Knight Printing Glossary, Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Definitions

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4C

Color printing by means of the three subtractive primary colors (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow) and Black superimposed; the colors of the original having been separated by a photographic or electronic process. Also referred to as Full Color or Four Color Process.

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A

Absorption

In paper, the property that causes it to take up liquids or vapors in contact with it. In optics, the partial suppression of light through a transparent or translucent material.

Accordion Fold

Sometimes called a “Z” fold, this bindery term means two or more parallel folds which open like an accordion.

Adobe Acrobat

Software package created by Adobe for converting any document to an Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) file. Anyone can open your document across a broad range of hardware and software using the downloadable, free software Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Adobe Type 1 font

see postscript font.

AE

Account Executive. These are the sales force teammates that show the face of Knight Printing to the world.

Against the Grain

Printing at right angles to the direction of paper grain. This will cause folding problems. One way to work around folding against the grain is to score the paper before folding.

AM

Ante Meridiem. Before noon.

Art Paper

This is a term used to describe the best quality of coated papers that have a coating of china clay or other mineral applied to each side of the sheet, which is then 'calendered' by steel rollers to give a gloss finish.

Artifact

Compression artifact. A compression artifact is the result of an aggressive data compression scheme applied to an image, that discards some data which is determined by an algorithm to be of lesser importance to the overall content but which is nonetheless discernible to the human eye and is considered undesirable to the user.

Artwork

Text, graphic and illustrations arranged individually or in any combination for subsequent printing.

ASCII

American Standard Code for Information Interchange, pronounced “ask-ee,” it is the built-in binary code for representing characters in all computers except IBM mainframes, which use the EBCDIC coding system. ASCII was originally developed for communications and uses only seven bits per character, providing 128 combinations that include upper and lower case alphabetic letters, the numeric digits and special symbols such as the $ and %. The first 32 characters are set aside for communications and printer control.

Attachment

When referring to e-mail, an electronic file placed within an e-mail for the purpose of sending through the Internet.

Aqueous

An aqueous coating is a fast-drying, water-based, protective coating which is applied while the paper stock is on the press.

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B

Banding

When the changes from screen percentage to screen percentage in a gradient can be seen, instead of a solid blending from dark to light or from color to color.

Bind

To fasten sheets or signatures with wire, thread, glue, or by other means.

Bindery

Place where final trimming, stitching/stapling, order-form insertion, and any necessary off-press folding is done.

Bitmap

A computer image made up of dots or pixels that print with a jagged image. For quality print image must be translated to raster images.

Black

A four color process ink, the K or Key Plate in CMYK.

Black-and-White

Originals or reproductions in single color, as distinguished from multicolor.

Blanket

In offset printing, a rubber-surfaced fabric that is clamped around a cylinder, to which the image is transferred from the plate and from which it is transferred to the paper.

Bleed

Ink which prints beyond the trim edge of the page, created for the purpose of allowing ink to extend to the edge of the page after trimming. Without bleed, cutting the product becomes extremely difficult and may sacrifice the quality of the product. For best results, create 1/8" (.125) bleed (past trim edge) on all edges where bleed is desired.

Blind Embossing

A strong letterpress impression of an uninked image on the back of a sheet of paper. The image is raised.

Blocking

In binding, to impress or stamp a design upon the cover. The design can be blocked in colored inks, gold leaf or metal foil.

BMP

Bitmap file, also known as a "bump" file, it is the native, bitmapped graphics format in Windows. A BMP can be saved in several color options: 1-, 4-, 8- and 24-bit color provide 2, 16, 256 and 16,000,000 colors respectively. BMP files use the .BMP or .DIB file extensions (DIB stands for Device-Independent Bitmap). BMP files are not recommended for commercial printing usage.

Bond Paper

A grade of writing or printing paper where strength, durability and permanence are essential requirements; used for letterheads, business forms, etc.

Brightness

In photography, light reflected by the copy. In paper, the reflectance or brilliance of the paper.

Bulk

Thickness of paper.

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C

Caliper

The thickness of paper, usually expressed in thousandths of an inch (mills).

Camera-Ready Copy

An archaic term meaning print-ready, mechanical art.

Carbonless

Pressure sensitive writing paper that does not use carbon paper.

CASS

The Coding Accuracy Support System (CASS) is a service of the United States Postal Service for evaluating the accuracy of address matching software with respect to zip codes and carrier routes. CASS certification requires achieving a specific accuracy level and provides discounted mailing rates.

Cast Coated Papers

This paper has a very high gloss finish achieved by using a special coating and the surface is then polished by stainless steel drying cylinders.

CCITT

International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee. The CCITT Group 3 and Group 4 compression methods were developed by the International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee for the compression of bi-tonal document images. Like continuous-tone still images, document images can be stored and transmitted much more inexpensively if they are compressed. Originally, the CCITT's compression techniques were adopted by the developers of facsimile (fax) equipment. The techniques are also used heavily by the makers of general document storage and retrieval systems.

CD-ROM

Compact Disc Read Only Memory. In digital pre-press, a laser enclosed optical storage disc that can store 650 Megabytes to over 1 Gigabyte of data on a disc about the size of a traditional 5-inch floppy disk.

Center Justified

Type that is justified to the center of the left and right margins; the line lengths vary on both sides.

CMYK

Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key [Black]. Subtractive color model used in color printing. This color model is based on mixing pigments of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black in order to make other colors. The colors that are seen are from the part of reflected light that is not absorbed

Coated Paper

Paper with a surface coating to produce a smooth finish. Surfaces vary from matte or high gloss.

Collate

A finishing term for gathering paper in a precise order.

Color Bars

A line of colored blocks in a row or a single color placed at the tail of a press sheet and used to measure the density of color across the width of a press sheet.

Color Correction

Improving color separations by altering either the electronic file or the amount of color burned onto a plate or the amount of ink applied to a press sheet.

CMS

Color Matching System. A system of formulated ink colors used for communicating color.

Color Separations

The process of preparing artwork, photographs, transparencies, or computer-generated art for printing by separating color into the four primary printing colors: cyan, magenta, yellow and black.

Comb Bind

To plastic comb bind by inserting the comb into punched holes.

Comp

Comprehensive Layout. A layout or dummy that is carefully drawn or proofed to size showing all elements in correct size and position. Rendered to present a close approximation of the finished printed piece.

Compression

The shrinking, by software, of computer files to store information in less memory. Decompression is also done with software.

Continuous Tone

Any photograph or illustration that contains a range or gradation of tones in black and white or colors. Must be converted by a halftone screen or digitizing process of print.

Contrast

The tonal gradation between the highlights, middle tones, and shadows in an original or reproduction.

Crash Number

Numbering paper by pressing an image on the first sheet which is transferred to all parts of the printed set.

Crop

To cut off parts of a picture or image.

Crop Marks

Printed lines showing where to trim a printed sheet.

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.

CS

Creative Suite. A complete suite of professional graphics applications available from Adobe. The standard suite contains a raster graphics program, Adobe Photoshop, a vector graphics program, Adobe Illustrator, and a page layout program, Adobe InDesign.

CSR

Customer Service Representative. These are the folks who make sure that details about the job are known, and that the job is completed on schedule.

CSV

Comma Separated Values. A file format that is often used to exchange list or spreadsheet data between different applications. It is essentially an ASCII text file, where each "row" of data is represented by one line of type, and each "column" of data is delimited with commas.

CTP

Computer To Plate. CTP is an imaging technology used in modern printing processes. In this technology, an image created in a graphics application is output directly to a printing plate, bypassing the need for film. CTP ensures better registration, image-to-edge repeatability, and it reduces dot-gain.

Curl

In paper, the distortion of a sheet due to differences in structure or coatings from one side to the other, or to absorption of moisture on an offset press.

Cyan

Hue of a subtractive primary and a 4-color process ink (The "C" in CMYK). It reflects or transmits blue and green light and absorbs red light.

Cylinder Gap

In printing presses, the gap or space of a press where the mechanism for plate (or blanket), clamps and grippers (sheeted) is housed.

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D

DCS

Desktop Color Separation. A file format based on the EPS file format, DCS files contain separate EPS-files for each color separation. Today DCS files are often the cause of errors in generating PDFs, and are not recommended for use by Knight Printing.

Deckle Edge

The feathery, untrimmed edge (as it comes off the paper making machine) of a sheet of paper.

Densitometer

In photography, a photoelectric instrument which measures the density of photographic images, or of colors. In printing, a reflection desitometer 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.

Die

Metal rule or imaged block used to cut or place an image on paper in the finishing process.

Dieline

Digital file from which a Die is created. Knight Printing indicates the Dieline on complex proofs.

Die Stamping

An intaglio process of printing in which the resultant impression stands out in relief above the surface of the stamped material, either colored (using inks) or blink (that is, without color): relief stamping.

Die-cutting

Stamping out print with a custom made cutter to produce a folder or another individual shape.

Digital Printing

Printing performed on a digital copier, such as a laser color copier or Docutech.

Digital Proof

A proof delivered electronically, as opposed to physically. A proof output direct from the computer without first going to film, therefore colors are not 100% accurate. The most typical example is a PDF proof.

DM

Direct Mail. Includes all direct response advertising communications through mail or other delivery services including: catalogs, cards, card decks, letters, brochures, pamphlets, flyers, video tapes, audio tapes, diskettes, and promotional items.

Direct Marketing

Any direct communication to a consumer or business recipient that is designed to generate a response in the form of an order (direct order), a request for further information (lead generation), and/or a visit to a store or other place of business for purchase of specific product(s) or service(s) (traffic generation).

Direct-To-Plate

The process by which plates are created using information sent to a direct-to-plate device from a computer, bypassing film.

Dingbats

Bullets, arrows, stars and other typographic symbols and ornaments used as design elements or for emphasis.

Dot Gain or Spread

The enlargement of halftone dots on the press resulting in a loss of detail in the image.

DPI

Dots Per Inch. A linear unit of measurement used to give the resolution of non-impact page printers. Dots per inch is the equivalent to 'spots per inch' (spi).

Drilling

Holes made in pieces of print, normally for allowing print to be placed in a binder.

DSC

Document Structuring Conventions. A set of standards for PostScript, based on the use of comments, which primarily specifies a way to structure a PostScript file and a way to expose that structure in a machine-readable way. A PostScript file that conforms to DSC is called a conforming document.

Dummy

A blank “dummy” used to show size, shape, paper stock and general style of a piece before printing. A layout drawing (design) showing position of art, photos, text, folds, and die-cuts.

Duotone

A halftone picture made up of two printed colors.

Duplex Paper

Paper with different colors or finish on opposite sides.

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E

Ellipses

Three periods (...) used to indicate omission. Often used when editing and omitting copy from a quote.

Effective Resolution

Raster images have a specific resolution, scaling a raster image involves the distribution of available pixels across the designated space. Image resolution subsequent to scaling is referred to as effective resolution. If an image is enlarged, the size of each pixel must be increased — consequently, the enlarged image will have fewer pixels per inch (lower resolution). Conversely, if an image is reduced, the size of each pixel must be decreased (higher resolution). Effective resolution is a calculation of the actual resolution factored for the scaling performed in the page layout application. This is calculated by the equation: (Actual Image Resolution) / (scale) = Effective Resolution

Embossed Finish

Paper with a raised or depressed surface resembling wood, cloth, leather or other pattern.

Embossing

Pressing a pattern into a paper using a raised or etched relief.

EPS

Encapsulated PostScript. An image description format for storing object-oriented vector artwork. Can also store bitmaps. Fonts and picture files need not be loaded as they are “encapsulated” into the EPS code.

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F

Final Proof

The last proof before sending material to the printer, showing all corrections.

Finishing

This covers all operations after printing; also the hand operations of lettering and ornamenting the covers of a book.

Flood

To cover a printed page with ink, varnish or plastic coating completely.

Flush (left or right)

Flush left means the left ends of lines of type line up vertically; flush right means to line up the right ends of type.

FM

Fargo-Moorhead.

Foil

A metallic or pigmented coating on plastic sheets or rolls used in foil stamping and foil embossing/debossing.

Foil Emboss/Deboss

Foil stamping and embossing/debossing an image on paper with a die.

Foil Stamping

Using a die to place a metallic or pigmented image on paper.

Font

In typography, a font is traditionally defined as a complete character set of a single size of a particular typeface. For example, all characters for 9 point Bulmer is a font, and the 10 point size would be another font. Since the introduction of personal computers, and an accompanying larger group, not professionally trained in typography, using type, a broader definition has evolved. The term font is now often used as a metonym for a typeface.

Form Rollers

The rollers, either inking or dampening, which directly contact the plate on a printing press.

Fountain Solution

In lithography, a solution of water, a natural or synthetic gum and other chemicals used to dampen the plate and keep non-printing areas from accepting ink.

Four Color Process

Color printing by means of the three subtractive primary colors (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow) and Black superimposed; the colors of the original having been separated by a photographic or electronic process. Also referred to as 4C or Full Color.

FPO

For Position Only. FPO is the placement of a blank placeholder or a temporary low-resolution illustration in the required location and size on the camera ready artwork to indicate where an actual image is to be placed on the final film or plate. FPO images are commonly used when you’ve been supplied actual photographic prints or other type of artwork to be scanned or photographed for inclusion.

FTP

File Transfer Protocol. The process of sending or receiving files electronically through the Internet. Not to be confused with attaching an attachment to an e-mail, FTP is performed using an FTP client (software) or a Web page with FTP capabilities.

Full Color

Color printing by means of the three subtractive primary colors (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow) and Black superimposed; the colors of the original having been separated by a photographic or electronic process. Also referred to as 4C or Four Color Process.

Full Justification

Type that is justified to the right and left margins, creating no variation between line lengths on either end; except the last line, which is left justified.

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G

Gang Printing

Running off any number of different jobs on the same sheet. After printing, the sheet is cut in to individual jobs.

Ghosting

Occurs when a ghost image appears in the printed image. It results from inadequacies of the inking system, i.e. uneven ink take-off from the rollers. Ghosting always appears on the same side of the sheet that the printing takes place.

GIF

Graphics Interchange Format. A popular bitmapped graphics file format developed by CompuServe. Pronounced "giff" with a hard "g" by most Mac users and "jiff" by PC users, GIFs are widely used on the Web because the format uses its own form of compression. GIF supports 8-bit color (256 colors), but gets the most mileage out of its limited colors by using a built-in color palette.

Gloss

A shiny look, reflecting light.

Gradient

A transition of color, creating a blended change between screen percentages of a single color or between two different colors.

Grain of the Paper

Machine made paper is made up of many fibers, which in general, tend to line up in one direction due to the nature of the process. This produces a preferred direction or grain, along which it is easier to fold, bend, or tear the paper. Cut sheet laser printers generally use long grain paper in which the grain runs parallel to the long side of the paper.

Grayscale

The depiction of gray tones between black and white. A grayscale image contains no color other than black.

Gripper

In sheetfed printing presses, metal fingers that clamp on paper and control its flow as it passes through.

Gripper Edge

Margin on leading edge of a sheet of paper for press grippers to hold, feet and control paper.

Gumming

In platemaking, the process of applying a thin coating of gum to the non-printing areas of a lithographic plate.

Gutter

1) Inner page margins between type and binding edge. 2) White space between columns of type.

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H

Halftone

The reproduction of continuous-tone-images, through a screening process, which converts the image into dots of various sizes and equal spacing between centers or dots of equal size with variable spacing between them.

Hard Copy

The output of a computer printer, or typed text sent for typesetting.

Head

The edge of the press sheet which enters the press first.

Hickeys

In offset lithography, spots or imperfections in the printing due to dirt on the press, dried ink skin, paper particles, etc.

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I

Image Area

Portion of paper on which ink can appear.

Imposition

The order in which the pages of a printed product are placed so that they appear in the right order after folding.

Impression

Putting an image on paper.

Impression Cylinder

In printing, the cylinder on a printing press against which the paper picks up the impression from the inked plate in direct printing, or the blanket in offset printing.

Imprint

Adding copy to a previously printed page.

Inc.

Incorporated.

Indicia

A postal marking used rather than a stamp or a regular cancellation on each item in a large shipment of prepaid mail.

InDesign

A professional page-layout application from Adobe.

Ink-jet

Computer-generated ink droplets that apply ink through a small orifice to form characters; often used for purposes of personalization.

Ink-jet printing

In digital printing, a plateless printing system that produces images directly on paper from digital data using streams of very fine drops of dyes which are controlled by digital signals to produce images on paper.

Insert

Leaflet or other printed material inserted loose in a publication or mailing package.

Inserter

Mailing equipment that inserts letters into envelopes.

Inset

Leaflet or other printed material bound in with the pages of a publication rather than inserted loose.

ISAL

International Surface Air Lift.

ISO

International Standards Organization.

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J

JDF

Job Definition Format. JDF, describes the intent of a printed piece, as well as each process step required to achieve that intent. It is essentially a self-directed electronic job jacket that holds the job content, and instructions to interact with JDF-enabled devices, automatically routing the job through each workflow step.

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)

A compression technique for reducing the amount of data needed to describe a full color bit map.

Jr

Junior.

Justification

Justification (can also be referred to as ‘full justification’) is the typographic alignment setting of text and/or images within a column or “measure” to align along both the left and right margin. Text set this way is said to be “justified” as opposed to flush left/ragged right, flush right/ragged left, or centered.

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K

Kerning

In typography, kerning, or less commonly, mortising (referring to the process of physically removing material from the cast character), is the process of adjusting letter spacing in a proportional font. In a well-kerned font, the two-dimensional blank spaces between each pair of letters all have similar area.

Key Plate

In printing, a key plate was the plate which printed the detail in an image. When printing color images by combining multiple colors of inks, the colored inks usually did not contain much image detail. The key plate, which was usually impressed using black ink, provided the lines and/or contrast of the image. However, in two-color images where neither color was black, the key plate might have been printed in the darker of the two colors.

Kiss Die Cut

To cut the top layer of a pressure-sensitive sheet and not the backing. Sticker sheets use this technique.

Knock Out

To mask out any area of ink.

KP

Knight Printing.

KPC

Knight Printing Company.

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L

LACS

Locatable Address Conversion System. Updates mailing lists when addresses have been converted by local authorities (I.E. Renumbering of houses or addresses converted from rural style to city style addresses, usually as a result of a 9-1-1 conversion effort). It improves deliverability and enables you to identify potential duplicates between name and address records that have the original address and those that are already using the new converted address.

Laid Paper

Paper with a pattern of parallel lines at equal distances, giving a ribbed effect.

Laminating

The application of transparent plastic film, usually with a high-gloss finish, to the surface of printed matter to enhance its appearance and to increase it durability.

Landscape

Oblong paper, having its long sides at head and foot.

Laser

Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. A laser is an electronic-optical device that produces coherent radiation. A typical laser emits light in a narrow, low-divergence beam and with a well-defined wavelength. This is in contrast to a light source such as the incandescent light bulb, which emits into a large solid angle and over a wide spectrum of wavelength.

Laser Printer

A printer that works on the same principle as a photocopy machine, but instead of reflective light uses a laser beam to create the latent image on the photo-electrostatic media.

Layout

The overall design of a page, spread, or book, including elements such as page and type size, typeface, and the arrangement of titles and page numbers. In platemaking, a sheet indicating the settings for a step-and-repeat machine.

Left-justified

Type leaves clean lines on the left side, but leaves ragged edges on the right side.

LPI

Lines Per Inch. A measurement of printing resolution in systems that use a halftone screen. Specifically, it is a measure of how close together the lines in a halftone grid are. Higher LPI indicates greater detail and sharpness. Sometimes referred to as line screen, screen frequency, or simply screen.

Lithographic Printing

A process in which the printing and non-printing surface are on the same plane and the substrate makes contact with the whole surface. The printing part of the surface is treated to receive and transmit ink to the paper, usually via a blanket, the non-printing surface is treated to attract water and thus rejects inks from the ink roller, which touches the whole surface.

Logo

A logo is a graphical element, (ideogram, symbol, emblem, icon, sign) that, together with its logotype form a trademark or commercial brand. Typically, a logo’s design is for immediate recognition, inspiring trust, admiration, loyalty and an implied superiority. The logo is one aspect of a company’s commercial brand, and its shapes, colors, fonts, and images usually are different from others in a similar market. Logos are also used to identify organizations and other, non-commercial entities.

Logotype

Special design of the advertisers name (or product name) in a uniquely set and arranged typeface.

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M

Magenta

Hue of a subtractive primary and a 4-color process ink. It reflects or transmits blue and red light and absorbs green light (The “M” in CMYK).

Makeready

All the activities required to prepare a press for printing.

Mask

Blocking light from reaching parts of a printing plate, or hiding areas of an image.

Matte

A dull look, reflecting light poorly.

Matte Coated Paper

This paper has calcium carbonate added in its production to make a more satin effect from an art paper. These papers, due to the process, are more prone to rubbing when printed and need to be sealed.

MB

MegaBytes. One million bytes (1,000,000 bytes or 1,048,576 bytes) of data.

Middle Tones

The tonal range between highlights and shadows of a photograph or reproduction.

MN

Minnesota.

Moiré

In color process printing, the undesirable screen pattern caused by incorrect screen angles of overprinting halftones.

MSCTC

Minnesota State Community and Technical College.

MSUM

Minnesota State University Moorhead.

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N

NCOA

National Change Of Address. NCOA^LINK™ processing updates addresses in a mailing list for anyone that has filed a Change of Address with the Postal Service in the last 18 months, so your mailing goes to the correct address. NCOA^LINK™ processing is performed on all mailing lists supplied to Knight Printing’s mail house free of charge.

ND

North Dakota.

NDSU

North Dakota State University.

Negative

In photography, film containing an image in which the values of the original are reversed so that the dark areas in the subject appear light on the film and vice versa.

Newsprint

Mechanical pulp print paper containing a small percentage of chemical wood pulp. Mechanical pulp is produced by grinding wood mechanically and is used in cheaper papers

Nonimpact Printer

A class of printers that form images without striking the page, such as thermal, ink jet, or electrostatic.

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O

Offset Printing

Printing performed on a traditional press, where plates mounted onto rollers are used to transfer ink onto paper.

Offsetting

Using an intermediate surface used to transfer ink. Also, an unpleasant happening when the images of freshly printed sheets transfer images to each other.

Opacity

The amount of show-through on a printed sheet. The more opacity—or the thicker the paper—the less show-through. Also, a setting for transparency effects in modern graphics applications, where 100% opacity is no transparency, and 0% opacity is completely transparent.

OPI

Open Prepress Interface. An extension to PostScript developed by Aldus Corporation, which was later acquired by Adobe. OPI improves the performance of prepress systems by reducing data. Images are scanned as high-resolution TIFF graphics and saved until they are needed for output, a low-resolution TIFF of the same graphic is created to be used during the design phase for position only. Using the FPO version makes layout much more efficient because the low-resolution graphics require a smaller portion of the computer's resources, allowing it to operate more efficiently. When the layout is complete and ready for output, the low resolution FPO images are automatically swapped with the high-resolution versions on the print server just before the file is sent to the RIP.

OSX

Macintosh Operating System Ten, often referred to as OSX, or Mac OS X.

OTF

OpenType Font. Cross-platform font file format developed jointly by Adobe and Microsoft. The two main benefits of the OpenType format are its cross-platform compatibility (the same font file works on Macintosh and Windows computers), and its ability to support widely expanded character sets and layout features, which provide richer linguistic support and advanced typographic control. OpenType fonts have the extension .otf.

On Demand

Usually refers to printing output only when it is needed instead of having it stored on the shelf.

OCR

Optical Character Reader. Electronic scanning device that can read characters, either typed with a special OCR font or computer created, and convert these characters to magnetic form.

Overrun

Copies printed in excess of the specified quantity.

Overs

See overrun.

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P

Page Count

Total number of pages in a book, including blanks.

PC

Personal Computer. Generally this is used to refer to personal computers that are running the Windows operating system, as opposed to MacOS.

PDF

Portable Document Format. File format which describes a 2D document, encapsulating fonts, layout, and bitmap images.

PDF/X

A subset of the PDF file format that is used to guarantee compatibility without human intervention.

PDF/X-1, PDF/X-1a

RGB and LAB color spaces are not permitted. PDF/X-1a also prohibits OPI color separation and encryption.

PDF/X-2

Superset of PDF/X-3 but designed to support a dialogue between supplier and printer.

PDF/X-3

Similar to PDF/X-1 except that RGB and LAB color spaces are permitted. Introduced before PDF/X-2.

Perfect

Method of printing.

Perfect Binding

Method of binding in which pages are held together and fixed to the cover by means of a flexible adhesive. Widely used for paperback books.

Perfecting Press

A printing press that prints both sides of a sheet or web in one operation.

Perf

Perforation. Running a dotted score into paper to allow the paper to be pulled apart.

pH

Per hydron or per hydrogen, also power of the hydrogen. pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. A value of 7 is neutral in a scale ranging from 0 to 14. Solutions with a pH less than seven are acidic, greater than seven are basic (alkaline).

Picking

In printing, the lifting of the paper surface during printing. It occurs when pulling force (tack) of ink is greater than surface strength of paper.

PICT

PICT format is a meta-format that can be used for both bitmap images and vector images. PICT files are primarily used to exchange graphics between various Macintosh applications. The PICT format is not an ideal file format in prepress applications.

Pixelation

Pixelation is an effect caused by displaying a raster image or a section of a raster image at such a large size that individual pixels, small single-colored square display elements that comprise the raster image, are visible to the eye, a picture that this has happened to has been pixelated.

px

Pixels (picture elements), also abbreviated pix. A pixel is a single point in a graphic image. Each such information element is not really a dot, nor a square, but an abstract sample.

Plate

An object, onto which an image is burned using light, which is placed onto a press for the use of printing ink onto paper.

Plate Cylinder

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

Plug-in

A software utility that performs a specific task.

PMS

Pantone Matching System. A proprietary color space used in a variety of industries, primarily printing, though sometimes in the manufacture of colored paint, fabric and plastics. Pantone colors are specified by numbers such as PANTONE 185 C, or names such as PANTONE Reflex Blue C.

PNG

Portable Network Graphic. A bitmapped graphics file format endorsed by the World Wide Web Consortium. It is expected to eventually replace the GIF format. PNG provides advanced graphics features such as 48-bit color, including an alpha channel, built-in gamma and color correction, tight compression and the ability to display at one resolution and print at another. PNG graphics are not recommended for commercial printing, the format was developed for use on the World Wide Web.

pt

Point. For paper, a unit of thickness equaling 1/1000 inch; for typesetting, a unit of height equaling 1/72 inch.

Portrait

Oblong paper, having its short sides at head and foot.

POS

Point Of Sale.

Positive

In photography, film containing an image in which the dark and light values are the same as the original. The reverse of negative.

PM

Post Meridiem. After noon.

Postscript Font

As opposed to TrueType and OpenType fonts, PostScript fonts contain two files: a screen font and a printer font. When sending to your printer, please make sure to attach both files. On a Windows machine, PostScript files have these extensions: .pfm and .pfb.

PPD

PostScript Printer Description file. A PostScript file that describes the features of a particular printer or imagesetter. Capabilities such as paper sizes, number of input trays and duplexing are contained in the file, and the PostScript driver uses this data to command the printer properly. The PPD file is an ASCII text file that can be transferred between Windows and Macintosh computers.

Preflight

In digital prepress, the test used to evaluate or analyze every component needed to produce a printing job. Preflight confirms the type of disk being submitted, the color gamut, color breaks, and any art required (illustrations, transparencies, reflective photos, etc.) plus layout files, screen fonts, printer fonts, EPS or TIFF files, laser proofs, page sizes, print driver, crop marks, etc.

Prepress

Those steps needed to transform the finished original copy into the printing plates or other forms needed for reproduction.

Preprinted Form

A cutsheet, fanfolded or continuous-roll form that has been offset printed with constant copy or design onto which variable data can be imaged.

Printer Font

The file a computer uses to help the printer print a font correctly. This file is necessary for printer output. Without the printer font, a font may look correct on screen, but will print incorrectly. On a PC, printer fonts have the extension of .pfb.

Process Color

The process of using cyan, magenta, yellow and black to build/create any and all printable colors. The price of printing in process is generally equal to that of printing three spot colors.

Proof

A print out or mock-up of a job.

Proofing

When a job has been sent to the proofreader, to the sales representative or customer service representative, or to the client to be looked over.

PS

PostScript. A device independent page description language (PDL) that converts a PostScript computer image (text or graphics) into a form that compatible output devices can interpret i.e. PostScript typefaces can be printed on any PostScript printer.

Pulpboard

Matt uncoated boards in white or tinted ranging from 200micron thickness to 750 micron.

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Q

QuarkXPress

QuarkXPress, a professional page-layout application from Quark Inc.

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R

RIP

Raster Image Processor. A device that converts computer information from a bit map in to an electronic grid that precisely places each pixel spot in the proper position on the imposition for imagesetting or platesetting.

Ream

500 sheets of any size paper.

Register

The fitting, in exact alignment (or as close as is possible) of two or more printing images on the same surface.

Registration Color

Registration color allows elements (usually Printer’s Marks) to be separated on all plates. If an object with Registration Color applied appears within the Trim area the inkweight will exceed the maximum allowed on press.

Registration Marks

marks used for accurate positioning of images in multicolor printing.

Res

Resolution, sometimes abbreviated as Rez. Resolution describes the detail an image holds. The term applies equally to digital images, film images, and other types of images. Higher resolution means more image detail. The number of pixels per inch (ppi) or dots per inch (dpi), lines per inch (lpi) of an image.

RGB

Red, Green, Blue. The RGB color model is an additive color model in which red, green, and blue light are added together in various ways to reproduce a broad array of colors. The name of the model comes from the initials of the three additive primary colors, red, green, and blue.

River

An irregular “river” of white space that runs through a column of text. Undesirable.

ROM

Read Only Memory. A portion of a computer’s memory that is permanently recorded. Memory that can only be read, not changed by the user, and is not lost when the computer is turned off.

Rough

Rough Layout. A rough sketch, usually done on tracing paper, giving a rough idea of the size, shape and position of design elements.

Rule

A line used for borders, boxes and a variety of typographic effects. Can be specified in a range of thicknesses called weights and are measured in points.

Run-Around

Type in a text copy set to fit around the contours of a photograph or illustration.

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S

Sans Serif

A typeface design without serif strokes. Gothic letters.

Saddle Stitch

Binding a booklet or magazine with staples in the seam where it folds.

Scaling

The calculation of proportions of artwork for enlargement or reduction to fit an area of specific size.

Scanner

Device used to make color separations, halftones, duotones and tritones. Also a device used to scan art, pictures or drawings in desktop publishing.

Score

A crease put on paper to help it fold better.

Screen Angles

The angle at which the halftones (dots) of a separated color is output to a lithographic film or plate, hence, printed on final product media. Process color screens are typically 15° for Cyan, 75° for Magenta, 90° for Yellow, and 45° for Black.

Screen Font

The file a computer uses to display the font correctly on screen. Without this file, the font may print correctly, but will look incorrect on screen. On a PC, screen fonts have the extension of .pfm.

Screen Percentage

The amount of ink coverage applied.

Script

Typeface designs based on handwritten letters in a variety of weights of formal and informal styles.

SCSI

Small Computer System Interface, pronounced “skuzzy.” A standard for highspeed access to peripheral devices.

Self Cover

Cover of a booklet of the same paper grade and weight as the inside pages.

Self-Mailer

A printed piece designed to be mailed without an envelope.

Seps

Separations. Color separations either prepared by an artist using separate overlays or computer generated artwork for each color or achieved photographically by use of filters.

Serifs

Short cross strokes in the letterforms of many typefaces.

Sheet Fed

Relating to a printing technique whereby paper is fed into the printing press in single sheets, as opposed to paper on a roll.

Sheetwise

In sheetwise imposition (also known as work-and-back imposition), one plate is used to print the front of the sheet and if the back needs printing then the sheet is turned over and printed using a second plate.

Sig

Signature. A group of pages (a form) printed on one sheet of paper, folded with pages in sequence, for binding.

Silhouette

An outline halftone with all the background removed.

Simplex

Printing done on only one side of each sheet. Opposite of duplex.

SC

Small Caps. A complete alphabet of capital letters that are about the size of the “x” height of lower case letters. Used in combination with full normal size capital letters.

Spine

Backbone of a book.

Spot

Spot Color. Ink which has been mixed before printing, creating a solid flood of color more easily matchable from printing to printing.

Spot Varnish

Varnish used to highlight a specific part of the printed sheet.

Square Serif

A typeface with serifs the same weight or heavier than the main strokes.

St.

Saint.

Stock

The material to be printed.

Superior Characters

Small type characters, generally used in mathematical data (fractions) positioned above regular letters and numbers. Called superscripts in computer programs.

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T

Tack

In printing inks, the property of cohesion between particles- the separation force of ink needed for proper transfer and trapping on multicolor presses. A tacky ink has high separation forces and can cause surface picking or splitting of weak papers.

Tail

The edge of the press sheet which leaves the press last.

Text

The main body of copy in a book or on a page as opposed to headings.

Thermal Printer

A nonimpact printer that uses special heat sensitive paper. The paper passes over a matrix of heating elements to change the color of paper to produce characters.

Thumbnail

A small rough layout.

TIFF

Tagged Image File Format. A format for storing gray-scale data, not object-oriented images; the standard format for scanned images and for exporting gray-scale and color images to other programs. There are three types: Mononchrome TIFF, Gray-scale TIFF and Color TIFF.

Tiling

Breaking up the image areas (called tiles) of documents larger than the paper on which it is to be printed. Adjacent tiles repeat a small portion of the image and may contain crop-marks as well. Total image is then assembled manually.

Tint

A shade of a single color or combined colors.

Tolerances

The specification of acceptable variations in register, density, dot size, plate or paper thickness, concentration of chemicals, and other printing parameters.

Tracking

White space adjustment between a group of letters to optimize the typeset density of a block of text. Overall character spacing by specifying positive or negative tracking values.

Transparent Ink

Printing ink that permits a previous imprint, or the color of the paper, to show through. A transparent color printed on another will produce a third color. Process colors are transparent so that they will blend and form other colors.

Transpose

To exchange the position of a line, word or letter with another line, word or letter.

Trapping

In printing, the ability to print a wet ink film over previously printed ink. Dry trapping is printing wet ink over dry ink. Wet trapping is printing wet ink over previously wet ink. In prepress, refers to how much overprinting colors overlap to eliminate white lines between colors and printing.

Trim Marks

Similar to crop or register marks. These marks show where to trim the printed sheet.

Trim

Trim Size. The final size of one printed image after the last trim on the cutter is made.

Tritone

A halftone picture made up of three printed colors.

TTF

TrueType Font. TrueType is an outline font standard originally developed by Apple Computer in the late 1980s as a competitor to Adobe's Type 1 fonts used in PostScript. The primary strength of TrueType was originally that it offered font developers a high degree of control over precisely how their fonts are displayed, right down to particular pixels, at various font heights. TrueType fonts do not require separate printer and screen font files. TrueType fonts have the extension of .ttf.

Tumble

Work and Tumble. Printing one side of a sheet and turning it over from the gripper to the tail to print the second side using the same side guide and plate for the second side.

TXT

ASCII Text File. A file that contains data made up of ASCII characters. The terms "ASCII file," "ASCII text file," "text file" and "TXT file" are synonymous. A common ASCII text file format separates fields with tabs.

Type

Letters of the alphabet, and all the other characters (punctuation marks, numerals, symbols, etc.) used to create words in headlines, sentences, paragraphs, etc.

Type Family

All the variations of one basic style of typeface design. The range of a type family usually includes roman, italic and boldface. Some type families include condensed, extended and light to extra bold weights.

Typeface

A single style of typeface design.

Typesetting

Assembly of reading matter by the use of handpicked metal type, and/or by casting or phototypesetting, more usually these days by keyboarding!

Typo

A typographical error.

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U

UC & lc

Abbreviation for upper and lower case letters used to specify text copy that is to be set in capital and lower case letters.

Uncoated

Uncoated Paper. The general name for paper grades that have not been coated. Often surface sized to increase surface strength.

US

United States.

USB

The Universal Serial Bus allows true plug-and-play connection between a host computer and add-on peripheral devices.

USPS

The United States Postal Service.

UV Ink

A solventless ink that is cured by ultra violet radiation.

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V

Varnish

To apply oil, synthetic, spirit, cellulose or water varnish to printed matter by hand or machine to enhance its appearance or to increase its durability.

Viscosity

In printing inks, a broad term encompassing the properties of tack and flow.

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W

Watermarked Paper

An impression is pressed into the top of the sheet on manufacture. This is normally used in high quality writing papers. Clients can have their own watermark put into a sheet if required.

Web

Web Press. A press which prints on roll or web-fed paper.

Wire-O

A bindery trade name for mechanical binding using double loops of wire through a hole.

Wire-O Binding

A method of wire binding books along the binding edge that will allow the book to lay flat using double loops. See wire O.

With the Grain

Folding or feeding paper into the press or folder parallel to the grain of the paper.

WMF

Windows MetaFile. The native vector graphics file format in Windows. Windows Metafiles also can hold bitmaps and text. The original 16-bit format uses the .WMF file extension. The subsequent 32-bit format, which supports more sophisticated graphics functions, generates .EMF (Enhanced MetaFile) files. The Windows Metafile format is not recommended for use in commercial printing.

Work and Tumble

Printing one side of a sheet and turning it over from the gripper to the tail to print the second side using the same side guide and plate for the second side.

Work and Turn

Printing one side of a sheet and turning it over from left to right, using the same side guides and plate for the second side.

Woven

A paper which shows an even texture rather than a parallel line pattern.

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X

XLS

Microsoft Excel spreadsheet file format.

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Y

Yellow

Hue of a subtractive primary and a 4-color process ink (the "Y" in CMYK).

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Z

Z Fold

Sometimes called an “Accordion” fold, this bindery term means two or more parallel folds which open like an accordion.

Zapf Dingbats

Commonly used dingbat font developed by Hermann Zapf in 1978 and now owned by the International Typeface Corporation (ITC). The Zapf dingbat font contains various symbols such as arrows, stars, and other symbols.

ZIP

A popular data compression format. Files that have been compressed with the ZIP format are called ZIP files and usually end with a .ZIP extension.

ZIP Code

Zoning Improvement Plan Code. Postal codes in the United States that identify preassigned geographic boundaries and make mail sorting and delivery more efficient. Other countries have similar designations, usually referred to as post codes or postal codes.

ZIP+4

Extension of the five-digit ZIP code providing the U.S. Postal Service with even more precise destination information to facilitate mail handling. The nine-digit ZIP is based on a system of blockface grids. The first two digits of the added four digits are a sector; the last two digits are a segment within a sector.

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