Acetate
Thin, flexible sheet of transparent plastic used to make overlays.

Acid-free paper
Paper produced with a neutral or slightly alkaline process to prevent aging and chemical breakdown.

Adjustable die
Dies with adjustable blades which can be moved to produce items of multiple sizes and/or shapes.

Airbrush
Pen shaped ink sprayer used to retouch photographic prints and create illustrations.

Alley
Space between columns of type on a page.

Amberlith
Ulano trade name for orange masking materials.

Aqueous coating
A water-based material which is applied to prevent smudging.

Artboard
Alternate term for mechanical.

Art director
Employee, often of advertising agency, who supervises creation and preparation of copy to give printers.

Artwork
Images, including type and photos, prepared for printing.

Attachments
(envelopes) Clasps, buttons or string added to an envelope.
(digital) Files included in an e-mail transmission

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Back gum
The adhesive used an a permanent seal between the bottom and side envelope flaps.

Back up
When an item is to be printed on the reverse side of a piece.

Backbone
Alternate name for spine of a book.

Base negative
Negatives made from copy pasted to mounting board, not overlays.

Basis size
The one standard size of each grade of paper used to calculate basis weight. For text-weight paper the size is 25"x 38" for cover-weight it is 20"x 26"

Basis weight
A ream of paper’s weight when cut to its basic size.

Binding
The method in which multiple sheets of paper are attached to one another. Examples are case binding, perfect binding, GBC binding, spiral binding, saddle-stitching, and side stitching.

Bindery
The place where binding is performed.

Blank
Paper stock die cut into the appropriate envelope shape prior to folding.

Bleed
Printing that extends to the edge of a sheet of paper after trimming.

Blind emboss
Stamped or raised lettering/images without ink or foil.

Blow up
To enlarge photographically, such an enlargement is called a blow up.

Blueline
Prepress, photographic proof where all colors are shown as a blue image on white paper.

Board
Alternate term for mechanical.

Bonding strength
Ability of paper fibers to bond to one another. The stronger the bonding, the less likely the fibers will come apart during press and bindery processes.

B.R.E. (Business Reply Envelope)
First class permit, indicia and return address preprinted on an envelope in which the sender pays the postage.

Brightness
The percentage of light in a narrow spectral range reflected from the surface of a sheet of paper. Brightness is not necessarily related to the whiteness of the sheet.

Bristol paper
A type of heavyweight paper made to a caliper of .006Ó or higher.

Burn
In photography, to give exposure to a specific area of a print. In lithography, to expose a blueline proof or printing plate with light.

Butt
To join without overlaying or space between.

Butt fit
Ink colors overlapped only a hairline so they appear perfectly butted.

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Caliper
Measurement of paper thickness expressed in units of a thousandth of an inch.

Camera ready copy
Mechanicals, photographs, and art fully prepared to be photographed for platemaking according to the technical requirements of either quick or commercial printing.

Camera service
Business using a process camera to make PMT’s, Halftones negatives, printing plates, etc.

Case binding
Method of binding where sections of folded sheets are stitched together and subsequently glued to a spine (as in most hardbound books).

Center marks
Lines on the mechanical, negative, plate, or press sheet indicating the center of a layout.

Center seam
When an envelope is glued together in approximately the center.

Clip art
Art and image files commercially available from various vendors.

Color Matching System
System of numbered ink swatches that facilitates communication about color.

Color process
Alternate term for 4 color process printing.

Color separations
Set of four halftone negatives for making plates for 4 color process printing.

Color separation service
Business making separations negatives for 4 color process printing.

Color swatch
Sample of an ink color.

Comp
Short for comprehensive dummy.

Composite film
Graphic Arts negative made by combining two or more images.

Composite proof
Proof of color separation in positions with graphics and type.

Comprehensive dummy
Complete simulation of a printed piece.

Contact print
Photographic print made by exposing a negative in direct uniform contact paper.

Contact sheet
Alternate term for proof sheet.

Continuous-tone
Images that have not been screened and contain gradient tones.

Contrast
Range of gradations in tones between lightest white and darkest black in continuous-tone copy or the abrupt change between light and dark in line copy.

Copy
For the editor or typesetter, all written or keystroked material, for the graphic designers and printers, everything that will be printed: art, photographs, and graphics as well as words.

Copyboard
Part of a process camera that holds copy in position to be photographed.

Copy preparation
In typesetting, marking up manuscripts and specifying type, in paste-up and printing, making mechanicals and writing instructions to ensure proper placement.

Corner card
The sender’s return address and/or logo printed in the upper left corner of an envelope.

Corner marks
Lines on a mechanical, negative, plate, or press sheet showing the corners of a page or finished piece.

Cotton paper
Paper made with a minimum of 25% cotton fiber.

Cover stock
Heavy-weight paper.

Creep
Phenomenon of middle pages of a folder signature extending slightly beyond outside pages.

Cromalin
Dupont trade name for integral color proof.

Crop
To eliminate portions of an illustration or photograph so the remainder is more clear, interesting, or able to fit the layout.

Crop marks
Lines near the edge of an image showing area to be eliminated.

Cross grain
When the grain of the paper runs diagonally across the printed piece.

Crossover
Image that continues from one page of a publication across the gutter to the opposite page.

Curl
When paper is exposed to climate changes, humidity or physical stress, occasionally the edges roll up on themselves.

Cut-size
Writing and business papers which have been cut to standard sizes of 8.5" x 11", 8.5" x 14" or 11" x 17".

Cyan
One of the four process colors; also known as process blue.

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Dandy roll
A wire mesh cylinder on papermaking machines that produces watermarks or laid or woven finishes.

Deckle edge
Sheets with a "feathered" edge.

Densitometer
An instrument to measure light reflecting from or transmitted through copy, used to ensure consistency throughout a print run.

Density
Relative darkness of copy, ink on paper, or emulsion on film, as measured by a densitometer.

Density range
Expression of contrast between darkest and lightest areas of copy.

Diagonal seam
Seams running from the bottom corners to near the center of the throat of an envelope.

Die cutting
The process by which a steel die is used to cut paper into a variety of shapes and sizes.

Dot etching
Chemical or photographic way of color correcting separation negatives.

Dot gain or spread
Phenomenon of dots printing larger on the paper than they are on the negatives or plates due to ink absorption in the paper.

Double burn
To expose a plate or a proof to two negatives to create a composite image.

Dots per inch (DPI)
The number of dots that fit horizontally and vertically into a one inch section.

Drop out
To eliminate halftones dots or fine lines due to overexposure during camera work or platemaking. The lost copy is said to have dropped out.

Dropout halftones
Halftones in which the highlight areas contain no dots.

Dry trap
Applying a second layer of wet ink over a section of previously printed dry ink. This creates sharper images due to decreased mixing of the colors.

Dummy
Preliminary drawings or layout showing visual elements. Also a simulation of a printed piece using paper specified for a job.

Duotone
Photograph reproduced from two halftone negatives and usually printed in two ink colors.

Dylux
Dupont trade name for photographic paper used to make a blueline proof.

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Electronic page assembly
Assembly and manipulation of type, graphics and other visual elements on a computer screen.

Embossing
A term used to describe raised or depressed design, created by passing the paper either between an engraved steel roll or plate and another roll or plate of soft or compressible material such as paper or cotton or between strong coarse fabrics. This process is used for decorative effects and is generally applied to book, writing and cover papers.

Emulsion
Coating of chemicals on papers, film, and printing plates that, prior to development, are sensitive to light.

Engraving
The process of using a die onto which an image has been etched then applying opaque ink to the paper.

Estimate
Price that states what a job will probably cost based on initial specifications from the customer.

Etch
Using chemicals or tools to carve away metal leaving an image or carve an image into the metal. Also alternate term for fountain solution.

Exposure time
Time required for light to record an image when striking light-sensitive emulsion.

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Felt finish
A highly tactile and softly textures specialty finish on paper.

Felt side
The side of the paper that comes in contact with the felt blanket or dandy roll in papermaking. It is the top side or 'right' side of the sheet and is generally rougher than the other side.

Fiber
The cellulose material (typically cotton or wood) that is the main ingredient of paper.

Fine screen
Screen with ruling of more than 150 lines per inch.

Finish
Surface characteristics of a sheet of paper. Examples include vellum, smooth, felt, laid and linen.

Finished size
Size of printed product after production is complete.

Fixer
Chemicals that prevent deterioration of images on photosensitive paper.

Flat
In printing, an assembly of negatives taped to masking materials and ready for platemaking.

Flop
To reproduce a photo or illustration so that it’s image faces opposite from the original.

Foil emboss
To foil stamp and emboss an image.

Foil stamping
Method of stamping images onto paper using a letterpress, thin metallic or pigmented film and a die.

Form
One side of a press sheet.

Format
Size, shape, and overall style of a layout or printed piece.

Four color process
Technique of printing that uses the four process colors of ink (cyan, magenta, yellow & black) to simulate color photographs or illustrations.

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GBC binding
Trade name for a binding method which uses plastic combs inserted into holes drilled in the side of a stack of paper.

Gang
To reproduce two or more printed pieces or multiple copies of the same piece on one piece of paper.

Gatefold
Two or more folds in a sheet of paper with the end flaps folding forward to simulate a gate.

Ghost halftone
Halftone that has been screened to produce a very faint image.

Ghosting
Phenomenon of a faint image on a printed sheet where it was not intended to appear. Also refers to intentional production of an image which has been screened back.

Gradient
A range of tones transitioning smoothly from one shade to another.

Grain
Direction in which most of the fibers lie in a sheet of paper.

Grain long
When the grain runs parallel to the long edge of the sheet.

Grain short
When the grain runs parallel to the short edge of the sheet.

Graphic arts magnifier
Lens, mounted in a small stand, used to inspect copy, negatives, and printing. Alternate name for Linen Tester or Loupe.

Grey scale
Strip of swatches of tone values ranging from white to black used by process camera operators to calibrate exposure time.

Gripper edge
Edge of the paper held by the grippers, thus going first through a sheetfed press.

Gusset
Expandable portions of a bag, file folder, or envelope.

Gutter
Space between columns of type where pages meet the binding.

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Hairline
Very thin line or gap about the width of a hair: 1/100 inch.

Halftone
To produce continuous tone images by using dots to simulate the tones between light and dark. A halftone may be either positive or negative.

Halftone dots
Dots that by their varying sizes create the illusion of shading of a continuous-tone image.

Halftone screen
A grid of lines that break continuous-tones into dots as light passes through.

Hickey
Stray spots or irregularities in ink coverage usually caused by dust or picking of the printing blanket.

High contrast
Few or no tonal gradations between dark and light areas.

Highlights
The lightest area in a photograph or halftones.

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Image area
Portion of a negative or plate corresponding to inking on paper; portion of paper on which ink appears.

Imposition
Arrangements of pages on flats so they appear in proper sequences after press sheets are folded and bound. Examples include sheetwise, work & turn, work & roll and perfecting.

Impression cylinder
The press cylinder that holds the paper while an inked image from the blanket is pressed upon it.

Indicia
The sender’s postal permit information printed in the upper right corner of an envelope. The sender pays a fee for special mailing privileges in lieu of conventional stamping.

Ink holdout
The way the ink pigment sits on the surface of the paper.

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Keylines
Lines on a mechanical or negative showing the exact size, shape, and location of photographs or other graphic elements.

Knock out
Alternate term for mask out.

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Laid (finish)
Paper which features a subtle linear pattern impressed into the sheet.

Laser printing
Method of photocopying using a laser beam to charge the drum.

Layout
Sketch or drawing of a design for a proposed printed piece showing position, size and color of copy.

Letterpress
A relief printing method using cast metal type and raised images made on plates. Raised areas are inked and pressed against paper to transfer the text and images.

Light table
Translucent glass surface lit from below, used by production artists and strippers.

Line copy
Types, rules, clip art, and other images that are high contrast.

Line negative
High contrast negative made from line copy.

Linen (finish)
Paper which features a pattern resembling linen cloth pressed into the sheet.

Lines per inch (LPI)
The number lines per inch in rows of dots, in a screen and therefore in a screen tint, halftone, or separation.

Lithography
Method of printing using a chemically coated plate whose image area attracts ink and whose non- image area repels ink.

Logo
Assembly of type and art into a distinctive symbol unique to an organization, business, or product.

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Magenta
One of four process colors: Also known as red.

Makeready
All activities required to set up at press before production begins. Also refers to paper used in the process.

Masking material
Opaque material, often film, used in platemaking to withhold light from non-image area.

Mask out
To cover selected copy or art so it will not appear on the negative or plate.

Master
Paper or plastic offset printing plate. Also, paper plate for spirit duplicating.

Matchprint
3M trade name for integral color proof.

Matte finish
Slightly dull finish on coated, lightly calendered paper.

Mechanical
Camera-ready assembly of type, graphics, and other line copy complete with instructions to the printer.

Mechanical separation
Mechanical prepared using a separation overlay for each color to be printed.

Middle tone
Tones in a photograph or illustration about half as dark as its shadow areas and represented by dots between 39% and 70% of full size.

Mill
Manufacturing facility where paper is produced.

Mock up
Alternate term for Dummy.

Moire
Undesirable pattern in halftones and screen tints made by improperly aligned screens.

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Negative
Characteristics of an image on film or paper in which blacks in the original subject are white or clear and whites in the original are black or opaque. Also, piece of film on which negative image appears.

Non-image area
Portion of mechanical, negative, or plate that will not print.

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Opacity
The amount you can see through of a sheet of paper.

Outline halftone
Halftone in which the background has been removed to isolate or silhouette an image.

Overlay proof
Color proof consisting of acetate sheets covering each other in register, one for each color to be printed.

Overprint
To print over a previously printed image.

Overrun, or Overs
Refers to extra items produced on a job due to set-up and machine speeds.

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Pagination
Assembly of type with other line copy into page format.

Paper dummy
Unprinted sample of a proposed printed piece trimmed, folded and, if necessary, bound using paper specified for the job.

Paste up
To adhere copy to mounted boards and, if necessary, overlays so it is assembled into camera ready mechanical.

Percentage wheel
Alternate term often used for proportional scale.

Perfect bind
To bind sheets by trimming at the spine and gluing them to a paper cover.

Perfecting
To print both sides of a sheet in a single pass through the press.

Picking
When ink is applied to papers with weak bonding some of the fibers may come off and adhere to the printing blanket.

Pinholes
Tiny holes in the emulsion of the negative or printing plate.

Pixel
Short for picture element, referring to a part of a dot made by a scanner or other digital device.

Plate
The thin metal sheet which bears the image to be printed.

Platemaker
In quick printing, process camera that makes plates automatically after photographing mechanicals. In commercial printing, machine used to expose plates from flats.

PMS
Abbreviation for PANTONE MATCHING SYSTEM, a check standard trademark for color reproduction and materials owned by Pantone, Inc.

Point(s)
A unit of measurement equal to 1/1000 of an inch.

Positive
Blacks in the original subject are black or opaque, and whites in the original are white or clear.

Post-consumer recycled paper
Paper made from waste paper recovered after use by consumers.

Precision sheeting
Conversion of rolls of paper into finished sheet sizes.

Pre-press
Camera work, file editing, preflighting, stripping, platemaking, and other activities by a trade camera service or printer before press work begins. Also called prep.

Press proof
A printing test of the piece before the final production run. A press proof shows exactly how the item will appear on the stock chosen for the job.

Pressure sensitive
Refers to an envelope adhesive applied to the flap and covered with a release paper. The adhesive is activated when the paper is removed.

Process blue
Alternate term for cyan.

Process camera
Graphic arts camera used to photograph mechanicals and other camera ready copy.

Process colors
The colors needed for 4-color process printing: Yellow, Magenta, Cyan, and Black.

Progressive proof
Press proof showing each color of a job separately or several colors in combinations.

Proof
A facsimile made to reveal errors or flaws, predict results, and record how a printing job is intended to appear.

Proof OK
Customer signature approving a proof and authorizing the job to advance to the next stage.

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Quotation
Printer’s offer to print a job for a specific price calculated from specifications and dummies provided by customers.

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Ream
Refers to a quantity of 500 sheets of paper.

Recycled paper
Paper made from pulp with varying percentages of waste paper and virgin wood fiber. Some desirable characteristics are more opacity, density and flexibility or suppleness. In the case of cotton content paper (rag), the cotton linter content is considered recycled waste materials. These include materials like garment trimmings.

Recyclable paper
Any paper separated at its point of discard or from the solid waste stream for utilization as a new material in the manufacture of a new product and which can be de-inked. It is often called "waste paper.".

Register
To position printing in proper relation to edges of paper and other printed edges on the same sheet. Such printing is said to be in register.

Register marks
Cross-hair lines on mechanicals and negatives that guide strippers and printers.

Regular envelope
An envelope with a windowless front.

Retouch
To enhance a photo or correct a flaw.

Reverse
Type or other image reproduced by printing the background rather than the image itself, allowing the underlying color of paper or previously printed ink to show in the shape of the image.

Right reading
Copy reading correctly (normally) from left to right.

Rule
Line used for graphic effects.

Running head or foot
Title or other information at the top/head or bottom/foot of every page of a publication.

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Saddle stitch
To bind by stapling sheets together where they fold at the spine.

Scale
To identify the percentage which images should be enlarged or reduced.

Scanner
Electronic device used to make color separations, halftones and duotones.

Score
To compress paper along a line so it will fold more easily.

Screen
Piece of film with dots of uniform density.

Screen density
Amount of ink, expressed as percent of coverage, that a specific screen allows to print.

Screen tint
Area of image printed with dots so ink coverage is less than 100% and simulates shading or a lighter color.

Scribe
To scratch into the emulsion of a negative.

Security tint
Patterns or solids printed on the inside of an envelope to increase opacity.

Self-cover
Publication made entirely from the same paper so that the cover is printed simultaneously with inside pages.

Separation
Alternate term for color separation.

Shadows
Darkest area in a photograph or halftone.

Side guides
Adjustable mechanism on register unit of a press that properly positions a sheet side to side.

Side stitching
A method of binding where a stack of paper is stapled along on edge.

Signature
Sheet of printed pages which, when folded, become part of a publication.

Silhouette halftone
Alternate term often used for outline halftone.

Sizing
Chemicals mixed with pulp that make paper less able to absorb moisture.

Solid
Any area of the sheet that has received 100% ink coverage.

Special effect
General term for reproduction of photographs using techniques such as line conversion and posterization.

Spec sheet
Short for sheet on which specifications are written.

Spine
Binding edge of a signature or publication.

Spiral binding
A method of binding where a plastic or metal coil is inserted into holes drilled on one side of a stack of paper.

Stripping
Assembling negatives on flats in preparation for making printing plates.

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Transparency
Positive photographic image, usually in color, on film allowing light to pass through.

Trap
To print one ink butted to another ink to create a hairline overprint 'trap'.

Trim size
Size of the printed product after last trim is made.

Turnaround time
Amount of time needed to complete a job or one stage of it.

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Undercolor removal
Technique of making and printing color separations that minimizes the amount of cyan, magenta, and yellow ink in shadow areas.

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Varnish
Clear liquid applied like ink on press for gloss or dull appearance and protection.

Velox
Kodak trade name for high-contrast photographic paper. Also refers to a positive made by contact printing a negative to photographic paper.

Vignette halftone
Halftone whose background gradually fades into white.

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Wallet envelope or wallet flap
A type of envelope where the rectangular flap is almost the same size as the pocket portion; when folded closed, the flap covers the majority of the pocket.

Watermark
A term referring to the impression of a design, pattern or symbol in a sheet while it is being formed on the paper machine wire. It appears in the finished sheet as either a lighter or darker are than the rest of the sheet of paper. The impression is produced by a dandy roll. Two types of watermarks are available: shaded or wire watermarks.

Window
Block of masking material on a mechanical that shows position of a photograph or other visual element. Also, an area cut out of The face of an envelope.

Wrong reading
Image that is backwards compared to the original. Negative film is wrong reading.

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