The ability of a material to take up moisture

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

An acid-proof protective coating applied to metal plates prior to etching designs thereon. Bichromated solutions employed in photoengraving as sensitizers provide acid resist through the action of light on sensitized surface.

Large white areas in a design layout.

A coated paper used in photography; the coating is made of albumen (egg whites) and ammonium chloride.

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

A term for a random, coincidental path or a row of white space within a segment of copy.

The measured length (in points) of the lowercase alphabet of a certain size and series of type.

An organization that correlates all paper related information.

In lithography, a plate manufactured with a barrier of aluminum oxide, which prevents chemical reactions that break down the plate; it provides optimum press performance.

An eleventh century Italian script typeface.

Paper with a rough, sized surface used for book and cover stock.

An antioxidant agent used to prevent inks from skinning over in the can.

The white area of text (or illustrations) at the margins which form a foldout.

Water soluble plate coatings, which are less toxic and less polluting.

Those elements of letters that branch out from the stem of a letter, such as: "K" and "Y".

A symbol shaped like an arrowhead that is used in illustration to direct a leader line. Reference, leader line

Any materials or images that are prepared for graphic reproduction.

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

In gravure printing, (recessed areas of plate hold ink), a term used for proofs showing the final position of color images.

Any part of a lower case letter which rises above the main body of the letter such as in "d", "b" and "h".

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

Coated papers that are regarded as exceptional for multi-colored printing jobs.

Any photo materials which provide positive images without a negative.

The light blue color used in the nomenclature of "laid" and "wove" papers.

An abbreviation for boldface, used to determine where boldface copy is to be used. Reference, boldface.

A term referring to the margin which lies closest to the back of the book.

The collation of book signatures according to reference marks which are printed on the back fold of each section.

Print applied to both sides of a sheet of paper.

That portion of the binding, which connects the front of the book with the back of the book; also called "back".

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

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

Marks printed on signatures that indicate where the final fold will occur. When gathering and initial folding is completed, these marks appear as a stepped sequence.

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.

The support onto which printing plates is fixed.

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.

The steel flat table of a cylinder printing press upon which the type sits during the printing process.

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

Refers to the film portion of the color separation process that prints black; increases the contrast of neutral tones.

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

A printing method in which there are two blanket cylinders through which a sheet of paper is passed and printed on both sides.

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.

Page number not printed on page.

Although seemingly dry, paper does contain approximately 5% moisture. In cases where there is excessive moisture, and the paper is passed through a high heat-drying chamber, the moisture within the paper actually boils and causes a bubble or blistering effect.

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

Any enlargement of photos, copies or line art.

Photographic proof made from flats for checking accuracy, layout and imposition before plates are made. Also known as a dylux.

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.

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

A grade of durable writing, printing and typing paper that has a standard size of 17x22 inches.

A general classification to describe papers used to print books; its standard size is 25x38 inches. A printed work which contains more than 64 pages.

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 lightweight paper used expressly for covering paper boxes.

A glossy coated paper used to cover paper boxes.

A coated paper used on the inside of boxes, which are used for food.

A board paper of various thickness; having a smooth finish and used for printing and drawing.

A term given to the fold whereby paper is folded with the short side running with the grain.

A heavily embossed paper.

A pamphlet that is bound in booklet form.

A term used to define the number of pages per inch of a book relative to its given basis weight.

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

A term used in plate making to describe the amount of plate exposure time.

Creating a polished finish on paper by rubbing with stone or hand smoothing a surface.

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

The measurement of thickness of paper expressed in thousandths of an inch or mils.

A term given to any copy, artwork etc., that is prepared for photographic reproduction.

An imaginary horizontal line running across the tops of capital letters.

Instructions in the typesetting process that indicate the use of a capital letter to start a sentence and the rest of the letters in lower case.

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

A pigment made of elemental carbon and ash.

Books bound using hard board (case) covers.

A paper that is coated and then pressure dried using a polished roller which imparts an enamel like hard gloss finish.

Lines that appear on laid paper as a result of the wires of the papermaking machine.

A term used to describe the quality of print on paper where the absorption of the paper is so great that it breaks up the ink image creating loose pigment dust.

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

(old) Frame of steel, or cast or wrought iron, in which images are locked up for printing.

A screen that utilizes a concentric circle pattern as opposed to dots used for halftones and to allow the platemaker to set exact screen angles.

Halftone screens commonly used in newsprint; up to 85 lines per inch.

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.

Any color that moves toward the blue side in the color spectrum.

To gather sheets or signatures together in their correct order. (see Gather)

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

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.

Space between two or more columns of type on one page.

Color registration measured within plus or minus one row of dots.

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

A narrow, elongated type face.

Image made of non-discernable picture elements which give appearance of continuous spectrum of grey values or tones.

The degree of tonal separation or gradation in the range from black to white.

Refers to any typewritten material, art, photos etc., to be used for the printing process.

A board upon which the copy is pasted for the purpose of photographing.

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.

Delamination.

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.

Marks of fine lines, which intersect to indicate accurate alignment of art elements.

A term used to describe the effect of ink from an image, rule or line art on one printed page, which carries over to another page of a bound work.

Not lying flat and tending to form into cylindrical or wavy shapes. A term to describe the differences of either side of a sheet relative to coatings, absorbency etc.; the concave side is the curl side.

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 gap in the cylinders of a press where the grippers or blanket clamps is housed.

A dampening system for printing presses which utilizes more alcohol (25%) and less water; this greatly reduces the amount of paper that is spoiled.

An essential part of the printing process whereby cloth covered rubber rollers distributes the dampening solution to the plate.

During the paper making process while the paper is still 90% water, it passes over a wire mesh cylinder (dandy roll), which imparts surface textures on the paper such as wove or laid. This is also the stage where the watermark is put onto the paper.

The rough or feathered edge of paper when left untrimmed.

An instruction given to remove an element from a layout.

A term that describes a standard sized printing paper measuring 17.5 x 22.5 in.

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.

A term that describes that portion of lower case letters which extends below the main body of the letter, as in "p".

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 qualities of paper to stabilize its original size when undergoing pressure or exposed to moisture.

Any type that stands out from the rest of the type on a page which attracts attention of the reader.

In the printing process, the rubber coated rollers responsible for the distribution of ink from the fountain to the ink drum.

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.

A method used by ink makers to determine the color, quality and tone of ink. It entails the drawing of a spatula over a drop of ink, spreading it flat over the paper.

A term that describes any additives to ink which encourages the drying process.

The actual drilling of holes into paper for ring or comb binding.

Page number printed at foot of page.

A shadow image placed strategically behind an image to create the affect of the image lifting off the page.

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 finish of paper surface that resembles an eggshell achieved by omitting the calendar process. Reference, calendar rolls.

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 unit of measurement equaling 12 points or 4.5mm.

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 light sensitive substance used as a coating for film; made from a silver halide compound. This side should face the lens when the film is exposed.

A term that describes a glossy coating on paper.

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

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.

The process of producing an image on a plate by the use of acid.

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

The smoother side of paper, usually a soft weave pattern used for book papers.

It is the top side of the sheet in the paper making process that does not lie on the Fourdrinier wire.

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

The surface quality of paper.

The registration of items within a given page.

Markings at top edges that show where folds should occur.

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.

The characters which make up a complete typeface and size.

The rollers that come into direct contact with the plate of a printing press.

Folder with printing on one side so that when folded once in each direction, the printing on outside of the folds.

A halo that appears around halftone dots.

The bundling of two or more different printing projects on the same sheet of paper.

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

Image which appears as a lighter area on a subsequent print due to local blanket depressions from previous image areas on a letterpress rotary machine as well as on an offset press.

A strong transparent paper.

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 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.

The application of gum arabic to the non printing areas of a plate.

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.

The effect in a photograph where a dot has such a small degree of halation that the dot shows quite sharp.

Imperfections in presswork due to dirt on press, trapping errors, etc.

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

This is a term that refers to a paper that a printer keeps on hand in his shop.

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.

A relatively thick paper stock; basis size---25 1/2 x 30 1/2.

Markings pre-printed on mailing envelopes to replace the stamp.

The device which stores and meters ink to the inking rollers.

Extra printed pages inserted loosely into printed pieces.

A coated stock finished in mother-of-pearl.

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.

The printing plate that is used as a guide for the other plates in the color printing process; it usually has the most detail.

A parallel lined paper that has a handmade look.

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.

Printing that utilizes inked raised surfaces to create the image.

Any copy that can be reproduced without the use of halftone screens.

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

A paper that is coated with a special water-resistant material which is able to withstand the lithographic process.

The process of printing that utilizes flat inked surfaces to create the printed images.

The actual weight of 1000 sheets of any given size of paper.

Paper that has had a coating applied to either one or two of its sides during the papermaking process.

Black pigments containing black iron oxides, used for magnetic ink character recognition.

Process of adjusting final plate on the press to fine tune or modify plate surface.

Imprinted space around edge of page.

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

The width of type as measured in picas. Reference, picas.

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

An undesirable halftone pattern produced by the incorrect angles of overprinting halftone screens.

A term used to describe spotty or uneven ink absorption.

A term to describe papers that have a color similar to that of wood; also called cream, off-white or ivory.

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.

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.

Indirect printing method in which the inked image on the press-plate is first printed onto a rubber blanket, then in turn offsets the inked impression on to the sheet of 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.

Ink that completely covers any ink under itself.

Surplus of copies printed.

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

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

A sheet that is larger than the cut stock of the same paper.

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

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.

The main pigment in the manufacture of cyan ink.

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

An occurrence in printing whereby the tack of ink pulls fibers or coating off the paper surface, leaving spots on the printed surface.

A build up of pigment or paper coatings onto the plate, blankets or rollers.

Using metal pins fitted into preset holes of copy sheets, films, plates and presses that will assure the proper registration.

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

The cylinder on a printing press on which the plate is mounted.

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.

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.

The quality of papers to show reproduced printed images.

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.

500 sheets of paper.

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

A title at the top of a page that appears on all pages of a book or chapter of a book.

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 paper that shows sign of erasure so that it cannot be altered or tampered with easily.

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.

Unwanted ink marks in the non-image area.

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 printing of two different images on two different sides of a sheet of paper by turning the page over after the first side is printed and using the same gripper and side guides.

A problem that occurs when the printing on one side of a sheet is seen from the other side.

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

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

That quality of paper defined by its levelness which allows for pressure consistency in printing, assuring uniformity of print.

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

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

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

Any petroleum based waterproof papers with a high tensile strength.

The adhesive quality of inks.

A dense, strong paper stock.

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.

The rough surfaced finish of papers such as vellum or antique.

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.

A term used to describe how many similar sheets can be produced on a larger sheet; two up, four up, etc.

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

A finish of paper that is rough, bulky and has a degree of tooth.

Fade to white or small decorative design or illustration. A photo or illustration etc., in which the tones fade gradually away until they blend with the surface they are printed on.

An abbreviation for work and back. Reference, sheetwise.

An abbreviation for work and turn.

The procedure of cleaning a particular ink from all of the printing elements (rollers, plate, ink fountain etc.) of a press.

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.

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.

That side of the paper which lies on the wire screen side of the papermaking machine.

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

A smooth paper made on finely textured wire that gives the paper a gentle patterned finish.

Another name for bond paper.