A term for two or more parallel folds that result in a sheet that opens like an accordion
Perpendicular to the direction of the paper grain
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
Technique of filling the edges of an object with pixels to eliminate jagged lines and make it appear smoother
A fast-drying, water-based coating that is applied after printing that gives a glossy finish and protects the print’s surface.
In printing, this is the original copy which includes all text, graphics, photos and illustrations
To print the reverse side of a sheet already printed on one side
To fasten sheets or sections into brochures or booklets with the use of wire, thread, glue, staples, etc
The process by which sheets are fastened together which include cutting, trimming, collating, perforating, and folding to form the finished product
An image file format that refers to the rows and columns (map) of dots or pixels that form an image
Computerised image made up of a collection of dots or pixels; these images appear blocky when you zoom in; also known as raster images
The thick rubber coated pad of a printing press that transfers ink from the plate to the sheet
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
Durable and lightweight paper commonly used for letterheads and business stationery
Margin or line between the image area and the edge of the paper
The brilliance or reflective quality of paper affecting contrast in printing
The thickness of paper relative to its weight
Measurement of paper thickness expressed in thousandths of an inch
A type of coated paper with a high gloss enamel finish
Colour transparency
Paper with a thin surface coating of clay that produces a smooth finish
A finishing term for arranging pages or sheets in correct order before binding
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
Strips of colour used as a tool to check colour accuracy and density
Methods of adjusting and improving colour qualities such as colour balance, contrast, etc
Filters used in colour separation
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 chart in an electronic system used to compare, measure or mix colours
Preparing a full-colour image for printing by separating it into the four basic process colours: cyan, magenta, yellow and black
The order in which the four-colour process inks are printed on the press
A method of binding by inserting a plastic comb through holes along the side or edge of a stack of pages
A technology that enables transfer of digital data directly to a metal plate for printing, eliminating the use of conventional films
Illustrations and photographs that have a range of shades
The range of difference between the darkest and lightest areas in an image
Any material (text or artwork) to be used in printing a piece
A heavyweight paper commonly used for covers of books, brochures, catalogues and folders
Creep is the shifting position of the page in a saddle-stitched bind. Creep moves the inside pages away from the spine.
To cut off sides or portions of an image
Lines at the edges of a sheet that show where the page will be trimmed
Printing across the gutter or from one page to the facing page of a publication
The process of drying inks or coatings through chemical processes to develop strong adhesion
Shade of blue; One of four basic ink colours used in 4 colour printing process (CMYK)
To press an image below the surface of paper
An instrument used to measure the density of coloured ink to determine consistency
The degree of darkness of an image
Metal plate cut for impressing a design or image on paper
A process of cutting paper in a shape or design using metal dies
A technology that eliminates the use of film plates by directly transferring the image from digital files to the press plates using a laser
An offset press where the plate is imaged directly on the press with laser
The individual element of a halftones; also referred to as a “pixelâ€
The spread of ink on paper; occurrence when dots print larger than they were on the film
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
Exposing a printing plate to multiple images
A method of applying a thin coating or ink on paper to roughly determine colour
Parts of artwork that are not reproduced
A preliminary layout of a copy showing the position and general style made to resemble the finished product
A halftone image made up of two colours
The ability of a press to print on both sides of a sheet of paper
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.
Technique of pressing an image into paper so that creating a raised image
Photosensitive sensitive coating on printing plates and film
Section of a printing press that separates the sheets and feeds them into position for printing
To cover a page completely with ink or varnish
The backside of an image
A thin metal applied to paper used in foil stamping and foil embossing
To foil stamp or emboss an image on paper using a die
Pressing a design or image on paper without ink using a foil and heated metal die
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
A print job with four colour printing on both sides of the paper
A print job with four colour printing on the front side and one colour (usually black) on the back side
A print job with four colour printing on the front side and no printing on the back side
Forest Stewardship Council certified paper
Economical way of printing by printing multiple images on the same sheet using the maximum sheet size
A printing defect where a faint unwanted image appears on a page
Shiny coating applied to paper
The direction in which the fibres of a paper lie
The use of visual elements to express a message
An image made up of a range of shades of black and white
The metal fingers on printing presses that hold the paper and controls it as it passes through the press
Pattern of dots within a fixed grid to reproduce a continuous-tone image
A document or data printed on paper
The lightest part in an image
Paper kept in stock by a printer
Portion of a page or paper that can be printed on
Arranging printed pages correctly so they will fold in the proper sequence
The pressure of a printing press on paper; image caused by pressure of a press plate on paper
The container on a printing press that hold the ink
An outline drawing to show the exact size and position of an artwork
A pattern of parallel lines running across the grain, creating a ribbed and handmade effect
High contrast copy made up of solids or lines which do not require a halftone screen; also called line art or line work
The number of lines of dots per inch in a halftone screen; the higher the LPI., the sharper the image
A method of printing where plates are chemically treated so that the image area accepts ink and non-image areas repel ink.
Also known as process red; one of the 4 basic ink colours in process colour printing; M in abbreviation CMYK
Blocking light from reaching parts of a printing plate, also called knockout
Dull non-glossy finish
Devise used to measure the thickness (caliper) of paper
The tones in a photograph between highlights and shadows; must be balanced for accurate reproduction
An undesirable screen pattern caused by incorrect screen angles
A film in which the white areas of the original image appear black and the black areas appear white
A common printing process in which the image to be printed is transferred from a metal plate to a rubber blanket onto paper
Transfer of ink or impression from one page to the opposite page
The property of paper that minimizes the show-through on a printed sheet
A halftone image with the background removed to outline the main image
Production of larger quantities than ordered
Total number of pages in a book or publication
The standard colour-matching system used by printers and graphic designers
A binding technique in which pages are collated into a single sheet and then glued together and attached to the cover with an adhesive
A printing press that prints both sides of a sheet at the same time
Process of making holes or a series of cuts to make tearing or folding easy
A printer’s measure of type; One pica is 1/6 of an inch
A flat sheet of metal on which an image is reproduced using a printing press
A page description language developed by Adobe Systems that tells a printer how an image is to be printed
The four basic colours used in printing to simulate full spectrum colour — Cyan (blue), magenta (process red), yellow (process yellow), black (process black)
A method of binding using staples in the seam or spine of a book or booklet where it folds
An instrument used to make colour separations; also an instrument to scan images or photos in desktop publishing
A mark or crease pressed on paper to make folding easier
The process of pressing a sheet of paper to create a groove or line for folding
The angles at which halftone screens are positioned to avoid unwanted patterns
The paper used as cover is the same as that used in the inside pages
The darkest areas of a photograph or image
To bind by stapling sheets along one side of a sheet
Term for a printed sheet after folding
A precise description of features of a print order such as paper stock and quantity
The back edge of a bound book or publication that connects the 2 covers
Printing of a book or booklet that has copies bound in different ways
Planned paper waste — also known as make readies
Varnishing a specific part of a sheet
Pressing a design or image onto paper with a metal die
Technique of repeatedly exposing the same image on the plate in different places
The paper or material to be printed on
The process of positioning film negatives for plate making
Any surface or material on which printing is done
A standard graphic image file format often used for storing high resolution images that can easily handle up to 24 bits of photographic image colour
A mixture of a hue with white
A thin transparent paper placed over artwork for protection and may be used for marking printer instructions
Printing of one ink over the other to prevent gaps from appearing
Marks on a printed sheet that show where to cut or trim the page
The final size of a printed image after trimming
To arrange or layout artwork and text for printing
Paper with no treatment or coating on the surface
Production of fewer copies than ordered by customer
Printing multiple copies of the same on the same sheet — ie 2 up or 4 up
Liquid glossy coating applied to paper’s surface and cured with ultraviolet light
A clear liquid coating applied to printed sheet for protection and shine
Images made up of solids, lines and curves that can be scaled or edited without affecting image resolution
Planned spoilage
A distinctive design created in paper during manufacturing that is visible when the paper is held up to the light
The roll of printing paper used in web or rotary printing
A high speed printing press that print on a continuous roll of paper or web rather than on individual sheets
A method of binding using double loops of wire through a hole
Folding or feeding paper into the press parallel to the paper’s grain or fiber
Printing the second side of a sheet by turning the sheet over from the gripper to the tail utilising the same side guides and plate
A paper having a uniform unlined surface and a smooth finish