Glossary

Ascender
The part of a lower case letter that rises above its main body (examples of this are the top parts of the letters "b", "d", "h" and "k"
ASCII
(American Standard Code for Information Interchange) – used within computing this is one of the main coding systems used by computers to convert keyboard input in to the digital information seen on the screen
Bespoke
When something is designed specifically for the needs of one individual or one company it is classed as "bespoke". The term can be used to describe a product or a "system"
Black and White
Also known as "monotone" or "mono" these are prints that are created using only one colour (usually for originals or "draft" documents)
Bimetallic Plate
Used in "lithography printing" this printing plate is made from copper and aluminium or copper and stainless steel. Using two metals provides a longer lasting, hard wearing printing plate
Blanket
Within "Offset Printing" this term relates to a rubber surfaced fabric which is wrapped around a "plate cylinder" to transfer an image to the paper or print medium
BPOP
Used for large scale print runs this abbreviation stands for "Bulk packed onto pallets"
Broadsheet
Any sheet in its basic size (not folded or cut) This term is also used by some newspapers and again relates to their size
Bulk
The thickness of a sheet of paper or board this is usually measured in Microns (1,000 of a millimetre)
Calendering
In papermaking this is the smoothing action of rollers on the paper surface
Case
The hard covers of a case bound book
Cells
Recesses that hold ink, created in the cylinders used by the Gravure printing process
CMYK
Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black - these are the four base colours used in the four colour printing process
Colour separation
In photographic reproduction this process separates original images into their four base colour components
Crease
An indented line in the printed material that allows easier folding and reduces the risk of cracking or splitting
Crop
To cut out a piece of work, as indicated on the original job order
Crossover
Any image that runs over the centre across two pages
CTP
"Computer To Plate" this relates to the process by which digital data is converted to the platesetter or drive which generates the printing plate
Descender
The part of a lower case letter that drops below its main body (examples of this are the lower parts of the letters "g"," j", "p" and "y")
Die-Cutting
The process of using sharp steel blades, known as "rules", to cut out a shape from paper or board
Digital Colour Proofs
Colour proofs can be provided in low definition, allowing customers to check for typing errors, or high definition so they can check they are happy with the colours used before the final print is approved
Dot Gain
A printing defect which produces darker and stronger print colours than required
Doubling
A printing defect where the print image is blurred. This can be caused by paper problems, incorrect printing cylinder alignment, blanket pressure or dirty cylinders
DPI
"Dots Per Inch" this is the measure used to test picture quality
Duplex Paper
A sheet of paper that has a different colour on each side
Embossing
The process of pressing an image into paper to produce a "raised" effect. This process uses metallic foil rather than ink
Flexography
A type of printing process used to print on a wide range of surfaces (including metal and plastic). The quality of print is not as good as that produced by lithography or gravure
Folio
One sheet or piece of paper
Four Colour Press
Printing technique that uses Black, Magenta, Cyan and Yellow to create full colour images. This is also known as "process printing"
Ghosting
The term used to describe faint images that appear on printed sheets that are not wanted
Gilding
In book printing this is the application of gold leaf to the edges of the books pages
Grain
In papermaking this is the direction in which most of the paper fibres run
Gravure
A printing process where the paper is placed in contact with a cylinder that has recesses which hold ink. The paper "lifts" the ink on contact creating a much heavier ink film than the lithography process
Gutter
The blank space from the inner margin or printed area to the binding area
HNC / HND
Higher National "Certificate" or "Diploma" these are H.E. (Higher Education) qualifications that are taught in Colleges and Universities
Impression
In printing, the pressure of the plate or blanket as it comes into contact with the paper
Imposition
The arrangement of the printed pages "in sequence" so they are ready to read
Jog
Aligning a number of sheets before they are cut
Kerning
This is the space between two separate characters in typesetting
Keyline
An outline drawing on artwork that indicates the exact shape, position and size of an element such as an image
Kiss-cut
A light cut into the surface of paper that has a self adhesive backing paper, leaving the backing paper intact - (this type of paper is used for labels)
Lamination
A plastic film bonded to paper by heat and pressure used to protect the surface and enhance the finished look
Letterpress
Also called block printing this method of printing uses raised surfaces to produce a print on the paper as it is passed over it
Limited Liability Partnership
Business that is owned by a number of partners. In this type of partnership each partner has a limit to their responsibility against any debts created
Lithographic Printing
Printing method where the printing plate is treated to either attract or dispel ink. None print areas are coated with water or silicon, so no ink is held or transferred on contact
Mottle
A bruised or spotted appearance on a printed image this can be caused by the paper surface, ink / water imbalance, marks on a cylinder, or incorrect printing pressures
Nipping
During the book binding process this is an action that removes air from the contents at the sewing stage
Offset Litho
This term relates to the use of an extra printing cylinder that is positioned between the print material and the image impression cylinder
Outsert
An additional printed item that is usually added to the outside of a magazine cover
Overprint
Where further information is added to a previously printed product – an example of this would be the addition of a company address or contact details to a previously printed brochure
Pantone Matching System (PMS)
Colour standard which is used to identify a wide range of colours and indicate how colour combinations can be used to recreate a colour match
Pixel
In printing a pixel is the basic unit of "programmable colour" on a computer display in a digital image
Plate Cylinder
The cylinder of a press that the printing plate is mounted to
Platesetter
A device that creates a finished printing plate from data held on a computer in digital format (also known as CTP = Computer to Plate)
Pre-press
A stage of the printing process that takes place after design but before printing
Primary Colours
In daylight Red, Green and Blue are known as "light primary colours" as they can be added together to form all other colours. Mixed together equally they produce white. Cyan, Magenta and Yellow are colour pigments (also known as pigmentary primary colours). These are used to create printing inks. Mixed together equally they produce black
Proof
A version of the end "printed" product, which is checked by the customer before approval for print production is given
Ream
500 sheets of paper
Reel
A term used for a continuous roll (or web) of printing paper
Reprographic
This term relates to the "reproduction of graphics" through mechanical or electrical means. (e.g. reprographic assistant)
Saddle-stitch
Used in the binding process this is the securing of separate folded sections using wire staples. It is also known as "wire stitching"
Score
To indent or mark with a string or rule on the paper to help with accurate folding
Set-off
Caused when an image from the front of one sheet is transferred faintly to the back of the next sheet
Soft proofing
Process where the finished design is loaded to a computer screen that has calibration marks that indicate measurements and layouts. These are used by the printer to gain customer approval
Slurring
In Lithography printing this is the dragging of wet ink which causes dots to elongate in the direction the press travels
Spine glued
A product that has had a thin film of glue applied to the spine of each page
Spiral Binding
A book bound by a spiral wire that has been wound through holes that have been punched in a line down the spine of the book
Substrate
The piece of material that is to be printed (board, paper, plastic, tin)
Vignette
A design or illustration that gradually fades away to white
Web offset
Print process where large reels of paper are used instead of individual sheets of paper