A

Accordion fold

A term for two or more parallel folds that result in a sheet that opens like an accordion

Against the grain

Perpendicular to the direction of the paper grain

Aliasing

A defect which occurs when a graphic file does not have enough resolution to reproduce image detail and causes visible jagged lines along the edges

Anti-aliasing

Technique of filling the edges of an object with pixels to eliminate jagged lines and make it appear smoother

Aqueous Coating

A fast-drying, water-based coating that is applied after printing that gives a glossy finish and protects the print's surface.

Artwork

In printing, this is the original copy which includes all text, graphics, photos and illustrations

B

Back up (when printing)

To print the reverse side of a sheet already printed on one side

Bind

To fasten sheets or sections into brochures or booklets with the use of wire, thread, glue, staples, etc

Binding

The process by which sheets are fastened together which include cutting, trimming, collating, perforating, and folding to form the finished product

Bitmap

An image file format that refers to the rows and columns (map) of dots or pixels that form an image

Bitmap Images

Computerised image made up of a collection of dots or pixels; these images appear blocky when you zoom in; also known as raster images

Blanket

The thick rubber coated pad of a printing press that transfers ink from the plate to the sheet

Bleed

Printing that goes beyond the edge of the final trim size

Blind embossing

A technique in which a design is pressed into a sheet without ink or foil, creating a raised image

Bond paper

Durable and lightweight paper commonly used for letterheads and business stationery

Border

Margin or line between the image area and the edge of the paper

Brightness

The brilliance or reflective quality of paper affecting contrast in printing

Bulk

The thickness of paper relative to its weight

C

Caliper

Measurement of paper thickness expressed in thousandths of an inch

Cast coated

A type of coated paper with a high gloss enamel finish

Chrome

Colour transparency

Coated paper

Paper with a thin surface coating of clay that produces a smooth finish

Collate

A finishing term for arranging pages or sheets in correct order before binding

Colour Balance

Refers to the proper ratio of cyan, magenta, and yellow ink during printing to keep colour consistency and produce the desired colour of an image

Colour bar

Strips of colour used as a tool to check colour accuracy and density

Colour correction

Methods of adjusting and improving colour qualities such as colour balance, contrast, etc

Colour filter

Filters used in colour separation

Colour key

A printer's proof made from 4 acetate or transparent films of various colours, one sheet per process colour, which when combined simulates the finished product

Colour matching system

Colour chart in an electronic system used to compare, measure or mix colours

Colour separations

Preparing a full-colour image for printing by separating it into the four basic process colours: cyan, magenta, yellow and black

Colour Sequence

The order in which the four-colour process inks are printed on the press

Comb bind

A method of binding by inserting a plastic comb through holes along the side or edge of a stack of pages

Computer-to-Plate (CTP)

A technology that enables transfer of digital data directly to a metal plate for printing, eliminating the use of conventional films

Continuous-tone copy

Illustrations and photographs that have a range of shades

Contrast

The range of difference between the darkest and lightest areas in an image

Copy

Any material (text or artwork) to be used in printing a piece

Cover paper

A heavyweight paper commonly used for covers of books, brochures, catalogues and folders

Creep

Creep is the shifting position of the page in a saddle-stitched bind. Creep moves the inside pages away from the spine.

Crop

To cut off sides or portions of an image

Crop marks

Lines at the edges of a sheet that show where the page will be trimmed

Crossover

Printing across the gutter or from one page to the facing page of a publication

Cure

The process of drying inks or coatings through chemical processes to develop strong adhesion

Cyan

Shade of blue; One of four basic ink colours used in 4 colour printing process (CMYK)

D

Deboss

To press an image below the surface of paper

Densitometer

An instrument used to measure the density of coloured ink to determine consistency

Density

The degree of darkness of an image

Die

Metal plate cut for impressing a design or image on paper

Die cutting

A process of cutting paper in a shape or design using metal dies

Direct Imaging

A technology that eliminates the use of film plates by directly transferring the image from digital files to the press plates using a laser

Direct Imaging Press (DI)

An offset press where the plate is imaged directly on the press with laser

Dot

The individual element of a halftones; also referred to as a "pixel"

Dot gain or spread

The spread of ink on paper; occurrence when dots print larger than they were on the film

Dots Per Inch (DPI)

A measurement of resolution of a screen image or printed image defined by the number of dots that fit horizontally and vertically into one inch; The higher the DPI, the sharper the image

Double burn

Exposing a printing plate to multiple images

Draw-down

A method of applying a thin coating or ink on paper to roughly determine colour

Drop-out

Parts of artwork that are not reproduced

Dummy

A preliminary layout of a copy showing the position and general style made to resemble the finished product

Duotone

A halftone image made up of two colours

Duplexing

The ability of a press to print on both sides of a sheet of paper

E

EPS (Encapsulated Postscript File)

An Adobe graphic file format for high resolution images; it translates graphic and text into code that tells a printer to print in the highest resolution possible and also has low resolution view files for quick screen viewing.

Emboss

Technique of pressing an image into paper so that creating a raised image

Emulsion

Photosensitive sensitive coating on printing plates and film

F

Feeder

Section of a printing press that separates the sheets and feeds them into position for printing

Flood

To cover a page completely with ink or varnish

Flop

The backside of an image

Foil

A thin metal applied to paper used in foil stamping and foil embossing

Foil emboss

To foil stamp or emboss an image on paper using a die

Foil stamping

Pressing a design or image on paper without ink using a foil and heated metal die

Four colour process

The process of printing using the combination of four basic colour inks (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) to produce a range of colours and create a colour image

Four back Four (4/4) or Four over four

A print job with four colour printing on both sides of the paper

Four back One (4/1) or Four over one

A print job with four colour printing on the front side and one colour (usually black) on the back side

Four back Zero (4/0) or Four over zero

A print job with four colour printing on the front side and no printing on the back side

FSC Certified Paper

Forest Stewardship Council certified paper

G

Gang

Economical way of printing by printing multiple images on the same sheet using the maximum sheet size

Ghosting

A printing defect where a faint unwanted image appears on a page

Gloss

Shiny coating applied to paper

Grain

The direction in which the fibres of a paper lie

Graphic Design

The use of visual elements to express a message

Grayscale

An image made up of a range of shades of black and white

Grippers

The metal fingers on printing presses that hold the paper and controls it as it passes through the press

H

Halftone

Pattern of dots within a fixed grid to reproduce a continuous-tone image

Hard copy

A document or data printed on paper

Highlight

The lightest part in an image

House Sheet

Paper kept in stock by a printer