emulsion is exposed to a light source.
EN
One-half the width of an em.
Enamel
A term applied to a coated paper or to a coating material on a paper.
Envelope die
All steel die to cut envelope.
English Finish
A grade of book paper with a smoother, more uniform surface than machine finish.
Engraving
A general term normally applied to any pattern which has been cut in or incised in a surface by hand, mechanical or etching processes.
Etch
In photoengraving, to produce an image on a plate by chemical or electrolytic action. In offset lithography, an acidified gum solution used to desensitize the non-printing areas of the plate; also, an acid solution added to the fountain water to help keep non-printing areas of the plate free from ink.
Evaporation
The changing from the liquid to the gaseous or vapor state, as the solvent leaves the printed ink film.
Exposure
The step in photographic processes during which light produces the image on the light-sensitive coating.
Extended type
A type whose width is greater than normal.
Extenders
Any material added to an ink to reduce its color strength and/or velocity.
Extrusion
The production of a continuous sheet or film (or other shapes not connected with flexography) by forcing hot thermoplastic material through a dye or orifice.
Extrusion coating
A process whereby paper stock is coated by extrusion, normally plastic such as polyethylene; extrusion laminating.
Extrusion coating process
This process uses an extruder to apply plastic coating (i.e. polyethylene) at elevated temperatures to a moving web of paper.
FPM
Abbreviation for feet per minute; a measure of surface speed.
Face
The printing surface is a piece of type.
Facsimile
The exact reproduction of a letter, document or signature. Sometime abbreviated as “facsim” or “fax”.
Fadeometer
An instrument used to measure the fading properties of inks and other pigmented coatings.
Fanout
In printing, distortion of paper on the press due to waviness in the paper caused by absorption of moisture at the edges of the paper, particularly across the grain.
Feeder
In printing presses, the section that separates the sheets and feeds them in position for printing.
Felt side
The smoother side of the paper for printing. The top side of the sheet in paper manufacturing.
Fibreboard
The general term applied to fabricated material used in container manufacture. May be of either corrugated or solid construction.
Fibreboard (solid)
Container board made of two or more plies of paperboard laminated into a solid sheet. Thicknesses generally range from .005 to .120 inches.
Filler
A substance added to the pulp stock to occupy the spaces between fibers.
Filling in (or filling up)
In letter presses or offset lithography, a condition where ink fills the area between the halftone dots or plugs up (fills in) the type.
Film
A photographic emulsion coated on a flexible translucent or transparent plastic base.
Film gauge
A number indicative of the thickness of films.
Film processor
Photographic developer machine which also fixes, rinses, and dries line and halftone film.
Filter
A device, commonly of gelatin or glass placed between the subject being photographed and the photographic material in order to reduce or eliminate light of certain colors while allowing light of other colors to reach the emulsion.
Finish, dry
A finish on paper or paperboard that has not been dampened or steamed before going through the calendar rolls.
Finish, matte
A dull finish; flat.
Finish, satin
A type of dull finish, somewhat finer and glossier than matte.
Finish, supercalendar
A smooth high finish applied to paper by running it through a calendar stack, providing a better printing surface, finer than a calendar finish.
Finnish dieboards
Die lumber from Finland-usually die birch.
Fitting rule
Process of fabricating the rule, length, shape, etc. into the die.
Fixer
A chemical solution which removes the unexposed silver salts in an emulsion without affecting the metallic silver which has been deposited by the developer. This renders the photographic image permanent.
Fixing
Chemical action following development to remove unexpo