Glossary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
AA. Author's alteration, or any alteration in text or illustrative matter which is not a PE (printer's error).
Abrasion resistance. Ability of ink or paper to withstand rubbing and scuffing.
Absorbency. The degree to which ink or water will soak into a stock
Accordion fold. Series of parallel folds in paper in which each fold opens in the opposite direction from the previous fold-like an accordion.
Acetate. Transparent cellulose acetate sheet placed over mechanical on which color separation can be indicated or directions to platemaker given.
Acetate proof. See Color overleaf proof.
Acetone. Volatile, fast-drying solvent.
Adhesive binding. See Perfect binding.
Against the grain. Folding paper at right angles to the grain.
Agate. Unit of measurement used in newspapers to calculate column space: 14 agate lines equal 1 inch. (Agate was originally the name of a 5 1/2 point type.)
Airbrush. Small pressure gun, shaped like a fountain pen, that sprays paint by means of compressed air. Used to create effects of gradated tone; ideal for retouching photographs.
Albumin plate. A standard albumin-coated offset press plate made from negatives. See also Deep-etch plate and Pre-sensitized plate.
Alcohols. Solvents used in flexographic and gravure inks.
Align. To line up, or place letters or words on the same horizontal or vertical line.
Alignment. Arrangement of type in straight lines so different sizes justify at the bottom (base-aligning) and ends of lines appear even on the page.
Alphanumeric. Refers to any system of letters and numbers (alphabet plus numerals). An example of an alphanumeric designation is "AB 220."
Alphasette. Phototypesetting system manufactured by Alphatype Corporation.
Amberlith. Also known as camera amber. Brand name for a red- or orange-coated acetate sheet used on a mechanical or on artwork as marking material to position halftones, areas of color, and tints. The coating is "strippable"; that is, it can be selectively cut and peeled away to create outlines and silhouettes.
Analogue computer. A type of computer that represents numerical quantities as electrical or physical variables, used in the industry to turn valves or machinery off and on. Such computers are not used in phototypesetting. -See Digital computer.
Aniline dye. A synthetic organic dye, used in flexographic printing inks.
Aniline printing. Old term for flexography .
Antique finish. Soft, bulky paper with a relatively rough surface, similar to the old handmade papers.
Aquatone. Printing method combining finescreen gelatin plates and offset lithography.
Archival printing. Techniques for printing permanent records intended to last for 150 or more years.
Arc lamp. Lamp that produces light by a current arcing across two electrodes, usually of carbon (thus, carbon arcs). Used as a light source in photography or platemaking.
Art. All original copy, whether prepared by an artist, camera, or other mechanical means. Loosely speaking, any copy to be reproduced.
Artype. A brand name for self-adhering type printed on transparent sheets that can be cut out and placed on artwork. Available in a wide range of type styles and sizes.
Ascender. That part of the lowercase letter that rises above the body of the letter, as in b, d, f, h, k, /, and t.
Asymmetrical type. Lines of type set with no predictable pattern in terms of placement.
Author's alteration. See AA.
B
Backbone. Also called spine. In binding that part of a book binding that connects the front and back covers.
Backing. A metal backing soldered to duplicate printing plates to make them 11 points (0.52") thick for use on patent blocks or printing bed bases.
Backing-up. In presswork, printing the reverse side of a sheet.
Back lining. Paper or fabric that adheres to the backbone, or spine, of a hardcover book.
Back pressure. Pressure between the blanket and the impression cylinder.
Bad break. In composition, when the first line of a page is hyphenated. Also, incorrect end-of-line hyphenation.
Bag paper. Usually kraft paper , used for making bags. Paper weight varies depending on bag size.
Bank. Cabinet or bench on which type is made up or stored in readiness for makeup.
Bar code. Printed symbols which can be read by OCR (Optical Character Recognition) equipment.
Baronial envelope. Square type of envelope used for announcements, formal correspondence, and many kinds of greeting cards.
Base. See Patent base.
Baseline. Horizontal line upon which all the characters in a given line stand.
Basis weight Weight in pounds of 500 sheets (a ream) of paper cut to a given standard size (this size is called the basis
size and varies depending on the grade of paper).
Bastard progressives or progs. Also called Hollywood progs. A set of progressive proofs showing every possible color combination of the four process colors. The exact and specific effect of any two or three colors can be determined and intelligent comments formulated for correction by the platemaker. Sequence of a normal set of bastard progs is: yellow, red, yellow-red, blue, yellow-blue, red-blue, yellow-red-blue, black, yellow-black, red-black, blue-black, yellow-red-black, yellow-blue-black, red-blue-black, and yellow-red-blue-black.
Bastard size. A nonstandard size of any material used in the graphic arts.
Bearers. In composition, strips of type-high metal placed around the type form to protect the printing surface when the form is to be electrotyped. In photoengraving, the excess, or "dead" metal left on the printing plate to protect the live matter from excess pressure when molding for electroplating. On printing presses, metal rims beside the gears on which the printing cylinder rides. In reproduction proofing, strips of typehigh metal placed outside the live matter of the form to even up the printing pressure and prevent the ink rollers from slurring the form.
Bed. In letterpress printing, the flat part of the press that holds the type form during printing: a job that is ready for the press is ready to be "put to bed."
Benday process. Application of dot or line patterns to line plates in order to create the effect of flat tones or shadings. Named after the man who developed the process, Ben Day. Now an obsolete process, superseded by laying photographic screen tints.
Bevel. Sloping edge around the outside of an engraving or electrotype that permits it to be locked with hooks onto a patent base .
BF. Boldface .
Bible paper. A thin, opaque, high-tensile-strength book paper used where low bulk is essential: for bibles, insurance rate books, encyclopedias, etc. Basis weights normally range from 14 to 30 pounds.
Binary. In computer system, a base-2 numbering system using the digits 0 and 1.
Binary code. In computer systems, a code that makes use of two distinct characters, usually 0 and 1.
Binder. Person who does bindery work. Also, a device equipped with metal rings for holding loose-leaf sheets.
Binder board. High-quality, single-ply, solid pulp binding board.
Binder's creep. The slight but cumulative extension of the edges of each inserted spread or signature beyond the edges of the one that encloses it in a saddle-stitch bind.
Bindery. An establishment that binds books, pamphlets, etc.
Binding. The fastening together of printed sheets in the form of signatures into books, booklets, magazines, etc. Also, the covers and backing of a book.
Binding board. Paper board, either binder board or pasteboard, used in bookbinding for the covers of casebound (hardcover) books.
Bit. In computer systems, the smallest unit of information representing one binary digit, 0 or 1. The word is derived from the first two letter of binary and the last letter of digit.
Bite. In photoengraving, the time required when etching with acid to produce a given depth: the depth of the etch increases with each ''bite."
Black letter. Also known as gothic. A style of handwriting popular in the fifteenth century. Also, the name of a type style based on this handwriting.
Black printer. The plate used with the cyan, magenta, and yellow plates; often used to enrich the contrast of the final reproduction.
Blanket. In offset lithography, the rubbersurfaced sheet clamped around the cylinder which transfers the image from plate to paper.
Bleed. Area of plate or print that extends ("bleeds'' off) beyond the edge to be trimmed. Applies mostly to photographs or areas of color. When a design involves a bleed image, the designer must allow from 1/9" to 1/4" beyond the trim page size for trimming. Also, the printer must use a slightly larger sheet to accommodate bleeds.
Blind embossing. A bas-relief impression made with a regular stamping die , except that no ink or foil is used.
Blind image. A plate image that has lost its ink receptivity and fails to print.
Blind keyboard. In photocomposition, a tape-producing keyboard which has no visual display and which produces no hard copy.
Block. In computer systems, a group of words, characters, or digits held in one section of an input/output medium and handled as a unit.
Blocking. In letterpress, mounting an engraving on a block of wood or metal to make it type-high, permitting it to be locked up in a form to be printed. Also, the sticking together of printed sheets when piled too high before the ink has dried.
Blow-up. An enlargement of copy: photograph, artwork, or type.
Blueprints. Also called blues. Blue contact photoprints made on paper, usually used as a guide for negative assembly, preparing layouts, or as a preliminary proof for checking purposes.
Blurb. Summary of contents of a book presented as jacket copy. Also, a short commentary, such as a caption or the text in comic strip balloons.
Boards. See Binder board.
Board stock. See Paperboard.
Body. In composition, the metal block of a piece of type that carries the printing surface, It is the depth of the body that gives the type its point size. In printing, a term that refers to the viscosity, consistency, and flow of a vehicle or ink.
Body matter. Also called body copy. Regular reading matter, or text, as contrasted with display lines.
Body size. The depth of the body of a piece of type measured in points.
Body type. Also called text type. Type, from 6 point to 14 point, generally used for body matter.
Boldface. A heavier version of a regular typeface. Indicated as BF.
Bond paper. A grade of writing and printing paper with a surface treated to take pen and ink well and have good erasure qualities. Cheaper grades of bond paper are made from all wood fiber; the better grades are made from rag fiber (25%, 50%, or 100% rag content). Used where strength, durability, and permanence are required.
Booklet. A small book, commonly bound in paper covers. Generally used for advertising or promotional purposes.
Book paper. A category or group of printing papers that have certain physical characteristics in common which make them suitable for the graphic arts. Used for books, magazines, and just about everything we read, with the exception of newspapers and pulp novels.
Books. Generally applies to printed, bound works. Books published as textbooks are called school books; those published for sale by bookstores are called trade books. Books printed and bound with paper covers are called paperbacks.
Borders. Decorative lines or designs available in type, used to surround a type form or page.
Brackets. Pair of marks ([ ]) used to set off matter extraneous or incidental to the context.
Brayer. Hand roller used to apply ink to type or printing plates when rough proofs are desired.
Break for color. To separate, color by color, the parts of a job to be printed in different colors.
Brightype. Trade name for a machine for converting letterpress type or engravings into a photographic image that can be used for offset lithography or gravure printing. The metal type form is sprayed with a black lacquer which is then selectively removed by rubbing the printing surface, making the surface reflective and the background light-absorbent. The form is then photographed in shadowless lighting as if it were line copy, resulting in a photographic film negative. Manufactured by Ludlow Typograph Company. See also Cronapress and Scotchprint.
Bristol board. Also called Bristol. A good grade of thin cardboard or pasteboard with a smooth surface. Available in a variety of finishes and colors; ideal for drawing, writing, and printing. Used for cards, posters, displays, announcements, or for any job where stiffness is required. Bristol boards are sometimes filled, but usually pasted or plied.
Broadside. Large printed sheet folded for mailing.
Bourges. (Pronounced burgess.) Trade name for a thin, color-coated acetate overlay sheet keyed to standard printing inks. Used to produce color separations in art. Also comes in degrees of whites and grays for modifying photo backgrounds. The coating is removed either by a fluid or by scratching.
Brochure. Pamphlet bound in the form of a booklet, usually consisting of eight or more pages.
Broken package. A quantity of paper less than a standard wrapped amount (usually less than a ream). When ordered, broken packages carry a penalty charge.
Bronzing. Applying bronze or metallic powder over printed sizing ink while it is still wet to produce a metallic luster.
Brownprint. Also called a brownline or Van Dyke. A photoprint made from a negative and used as a proof to check the position of the elements before the printing plate is made.
Buckram. Sized, heavy-weave cotton cloth used for binding books.
Buffer. In computer systems, a data-storage area situated between computer units. It may be a piece of hardware, an area of memory, a disc, or a tape.
Built-up letter. A letter in which the outline is drawn first and then filled in.
Bulk. The thickness of paper, measured by the caliper of pages per inch (PPI).
Bullet. Large dot used as ornamental device.
Bulletin. Loosely used to describe several forms of printing, however it generally refers to one of a sequence of factual reports issued at irregular intervals. There is no particular form for a bulletin; it can be a single leaf, a folder, or a booklet.
Bump. Ink applied from a fifth or higher plate in four-color process printing, usually to strengthen a specific color; also referred to as a touchplate.
Burin. In engraving, a pointed steel cutting tool
Burnish. In photoengraving, to darken local areas of a printing plate by rubbing down the lines and dots, thus increasing their printing surfaces. Also, a general term for smoothing down self-adhering letters and shading sheets.
Burr. Rough edge or curl of metal left on a photoengraving as the result of burnishing, routing, or cutting.
Butted lines. Two or more linecast slugs placed side by side to produce a single line of type.
Byte. In computer systems, a group of adjacent bits operated on as a unit and usually shorter than a word. It can be one complete character.
C
C. & s.c. Capitals and small capitals. In composition, used to specify words that begin with a capital letter and have the remaining letters in small capitals, which are the same height as the body of the lowercase letters.
Calender. A set, or "stack," of cast-iron rollers with chilled, hardened surfaces, resting on one another in a vertical bank at the end of the papermaking machine. The paper passes through all or some of these rollers to increase the smoothness and gloss of its surface. See also Supercalender.
Calendered paper. Paper with a smooth finish produced by its being passed through the calender of the papermaking machine.
California job case. Tray in which handset type is stored and from which it is set. The individual cubicles are arranged for a minimum of motion and are sized to accommodate letters in quantities related to frequency of use.
Caliper. The thickness of a sheet measured under specific conditions. The paper is measured with a micrometer and is usually expressed in thousandths-of-an-inch (mils or points).
Calligraphy. Elegant handwriting, or the art of producing such handwriting.
Cameo. A die-stamping process in which the lettering or design slants up in relief.
Camera-ready art. Copy assembled and suitable for photographing by a process camera with a minimum number of steps.
Capitals. Also known as caps or uppercase. Capital letters of the alphabet.
Caps and small caps. Two sizes of capital letters on one typeface, the small caps being the same size as the body of the lowercase letters. Indicated as c&sc. LOOKS LIKE THIS.
Caption. Explanatory text accompanying illustrations.
Carbon black. A fine, intensely black pigment obtained by burning natural gas or oil with restricted air supply. Used in the manufacture of ink.
Carbon tissue. In rotogravure printing, a paper sheet coated with gelatin, plasticizers, and pigments used for photoprinting. It is exposed to strong lights through a gravure screen to produce what will be used as a resist for etching gravure cylinders.
Cardboard. A general term used to describe a stiff, strong sheet made up of several layers of low-quality paper pasted together.
Case. A type tray. Each character in a font of type has its own section in the tray, called a type case. Also, the covers of a casebound or hardcover book.
Casebound. See Edition binding.
Casing-in. The process of inserting the signatures of a book into its cover, or case.
Cast-coated paper. Paper that goes through the process of cast-coating .
Cast-coating. A process in which the paper is pressed against a heated, polished drum while the coating is in a highly plastic condition. Cast-coating gives the paper an exceptionally high gloss and smoothness similar to that of a glossy photograph.
Casting. A typesetting process in which molten metal is forced into type molds (matrices). Type can be cast as single characters or as complete lines. Also, the casting of metal printing plates (stereotypes) from matrices (mats) for newspaper or book work.
Casting box. Device used for casting flat stereotypes .
Casting-off. Calculating the length of manuscript copy in order to determine the amount of space it will occupy when set in a given typeface and measure.
Cathode ray tube. In phototypesetting, electronic tube used to display letter images, in the form of dots (computer logic character formation) or lines (character projection), for exposure onto film, photopaper, microfilm, or offset plates.
Cell. In gravure printing, small etched depression (representing one halftone dot) in the surface of the gravure cylinder that carries the ink.
Centered type. Lines of type set centered on the line measure.
Center spread. See Spread.
Chad. In phototypesetting, the paper waste resulting from holes being punched in paper tape or cards.
Chain lines. Also called chain marks. The widely spaced watermark lines (usually about 1" apart), caused by chain marks. which run with the grain in laid papers. Chain lines are natural in handmade papers and can be imitated in machine-made papers.
Chalking. Also called powdering. In printing, a condition in which the pigment in the printing ink does not adhere properly to the printing surface and can be rubbed off as powder or chalk.
Chapter heads. Chapter title and/or number of the opening page of each chapter.
Character count. The total number of characters in a line, paragraph, or piece of copy.
Character generation. In CRT phototypesetting, the projection or formation of typographic images on the face of a cathode ray tube, usually in association with a highspeed computerized photocomposition system.
Characters. Individual letters, figures, punctuation marks, etc. of the alphabet.
Characters-per-pica (CPP). System of copyfitting that utilizes the average number of characters per pica as a means of determining the length of the copy when set in type.
Chase. In letterpress printing, the rectangular steel frame into which type and engravings are locked up for printing.
Chipboard. Low-grade binding board made from wastepaper, usually used for backing padded forms.
Choke. The opposite of spread .
Chroma. Also referred to as hue. Pure color, free from white or gray.
Chrome. See Color transparency.
Circulating matrix. In composition, the mold (matrix) from which Linotype and Intertype linecasting machines cast type. Called "circulating" because the matrices are automatically returned to the magazine for reuse.
Clasp envelope. Envelope in which the flap closes with a metal clasp. Flap may also have glue for sealing.
Coalesce. To fuse the structure of a substrate such as paper or film by means of pressure in order to change its light-transmitting characteristics.
Coated paper. Paper with a surface treated with clay or some other pigment and adhesive material to improve the finish in terms of printing quality. A coated finish can vary from dull to very glossy and provides an excellent printing surface that is especially suited to fine halftones. Coated paper is a must for halftones printed by letterpress. Examples are pigmented or film-coated, conversion-coated, blade-coated, castcoated.
Cobalt drier. very strong surface drier.
Cockle finish. The pucker characteristic of many bond papers, especially rag bonds, which adds a crispness to the paper.
Cold-set inks. Inks in solid form which are melted and applied to a hot press. They solidify again upon contact with the printing surface.
Collate. To arrange sheets or signatures in proper sequence so the pages will be in the correct order before sewing and binding. In photocomposition, to compare and merge two or more identically ordered sets of items into one ordered set.
Collotype. Also known as photogelatin. A photomechanical method of printing, similar to lithography, that utilizes an unscreened gelatin-coated plate rather than a halftone screen to print continuous-tone copy. Coliotype is the only feasible form of halftone reproduction that does not require a halftone screen. Produces extremely true reproductions but is suitable for short runs only.
Color. In composition, the tone or density of type on a page,
Color bars. Carried on all four-color process proofs to show the printer the four colors that were used to print the image. Color bars show the amount of ink used, the trapping, and the relative densities across the press sheet. Used mainly as a guide for the platemaker and printer.
Color comp print. Paper print made from a transparency. Not up to the standards of a dye transfer and used primarily for layouts and presentations.
Color correction. Changing the color values in a set of separations to correct or compensate for errors in photographing, separation, etc. Color is usually corrected by masking, retouching, or dot etching (all of which see), Also, the act of indicating on a set of color proofs what color corrections are to be made by the printer.
Color filters. Transparent filters placed over the lens of the printer's camera that separate the colors in the original copy into the process colors for four-color process printing . The original copy is photographed four times through color filters. A blue filter produces the yellow printer (the negative used to make the printing plate), a green filter produces the magenta (red) printer, a yellow filter produces the cyan (blue) printer, and a combination of all three is used to produce the black printer.
Color guide. Instructions on art or mechanical (usually flat color work) indicating the position and percentage of color required or an actual sample of the color.
Color-matching system. Method of specifying flat color by means of numbered color samples available in swatchbooks.
Color overleaf proof. Transparent acetate sheets that are photomechanically developed and used as proofs or for presentations. Available in a wide range of colors, including the four process colors. Suitable for simulating pre-press proofs of full-color art.
Color print. Photographic print in color, such as Anscochrome, Cibachrome, dye transfer, Kodacolor, and Kodak Type C.
Color process. Term used to describe multicolor printing from process-separated materials, as opposed to multicolor printing in nonprocess colors.
Color proof. Printed color image which enables the printer to see what is on the film and the client to make sure the color is accurate and in register. Ideally, the proof should be printed on the same press and paper that will be used for the finished job.
Color reference. A set of process inks printed on standard paper and used for color control.
Color scanner. See Electronic scanner.
Color separation. The operation of separating artwork into the four process colors by means of filters in a process camera or by electronic scanners. The result is four continuous-tone films (negatives or positives) which when screened are used to make printing plates.
Color separation negative. A single black and white negative which carries a record of the proportion and distribution of one of the process colors as found in the original full-color image. A set of separation negatives consists of four black and white negatives (called printers), one each for the yellow, red, blue, and black.
Color terminology. In the printing industry, color is described in terms of hue (chroma), strength (saturation), and gray (value). Hue is the pure color, strength refers to the color's strength, or saturation, and gray refers to how "clean" the color is. These are not terms used by the artist; they have been suggested by the printing industry to help communication between designer, client, and printer.
Color transparency. Also called a chrome. A full-color photographic positive on transparent film: Agfa Color, Cibachrome, Ektachrome, Kodachrome, etc.
Column Inch. A measure commonly used by smaller newspapers based on a space 1 " deep and a column wide.
Command. In phototypesetting, the portion of a computer instruction that specifies the operation to be performed. For example, flush left, center, etc.
Combination plate. Also called a combo. Halftone and line work combined on one plate.
Comp. See Comprehensive.
Comparison of type sizes. Although America and England use the pica system for measuring type, Europe uses the Didot system. Here is a comparison between the two systems of the more common type sizes:
Didot Pica 4 4.3 5 5.4 6 6.4 7 7.5 8 8.6 9 9.7 10 10.7 11 11.8 12 12.9 14 15.0
Composing room. That part of a typesetting shop or a printing plant in which type is set, or composed.
Composing stick. In metal composition, a metal traylike device used to assemble type when it is being set by hand. It is adjustable so that lines can be set to different measures.
Composition. Typesetting .
Compositor. A person who sets and arranges type, either by hand or machine.
Comprehensive. More commonly referred to as a comp. An accurate layout showing type and illustrations in position and suitable as a finished presentation.
Computer. A device for performing sequences of arithmetic and logical processes used in typesetting to store information and make the mathematical, grammatical, and typographic spacing and end-of-line decisions, i.e., hyphenation and justification.
Computerized composition. Sometimes (erroneously) called computer composition. Composition produced with the aid of a computer, which when properly programmed, speeds up the mathematical decisions needed to drive a typesetting machine. An unjustified ("idiot") tape is produced on a keyboard and subsequently run through a computer which instantaneously adds up the set widths of every character and space on the line, makes all the end-of-line decisions such as hyphenation and justification, and then produces (outputs) a second, justified, tape used to drive the phototypesetter (or metal linecasting machine).
Connected dot. Halftone dots of 50% value or more which are joined together in negative or plate.
Consumable textbook. A self-contained book designed to be written in and completely consumed by the student and which does not depend on any other textbook or material. A consumable textbook would be used by one student for one term and then discarded, as opposed to a non-consumable textbook.
Condensed type. Narrow version of a regular typeface.
Consistency. See Body.
Contact print. Photographic print made by direct contact as opposed to enlargements or reductions made by projection where there is no direct contact. Prints are made from either a film negative or positive in direct contact with photographic paper, film, or printing plate. The size is a one-to-one relationship. Contact prints are usually made on a vacuum frame (contact printing frame).
Contact printing frame. See Vacuum frame.
Contact screen. A halftone screen placed in direct contact with the film. Used for screening halftones. The "sandwich" through which light passes is made up of the following: continuous-tone positive, contact screen, and the new, unexposed film which will receive the light, resulting in a screened film negative ready for platemaking.
Continuous tone. Any image that has an assortment of tone values ranging from dark to light that does not contain halftone dots. A photograph is a continuous-tone image, as opposed to a pen-and-ink drawing which might be formed of pure blacks and whites.
Contrast. Wide range of tonal gradations between highlights and shadows.
Conversion systems. Systems by which metal type or plates are converted into film images. Used in converting from one printing method to another. See Brightype, Cronapress, and Scotchprint.
Coal colors. Blue, green, and violet, as opposed to warm colors, red, yellow, and orange.
Contrast. The difference in brightness between the darkest and lightest tones in an image. Overall contrast refers to the entire image, while local contrast refers to the difference between adjacent tones within an image.
Copy. In design and typesetting, typewritten copy. In printing, all artwork to be printed: type, photographs, illustrations. See also Continuous-tone copy and Line copy.
Copyfitting. Determining the area required for a given amount of copy in a specified typeface.
Counter. Space enclosed by the strokes of a letter, such as the bowl of the b, d, p, etc.
Counting keyboard. In phototypesetting, an input keyboard which adds up the unit widths of the characters and spaces set and indicates the space used and the space remaining in a line. The keyboard operator must make all end-of-line decisions regarding hyphenation and justification. The counting keyboard produces a perforated justified paper tape used to drive a typesetting machine. See also Noncounting keyboard.
Covering power. Also called opacity. In printing, an ink's ability to cover the material beneath it to produce a uniform, opaque surface.
Cover paper. Term applied to a variety of heavy papers used for the outside covers of brochures, booklets, and catalogs.
CPI- Characters Per Inch. The measurement of the packing density of a magnetic tape, drum, disc or any linear device that information is recorded on.
CPS. Characters Per Second. A measurement referring to the output speeds of phototypesetting equipment.
Crash finish. A paper finish that simulates the look and feel of coarse linen.
Crawling. Term applied to the contraction of ink after printing on a surface that it has not completely wet.
Cracking. Also called rub-off. Smudging or transfer of dry particles of ink by rubbing after job has dried.
Creep. The process of compensating for the shifting position of the page in a saddle-stitched bind. Creep moves the inside pages or signatures toward the spine.
Cronapress. A trade name for DuPont's system of converting metal type or letterpress printing plates into film. This film can then be used to make offset plates, gravure cylinders, or very faithful duplicate letterpress plates. The material to be converted is covered with a special pressure-sensitive film and pressure is applied with vibrating steel balls or pins which coalesce the film to make it clear, or transparent, at the points at which the raised letterpress dots or type touch it. The material is then dyed to make the non-coalesced areas light-blocking. The result is a film negative. See also Brightype and Scotchprint.
Crop. To eliminate portions of copy so that it better fits the page design. Usually done by using cropmarks on the original copy to indicate to the printer where to trim the image.
Cropmarks. In design, the lines drawn on an overlay or in the margins of a photograph to indicate to the printer where the image should be trimmed.
CRT. See Cathode ray tube.
Crystallization. In printing, a condition in which a printed, dried ink film has insufficient tack to permit trapping, or the laydown of a second ink which is printed on top of it.
Cursives. Typefaces that resemble hand - writing, but in which the letters are disconnected.
Curved plate. In letterpress and flexography, a press plate curved to fit the printing cylinder. In offset lithography, plates are thin metal sheets which are wrapped around the plate cylinder.
Cut. Also called (in Europe) block. A commonly used word for any typographic printing plate or engraving.
Cutoff. In web press, the distance, or interval, between cutting knives which chop the web into individual sheets.
Cutoff rule. A hairline that marks the point where a block of type moves from one column to another, or the end of a story in a column of type. Also, in newspapers, the horizontal dividing line between typographic elements.
Cut-out lettering. Self-adhering transfer type carried on acetate sheets that is cut out and placed on the working surface. Examples are Formatt and Letraset.
Cyan. Also referred to as process blue. One of the process colors. Also, one of the filters used in making color separations.
Cylinder press. A letterpress printing press in which a cylinder is used to impress the paper upon the type.
D
Dampeners. Rollers that carry and apply dampening solution to the plate.
Dandy roll. Also called a dandy. The wire cylinder on the papermaking machine that impresses laid and wove patterns and watermarks on the surface of the paper.
Data. General term for any collection of information (facts, numbers, letters, symbols, etc.) used as input for, or desired as output from, a computer.
Data bank. The mass storage of information which may be selectively retrieved from a computer.
Data processing. A generic term for all operations carried out on data according to precise rules of procedure. The manipulation of data by a computer.
Day-Glow. Trade name for inks and papers containing fluorescent pigments.
Dead metal. In printing, areas on an engraving not intended for printing; these must be routed, or cut away after molding. If the engraving is to be molded for electrotyping or stereotyping, dead metal is carried on the plate as interval bearers to protect the live matter from damage.
Dead white. A neutral white that has no perceptible tint.
Decimal equivalents. Here are some of the more common fractions that you might be called upon to change into their decimal equivalents:
Sixteenths Eighths 1/16 .0625 1/8 .125 3/16 .1875 3/8 .375 5/16 .3125 5/8 .625 7/16 .4375 7/8 .875 9/16 .5625 Quarters, Thirds, Halfs 11/16 .6875 1/4 .250
13/16 .8125 1/3 .333
15/16 .9375 1/2 .500
2/3 .666
3/4 .750
Deckle edge. Irregular, ragged edge on handmade papers, or the outside edges of machine-made paper produced by the "Pisser" on the papermaking machine (so called because a jet of water ''pisses" on the edge of the unformed pulp as it travels on the wire just before it becomes paper). This action ''cuts'' the edge of the unformed pulp. Because the deckle edge has esthetic value. Fancy papers and cover stocks are sold with these edges untrimmed.
Deep etch. In printing, the process by which a printing plate is produced by two separate etching operations. Used when type and line work must be etched separately from tone work or illustrations so as to render the proper depth to ensure printability.
Deep-etched plate. In offset, a plate (made from a positive film) on which printing areas have been recessed below the surface so that the plate may be used for long runs.
Deep etching. In engraving, additional etching to the first bite given line plates or coarse-screen halftones.
Definition. The degree of sharpness in a negative or print.
Delivery end. in printing. that part of the press at which the finished, printed sheet is delivered.
Desensitize. To make the non-image area of the plate non-receptive to ink.
Densitometer. An instrument having a light-sensitive photoelectric eye which measures density . Used by the cameraman to get the correct exposure when shooting copy and by the printer to control the quality of the presswork. There are two types of densitometers: reflection and transmission.
Density. In photography, measurement of the opacity of a transparent or translucent object. On a film negative, the greater the density area, the more black, or more developed, it is. Density is measured from 0 to 4.0.
Density range. The range of density, expressed numerically, from shadow reading to highlight reading, on negative or positive film, or on a printed sheet. Density range is measured by a densitometer .
Descenders. That part of a lowercase letter that falls below the body of the letter, as in g, j, p. q, and y.
Diazo, In phototypesetting, a photographic diazo-process-developed proofing positive commonly used to produce positive photoproofs and better-quality photorepros from film positives by contact exposure.
Die cut. Paper or cardboard cut into shapes other than rectangular by means of die cutting .
Die-cutting. The cutting of paper or cardboard by pressure or by a blow with thin steel blades made up on a form (called a die) so that part of the sheet is excised, or slit, so that it can be folded away from the rest of the sheet for a "pop-up" effect. Used in mailing pieces, folding boxes, greeting cards, and in sales displays.
Dimensional stability. Resistance of paper or film to changes in dimensions due to moisture.
Dimension marks, L-shaped points or short marks indicated on mechanicals or camera copy outside the area of the image to be reproduced, between which the size of reduction or enlargement is marked.
Direct Impression composition. See Typewriter composition.
Direction of travel. In printing, the direction in which the printing stock or web moves through the press.
Direct process. In direct process color separation, the original copy is separated, screened, and sized in one step by a process camera using glass halftone screens. As opposed to the indirect process .
Disc. In phototypesetting, the circular image-carrier of negative type fonts.
Display type. Type which is used to attract attention, usually 18 point or larger.
Distribution. In composition, the act of returning the type, leads, rules, slugs, furniture, and other printing materials to their storage places after use.
Ditto. Trade name for a type of office duplicator, manufactured by Ditto, Inc. Also, the name for typographic mark used as an abbreviation for ''repeat what is above." Looks like this: ".
Doctor blade. In gravure, a thin-edged, flexible metal blade fitted on rotogravure presses that scrapes off excess ink from the surface of the engraved printing cylinder prior to printing. This procedure cleans the surface, leaving only the cells filled with ink.
Dot. Individual element of a halftone.
Dot etching. Local color correction, done by hand, on film containing screened color separations. Dot etching changes the size of the halftone dots, thereby changing the tone dots, halftone. Minute, symmetrical individual subdivisions of the printing surface formed by a halftone screen .
Dot gain. An increase in the size of a halftone dot from film to paper.
Double-black duotone. A duotone in which both plates are printed 'in black.
Double burning. To expose the images of two or more films onto a new film or a printing plate, thereby creating a single image.
Double-dot halftone. Two halftone negatives combined into one printing plate, producing a printed reproduction with a greater tonal range than a conventional halftone. One negative reproduces the highlights and shadows, the other reproduces the middletones. Used primarily in offset lithography.
Double-thick cover. Two thicknesses of regular-weight cover paper pasted together.
Double-tone halftone. Imitation of a duotone in which the color plate is purposely printed out of register to produce a duotone effect.
Downtime. The time interval during which a device (typesetting equipment, printing press, etc.) is malfunctioning or not operating; or the time spent waiting for materials, instructions O.K.'s, etc., during which work is held up.
Drawdown. Ink film deposited on paper by a smooth-edged blade to enable an evaluation of the color and density of the ink.
Drawing paper. A general term for a wide assortment of papers used for pen or pencil drawing. Fiber composition ranges from rag stock to groundwood.
Driers. In printing, film-forming substances (oils, resins, etc.) or metallic additives added to inks to hasten their drying time.
Drilling. Perforating, by drilling, sheets to be bound in loose-leaf folders or spiral-type bindings. Done by a special machine that has a row of drills, which can penetrate a greater thickness of sheets than can punches.
Dropout halftone. Also called a highlight halftone. In printing, a halftone in which the highlight areas have no screen dots; all that appears in the highlight areas is the white of the paper.
Dropout type. See Reverse type.
Dry back. Change in ink density and visual appearance of a printed sheet between freshly printed and fully dry.
Dryer. In printing, a mechanical device used to accelerate the drying time of printing inks.
Drying time. In printing, the time required for an ink to form a rub- or tack-free surface. Also, the time needed for drying before the opposite side of a sheet can be printed or finished.
Dry-mounting. A method of adhering photographs to mounting boards by using a special wax-backed tissue that bonds under heat and pressure.
Dry offset. See Letterset.
Dry-transfer type. See Pressure-sensitive lettering.
Dummy. The preliminary layout of a printed piece, showing how the various elements will be arranged. It may be either rough or elaborate, according to the client's needs.
Duotone. A two-color halftone made from a regular black and white photograph. One plate is made for the black, picking up the highlight and shadow areas; a second plate is made for the second color, picking up the middletones. When printed, these two plates produce a monochromatic color reproduction with a wide range of tones.
Duplex. In linecaster machines, a matrix that carries two molds. Also refers to the character that occupies the secondary position in a duplex matrix.
Duplex paper. Paper or board with a different color or finish on each side.
Duplicate plates. Plates made from the same negative film, or in the case of letterpress, from a Cronapress negative made from the original plates. Also, molded duplicates of original plates produced by electrotyping, stereotyping, or other molding processes. Duplicate plates make it possible to print multiple images in the same sheet, as well as to use more than one press at a time (for example, in cases when one ad must appear in more than one publication at the same time). The most commonly used letterpress duplicate plates are stereotypes, electrotypes, plastic plates, and rubber plates.
Duplicate transparency. A duplicate of an existing photograph, in transparency form. Done when more than one piece of the same art is required, when the transparency must be retouched, when the transparency is to be ganged up with others on a flat for same-focus enlargement or reduction, or when the original is too valuable to release.
Duplicator. Small office-type printing machine that reproduces copy in small quantities: Mimeograph, Multigraph, Multilith.
Dycril. Trade name for DuPont's PPDI plates .
Dyes. A soluble coloring matter, as opposed to pigments, which are insoluble.
Dye transfer. A full-color print made on specially coated paper from reflective art or transparency copy. The process involves color separating the art into three colors, making gelatin matrices that selectively absorb dye, and transferring the dye (one color per matrix) to the gelatin-coated paper. Used by artists for doing retouching or as short-run quantity displays.
Dylux. Trade name for a fast, self-fixing, light-sensitive proofing paper manufactured by DuPont. Proofs can be made from either positive or negative film and are processed in as little as 30 seconds. The paper is sensitive on both sides, permitting the creation of accurate dummies.
E
Edge-gliding. In binding, the addition of gold leaf to the page edges of a book. Common practice with bibles or finely printed limited edition books.
Editing. Checking copy for fact, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and consistency of style before releasing it to the typesetter.
Editing terminal. Also called an editing and correcting terminal. In phototypesetting, a tape-operated visual display unit (VDT), using a cathode ray tube on which is displayed the results of keyboarding (captured on tape) for editing purposes via its attached input keyboard prior to processing the copy in a typesetting machine.
Edition binding. Generally refers to all commercial bindings, such as wirestitched, perfect, mechanical, and casebound, as opposed to custom or handmade bindings. More specifically, it refers to just the latter, casebound, also referred to as hardcover. Edition binding is the most permanent of all binding methods: the signatures are gathered, sewn together, and cased-in . This book is edition bound.
Eggshell antique. A soft, bulky paper with a finish that resembles the shell of an egg.
Egyptian. Type style recognizable by its heavy, square serif.
Electronic scanner. Photoelectric equipment for scanning full-color copy by reading the relative densities of the copy to make color separations. The scanner is capable of producing negative or positive film either screened or unscreened. The scanner can only separate copy that is thin enough to be wrapped around a drum, therefore limiting copy to transparencies and photographic prints. In printing, refers to an electric "eye" on a press that scans the printed sheet as it passes through the press for the purpose of register control, quality control, ink density, and register for cutoff, etc.
Electrotype. Also called an electro. A duplicate of an engraving or type form, produced by electroplating. A vinyl mold is made of the original, sprayed with silver and a thin coating of copper, and electroplated, forming a shell-like cast. Extra hardness is obtained by overplating the copper with nickel or chromium after the cast is removed from the mold. After removal the cast is backed-up (filled) with lead alloy to bring it to the proper height and give it the strength to withstand the pressure of the printing press. Where a lighter-weight plate is desirable for purposes of shipping or handling, the backing may be plastic, aluminum, or nylon instead of lead. Electrotypes may be flat, or curved to fit rotary cylinders.
Elite. The smallest size of typewriter type: 12 characters per inch as compared with 10 characters per inch on the pica typewriter.
Ellipses. Three dots that indicate an omission, often used when shortening quoted matter.
Elliptical dot. A halftone dot with a shape like that of a football, rather than the conventional square-dot shape. An advantage of elliptical dots is that they produce a smoother gradation of tones across the 50% tint area of the halftone.
Em. Commonly used shortened term for em-quad . Also, a measurement of linear space, or output, used by typographers, i.e., how many ems does the copy make?
Embossing. Producing a raised image on a printed surface. Embossing is done on a heavy-duty press, using special female dies and creating a male counter by making ready with a special compound. See also Blind embossing.
Also
The swelling of the image on an offset blanket due to absorbing solvents from the ink. (blanket embossing)
Em-quad. Called a mutton to differentiate it from an en-quad, called a nut, which is one half the width of an em. In handset type, a metal space that is the square of the type body size; that is, a 1 10-point em-quad is 10 points wide. The em gets its name from the fact that in early fonts the letter M was usually cast on a square body.
Em-space. A space the width of an emquad .
Emulsification. The breakdown of an inks ability to resist water.
Emulsion. In photographic processes, the photosensitive coating that reacts to light on a substrate.
Emulsion side. The dull, or matte, emulsion-coated side-as opposed to the glossy side-of photographic material.
En. Commonly used shortened term for en quad .
Enamel-finish paper. A smooth-coated paper, excellent for printing fine halftones.
End-of-line decisions. Generally concerned with hyphenation and justification (H/J). Decisions can be either by the keyboard operator or by the computer.
End papers. The sheets at the front and back of a casebound book that attach the pages of the book to the cover, or case. They are usually of a heavier stock than the book paper.
Engrave. To cut, etch, or incise a surface. In printer's language, to make engravings for any printing process.
Engraver. An individual or firm engaged in making printing plates and dies.
Engraving. A relief printing plate used in letterpress. Usually made of zinc, copper, or magnesium. Also refers to the handwork done in the engraving process. Also, the intaglio plate used for the production of engraved cards and stationery.
Enlarger font. Negative film font used by an Alphasette to produce type sizes larger than 16 or 18 point.
En-quad. Also called a nut. The same depth as an em but one half the width: the en space of 10-point type is 5 points wide,
Envelope-stuffer. Also called Envelope enclosure. Any small printed promotional piece that can be inserted into envelopes with statements or business letters. Used to present selected features of products or services.
Etch. The acid used by engravers to etch metal plates. In lithography, the fountain solution used to wet the offset plate when printing.
Etching. In photoengraving, the eating away of the non-printing areas of the printing plate by acid to produce a relief printing surface. In stone lithography, the chemical treatment of the non-printing areas of the printing stone or plate so that they will not accept ink. In gravure, the etching of the image into the copper printing cylinder by acid. Also refers to the fine art intaglio process, or the line engraving of zinc, steel, or copper plates.
Exception dictionary. In computer-assisted typography, that portion of the computer's memory in which exceptional words are stored. Exceptional words are those words which do not hyphenate in accordance with the logical rules of hyphenation. For example, ink-ling would be an exceptional word since computer hyphenation logic would break it inkl-ing.
Exposure. In photography, the time and intensity of illumination acting upon the lightsensitive coating (emulsion) of film or plate.
Extended. Also called expanded. A wide version of a regular typeface.
Extender. In printing, transparent white pigment used to cut, or extend, printing inks to reduce intensity and opacity.
F
Face. That part of metal type that prints. Also, the style or cut of the type: typeface.
Facsimile. Exact reproduction of a letter, document, or signature.
Fade-out. See Ghosting.
Fake process. A very intricate and tedious method of reproducing artwork by having the artist or designer separate, or translate, the color areas by means of overlays, one overlay for each color. Or using a color chart, he can designate the screen values of each color on overlays to be used by the printer as a guide to laying down screens in these areas to make the negatives.
Family of type. All the type sizes and type styles of a particular type face (roman, italic, bold, condensed, expanded, etc.).
Fast-drying Ink. A printing ink that dries soon after printing.
Feathering. A ragged, or feathered, edge on printed type or engravings. Caused by poor ink distribution, incorrect impression, too much ink, or because a printing ink was used that would not release cleanly (split) from the plate during printing. Usually caused by long pigment inks.
Feeder. That section of the printing press that mechanically separates the sheets and feeds them into position for printing.
Feet. That part of a piece of metal type upon which it stands.
Felt side. In paper manufacturing, the top side of the sheet, as opposed to the underside, or wire side. In some papers, the felt finish is made by impressing still-wet paper with variously structured felts.
Filler. Coating material used to fill the interstices in paper or cloth to add bulk, opacity, and create a smoother surface. Fillers may be starch, clay, talc, titanium dioxide, diatomaceous earth, etc.
Filling-in. Also called filling-up. In printing, a condition in which ink fills the area between the halftone dots or plugs up the counters of the type.
Film advance. The distance in points by which the film in the photounit of a phototypesetting machine is advanced between lines. A film advance of 11 points for a 10-point font means that the text is set with 1-point leading.
Film makeup. See Film mechanical.
Film mechanical. Also called a photomechanical. A mechanical made with text, halftones, and display elements all in the form of film positives stripped into position on a sheet of base film. A film mechanical is the equivalent of a complete type form; from the film mechanical photorepros or contact films are made for the platemaker.
Film processor. Machine which automatically processes sensitized and exposed film and/or paper: develops, fixes, washes, and dries.
Filter. A device (gelatin or glass) placed between the subject being photographed and the film in order to reduce or eliminate certain colors while allowing other colors to be recorded on film.
Filter factor. A number that indicates the increase in exposure necessary when a filter is used.
Fine papers. A general term that refers to the grades of paper used for writing and book printing: bond, ledger, cover, and book.
Finish. The surface properties of paper.
Finishing. See Plate finishing.
First color down. In color printing, the first color printed on the sheet as it passes through the press.
First proofs. Proofs submitted for checking by proofreaders, copy editors, etc.
First revise. Also called corrected proof. The proof pulled after errors have been corrected in first proof. Additional corrections may call for second, third (or more) revises.
Fixing. The process by which a photographic image is made permanent.
Flash-in. The double-exposure of negative film.
Flat. An assemblage of various film negatives or positives attached, in register, to a piece of film, goldenrod, or suitable masking material ready to be exposed to a plate. Also, when referring to printed matter, flat refers to a lack of contrast and definition of detail, as opposed to sharp, or contrasty.
Flat-bed press. A letterpress containing a flat metal bed on which locked up forms of type and plates in a chase are positioned for printing. To print, the paper is forced against the printing surface by an impression cylinder.
Flat color. Generally refers to solid colors or tints other than process colors.
Flat-tint halftone. Also called a fake duotone. Printing a black halftone over a flat tint of second color.
Flexography. Formerly known as aniline printing. A relief printing process using wrap-around rubber or soft plastic plates and volatile, fast-drying ink. Widely used in the packaging industry.
Flooding. In printing, an excess of ink on the printing plate.
Flop. To turn over an image (for example, a halftone) so that it faces the opposite way.
Fluorescent Inks. Inks with fluorescent qualities that result in extreme brilliance. A well-known example of this kind of ink is Day-Glo.
Fluorographic. A patented process (Temart) in which dropout, or highlight, halftones can be produced photographically due to the fluorescence of the paper on which the art is rendered, or by treating existing art or photographs with a fluorescent solution.
Flush cover. A cover trimmed to the same size as the text page, as opposed to an overhang cover, which is slightly larger than the page trim size. An example of a flush cover is that used for paperbacks.
Flyer. Advertising handbill or circular.
Flying (misting) Ink droplets thrown off rapidly moving ink rollers.
Foil. Sized metallic or pigment leaf used in stamping lettering or designs on a surface. Used primarily for stamping book covers.
Folder. A printed piece with one or more folds, each section of which presents a complete page.
Folio. Page number. Also refers to a sheet of paper when folded once.
Font. Complete assembly of all the characters (upper and lowercase letters, numerals, punctuation marks, points, reference marks, etc.) of one size of one typeface: for example, 10-point Garamond roman. Font sizes (characters in a font) vary from 96 to 225, depending on the makeup of the font . Special characters (those not in a font) are called pi characters.
Foot. The bottom of a book or a page, as opposed to the top, or head.
Footnote. Note appearing at the bottom of a page referring to an item on same page. Indicated by superior numbers or by symbols such as asterisks, daggers, etc.
Foreword. Introduction to a book, usually written by someone other than the author.
Form. In letterpress, type and other matter set for printing, locked up in a chase, from which either a printed impression is pulled or a plate is made. In off - set, refers to the flat . Also refers to a printed piece or document containing blank spaces for the insertion of details or information and designed for use in office machines.
Form rollers. Ink or dampening rollers that contact the press plate.
Format. General term for style, size, and all over appearance of a publication.
Formatt. A brand name for a self-adhering type, printed on acetate sheets to be cut out and applied to the mechanical.
Formatting. In phototypesetting, translating the designer's type specifications into format, or command, codes for the phototypesetting equipment. Formatting 'is gradually replacing markup.
Folosetter. Trade name for a first-generation, circulating-matrix phototypesetting machine manufactured by Harris-Intertype. No longer made, but about 100 still in use.
Fototronic. Trade name for a line of second- and third-generation phototypesetting machines manufactured by Harris-Intertype.
Fototronic CRT. Trade name for a third-generation phototypesetting system incorporating high-speed cathode-ray tube technology, manufactured by Harris-Intertype.
Foundry type. Metal type characters used in hand composition, cast in special hard metal by type founders.
Foundry lockup. A form properly squared and tightly locked up for making molds for electrotypes, stereotypes, etc. Bearers surround the live matter.
Fountain. On a printing press, the ink reservoir that holds the ink for immediate use while the press is printing, and from which the ink is metered to the form by the rollers. In offset lithography, it is also a reservoir for holding the etch for use in the dampening system. The fountain solution is metered onto the press plate by means of an engraved roller and a series of special cloth covered rollers.
Fountain roller. On a printing press, the roller that revolves in the ink or dampening fountain and meters out the proper amount of ink to the distributing rollers.
Fountain solution. Also referred to as etch. In offset lithography, a mixture of alcohol or water, acid, buffer, and gum arabic that prevents the non-printing areas of the plate from accepting ink. Control of the pH (acidity and alkalinity) of the fountain solution in the dampening unit is crucial.
Four-color process. Method of reproducing full-color copy (original artwork, transparencies, etc.) by separating the color image into its three primary colors-magenta, yellow and cyan-plus black. This results in four printing plates, one for each color, which when printed one over the other produce the effects of all the colors of the original art.
Fourdrinier. Papermaking machine normally employed in the manufacture of all grades of paper.
French fold. A double fold: the sheet is printed on one side only, then folded twice, once vertically and once horizontally, resulting in an economical, attractive four page folder. Used for formal invitations, etc.
Frisket. In letterpress, selectively cut and excised protective paper used on the proofing press to cover any part of a printing plate so that it does not print. Friskets are used in process-color proofing to mash out the dead metal on the plates so that proofs can be pulled for customer submission. Also refers to any covering agent, such as Maskoid or masking tape, used to mask out areas when airbrushing art or photos.
Frontispiece. An illustration on the page facing the title page of a book.
Fugitive Inks. Inks that are not lightfast or permanent; they fade or change color when exposed to light, heat, moisture, or other conditions. As opposed to permanent inks.
Full color. Process color .
Furnish. The ingredients (pulp and additives) that go into the making of paper.
Furniture. In letterpress, the rectangular pieces of wood, metal, or plastic, below the height of the type, used to fill in areas of blank space around the type and engravings when locking up the form for printing.
G
Gallery. Cameras a nd darkroom of an engraving plant.
Galley. In metal composition, a shallow, three-sided metal tray that holds the type forms prior to printing. Also refers to the galley proof .
Galley proof. Also called a rough proof. An impression of type, usually not spaced out or fully assembled, that allows the typographer or client to see if the job has been properly set.
Gang printing. Also called ganging up. In printing, running off any number of different jobs on the same sheet. After printing, the sheet is cut into the individual jobs and the printing cost is prorated.
Gate fold. A page that folds into the gutter, and when unfolded it is about twice the size of a normal page. Commonly used in magazines and catalogs in cases where the regular page is not large enough to contain all the information, or simply to create a special effect.
Gathering. Assembling individual sheets or folded signatures in proper sequence for binding.
Gear streaks. Parallel streaks appearing across the printed sheet at the same interval as gear teeth on a cylinder.
Ghosting. A condition in which the printed image appears faint where not intended, caused by an abrupt change in ink take-off on the rollers. Ghosting often occurs when printing flat borders, L-shaped solids, and circles; it can generally be avoided in design by making sure the solid areas are well separated to give the ink sufficient time to build up on the rollers.
Gigo. Garbage in, garbage out. Programming slang for bad input produces bad output.
Glaze. A gradual build-up on rollers caused by an accumulation of dried ink varnishes and gum.
Glossy. A photoprint made on glossy paper. As opposed to matte.
Goldenrod. In offset printing, a sheet of opaque orange paper into which the negative films are stripped to make up a flat from which a printing plate is made.
Grain. Predominant direction of the fibers in a sheet of paper. When folding, the direction of the grain is important: a sheet folded with the grain folds easily; a sheet folded across the grain does not. In photography, the minute variations of density in a developed photographic emulsion caused by the irregular distribution of the silver crystals.
Gravure. Printing method based on intaglio printing, in which the image area is etched below the surface of the printing plate. The gravure plate or cylinder is immersed in ink then wiped clean with a doctor blade, leaving ink only in the etched areas. The areas cut below the surface of the printing plate carry the image, which is transferred directly, by means of pressure, to the paper. There are two basic gravure presses: rotogravure, which prints from cylinders
onto a web of paper; and sheet-fed, which prints from flat plates curved around the cylinder of the press onto individual sheets.
Gray balance. The proper amount of process yellow, magenta and cyan to produce a gray scale with no apparent dominant hue.
Gray component replacement (GCR). A technique for removing some of the cyan, magenta and yellow from color separations and replacing it with shades of black.
Gray scale. A series of values of usually 16 or 21 steps from white through logarithmic (not arithmetic) gradations of gray to black. Used in processing film or photographically processed materials such as paper and plates.
Greige goods. (Pronounced gray goods.) The basic cloth, usually cotton, used for woven bookbinding materials.
Grid. In photocomposition, the rectangular carrier of a negative type font used in some systems. Also refers to the cross-ruled transparent grids over which all parts of a page or book layout will be assembled, or made up, in phototypography.
Gripper edge. The leading edge of a sheet of paper clamped by the grippers as it passes through the printing press. Allowance must be made on the stock to be printed for a gripper bite of from 3/8" to 1/2", depending on the kind of printing press used.
Grippers. In printing, the mechanical "fingers'' on the gripper bar that hold the paper onto the impression cylinder of the press during impression,
Guide. A mechanical device on a printing press that causes all sheets fed up to it to be printed with a uniform margin and in register.
Guide edge. Edge of the sheet that is fed to the guide.
Guideline. A line drawn on artwork to indicate the limits of the area to be printed.
Gum arabic. Gum obtained from the Acacia tree used in offset fountain solutions and to preserve offset plates.
Gumming. Treating the plate surface with a thin coat of gum arabic to preserve the plate and prevent surface oxidation.
Gum streaks. Streaks produced by uneven gumming up of plates or incomplete removal of old gum when rerunning plates.
Gutter. Blank space where two pages meet at the binding or blank space between the columns of type.
Gutter margin. Inner margin of a single page.
Gutenberg, Johann. Inventor of moveable type and letterpress printing (c. 1455) as we know it today. Although preceded by the Chinese and the Koreans (c. 705 A.D.), it is Gutenberg who is remembered as the father of mass production and the progenitor of the machine age.
H
Hairline. A fine line or rule, the finest line that can be reproduced in printing.
Halation. A blurring of the photographic image, particularly in highlight areas, caused by light reflected from the back surface of the substrate.
Half title page. The first page of a book after the endpapers Carries the title of the book only and always precedes the title page.
Halftone. The photomechanical reproduction of continuous-tone copy (such as photographs) in which the gradations of tone are obtained by the relative size and density of tiny dots produced by photographing the original copy through a fine cross-line screen. For the kinds of halftones possible, see Dropout, Duotone, Double-dot, Highlight, Silhouette, Square, Surprint and Vignette halftones.
Halftone negative. Also called screened negative. The negative film produced by shooting continuous-tone copy through a halftone screen .
Halftone positive. Also called a screened positive. A photographic positive containing screened continuous-tone copy in the form of dots representing the tonal values to be reproduced.
Halftone screen. A fine-line engraved glass or photographic film screen used to convert continuous-tone copy to line copy (dots) for halftone printing.
Halo effect. In printing, the piling up of ink at the edges of the printed letters and halftone dots, especially in letterpress printing. The centers of the dots, although printing, appear lighter, or less dense, than the edges.
Handbill. Generally applies to a single leaf, printed on one side, for distribution by hand from door to door.
Hanging Indentation. In composition, a style in which the first line of copy is set full measure and all the lines that follow are indented.
Hard copy. In phototypesetting, typewritten copy produced simultaneously with paper or magnetic tape and used to help keyboard operator spot errors as he types and to supply proofreaders with copy to read and correct before the tape is committed to typesetting, Also convenient for marking operating instructions to the photounit operator.
Hardcover. See Edition binding.
Hardware. In phototypesetting and the word-processing field, a term referring to the actual computer equipment, as opposed to the procedures and programming, which are known as software.
Head. The top, as opposed to the bottom, or foot, of a book or a page.
Heading. Bold or display type used to emphasize copy.
Headline. The most important line of type in a piece of printing, enticing the reader to read further or summarizing at a glance the content of the copy which follows.
Headliner. In phototypesetting, a trade name for a machine that produces display sizes of type, manufactured by VariTyper Corp.
Head margin. The white space above the first line on a page.
Heat-set Inks. Letterpress and web offset printing inks which dry under heat.
Heavy bodied Inks. Printing inks having a high viscosity and stiff consistency.
Hickey. A defect, or spot, appearing in the printed piece. Hickies are caused by dust, lint, or bits of ink skin on the printing plate, the type form, or the blanket (in offset) and show up as specks surrounded by a halo effect .
High key. Refers to a photograph in which the majority of tonal values are higher, or lighter, than a middle gray.
Highlight. In a photograph, the highlight area is the lightest area. Represented by the smallest dot formation in a halftone.
Highlight halftone. See Dropout halftone.
Holding lines. Lines drawn by the designer on the mechanical to indicate the exact area that is to be occupied by a halftone, color, tint, etc.
Hold-out. The properties of an ink or paper coating that keep the ink on the top surface of the paper resulting in a glossier appearance.
Hot type. Slang expression for type produced by casting hot metal: Linotype, Intertype, Monotype, and Ludlow , and sometimes handset foundry type.
Hue. That characteristic of color that we call ''color": red, green, blue, etc., as opposed to shade, tint .
I
Idiot tape. A common term for an unhyphenated, unjustified tape . Cannot be used to set type until command (format) codes are added and processed by a computer which makes all end-of-line decisions.
Illustration. General term for any form of drawing, diagram, halftone, or color image that serves to enhance a printed piece.
Image master. Also called a type matrix. in phototypesetting, that part of the photounit that holds the type fonts i.e., a disc, etc.
Imposing stone. See Stone,
Imposition. In printing, the arrangement of pages in a press form so they will appear in correct order when the printed sheet is folded and trimmed. Also, the plan for such an arrangement.
Impregnated. In book manufacture, the coating of the cover cloth. Cloths can be pyroxylin-impregnated, vinyl-impregnated, or starch impregnated.
Impression. In printing, the actual process of taking a printed copy from type or plates. Also, the pressure of the printing surface upon the paper. See Kiss impression.
Impression cylinder. Cylinder that holds the paper against the printing surface so that contact is made and an impression produced.
Impression roller. In fluorography, a rubber-coated roller on a printing press which creates an impression on the paper by pressing it against the cylinder.
Imprint. The printing of a person's or a firm's name and address on a previously printed piece by running it through another printing press.
Incunabula. Early printing, specifically that done in the 15th century.
Indicia. Information printed by special permit on cards or envelopes that takes the place of a stamp or postage meter impression.
Indirect letterpress. See Letterset.
Indirect process. In four-color process printing, the original copy is first separated into four continuous-tone (unscreened) negatives which are sized and screened later. As opposed to the direct process 'in which the copy is separated, scaled, and screened in one step.
Infra-red. Heat energy in the infra-red portion of the electromagnetic spectrum used to accelerate drying.
Initial. The first letter of a body of copy, set in display type for decoration or emphasis. Often used to begin a chapter or a section of a book.
Ink fountain. Also called the fountain. That part of the printing press that supplies ink to the inking rollers.
Ink holdout. A characteristic of paper that keeps the ink on the surface and prevents it from being absorbed into the paper's fibers. Too much absorption causes the printed image to lack sharpness and luster. Coated papers have better ink holdout than non-coated papers and are therefore capable of producing finer halftones.
Inkometer. An instrument that measures the tack of litho inks in numerical terms.
Input. In computer composition, the data to be processed.
Insert. A separately prepared and specially printed piece which is inserted into another printed piece or a publication.
Intaglio. In fine art, a printing process in which the image or design is cut or etched into the surface of the plate. In printing, the intaglio process is referred to as gravure , and steel or copper engraving.
Interleave. See Slip sheet.
Interlinespacing. Also called linespacing. In photocomposition, term for leading .
Internegative. In photography, the negative taken by a camera from which a color print or transparency will be made. Also, the negative resulting from copying color art or transparencies for blow-up or reduction from which a final-size print or duplicate transparency will be made.
Intertype. Trade name for a linecasting machine similar to Linotype. Manufactured by Harris-Intertype Corp.
Isopropyl alcohol. Used in many dampening systems, it makes water wetter.
Italic. Letterform that slants to the right: looks like this.
J
Jacket. Also called a dust cover. The paper dust jacket or over-cover of a casebound book.
Job press. A platen press used to print small jobs such as business cards, envelopes, tickets, etc. These presses are often referred to as jobbers.
Job shop. A commercial printing plant, as opposed to a publication, or "captive," shop.
Jog. To straighten or align by vibration the edges of a pile of papers so that they are even.
Joint. That part of a book binding that forms the hinge at the spine.
Justified type. Lines of type that align on both the left and the right of the full measure.
Justify. The act of justifying lines of type to a specified measure, flush right and left, by putting the proper amount of interword space between words in the line to make it even, or "true."
K
Kerned letters. Type characters in which a part of the letter extends, or projects, beyond the body or shank, thus overlapping an adjacent character.
Kerning. Adjusting the space between letters so that part of one extends over the body of the next. Kerned letters are common in italic, script, and swash fonts. In metal type, kerning is accomplished by actually cutting the body of the type for a closer fit. In phototypesetting, it is accomplished by backspacing, and composition set this way is often termed "set tight" or set with minus letterspacing.
Key. To code copy by means of symbols such as numbers or letters. Also refers to a device for tightening quoins or a device to tighten the hooks used with a patent base .
Keyboard. In linecasting, phototypesetting, and typewriter or strike-on composition, that part of the typesetting machine at which the operator sits and types the copy to be set. See also Counting and Noncounting keyboards.
Keyboardist. Keyboard operator.
Keyed advertising. Advertisements that are coded to identify results. Used when the same ad is run in more than one publication.
Keyline. Mechanical . Most paste-up art has key lines, which are the outlines of areas or of objects the designer has drawn, showing where a panel, color tint, or halftone is to be positioned.
Key negative. The negative (or positive) film that contains the basic format of the job and onto which all other negatives of tints or other colors will be registered.
Key plate. The term "key negative" or "key plate" usually refers to a negative or plate that carries most or all the indications as a guide for the stripper.
Kicker. Also called a teaser. A short line above the main line of a head, printed in smaller, or accent, type.
Kid finish. A finish that resembles soft, undressed kid. Used on high-grade or Bristol paper.
Kill. To delete unwanted copy. Also, to "kill type" means to distribute or dump metal type from a form that has already been printed, or to destroy existing negatives or press plates.
Kiss Impression. The ideal meeting of plate and paper: the ink is properly split from the plate and distributed evenly and the paper is properly impressed but not indented.
Kleenstick. A brand name for a pressure sensitive adhesive-backed paper. When repros are pulled on Kleenstick, they can be put down on the mechanical directly, without rubber cement.
Kraft. The name comes from the German word for "strong." A sturdy paper made from sulphate pulp, commonly used for wrapping.
Kromecote. A brand name for a castcoated paper with a very glossy finish.
L
Lacquer. A clear, cellulose-derivative synthetic coating applied to the surface of a printed piece for protection and/or appearance. Before lacquering, the printer must use inks compatible with the lacquering process.
Laid paper. Paper having a laid pattern: a series of parallel lines simulating the look of the old handmade papers.
Laminating. Applying a thin plastic film (acetate or polyester) to a printed sheet for protection and/or appearance. A laminated surface has a hard, high gloss and is impervious to stains. Lamination may be applied in liquid form or in sheets. Liquid acetate is less expensive as it is done on a blade coater. Sheet acetate is applied by a laminating machine and is more expensive, but it is also thicker, has a higher gloss, and offers more protection. However, unlike liquid acetate, sheet acetate may peel if adhesion is not carefully controlled. Before lamination is considered, care must be exercised in notifying the printer to use inks compatible with the type of lamination proposed.
Lampblack. A carbon black pigment used to produce a dull, intensely black ink. Lampblack is prepared by the incomplete combustion of vegetable oils, petroleum, or asphalt materials.
Lap. In color printing, the area where one color overprints, or overlaps, another adjacent color. The amount of lap is specified in points; the thinnest lap is a hairline.
Last color down. In color printing, the last color to be printed.
Laydown sequence. In color printing, the sequence in which the colors are printed.
Layout. The hand-drawn preliminary plan or blueprint of the basic elements of a design shown in their proper positions prior to making a comprehensive ; or showing the sizes and kind of type, illustrations, spacing, and general style as a guide to the printer.
L.C. Lowercase, or small letters of a font.
Leader. A row of dots, periods, or dashes used to lead the eye across the page. Leaders are specified as 2, 3, or 4 to the em; in fine typography they may be specified to align vertically.
Lead-in. The first few words in a block of copy set in a different, contrasting typeface.
Leading. (Pronounced ledding.) In metal type composition, the insertion of leads between lines of type. In phototypesetting, the placement of space between lines of type: also called linespacing or film advance.
Leads. (Pronounced leds.) In metal type composition, the thin strips of metal (in thicknesses of 1 to 2 points) used to create space between the lines of type. Leads are less than type-high and so do not print.
Ledger paper. A tough, smooth, non-receptive paper generally used for keeping business records, such as ledgers.
Legibility. That quality in type and its spacing and composition that affects the speed of perception: the faster, easier, and more accurate the perception, the more legible the type.
Length. In printing inks, that property which enables the ink to be stretched out into a long, thin thread without breaking. Long inks have good flow. Short inks cut off cleaner, permitting the printing of very delicate type and illustrations.
Letraset. Brand name for a rub-off, or dry transfer, type.
Letterfit. In composition, the quality of the space between the individual characters. Letterfit should be uniform and allow for good legibility. In body type, the typesetter has no control over letterfit because it is an integral characteristic of the font structure. In display types, the designer is responsible for obtaining proper letter fit by cutting and fitting the letters (set on paper or film) until the optimum esthetic arrangement is achieved.
Letterpress. The printing method originally used to print using woodblocks or type. It is based on relief printing, which means that the image area is raised. The surface 'is inked by means of a roller and the image i's transferred directly to the paper by pressure. See Flatbed cylinder and Rotary.
Letterset. Also known as dry offset and indirect letterpress. A printing process in which a low-relief plate is used on a modified offset press. As in conventional offset printing, the ink is transferred from the plate to the paper by being offset from a blanket, but unlike offset printing, no dampening system is required.
Letterspace. The space between letters.
Letterspacing. In composition, adding space between the individual letters in order to fill out a line of type to a given measure or to improve appearance. In metal type, letterspacing is achieved by inserting thin paper or metal spaces. which are less than type-high and so do not print, between the letters. In phototypesetting, letterspacing is achieved mechanically by keyboarding extra space between letters or increasing the set width of the face. In phototypesetting, minus letterspacing (or kerning) is also possible.
Ligature. In metal or linecast type, two or three characters joined on one body, or matrix, such as ff, ffi, ffl, Ta, Wa, Ya, etc. Not to be confused with characters used in logotypes cast on a single body.
Lightface. A lighter version of a regular typeface.
Lightfastness. The resistance of a printed piece or colored material to color change when exposed to high-intensity ultraviolet (UV) light (sunlight or artificial light).
Linecaster. A typesetting machine (Linotype, Intertype) that casts entire lines of type in metal, as opposed to those that cast individual characters (Monotype).
Line conversion. The conversion of continuous-tone copy to line copy through the use of conventional halftone screens or patterned special-effects screens.
Line copy. Any copy that is solid black, with no gradation of tones: line work, type, dots, rules, etc.
Line cut. See Line engraving.
Line drawing. Any artwork created by solid black lines: usually pen and ink. A drawing free from wash or diluted tones.
Linen. A kind or finish given to book-covering materials or to paper.
Line engraving. A printing plate which prints only black lines and masses.
Line gauge. Also called a type gauge or a pica rule. Used for copyfitting and measuring typographic materials.
Line mechanical. An accurate paste-up of all line copy, ready to be shot (photographed).
Line negative. A high-contrast negative of line copy. Areas to be recorded are clear; all other areas are light-blocking.
Line overlay. Line work put on overlay to pre-separate line from halftone. Used in preparation of art for reproduction.
Line printer. In phototypesetting, a highspeed tape-activated machine that produces a hard copy printout for editing and correcting purposes. Specifically, a device capable of printing the line of characters across a page, i.e., 100 or more characters simultaneously as continuous paper advances line by line in one direction past type bars, a type cylinder or a type chain capable of printing all characters in all directions.
Line printer proof. Proof printed by a line printer and used for reading purposes, or checking the outcome of typesetting before actual setting.
Linespacing. In phototypesetting, the term for leading .
Line work. Artwork consisting of solid blacks and whites, with no tonal values.
Lining figures. Numerals the same size as the caps in any given typeface. Lining figures align on the baseline.
Linofilm. Trade name for a line of phototypesetting machines and a system manufactured by Mergenthaler Linotype.
Linotron. Trade name for highspeed cathode ray tube phototypesetting machines and systems manufactured by Mergenthaler Linotype.
Linotype. Trade name for a widely used linecasting machine that sets an entire line of type as a single slug. Manufactured by Mergenthaler Linotype.
Lithography. In fine art, a planographic printing process in which the image area is separated from the non-image area by means of chemical repulsion. The commercial form of lithography is offset lithography .
Livering. An irreversible increase in the body of an ink as a result of chemical change during storage.
Lockup. In letterpress printing, a type form properly positioned and made secure in a chase for printing or stereotyping.
Logotype. Commonly referred to as a logo. Two or more type characters which are joined on one body as a trademark or a company signature. Not to be confused with a ligature, which consists to two or more normally connected characters.
Long Ink. Length or stringiness in a printing ink denotes printing, transfer, and water-resistant qualities.
Lowercase. Small letters, or minuscules, as opposed to caps.
Ludlow. Trade name for a typecasting machine for which the matrices are assembled by hand and the type is cast in line slugs. Used principally for setting large display type and newspaper headlines. Manufactured by Ludlow Typograph Co.
Lydel. Trade name for photopolymer offset printing plates manufactured by DuPont.
M
Machine composition. Generic and general term for the composition of metal type matter using mechanical means, as opposed to hand-composition. The use of machines incorporating keyboards and hot metal typecasting equipment, i.e., Linotype, Monotype.
Machine finish. An uncoated paper with a smooth but not glossy finish.
Magazine. The slotted metal container used to store matrices in linecasting machines.
Magazine specifications. Specifications for the making of printing plates to conform to publishers' special printing requirements.
Magenta. Also referred to as process red. One of the process colors . Also, one of the filters used in making color separations.
Magnetic inks. Inks made with iron pigments that can be magnetized after printing to enable the printed matter to be picked up by electronic sensing (reading), or MICR (magnetic ink character reading), equipment. Widely used by banks for printing and machine processing checks.
Magnetic tape. In typewriter composition and photocomposition, a tape or ribbon impregnated with magnetic material on which information may be placed in the form of magnetically polarized spots. Used to store data which can later be further processed and set into type.
Makeready. The process of arranging the form on the press preparatory to printing so that the impression will be sharp and even. In letterpress, makeready is done by evening-up the impression under the tympan packing to make certain all the printing elements are typehigh and that the paper and form come together close enough to transfer the ink, but not so close that the surface will be bruised or the paper punctured. The object of makeready is to ensure a "kiss impression."
Makeup. Assembling the typographic elements (type and engravings) and adding space to form a page or a group of pages of a newspaper, magazine, or book. Makeup is the management of white space; that is, the mechanical and esthetic arrangement of the elements of a piece into a legible format for final reproduction.
Manilla paper. A smooth, sturdy, buff-colored paper made from manilla hemp. Used for folders, envelopes, etc.
Manuscript. Copy to be set in type. Usually abbreviated to MS. (sing.) and MSS. (pl.). Can also refer to handwritten, as opposed to typewritten, material.
Margins. The areas that are left around type and/or illustrative matter on a page: the top, bottom, and sides.
Markup. In typesetting, to mark the type specifications on layout and copy for the typesetter. Generally consists of the typeface, size, line length, leading, etc. See Formatting.
Mask. Generally refers to any material used to block off, or mask, portions of an illustration or area in order to protect it. In photochemical work, light-blocking material is used to block off an area to prevent it from being exposed to light. In offset lithography, opaque material is used to protect non-printing areas of the printing plate during exposure. Also, an overlay supplied to create outline shapes for halftones by photography.
Masking. In process-color reproduction, a photomechanical method using equipment and special filters to control or modulate color contrast and detail over the total area of each separation negative used for printed color reproduction. Masking is used primarily to reduce the contrast of transmitted light so that maximum reproductive value for reflected light can be attained. It is also used to heighten contrast when this quality is lacking in the transparency. Photographic masks may be either positive or negative, depending on the desired correction.
Masking paper. See Goldenrod.
Masking tape. A translucent, light-blocking red or solid black press u re-sensitive tape used to mask out unwanted areas of copy on negative or positive film. Also, a pressure-sensitive brown or white opaque tape used extensively in preparing artwork and making mechanicals.
Master proof. Also called a printer's proof or reader's proof. A galley proof containing queries and corrections which should be checked by the client and returned to the typographer.
Masthead. Any design or logotype used as identification by a newspaper or publication.
Masstone. Color of ink in the can which differs radically from the printed color of the same ink.
Mat. In cast-type composition; the common (slang) term for a Linotype, Ludlow, or Monotype matrix. In stereotyping, the papier-maché or plastic mold of type and engraving forms from which stereotypes are cast. In rubber-plate work (flexography), the mold from which the rubber printing plates are cast. Also refers to a decorative matboard "frame" used to support a picture, as well as for purely esthetic effect, when framing.
Match color. See Flat color.
Matrix. (More commonly called a mat.) In foundry-cast type, the mold from which the type is cast. In linecasting, the specially designed mold for casting a character; lines of matrices are assembled for casting a slug. In phototypesetting, the glass plate that contains the film font negative: also referred to as a type master.
Matte finish. A paper with an uncalandered, lightly finished surface, Also, in photography, a textured, finely grained finish on a photograph or photostat. As opposed to glossy.
Mean line. More often called the x-line. The line that marks the tops of lowercase letters without ascenders.
Measure. The length of a line of type, normally expressed in picas, or in picas and points.
Mechanical. Camera-ready paste-up assembly of all type and design elements pasted on artboard or illustration board in exact position and containing instructions, either in the margins or on an overlay, for the platemaker.
Mechanical binding. A binding method in which the pages are held together by mechanical means, usually by metal or plastic coils.
Mechanical separations. Copy prepared by the designer with overlays showing each color to be printed: one overlay for each color, all overlays in exact register with the base mechanical.
Merge. In photocomposition, a technique for combining items from two or more sequenced tapes into one, usually in a specified sequence, using a computer to incorporate new or corrected copy into existing copy and produce a clean tape for typesetting.
Metallic Inks. Inks containing metallic bronze or aluminum powders in a varnish base which produce the appearance of gold, silver, copper, or bronze.
Metals. In letterpress, the kinds of metals used in platemaking are as follows: copper, for fine detail line work and quality halftone reproduction; magnesium, for long-run jobs such as packaging; zinc, for line work and coarse-screen halftones. In lithography, aluminum, zinc, or bi-metal and trimetal combinations of these metals with copper or photosensitive polymers.
Metric system. A decimal system of measures and weights with the meter and the gram as the bases. Here are some of the more common measures and their equivalents:
Kilometer 00.62137 mile
meter 39.37 inches
centimeter 00.3937 inch
millimeter 00.03937 inch
kilogram 02.2046 lbs.
gram 15.432 grs, (av.)
inch 02.54 cms.
foot 00.3048 meter
yard 00.9144 meter
pound 00.4536 kilogram
Mezzotint. In fine art, a form of etching in which the entire surface is ''burred.'' Also, a line conversion of a photograph which imitates the mezzotint effect,
Microfilm. Photographic reproduction of data in a size too small to be read without magnification. Usually done on standard size 70mm, 35mm. or 16mm film, Microfilm is currently being produced by computer assisted CRT phototypesetting devices.
Middle tones (or midtone), The tonal range between highlights and shadows in a photograph or reproduction. Usually represents tones between 30% and 75% value of the copy.
Mimeograph. Brand name for duplicating machine based on a direct-stencil process: ink is forced through a stencil of the original copy and onto a highly absorbent paper. Manufactured by A.B. Dick Co.
Minuscules. Small letters, or lowercase.
Modern. Term used to describe the type style developed in the late 18th century.
Moiré pattern. (Pronounced moh-ray,) Undesirable patterns that occur when reproductions are made from halftone proofs. Caused by optical conflict between the ruling of the halftone screen and the dots or lines contained in the original; a similar pattern can occur in multicolor halftone reproductions due either to incorrect screen angles or misregister of the color impressions during printing. In four color process work, the yellow printer is sometimes screened at a different screen (133-line) from the other three colors (120line) to avoid a moire,
Mold. See Matrix.
Molleton. Cloth covered roller used in conventional dampening. It holds a reservoir of water and releases it to the plate.
Monochromatic. Made up of tints and shades of only one color.
Monophoto. Trade name for a phototypesetting machine based on the same mechanical principles as Monotype . Manufactured by The Monotype Corporation Ltd., England.
Monotone. Any type of artwork reproduced in one color only. Also black and white copy.
Monotype. Trade name for a typecasting machine that casts individual characters in lines (rather than lines of type as a solid slug, as in Linotype). Manufactured by The Monotype Corporation Ltd., England.
Montage. Single image made up of several images.
Morgue. Collection or file of reference material.
Mortising. Cutting of a rectangular cavity, or hole, in an engraving block to allow type or other engravings to be inserted.
Mottle. In printing, spotty, mottled, or uneven areas, especially noticeable in printed solids, caused by tacky, transparent inks whose film split badly during impression.
Mounting. Backing engravings with blocks of wood to make them type-high. Also refers to the pasting of photographic prints onto stiff mounting board.
Mullen tester. A machine used to determine the bursting strength of paper.
Multicolor printing. Printing in more than one color.
Multilith. Trade name for a small offset duplicator press used for small jobs such as cards, letterheads, envelopes, forms, etc. Manufactured by Addressograph-Multigraph Co.
Munsell system. A system of numerical gradation used to designate and specify colors.
Mutton quad. Also called a mutt. Nickname for an em-quad .
M weight. The weight of 1,000 sheets of any given paper size, Not to be confused with basis weight, which is the weight of 500 sheets of a specific paper size. For example, the basis weight of 500 sheets of 25" x 38" paper would be 50 lbs., but the M weight of the same sheet would be 100 lbs., generally written as 100M.
N
Natural. An off-white color of paper, like ivory. Also, a kind of finish given book-covering materials.
Negative. A reverse photographic image on film or paper: white becomes black and black becomes white; intermediate tone values are reversed. Also, a short form of the term "film negative" used in photography or in photomechanical processes to make printing plates.
Negative assembly. Assembling or combining negatives on a flat in exact position according to a layout so that a plate can be exposed, etched, and printed as a complete unit.
News Inks. Printing inks used on newsprint. News inks dry by absorption.
Newsprint. A grade of paper containing about 85% groundwood and 15% unbleached sulfite. The weight is from 30 to 45 lbs. and the surface is coarse and absorbent. Used for printing newspapers and low-cost flyers or broadsides.
Nick. In hand composition, the grooves in the body of the type pieces that help the compositor assemble the letters. In film, a notch or notches in the edge of the film used to identify the type of film when handling in the darkroom.
Nickeltype. An electrotype plated with nickel or chromium instead of copper. In letterpress printing, the plates used to print red (magenta) inks are always chromium or nickel plated to prevent chemical reactions between plate and ink.
Non-consumable textbook. A textbook intended to be used and re-used over a number of terms. As opposed to a consumable textbook,
Non-counting keyboard. In phototypesetting, a keyboard at which the operator types the copy to be set, producing a continuous tape which is then fed into a computer to determine line length and hyphenation and justification.
Non-scratch inks. Inks that when dry are highly resistant to mars and abrasions.
Non-woven. In binding, any material that is not woven: paper, reinforced paper, and synthetic fibers.
Novelty printing. Non-publication printing, such as on balloons, calendars, pencils, matchbook covers , badges, etc.
Numbering. Printing consecutive numbers on invoices, tickets, etc. with a numbering machine. Usually done by letterpress, although some offset presses have numbering attachments.
Nut. Nickname for an en-quad.
O
Oblique. Roman characters that slant to the right.
Oblong. In book binding, refers to a book that is bound on the short end rather than on the long end.
Offline. Refers to equipment not directly controlled by a central processing unit or to operations conducted out-of-process. As opposed to online.
Offset. Commonly used term for offset lithography . Also used interchangeably with set-off .
Offset lithography. Also called photolithography and, most commonly, offset. The commercial form of lithographic printing. Offset lithography is a planographic printing method; it is the only major printing method in which the image area and the non-image area of the printing plate are on the same plane. They are separated by chemical means, on the principle that grease (ink) and water (the etch in the fountain solution) do not mix. The ink is transferred from the plate onto a rubber blanket and then to the paper.
Offset paper. Paper specially made for offset printing. It may be coated or uncoated. It must be sized and strong enough to resist the pull of the tacky inks used and the washing away of the coating by the dampening system.
Old Style. A style of type developed in the early 17th century.
One-up, two-up, etc. In printing, making one impression of a job at a time. By using duplicate plates, or by step-and-repeating the job on one plate, jobs may be printed two-up, three-up and so on.
Onionskin. A term applied to lightweight, semitransparent bond-type paper used for making carbon duplicates when typing. Also used for airmail stationery to cut down on weight and save postage.
Online. Refers to equipment directly controlled by a central processing unit. As opposed to offline. The term generally refers to the operation of input/output devices.
Opacity. That quality in a sheet of paper that prevents the type or image printed on one side from showing through to the other: the more opaque the sheet, the less show-through it will have. Also, the covering power of an ink.
Opaque. Non-transparent; not allowing light to pass through. Also, to paint out unwanted areas on a film negative so they will not reproduce during platemaking.
Opaque inks. Inks formulated to cover up underlying stock or printing.
Opaquing. The process of eliminating any portion of a film negative by painting over the unwanted areas with an opaque solution. Also; painting resist on areas of metal engravings not to be etched.
Optical center. A point 10% above the mathematical center of a page or layout.
Optical Character Recognition. The process of electronically reading typewritten, printed, or handwritten documents used in photocomposition. Copy to be set is typed on a special typewriter, then read by an OCR scanner which produces a tape for typesetting. This avoids the necessity for keyboarding by the keyboard operator, permitting typesetting by a typist.
Ornamented. A typeface that is embellished for decorative effect.
Orthochromatic. Photographic emulsion sensitive to blue, green, and yellow, but not red light.
Outline. A typeface with only the outline defined.
Outline halftone. See Silhouette halftone.
Output. In phototypesetting, type that has been set. Also, the processed tape from a computer.
Overhang cover. A cover larger than the trim size of the pages it encloses, as opposed to a flush cover, which is the same size.
Overlay. Transparent paper or film flap placed over artwork for the purpose of (1) protecting it from dirt and damage, (2) indicating instructions to the platemaker or printer, or (3) showing the breakdown of color in mechanical color separations.
Overprinting. Also called surprinting. Printing one color over another, or surprinting type over a halftone reproduction.
Overprint varnish. A varnish applied to improve gloss and mar resistance.
Overrun. Printing a quantity in excess of what is ordered. Also, printing a quantity in excess of what is actually required. Buyers of printing should be aware of the extra charges that nonregulated overruns may add to the bill.
Ozalid. Photocopying machine used to produce paper proofs of strike-on or phototypeset typography.
P
Packing. In printing, the layers of paper between the impression cylinder and the tympan upon which the paper rests during printing in letterpress, or between the plate and the cylinder in offset lithography. Manipulating the packing to ensure a perfect printing impression is called makeready.
Page proofs. Impression or proof pulled of page before the print run for checking purposes.
Pagination. To number pages in consecutive order.
Pamphlet. Generally used interchangeably with the booklet. Also used to designate a minor booklet of a few pages.
Pamphlet binding. The binding of small pamphlets or booklets, usually by saddlewire stitching or side-wire stitching .
Panchromatic. Photographic emulsion sensitive to all colors. The range of color sensitivity approximates that of the human eye.
Pantone Matching System. Brand name for a widely used color-matching system .
Paper. The name given all kinds of matted or felted sheets of fiber (usually vegetable, but sometimes mineral, animal, or synthetic) formed on a fine screen from a water suspension. Also, specifically, one of the two broad subdivisions of paper, the other being paperboard.
Paper basis weight. See Basis weight.
Paperboard. One of the two broad subdivisions of the general category of fibrous sheets known as paper, the other being the specific term paper. Generally, paperboard is heavier, thicker, and more rigid than paper. All sheets 12 points (0.012") or more in thickness are classified as paperboard.
Paper conditioning. The process of adding moisture to or taking moisture from paper to attain proper paper condition for printing.
Paper grades. Categories of paper based on such characteristics as size, weight, and grain. The grade is often defined in terms of use. For example, bond, offset, tag, book, newsprint, etc.
Paper surface efficiency (PSE). A method of determining the printability of a sheet of paper. It is dictated by how much ink the paper absorbs and the smoothness of the surface. Evenness of the caliper of paper will also influence printability.
Paper tape. A strip of paper of specified dimensions on which data may be recorded, usually in the form of punched holes. Each character recorded on the tape is represented by a unique pattern of holes, called the frame or row. Frames usually consist of 5, 6, 7, or 8 tracks or channels, although some tape-controlled typesetting equipment requires 15- or 31-channel tape.
Paragraph openers. Typographic elements use to direct the eye to the beginning of a paragraph. Often used when the paragraph is not indented.
Parameter. A variable that is given a constant value for a specific process. Commonly used in the printing industry to refer to the limits of any given system.
Parchment. A sheet of writing material made from goat or sheep skin. An imitation parchment is made from paper impregnated with vegetable oils.
Pass. A machine run: a complete cycle of one program or set of programs, input to output.
Pasteboard. Laminated chipboard used as binding board.
Paste-up. A mechanical .
Patch film. Film added or stripped into film that has already been made up for the camera. This happens when repro patches are sent in late, shot, and stripped in film form (as opposed to being pasted on the mechanical and the entire mechanical page being reshot).
Patching. Method of making corrections in repros or film in which the corrected "patch" is set separately and pasted into position on the repros or shot and stripped into film (see Patch film).
Patent base. In letterpress, a diagonally slotted metal base on which unmounted .06311 plates or electrotypes are secured with locking hooks to bring them to typehigh.
PE. Printer's error, or mistake made by the typesetter, as opposed to AA .
Pebble finish. A finish made up of fine designs embossed on the paper. A pebble finish adds texture to the surface. A sheet can be pebbled prior to printing or it can be pebbled by a pebbler after printing.
Perfect binding. A relatively inexpensive method of binding in which the pages are held together and fixed to the cover by means of flexible adhesive. Widely used for paperbacks, manuals, textbooks, and telephone books.
Perfecting press. A printing press that prints both sides of a sheet or a web in a single pass through the press.
Perforating. The punching of a line of minute holes in a sheet so that a part may be easily torn away in the manner of postage stamps. In letterpress, perforating is done on press by steel perforating rules . In offset and gravure, it is usually done off press as a binding operation, using a perforator or a perforating die,
Perforating rules. In letterpress printing, hardened steel rules, 1 or 2 points in width and slightly higher than type-high, which are made up in the form in the outline of the area to be perforated.
Perforator. In composition, a keyboard unit that produces punched paper tape. Each character and function is given a unique code which is punched across the tape. In bindery work, a machine that punches a series of closely spaced holes in paper.
Permanent inks. Inks which do not fade or change color when exposed to sun or artificial light. As opposed to fugitive inks, which do.
pH. A scale used for expressing the acidity or alkalinity of solutions.
Photocomposing. To photomechanically arrange continuous-tone, line, or halftone copy for reproduction. Not a synonym for photocomposition. Also, the technique of exposing photosensitive materials onto film or press plates using a photocomposing machine (also called a step-and-repeat machine).
Photocomposition. See Phototypesetting.
Photocopy. A duplicate photograph, made from the original. Also, the correct generic term for Photostat, which is a trade name.
Photodisplay. Display matter set on paper or film by photographic means: phototype display type.
Photodisplay font. A font in the form of a grid, or negative film strip, that carries a display alphabet.
Photodisplay unit. Machine that photographically sets display type.
Photogengraving. Also called an engraving block (in Europe) or a cut. A relief printing plate produced by photochemistry, used in letterpress printing. Photoengravings can be produced as individual units or as multiple-page forms.
Photogelatin. See Collotype.
Photographic paper. The chemically sensitized paper used for photographic printing.
Photogravure. The process of printing from an intaglio plate or cylinder in which the image to be printed is screened and etched below the surface of the plate.
Photolithography. Lithography using photomechanically prepared plates, as opposed to hand-drawn stones or plates. See also Offset lithography.
Photomechanical. The complete assembly of type, line art, and halftone art in the form of film positives onto a transparent film base from which autopositive diazo proofs can be pulled for checking and from which a one-piece control film negative can be made for the production of printing plates.
Photomechanical Transfer materials (PMT). Photomechanical papers manufactured by Eastman Kodak: Kodak PMT Negative Paper, for making enlarged or reduced copies in a process camera; Kodak PMT Reflex Paper, for making reflex copies or contact proofs of line and halftone negatives in a contact frame; Kodak PMT Receiver Paper, a chemically sensitive paper for making positive prints in a diffusion transfer processor (can also be used to make photorepros).
Photon. Trade name for a line of typesetting machines, available in a variety of models. Manufactured by Photon, Inc.
Photopolymer plates. Printing plates made of light-sensitive, polymerizable plastic mounted on steel and aluminum. Photopolymer printing plates are used in letterpress as well as letterset and offset printing. Manufactured by DuPont and by Eastman Kodak Co.
Photoprint. Also called a photorepro or photocopy. In phototypesetting, final proof with all typographic elements in position ready to be pasted into mechanical. Similar to a reproduction proof in metal typesetting.
Photoproof. In phototypesetting, a rough proof for proofreading. Similar to a galley proof in metal typesetting.
Photorepro. Reproduction-quality proof of phototype. Produced by phototypesetting on photosensitive paper or by contact printing (through a film negative) of phototypeset materials. (Term used mainly in New York City area.)
Photostat. Trade name for a photoprint, more commonly referred to as a stat. Slats are most commonly used in mechanicals to indicate size, cropping, and position of continuous-tone copy. The original copy is photographed by a special camera and produces a paper negative. From this a positive stat is made. Stats can be either matte or glossy in finish. The use of stats pasted in mechanicals as actual shooting copy is a common but quality-negating practice. Only absolutely sharp stats should be used. Matte-finish stats are preferred since aberration due to the gloss when photographing the mechanical is minimized.
Phototext. Text matter set by means of photocomposition.
Phototype. Photographically composed type: type set on a phototypesetting machine.
Phototypesetter. One of various machines used to photographically set, or compose, type images.
Phototypesetting. Also known as photocomposition and erroneously as cold type. The preparation of manuscript for printing by projection of images of type characters onto photosensitive film or paper which is then made up in mechanicals or photomechanicals, from which printing plates can be produced. Phototypesetting machines always produce positive images of type, either on photosensitive paper or film.
Phototypography. The process of producing matter from graphic reproduction via the use of all photomechanical means: phototypesetting machines, cameras, photoenlargers, photocomposing machines, and photosensitive substrates.
Photo Typositor. Semiautomated photodisplay unit manufactured by the Visual Graphics Corporation.
Photounit. The output unit or phototypesetter of a photocomposition system: the unit responsible for the actual setting and exposing of the type onto photosensitive film or paper.
Pi. Metal type that has become indiscriminately mixed, such as when a type form spills, so that it is unusable until it is put back in order.
Pica. A typographic unit of measurement: 12 points = 1 pica (1 /16" or 0.166"), and 6 picas = 1" (0.996"). Also used to designate typewriter type 10 characters per inch (as opposed to elite typewriter type, which has 12 characters per inch).
Pi characters. Special characters not usually included in a type font, such as special ligatures, accented letters, mathematical signs, and reference signs. Called sorts by Monotype.
Picking. A removal of part of the paper surface during printing. A condition that develops if the pulling force (the tack) of the ink is greater than the strength of the surface of or coating on the paper.
Piece fractions. In composition, combining two matrices to make a fraction when a matrix for the desired fraction is not available.
Pigment. Insoluble particles that give color to printing inks (as well as paints), as opposed to dyes, which are soluble.
Piling. The build-up of ink on rollers, plate, or blanket during printing.
Pilling. Flaking, scaling, or peeling of particles from the surface of a substrate, or the stripping off of small threads from the dampening rollers of an offset press.
Pinholes. Small imperfections in the form of light-passing holes in the emulsion of a photographic negative. These must be opaqued before platemaking.
Pinholing. Failure of a printing ink to cover the surface completely, leaving small holes in the printed area.
Planer. In metal type composition, the flat block of wood used to tap or push down the type in the form into a perfectly flat printing surface during lockup. This is done by striking the planes with a mallet.
Planographic printing. A printing process in which the image area and the non-image area of the printing plate are on the same surface (as opposed to relief printing, in which the image area is raised, and intaglio, in which the image area is incised). The principal example of planographic printing is lithography, the commercial form of which is offset lithography.
Plastic plate. Duplicate letterpress printing plate. A mold is made of the original plate and plastic is forced into the mold by hydraulic press, resulting in a lightweight duplicate plate which is ideal where ease of handling and low shipping costs are considerations. Also, a generic term used to describe any plate made of plastic, i.e., a photopolymer plate.
Plate. See Printing plate.
Plate finish. A finish that gives paper a smooth, hard surface.
Plate finishing. In letterpress, to mechanically change the formation of dots on photoengravings in order to increase or decrease tonal values. See also Dot etching.
Platen press. A letterpress operating on the clamshell principle where both the printing form and the paper lie flat. The image i's transferred directly from the plate to the paper by means of pressure. The word platen refers to the flat surface on which the paper is positioned and rests when it comes in contact with the printing surface. Platen presses are often referred to as jobbers. They are slow and best suited for short-run jobs.
Ply. One of several layers of paper pasted together to make Bristol board or similar stock: thus, 1-ply, 2-ply, 3-ply, etc.
PMS. See Pantone Matching System.
Point. Smallest typographical unit of measurement: 12 points = 1 pica, and 1 point = approximately 1 1/72 of an inch (0.01383"), Type is measured in terms of points, the standard sizes being 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, and 48, 60, 72 point in body size.
Porosity. That quality in paper that allows the passage of air, gas, or liquid through the pores, or interstices.
Positive. A photographic reproduction on paper, film, or glass that corresponds exactly to the original: the whites are white (i.e., clear), the blacks are black (i.e., opaque), as opposed to a negative, In which the tonal values are reversed,
Poster. A single sheet printed on only one side. Generally posted in a public place to be read in passing.
Posterize. To give a poster like effect by converting art or photos into line art, eliminating values in between.
Pot. In cast type composition, the receptacle on the casting machine in which the metal is melted and stored.
Powdering. See Chalking.
Powderless etching. An etching method in which photoengravings are produced in a single "bite" through the addition of oil additives to the acid solution which coat the edges of the area being etched and prevent undercutting .
PPDR. Photopolymer direct relief printing plate. A plastic plate used in letterpress printing,
Preface. A formal statement by the author that precedes the text of the book (as opposed to the introduction, which is actually a part of the text, and the foreword, which is most often written by someone other than the author).
Preparation. Also called prep work. In printing, all the work necessary in getting a job ready for platemaking: preparing art , mechanicals, camera, stripping, proofing.
Pre-press proof. Proof made directly from film before the printing plate has been made.
Preprinted. A general term that applies to material that is printed and delivered in rolls or sheets to be added to, inserted, or used in the production of books, magazines, newspapers, etc. In other words, the preprinted material is printed before, and separately from, the overall job.
Presensitized plate. An offset plate or any other printing plate on which the light-sensitive coating has been pre-applied by the manufacturer.
Press proof. A proof pulled on the actual production press (as opposed to a proofing press) to show exactly how the form will look when printed. Press proofs are expensive and are normally requested only as a final check at the time of printing. Press proofs are usually checked right at the printing plant while the press waits.
Press run. The length of the run or the number of sheets to be printed.
Pressure-sensitive lettering. Type carried on sheets that is transferred to the working surface by burnishing. Examples are Artype and Prestype.
Prestype. A brand name for a rub-off, or dry-transfer, type.
Primary colors. The three basic colors from which all other colors can be mixed: red, yellow, and blue. In four-color process printing, the three primary colors-magenta (process red), yellow, and cyan (process blue)-with black added, are used to reproduce the full range of colors.
Print. A paper photograph made from a negative: a black and white photograph.
Printability. The generalized or specific properties required of all materials and components in the printing process to produce an acceptable printed piece. The more compatible the components, the greater the possibility of quality.
Printer. An individual or firm engaged in the business of printing, Also refers to a device that produces typewriter-like copy by electrical impulses, such as a Teletype machine or a line printer. In process printing, a printer is a separation negative: the red filter separation produces the cyan (process blue) printer; the green filter produces the magenta (process red) printer; and the blue produces the yellow printer.
Printer's devil. A now-obsolete term for an apprentice or helper in a printing shop.
Printer's error. See PE,
Printer's spread. A pair of pages positioned across the fold from one another on a press sheet.
Printing depth. The minimum amount of etched relief required in a photoengraving or duplicate plates.
Printing ink. Fluid or viscous material that is transferred from the printing plate to the paper or other surface, resulting in an impression. Printing inks may be any color, even metallic or fluorescent.
Printing plate. A surface, usually made of metal, that has been treated to carry an image. The plate is inked and the ink is transferred to the paper or other surface by a printing press. Printing plates are also made of rubber, synthetic rubber, and plastics. Plates are classified as originals or duplicates depending on their origin. To print from an original is to invite possible disaster if it is damaged.
Printing press. A machine that transfers lettering or images by contact with various types of inked surfaces onto paper or other material, fed into it in various ways.
Printmaking. A fine art term that applies to the reproducing of original works by printing methods.
Printout. In phototypesetting, printed output in typewriter-like characters, done by a line printer.
Process camera. Also called a copy camera or a graphic arts camera. A camera specially designed for process work such as halftonemaking, color separation, copying, etc. Process cameras are usually large and sturdily built.
Process color. Also called full color. Refers to the four-color process reproduction of the full range of colors by the use of four separate printing plates, one for each of the primary colors-magenta (process red), yellow, and cyan (process blue)-and one for black. In process color reproduction, the colors are mixed optically by the eye of the viewer rather than mechanically, as in a painting. Process color also refers to specially separated and screened plates for printing in two or three colors,
Process Inks. The magenta, yellow, and cyan inks used to produce process printing.
Process lettering. (Also called photolettering or photo process lettering.) A photodisplay method in which alphabets converted to film are assembled piece by piece from a file box by hand. Fonts are usually available in one size of each style and assembled words are enlarged or reduced to fit the layout. Assembly is done by skilled lettering -artists who retouch, modify, or improve upon the finished result before releasing it.
Process plates. Halftone color plates for a four-color process job: each plate, made to a separate screen angle to avoid a moiré pattern , contains one of the process colors, magenta (process red), yellow, and cyan (process blue), plus black, which when printed in register produce the full range of colors.
Program. In phototypesetting, the generic reference to a collection of instructions and operational routine, or the complete sequence of machine instructions and routines necessary to activate a phototypesetting machine, that is fed into and stored 'in the computer: the more sophisticated the programming, the more versatile and the higher the quality of composition the system will provide.
Progessive proofs. Proofs pulled of flat or process color plates showing each plate alone and in combination with the others s. Progressive proofs are used by the engraver in color correcting to determine the amount and density of the colors and their effect on other colors when making ready and running his press. Normal progressive proofs are pulled in this sequence: yellow, red, yellow-red, blue, yellow-red-blue, black, yellow-red-blue-black. See also Bastard (or Hollywood) progressives.
Projection. A negative or positive made by exposure in a camera, as opposed to contact exposure.
Proofreader. A person who reads the type that has been set against the original copy to make sure it is correct and who also may read for style, consistency, and fact.
Proofreader's marks. Shorthand symbols employed by copyeditors and proofreaders to signify alterations and corrections in the copy. These symbols are standard throughout the printing industry, varying only from country to country. They are shown in the back matter of most dictionaries.
Proofs. A trial print or sheet of printed material that is checked against the original manuscript and upon which corrections are made. See also Bastard progressives, Galley proof, Line printer proof, Master proof, Photoprint, Photoproof, Reader's proof, Reproduction proof and Rough proof.
Protection shells. Electrotyper's molds made by publications or electrotyper when original plates are to be released to another publication or as insurance against possible loss or damage of the originals during shipping or printing.
Protype. Trade name for a manually operated photodisplay machine for display composition.
Prove. To pull a proof. Also refers to the testing of the accuracy of a computer program, i.e., to verify the program.
Pull. In printing, to make a print by transferring ink to paper.
Pulp. Fiber material produced by chemical or mechanical means or a combination of the two from fibrous cellulose raw material and from which, after suitable treatment, paper is made.
Punched card. In photocomposition, a lightweight card punched with a pattern of holes in specific positions to represent data.
Punched kraft jackets. Simple protective jackets, or dust covers, made of kraft paper that are supplied by the binder for shipping books. These jackets usually have a hole punched in the spine so that the title of the book can be read.
Punched tape. In photocomposition, a tape on which a pattern of holes is punched to represent data.
Punching. See Slot punching.
Punch register. A way of getting fast and efficient register using a register punch, which is not unlike a three-hole binder punch. Copy, film, masks, internegatives, and plates can all be punched identically and precision-registered by placing the punched holes over carefully positioned register pins, or studs.
Pyroxylin. Liquid plastic used to reinforce book-covering materials. Also used to coat index tabs.
Q
Quad. A piece of type metal less than typehigh used to fill out lines where large spaces are required. An em-quad is the square of the particular type size: a 10 point em-quad is 10 points x 10 points. An en-quad is half the width of an em-quad. Quads are also made in 1 1/2-em, 2-em, and 3-em sizes.
Quadding. Setting quads, or spaces larger than the normal wordspaces, in a line of type, Traditionally, this meant inserting quads to justify lines of type. In linecasting or photocomposition it is also used to denote how to position the type by spacing it with quads: quad left is flush left, quad right is flush right, and quad center is centered. On command, the machine inserts space, in the form of quads or in increments of space representing quads, to perform the function desired.
Quoins. (Pronounced coins.) Expansible, wedge-shaped blocklike devices operated by the use of quoin key and used to lock up a type form in the chase prior to putting it on the press.
R
Rag papers. Papers containing a minimum of 25% rag or cotton fiber. These papers are generally made up in the following grades: 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%.
Raised printing. See Thermography.
Reader. A specialized device that can convert data represented in one form into another form. Readers used in typesetting include OCR readers, magnetic tape or card readers, punched tape or card readers, and in specialized applications, marksensing readers.
Reader's proof. Also called a printer's proof. A galley proof , usually the specific proof read by the printer's proofreader, which will contain queries and corrections to be checked by the client.
Reader's spread. A pair of pages positioned across the binding edge, or gutter, after a book is assembled.
Reading head. A device capable of sensing information punched or recorded on tape and converting it to another form of storage, or into signals that will operate a computer or a typesetting machine.
Ream. A unit of measure for paper of any size: 500 sheets of paper.
Recto. The right-hand page of an open book, magazine, etc. Page 1 is always on a recto, and rectos always bear the odd numbered folios. Opposite of verso.
Re-etch. To etch again. In platemaking, to deepen the plate to bring out detail or to otherwise modify the image.
Reflection copy. Also called reflective copy. Any copy that is viewed by light reflected from its surface: photographs, paintings, drawings, prints, etc. As opposed to transparent copy.
Register. In printing, the accurate positioning of one film (positive or negative) or printing plate over another so that both are in the correct relationship, one to the other, and the effect of a "single image" results. When plates are printed off-register, or out of register, the printed image will become fuzzy, and if in process colors change color; in extreme cases a shadow effect is caused.
Register marks. Devices, usually a cross in a circle, applied to original copy and film reproductions thereof. Used for positioning negatives in perfect register, or, when carried on press plates, for the register of two or more colors in printing. Register marks should not be confused with corner, bleed, or trim marks.
Register pins. Stubby pins usually attached to a small metal base. Pins correspond to the size of register punch holes. See Punch register.
Relief. A printing method that uses a raised image area. The commercial form of relief printing is letterpress.
Reproduction proof. Also called a repro. A proof made from type that has been carefully locked up and made ready. Repro proofs are pulled on a special coated paper and pasted into mechanicals.
Resource forks. Every Macintosh file (through Mac OS 9) contains two parts: a resource fork, which contains data used by an application, such as menus, fonts, and icons; and a data fork, which contains data specific to an application. Additionally, information about the file such as the file type, creator code, Get Info comments, creation date, and modification date are stored by the file system. (MacBinary: File Format Description)
Resin. Organic substance used as a binder in making printing inks and paper.
Resist. Any substance used to inhibit the action of the acid when etching a printing plate.
Retarders. Solvents added to printing inks to slow setting time.
Retouching. The correcting of imperfections in or the altering of a photograph or dry transfer print before it is reproduced. Retouching can be done by airbrushing or by using pencil, pen, brush, or dyes. Fluorescent white or colors should be avoided since they cause "hot spots" on the resulting film used for reproduction process which then must be corrected by the platemaker.
Return card. A card enclosed in a mailing to serve as a return postcard for the convenience of readers that may wish to respond to an offer.
Reversal film. Special contact film in which the black-white values are preserved in direct relationship to the original; that is, a positive produces a positive, and a negative another negative.
Reverse copy. Copy which is wrong-reading when printed.
Reverse plate. A printing plate in which the tonal values are exactly the opposite from the original art: the blacks are white, the whites are black. A reverse plate is made from a film positive instead of a film negative.
Reverse type. in printing, refers to type that drops out of the background and assumes the color of the paper.
Revise. A change in instruction that will alter copy in any stage of composition.
Rice paper. A nonfibrous sheet (and so not a true paper) from the pith of a tree, with ivorylike texture, cut in thin layers.
Right-angle fold. In binding, refers to folds that are at 90º angles to each other.
Right-reading Image. Any image that reads correctly from left to right, as opposed to wrong-reading image.
Ring binder. Most common form of looseleaf binder in which sheets are fastened by two or more rings that pass through prepunched holes along the binding edge of the paper.
Ripple finish. A paper finish with a wavy, or rippled, look produced by an embossing process.
Roll-out. Ink put down by a hand roller on glass or paper for testing or sampling purposes to determine color or other characteristics.
Roman. Letterform that is upright, like the type you are now reading. Also, more specifically, an upright letterform with serifs derived from the original Roman stone-cut letterforms.
Rotary printing. Any form of printing where the plate to receive ink is in cylinder form, rather than flat. Gravure, offset, flexography, and collotype are all rotary. Letterpress can be flatbed, or rotary, in which case the plates are curved. Most letterpress publication presses and newspaper presses are rotary. Rotary presses can be sheet-fed, which means single pretrimmed sheets are fed into the press, or webfed. which means the paper is fed into the press as a web from rolls.
Rotogravure. Web-fed gravure printing done on a rotary press. Used for the Sunday supplements of newspapers, magazines, or packaging and excellent for economical medium-run and long-run jobs.
Rough. A sketch or thumbnail, usually done on tracing paper, giving a general idea of the size and position of the various elements of the design.
Rough proof. Any proof pulled from type on a proofing press or from a plate without makeready showing what the material proofed looks like. Rough proofs are usually pulled for identification purposes only, before filing away type galleys or engravings for storage. Also, an in-house proof pulled to check the work.
Routing. In engraving, the mechanical cutting away of unwanted metal in the printing plate. Also used to deepen the non-image areas of the plate. A router is a high-speed, hand-guided tool, very much like a drill.
Rubber plate. A duplicate relief printing plate cast in rubber from a mold of the original plate. Rubber plates are used primarily in flexography and box and carton printing and sometimes in medium- or low-quality paperback book printing.
Rub-off type. See Pressure-sensitive lettering.
Rule. A black line, used for a variety of typographic effects, including borders and boxes. Rules are actual type-high typographic elements and come in a range of thicknesses called weights that are measured in points. Many rules are cast as duplex rules: two or more parallel lines of the same or of different thicknesses cast on the same body. Fine rules for letterpress work are often made of strip brass or steel. In addition to lines, rules may also be dotted or dashed, or they may contain fancy border designs.
Run In. To set type with no paragraph breaks or to insert new copy without making a new paragraph.
Running head. A book title or chapter head at the top of every page in a book.
S
Saddle-wire stitching. A common, inexpensive way of binding pamphlets and booklets if they are not too thick (usually less than 1/8"). The pages are bound together by wire staples inserted through the backbone, or folding line, and into the center spread where they are clinched. The folded sheets or pages are placed over a saddle to ensure proper positioning.
Safelight. A colored lamp used in darkroom work which gives enough light to see by yet does not affect the photographic material.
Sans serif. Without serifs .
Sawtooth edge. Edge of a halftone that crosses the screen line at an angle causing symmetry of dots to break into the appearance of the teeth of a saw.
Scaling. The process of calculating the percentage of enlargement or reduction of the size of original artwork to be enlarged or reduced for reproduction. This can be done by using the geometry of proportions or by use of a logarithmic scale rule or a disc calculator.
Scanner. A device for scanning color copy and separating the colors for use in four color reproduction.
Scoring. Creasing paper mechanically so it will told more easily. Usually necessary where paper is even moderately stiff or when the fold goes across the grain.
Scotchprint. Trade name for plastic, mattefinish translucent proofing material for making contact positives or negatives, intermediate for photomechanical platemakIng. Used on conventional repro proof presses to convert letterpress plates to film. Manufactured by 3M.
Scratchboard. A clay-coated cardboard covered with black ink. By scratching and scraping into the black ink, it is possible to produce wood-engraving effects as well as black and white reverse effects.
Screen. In printing. the finely cross-ruled glass plate placed before the lens of a camera (or a contact screen placed in contact with the film) to break up continuous-tone copy into dots for reproduction as halftone or line copy. Screens are designated by number of ruled lines they contain-from 50 lines per inch to 500 lines per inch. The greater the number of lines per inch, the sharper and finer the printed halftone will be. The selection of the screen is dictated by the paper, press, and to a certain extent the nature of the copy. For example, the coarser screens (50 to 55) are used for newspapers, while the finer screens (100-line and up) are used on coated papers.
Screen angle. The angle at which two or more screens are turned in relation to one another to avoid the creation of an undesirable moiré pattern in the halftone dots. In four-color process printing, for example, the screens for the four plates might be angled as follows: 45º, 75º, 105º, and 120º.
Screened positive. The reverse, or opposite, of a screened negative. Term used to differentiate it from a continuous-tone positive.
Screen finder. A lined plastic template which when placed over a halftone can determine the screen of a halftone.
Screen process printing. A printing method in which the image is transferred to the surface to be printed by means of ink squeezed by a squeegee through a stenciled fabric or metal wire screen stretched over a frame. Screen process printing is either a manual or mechanical operation, though it enjoys the benefits of photographic stencils, and automatic presses and driers. It allows the heavy application of paint on almost any material and is excellent for short-run line work, especially posters. Posters and point-of-purchase displays requiring a thick layer of paint and /or fluorescent inks are usually silkscreened.
Screen ruling. The number of lines per inch on a contact screen or glass halftone screen.
Scribed lines. Lines scratched (scribed) into the emulsion of negative film as opposed to lines ruled on original copy.
Scribing. Scratching clear lines in the emulsion of a blackened film so they will print as black rules.
Script. A typeface based on handwritten letterforms. Scripts come in formal and informal styles and in a variety of weights.
Scum. In offset printing, a greasy film that can sensitize or clog non-image areas of the plate to accept ink and print.
Scumming. Also called greasing. In offset printing, the sensitizing of a non-image area of the plate so that it will accept ink and print.
Secondary color. The color that results from the mixing of two primary colors: orange (yellow and red), purple (red and blue), and green (blue and yellow).
Selectric. Trade name for a strike-on (typewriter) composition system manufactured by IBM.
Self-cover. A cover of the same stock (pa per) as used in the rest of the book. Used for booklets or pamphlets when the cover stock does not have to be particularly strong or to save the cost of the extra materials and operations required to produce and bind a cover.
Self-mailer. A printed piece designed to be mailed without an envelope.
Sensitivity guide. A gray scale used on proof plates to judge whether the plates were made in a standardized manner.
Separation. See Color separation.
Separation negative. See Color separation negative.
Series of type. Refers to all the sizes of one particular and unique typeface.
Serifs. The opening and closing crossstrokes in the letterforms of some typefaces. Sans serif typefaces, as the name implies, do not have serifs but open and close with no curves and flourishes.
Serigraphy. In fine art, the production of original color prints by pressing pigments through a silk screen with a stencil design. See also Screen process printing.
Set-off. Formerly called offset. The undesirable transfer of ink from one printed sheet to another.
Setting of Ink. The initial phase of ink-drying. Printed sheets can be handled without smudging even though the ink is not yet fully dry as when the ink has set.
Setup time. The time required to ready a job to run: to load the program, load and ready input/output devices, etc.
Set width. Also called set. In metal type, the width of the body upon which the type character is cast. In phototypesetting, the width of the individual character, including a normal amount of space on either side. This space, measurable in units, can be increased or decreased to adjust the letterspacing. Letterspacing can also be adjusted by using a larger or smaller than normal set size mode on the photounit. This function can also be performed in metal tyopgraphy by the Monotype machine.
Sewed soft cover. A binding process in which saddle-sewn signatures are fastened to each other and to a soft cover.
Shade. A modification of a color produced by adding small amounts of black or a complementary color, In ink manufacture, commonly used as a synonym for hue.
Shadow. An area that is relatively dark, as compared with light, or highlight, areas in original copy or reproductions. Control of these values in halftone preparation is accomplished by a supplemental "flashing'' of the film by a filtered light. This reinforces the dot exposure in the dark areas of the photo only.
Sheet-fed. A method of applying paper to a press in printing in which the paper is fed into the press as sheets rather than a web.
Sheetwise. A method of printing in which each sheet of paper is printed, first on one side and then on the other, one at a time, using the same gripper and side guide.
Shooting copy. The act of photographing copy for reproduction. Also, the copy, ready to be shot.
Short ink. Ink that cuts off cleanly because of its short fibers but with less ability to resist the dampening solution on an offset press. Short inks are preferred in screen process printing because they enable small type and halftones to be clearly and crisply printed. Opposite of long ink.
Shoulder. Space on the body of a metal type or slug which provides for ascenders or descenders. Also provides the minimum space required to separate successive lines.
Show-through. The phenomenon in which printed matter on one side of a sheet shows through on the other side.
Side-wire stitching. Also called side stitching. A method of binding books, catalogs, and magazines in which wires in the form of staples are inserted near the binding edge, passing from the first page through the entire thickness and out the back where they are clinched.
Signature. A group of pages brought together into proper sequential order and alignment after it has been folded.
Silhouette halftone. More accurately called an outline halftone. A halftone reproduction in which the main image area is outlined by removing the dots that surround it.
Silkscreen printing. Now called screen process printing .
Sizing. In bookbinding, the process of applying a suitable bond between the binding material and the foil that is used for stamping. In paper manufacture, the material (also called size) added to produce a smooth, moisture-resistant surface.
Slip sheeting. Inserting blank sheets of paper between printed ones coming off the press to prevent set-off; that is, to prevent the ink from "offsetting" onto the back of the previously printed sheet or possible blocking.
Slitting. Cutting printed sheets or webs into two or more sections by means of a slitter, Slitting is done by cutting wheels on the press or the folding machine.
Slot punching. Punching, as opposed to drilling, holes into paper. Used in mechanical binding where holes that are not round (rectangular slots) are required. Slots permit insertion of looseleaf pages into binders that hold sheets by means of tapes rather than rings.
Slug. A line of type set by a linecasting machine. Also, the name of a thick, less than type-high spacing material in widths of 6, 12, and 24 points. These are usually cast on an Elrod machine in long strips which the printer then saws to the lengths he requires.
Slur. A printing fault caused by drag or slippage at the point of impression of paper, printing plate, image carrier, blanket, or a combination thereof. To detect slurring, many printers print the GATF slur guide on the tail of the press sheets.
Small caps. Abbreviated s.c. A complete alphabet of capitals that are the same size as the x-height of the normal typeface.
Smearing. In printing, a condition in which due to careless handling or distribution, ink spreads or smears over areas of the paper where it is not wanted.
Soft cover. Any non-board cover, but usually a paper cover on a perfect-bound book.
Software. In computer systems, the procedures and programming, as opposed to the hardware (i.e., equipment).
Solid. In composition, refers to type set with no leading between the lines. In printing, refers to areas that are completely covered with ink or areas that print 100% of a given color.
Solvent. A liquid that dissolves or suspends the pigment in the ink. Used as a reducer to "wet up" gravure inks or to clean the ink fountains.
Sorts. Individual letters in a font of type for use in replenishing used-up type in a case. Also used by Monotype to describe special characters not in the regular fonts.
Spacebands. Moveable wedges used by linecasting machines for wordspacing and to justify lines of type. After the line has been set as a row of matrices, the spacebands are forced up to tighten the line prior to casting it.
Spaces. In handset type, fine pieces of metal type, less than type-high, inserted between words or letters for proper spacing in a line of type.
Spacing. The separation of letters and words in type or the separation of lines of type by the insertion of space.
Spec. To specify type or other materials in the graphic arts.
Spine. Backbone.
Spiral binding. A binding in which a continuous wire or plastic spiral is threaded through pre-punched holes along the binding sides of the paper.
Split fountain. A color printing technique in which two or more distinct colors can be printed at the same time by dividing or splitting the ink fountain on the press, so that the left side prints one color and the right side another. A special rainbow effect can be achieved by splitting the fountain with narrow dividers. As the press runs, the oscillation of the rollers gradually blends the different colors. Where the two colors meet a third color is produced.
Spotting. The elimination of white dots on a photograph or negative by painting them out (called opaquing) with a fine camel's hair brush and water-soluble, light-blocking opaque.
Spray. In printing, material applied by spraying to prevent set-off of freshly printed sheets with a liquid which crystallizes, or a fine powder, to keep the next sheet from coming into contact with the ink on the preceding one. These are called no-offset sprays.
Spread. A pair of facing pages. Also, in photography and platemaking, the enlargement of an image to ensure lap , accomplished by producing a film by holding it out of emulsion-to-emulsion contact by the use of a layer of clear film which permits the light to spread as it passes through the layers.
Spreading. In printing, the enlarging or thickening of printed areas caused by the bleeding or lateral creep of the ink.
Square halftone. Also called a square-finish halftone. A rectangular-not necessarily square-halftone, i.e., one with all four sides straight and perpendicular to one another. So called because the edges of the plate are machine-cut on a finishing machine.
Square serif. A typeface in which the serifs are the same weight or heavier than the main strokes.
S.S. Abbreviation for "same size."
Stabilization paper. Stabilization-processable (dry-processed) photopaper used in phototypesetting for output in the form of good quality photorepros. Not the same as conventional photosensitive papers (Kodaline, Resisto), which are chemically wet processed in a tray or in a film or paper processor. Stabilization-processed materials are sensitive to ultraviolet light and have a lifespan of only about six weeks; it kept for a longer period of time they must be washed and fixed. The nature of these films is such that they process in a manner that causes problems in matching image densities from batch to batch; this is especially troublesome when making corrections in previously set matter.
Staging. A method of correction photoengravings by covering (painting over and stopping out) certain areas and re-etching others.
Stamping. A printing method in which type or designs, in the form of a relief die, are impressed with heat and pressure through metal foil onto the surface to be printed. Blind stamping uses no ink or foil, so that the impression of the die alone makes the image.
Stamping dies. Heavy, deeply routed steel or brass plates or female dies used in bindery work or box printing. Some are made of hard rubber for box printing work.
Standard colors. A half-dozen basic colors chosen by the AAAA for use by the printer primarily for publication work such as magazines and newspapers. These colors include standard red, yellow, green, blue, etc.
Steel engraving. An intaglio printing plate that is made by manually cutting away the non-printing areas on a metal plate (usually copper or steel), leaving only thin lines, which will print in relief. Intricate designs may be machine-engraved using a pantograph or an engine lathe. Steel engraved plates are used to print engraved banknotes, stock certificates, fine stationery, and business cards. Printing is done by inking the plate, wiping clean the surface, and then, under great pressure, transferring the ink onto the paper by pressing the paper into the fine grooves that hold the ink.
Steel-plate printing. Also called steel-die printing. Intaglio printing using metal plates which are inked, the surface wiped clean, and impressed under great pressure onto the substrate.
Step and repeat. A method of making multiple images from a master negative of the same subject in accurate register. Step and-repeat operations are done photomechanically, using a photocompositing machine (also called a step-and-repeat machine).
Stereotype. The oldest and least expensive way to make a duplicate letterpress plate. A papier-mâché or plastic mold is made of the original type or engraving, The mold (called a mat) is then filled with a molten metal to form a new plate that can be mounted on wood to make it type-high, shaved to electro-height, or cast in a curve to fit the cylinders of a rotary newspaper press. Stereotypes are very prevalent in newspaper printing where copy consists mainly of line art and coarse-screened halftones and printing is done at high speeds.
Stet. A proofreader's mark that indicates copy marked for correction should stand as it was before the correction was made. Copy to be stetted is always underlined with a row of dots usually accompanied by the word stet.
Stick. Composing stick.
Stock. Also called substrate. Any material used to receive a printed image: paper, board, foil, etc. In papermaking, pulp which has been beaten and refined, and which after dilution is ready to be made into a sheet of paper.
Stone. Also called an imposing stone. The surface, originally of stone but now of machined metal, on which letterpress forms are assembled, locked up, and planed down prior to putting them on the bed of a press.
Stoneman. In letterpress printing, the worker at the printing plant who imposes the form; that is, assembles the typographic elements and locks them up in a chase on the stone.
Stone out. To remove minor unwanted areas or scratches from an offset printing plate by using an abrasive stone.
Storage. In computer-aided phototypesetting, pertaining to a device (a memory tape e, disc, or drum) into which data can be entered, in which it can be held, and from which it can be retrieved at a later time.
Straight matter. In composition, body type (as opposed to display type) set in rectangular columns with little or no typographic variations.
Strike-on composition. See Typewriter composition.
Strike-through. In printing, the penetration of ink into the paper so that it shows through on the other side, or the embossed impression of the type in letterpress printing which can be seen on the opposite side of the sheet.
Stripper. Also referred to as a make-up man. Worker in a printing plant who assembles and strips negative or positive film onto a flat for making plates. Also refers to the person in a phototypesetting plant who makes up the job in film form (as a photomechanical), usually in positive form, after the job has been set on photodisplay and/or phototypesetting machines.
Stripping. Assembling photographic negatives or positives and securing them in correct position to the paper (goldenrod), film, or glass base which is to be used in making the press plates.
Stripping guide. Position layout or translucent layout tissue or rough paste-up which serves as a guide for stripping a film mechanical, etc.
Striprinter. Trade name for a machine that sets photodisplay type. The lens system is 1 to 1. Manufactured by Striprinter, Inc.
Strip test. A test using chemically treated paper to determine the pH of an offset fountain solution.
Sublimation. The changing of a substance from a solid to a vapor, which allows for transfer of image from paper to a synthetic cloth.
Substance. Also referred to as basis weight. The basis used to measure the weight of paper: the weight in pounds of a ream (500 sheets) of paper cut to standard size, or 1,000 sheets cut to the M-weight size.
Substrate. The base material to be printed: paper, board, metal, etc., or the carrier or the emulsion or coating, such as film.
Sulphate wood pulp. Paper pulp made from wood chips cooked under pressure in a solution of caustic soda and sodium sulphide.
Sulphite wood pulp. Paper pulp made from wood chips cooked under pressure in a solution of bisulphite of lime.
Supercalender. An off-machine calendering process given coated papers to make the surface smooth and glossy, Also, the name given to a very smooth uncoated paper that was finished on the supercalendering machine. This paper, more commonly referred to as "super," is no longer made, having been replaced by less expensive coated papers.
Surprinting. The combining of images from two different negatives by superimposing them to produce one negative or one image on a press plate by double-burning .
Swash. A cap letter with an ornamental flourish.
Swatchbook. A sample book put out by manufacturers of color-matching systems (such as Pantone Matching System) showing all the colors available. In the designer's edition, the colors are numbered for identification; in the printer's edition, ink-mixing instructions are also included. Also, books containing samples of papers.
T
Tabbing. Bindery operation in which tabs are cut into or adhered to the edge of a piece of paper.
Tack. The resistance offered by ink films during splitting. Tack is a measure of an ink's internal cohesion.
Tail margin. The bottom edge of a sheet or page.
Tape. Punched paper ribbon (between 6 and 31-level) or magnetic (7- or 9-level) tape, produced by a keyboard unit and used as input to activate the photounit of a typesetting system or a computer for subsequent processing of the data thereon for phototypesetting machine input.
Tape editing. In phototypesetting, the transferring of information, via a visual display terminal or a line printer, from one tape to another to produce a corrected tape.
Tapemaster. Trade name of a line of phototypesetting machines manufactured by Photon, Inc.
Tape merging. In phototypesetting, a method of editing and correcting tapes in systems in which every line of type is numbered.
Tap-out. A spot of ink applied to paper and tapped out by finger to reduce the ink to approximate thickness when printing and thus ascertain its true color.
Taskmaster. Trade name for a line of photocomposition machines manufactured by Photon, Inc.
Tear test. Method of determining the direction of the grain in a sheet of paper; paper tears easily with the grain. Also, a test made with calibrated instruments to establish tear strength of paper.
Tertiary colors. The colors produced by mixing any two of the secondary colors: orange-green, green-violent, violet-orange.
Text. The body copy in a book or on a page, as opposed to the headings.
Textmaster. Trade name for a line of phototypesetting machines manufactured by Photon, Inc.
Text paper. A general term that is applied to antique, laid, or wove papers. Used for booklets, programs, announcements, and advertising printing.
Text type. Main body type, usually smaller in size than 14 point.
Thermography. A finishing process that simulates the effect of steel-die engraving, producing raised letters. While the ink is still wet on the sheet, it is dusted with a resinous powder which adheres to the ink. The sheet is then passed through a heating unit that causes the particles of powder to fuse with the ink, imparting a raised effect to the letters.
Thinners. Clear liquids (solvents, dilutents, oils, and vehicles) added to inks to reduce viscosity, or tack.
Thirty. The symbol "-30-" used by newspapers to end a story.
Three-color process. Almost the same as four-color process printing , except that the black plate is eliminated.
Thumbnails. Small, rough sketches.
Tile. A method used when a page is too large to be output in its entirety by the output device. The page is divided into pieces that allow for overlap so that it can be reassembled as a whole.
Tint. A color obtained by adding white to the solid color. In printing, a photomechanical reduction of a solid color by screening.
Tint block. A solid or a screened plate used to print a background color over which type or halftone art will be surprinted in a darker color or in black.
Tinting. In lithography, the discoloration of the background caused by the bleeding or washing of pigment in the fountain solution.
Tip-in. The process of pasting a leaf onto a printed page before or after binding. This is common in artbooks where a full-color reproduction is desired in a black and white signature (such as for a frontispiece).
Tissue paper. Also referred to as tissue. A general term that applies to all gauzy, lightweight papers that weigh less than 18 lbs. Used for a variety of purposes, but mainly for use with carbon paper for making copies in office correspondence.
Title page. The page of a book-usually page 3-that carries the title of the book the author's name, and the name of the publisher.
Titling. An alphabet of foundry type in which the capital letters fill the full face of the type. This permits the setting of caps with a minimum of leading. Titling caps have no matching lowercase alphabet.
Tonal compression. Because film cannot record all of the tones a human eye can see and offset lithography cannot reproduce all of the tones recorded by a photograph, this process eliminates, or compresses, tones during the reproduction process.
Tonal range. The difference between the brightest and the darkest tone in a photograph or offset lithographic print.
Tone. The variation in a color or the range of grays between black and white.
Tone-line. The conversion of continuous tone copy into a line copy by photography.
Toning. (see scumming)Toner. A full-strength, highly concentrated organic pigment containing no extender that is used to modify the hue or color strength of an ink.
Tooth. Refers to that quality of a paper's surface that feels and looks rough textured. Toothy paper is especially good for drawing in pencil or charcoal and for painting in watercolors, and is good for some printing needs: line or type printed by letterpress or by a lithographic process. It cannot be used by gravure because full contact between plate and paper is not possible, resulting in a snowflake effect.
Tracking. The undesirable marking of a freshly printed sheet.
Trademark. A unique device that identifies a product of the company that manufactures it.
Transducer. A photoelectric cell device for converting input energy of one form into output energy of another. Used in OCR devices.
Transfer key. Trade name of 3M for acetate proof .
Transfer type. Type carried on sheets that can be transferred to the working surface by cutting out self-adhesive letterforms (cutout lettering), or by burnishing (pressure-sensitive lettering). Examples are Artype, Formatt, Letraset, Prestype.
Transitional. A type style that combines features of both Old Style and Modern. Baskerville, for example.
Transparency. A positive colored photograph on transparent film, such as Anscochrome, Kodachrome, or Ektachrome films, usable as copy for color separation and viewed by transmitted light.
Transparency viewer. Also called a light box. A box containing special light bulbs (5000 Kelvins) filtered through a diffuser. Used for viewing transparency copy under the best possible light conditions. Used especially when color correcting four-color process printing against the transparency.
Transparent copy. Copy viewed by transmitted light (i.e., transparencies).
Transparent inks. Inks that permit the color of a previous imprint, or the color of the paper, to show through. A transparent color surprinted on another color will produce a third color.
Transpose. Commonly used term in both editorial and design to designate that one element (letter, word, picture, etc.) and another should change places. The instruction is abbreviated tr.
Transposition. A common typographic error in which letters or words are not correctly placed: "hte" instead of ''the" or "Once a Upon Time'' instead of ''Once Upon a Time."
Trapping. A method of overlapping adjoining colors or inks that helps minimize the possibility of a fine white line appearing between two colors, caused by misregistration of color negatives or on press.
Also
The ability of an ink film to properly accept a succeeding ink film, making it possible to superimpose one color over another both in wet and in dry printing.
Trim. To cut off and square the edges of a printed piece or of stock before printing.
Trim size. The final size of a printed piece, after it has been trimmed. When imposing the form for printing, allowance must always be made for the final trim size of the stock.
TTS. An abbreviation for Teletypesetter, a trade name for a device that produces a perforated tape which can in turn operate the keyboard of a linecasting machine equipped to receive such input.
Tusche. The liquid emulsion ink that is painted or drawn on the lithographic stone in direct lithography to form the image. Tusche can be used to effect corrections on offset plates if the run is short.
Two-tone paper. See Duplex.
Tympan. In letterpress printing, the sturdy oiled paper that covers the packing on the impression cylinder or platen of a printing press.
Type. The letters of the alphabet and all the other characters used singly or collectively, to create words, sentences, blocks of text, etc.
Typecasting. Setting type by casting it in molten metal either in individual characters or as complete lines of type.
Type family. A range of typeface designs that are all variations of one basic style of alphabet. The usual components of a type family are roman, italic, and bold. These can also vary in width (condensed or extended) and in weight (light to extra bold). Some families have dozens of versions.
Type gauge. Commonly called a line gauge. A metal rule with a hook at one end calibrated in points and picas on one edge and inches on the other. Used to measure in typography. Also, slotted copyfitting gauges made in various lengths and graduated increments of ens or ems of each type size. These are used to gauge the number of lines set in a given type size; they are also useful for copyfitting.
Type-high. The height of a standard piece of metal type: .918" (U.S.). A plate is said to be "type high'' when mounted on wood or metal to the proper height to be used on a letterpress printing press.
Type metal. The metal used for cast type: alloy of lead, tin, and antimony, and sometimes a trace of copper.
Type series. One basic typeface design in its full size range, from 6 point up to 72 point, or sometimes even 120 point.
Typesetter. Term for a person (or persons) who sets type. Also, any device that sets type.
Typesetting. The assembling of typographic material suitable for printing or incorporating into a printing plate. Refers to type set by hand, machine (cast), typewriter (strike-on), and phototypesetting.
Typewriter composition. Also called strike-on or direct impression composition. Composition for reproduction produced by a typewriter.
Typographer. Person or persons who set type.
Typographic errors. Commonly called typos, Errors made in copy while typing, either at a conventional typewriter, or by the compositor at the keyboarding stage of typesetting. Typos made by the compositor are PE's and are usually corrected free of charge.
Typography. The art and process of working with and printing from type. Today's technology, by mechanizing much of the art, is rapidly making typography a science.
Tyvek. Trade name for a synthetic bookcovering material manufactured by DuPont.
U
U. & L.C. Also written U/lc. Commonly used abbreviation for upper and lowercase. Used to specify text that is to be set in caps (usually initial caps) and lowercase letters as written.
Uncoated paper. The basic paper, produced on the papermaking machine with no coating operations.
Unit. A variable measurement based on the division of the em into equal increments.
Unitization. Designing the characters in a font according to esthetically pleasing width groups. These width groups are measurable in units and are the basis for the counting mechanism of the keyboards and photounits of phototypesetting equipment. Width units can be based on the em (square of a point size) or the set size of the font.
Unit system. A counting method first developed by Monotype and now used for some strike-on typewriters and all phototypesetting systems to measure in units the width of the individual characters and spaces being set in order to total the accumulated units and determine the measure when the line is ready to be justified, and determine how much space is left for justification.
Unit value. The fixed unit width of individual characters.
Universal product code. A printed bar code of varying width vertical lines used to automate retail store check-out.
Unjustified tape. Also called an idiot tape. In photocomposition, an unhyphenated, unjustified tape (either magnetic or paper). The tape is keyboarded with no end-of-line signals (no hyphenation or justification), allowing the keyboard operator to type at maximum speed. The tape is then fed through a computer, which adds to the total units accumulated and resolves the hyphenation and justification according to a pre-programmed set of rules and produces a justified tape. The justified tape is used as perfect to operate the phototypesetting machine.
Unjustified type Lines of type set at different lengths which align on one side (left or right) and are ragged on the other.
Update. In photocomposition, to incorporate into the master tape the changes required to reflect recent corrections or changes.
Uppercase. The capital letters of a type font: A, B, C, etc.
Upright. A book or catalog that is bound along its longest dimension. As opposed to oblong, in which the book or catalog is bound along its shortest dimension.
V
Vacuum frame. Also called a contact printing frame. In photoengraving, offset lithography and phototypography, a glasstopped printing frame used for exposing plates or making contact negatives and positives. Close contact between the film and the plate is maintained by the action of the vacuum pumps which expel the air trapped between the two layers of substrate.
Value. The degree of lightness or darkness of a color or of a tone of gray, based on a scale of graduated tonal values running from pure white through all the gradations of gray to black.
Van Dyke. Also known as a brownline or a brownprint. A photocopy having its image in a dark brown color, used as a proof.
VariTyper. Trade name for a special typewriter capable of setting type directly onto paper. It composes type in a number of different styles and can produce justified type semiautomatically. VariTyper is one of several devices producing direct impression, or strike-on, typography. Manufactured by VariTyper Divsion, Addressograph-Multigraph Co.
Varnish. A thin, protective coating applied to the printed piece like ink on the printing press. Also refers to part or all of the vehicle in the ink.
Varnishing. Finishing process done on press with ink rollers and blank plate or offpress with spray guns or blade coaters. Varnish may be added to protect the printed piece or for esthetic reasons. Press varnish can be selectively applied to spots (called spot varnishing) when a press plate is made to cover only the areas to be varnished. Care must be exercised to print the job with inks that are compatible with the varnish.
Vehicle. The liquid ingredient in ink It serves as the carrier for the pigment, binds the pigment to the substrate, and gives the ink the quality of workability and drying.
Vellum. A term used to designate a certain paper finish: a strong, toothy, cream-colored, and relatively absorbent paper. Also, a kind of finish given woven book-covering materials.
Velox. A term, derived from the trade name Velox Print, for a high-quality screened photographic print used in the preparation of mechanicals. As it is line art, it can be shot right along with the line copy, thus saving stripping costs.
Velox Print. Trade name for glossy photoprint papers manufactured by Eastman Kodak.
Verso. The left-hand side of a spread, as opposed to the recto, which is the righthand side of a spread. The verso always carries an even-numbered folio. Also refers to the reverse side of a printed sheet.
Vignette halftone. A halftone produced to print so that the edges fade imperceptibly into the white of the paper,
Viscosity. That quality of printing inks that encompasses the properties of flow.
Visual. A layout or comp.
Visual display. A visual representation of computer output This may be in the form of lines of type shown on the cathode ray tube of a visual display terminal (VDT) or a few words shown on a screen similar to those used on electronic calculators of the keyboard. Both permit the operator to edit and make corrections
Visual display terminal. A device containing complete logic. a tape reader, a tape punch (or a magnetic tape head), a keyboard, and a cathode ray tube on which Copy will be displayed as a composed tape is read by the reader The operator can edit and correct copy by keying in the corrections As he does this. a new tape is created for subsequent use in activating a phototypesetting or linecasting machine.
W
Warm colors. Red, yellow, and orange, as opposed to the cool colors, blue, green, and violet
Wash drawing. Drawing done with black ink or paint diluted to various degrees to produce a range of grays. Also, halftone art characterized by light, even tones washed on illustration board by means of a brush. Darker tones are obtained by successive layers of washes
Wash up. The process of cleaning the press, the rollers, the plate, and the fountain. Every time the color used in the printing press is changed, a wash-up is necessary
Watermark. The slightly translucent design produced in paper during manufacture by a raised pattern made of wire soldered onto the dandy roll. The watermark is usually a distinctive symbol or logo, identifying the brand of paper or the manufacturer.
Water-soluble Inks. Also called watercolor inks. Inks in which the Pigments are soluble in water. Used in screen process printing, printing from rubber plates, and in gravure.
Waxed paper. Paper that has been waxed. There are two waxing methods: wet waxing, in which the paper is dipped into a wax bath and immediately chilled; dry waxing, in which the paper is passed through rollers immediately after it comes out of the wax bath, so that the wax is driven into the paper and the paper feels dry.
Web. A continuous roll of paper (used in web or rotary presses) in the process of manufacture in a machine, such as a printing press. After being printed, the web is cut into short lengths at the delivery end of the press.
Web-fed. A general term applied to presses that print from continuous rolls (webs) of paper.
Web printing. Also called roll-fed printing. Printing method in which paper is fed into the press from continuous rolls (webs), as opposed to flat sheets as in sheet-fed printing. Webs are used in rotary letterpress (for publication printing), rotogravure (for newspaper and magazine presses), and for packaging presses and, increasingly, for offset presses for all types of work.
Weight. In composition, the variation of a letterform: light, regular, bold. In paper measurement, the weight of 500 sheets (a ream) of paper of standard size.
Wet printing. The printing of one process color over another before the first color has dried.
WF. Abbreviation for "wrong font." Used by proofreaders to indicate that letters of type fonts have been mixed in typesetting.
Widow. The end of a paragraph or of a column of reading matter that is undesirably short: a single, short word; or the end of a hyphenated word, such as ''ing." Widows are usually corrected editorially either by adding words to fill out the line or by deleting a word in the preceding line so that the widow moves up, becoming part of it. Widows can also be overcome by decreasing the set of the last several lines or of the ending paragraph. Decreasing the set is kerning.
Width. Variations of letterforms: condensed, extended.
Window. A clear, usually rectangular or square panel in a litho negative. Halftone negatives are positioned (i.e., stripped) in this window, with tape.
Wire side. Also referred to as the wrong side. That side of the paper that has rested on the wire during manufacture, As opposed to the felt, or right, side.
Wire stitching. See Saddle-wire stitching and Side-wire stitching.
With the grain. A term used to describe the directional character of paper, often applied to the folding of a sheet of paper parallel to the grain. Paper folds more easily and tears straighter with the grain than against the grain.
Woodcut. Also called a wood engraving. A print made from a relief image cut into a block of wood. The block is inked with a roller and the image is transferred directly to paper by pressing the inked surface against it. Woodcuts are the grain side of the wood block while wood engravings are the end grain.
Woodtype. Type made from wood. Usually used for the larger display sizes over 1".
Wordspace. The space between words.
Wordspacing. In composition, adding space between words to fill out line of type to a given measure.
Work and tumble. Printing the second side of a sheet by turning it over from gripper edge to back so that a new edge meets the gripper and using the same guide edge. This printing technique also allows the printer to print both sides of the sheet without having to change the printing plate.
Work and turn. Similar to work and tumble except that the sheet is turned over from left to right so that the same gripper edge is used for both sides.
Work-up. In letterpress printing, the unwanted deposit of ink caused by quads, spaces, or other material normally below type-high that work up by pressure so that they come in contact with the paper and print. Work-up is usually caused by poor lockup .
Woven. In binding, any material that is woven: cloth.
Wove paper. An uncoated paper that has a uniform surface with no discernable marks.
Wrap-around plate. Flexible relief printing plates made of thin zinc, magnesium, copper, or synthetic materials that are clamped around the plate cylinder of a rotary letterpress. Similar in appearance to an offset plate.
Wrinkles. In printing, creases in the paper that occur during printing, usually due to uneven absorption of moisture from the atmosphere. In inks, an uneven surface that forms during drying.
Writing paper. A kind of paper with a smooth, sized surface to prevent ink from being absorbed into the fibers.
Wrong font. An error in typesetting in which the letters of different fonts become mixed. Indicated by proofreader by "wf."
Wrong-reading. An image that reads the reverse of the original. A mirror image.
X
Xerography. An inkless printing process that uses static electricity. Xerox, a trade name for this process, is a good example of this.
X-line. Also called mean line. The line that marks the tops of lowercase letters.
X-height. The height of the body of lowercase letters, exclusive of ascenders and descenders.
Y
Z
Zinc engravings. Referred to as zincs. Line of halftone etchings made on zinc for letterpress printing.
Zip-a-Tone. Trade name for a series of screen patterns imprinted on plastic sheets that can be used to achieve tone of various kinds on art work. Zip-a-Tone comes in dots, lines, stipples, etc.