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Glossary of Terms

The following is a compiled list of common terms related to the print industry.

A-M N-Z

N

Negative

A reverse of an image created when processing film. Dark areas will appear light and light areas will appear dark.

O

Offset Lithography

Also called Offset Printing it is a process in printing where ink is spread on a plate then transferred to paper by using a blanket and pressing down.

Offset Printing

See Offset Lithography.

P

PDF (Portable Document Format)

A popular way of formatting documents so they can be viewed and printed on multiple platforms without changing. PDF is a modified Postscript format developed by Adobe as a standard for the web and for printing.

Pixel

An image displayed on a computer is made up of lots of dots called pixels. A number of pixels displayed is referred to as the image's resolution.

Plates

A metal sheet of coated material that transfers ink from the printing press to paper.

PMS (Pantone Matching System)

A printing color standard and selection system. This is virtually the universal standard for printing color selection. Most printers have books containing samples of more than a thousand colors and their mixing formulas.

PostScript

Is a language for printing, meaning it describes fonts, images and graphics as mathematical expressions that do not require fonts or other dependent files.

Presort First Class Mail

The process of preparing and sorting mail to qualify for reduced postage rates. The lowest First-class postage rates are available if you sort and automate the addresses on your mailing lists.

Primary Colors

Are made up of red, green and blue, which are Additive Primaries, which create white light; and cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, which are Subtractive Colors, which are used for printing.

Process Colors

Overlapping dots of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black (CMYK) used to simulate a large number of different colors.

Proof

A close representation of how the finished product will look. Also called a "hard copy proof."

R

Raster

Graphics composed of pixels on a bitmap, allowing for solid colored objects and graphics as we see them.

Resolution

The number of pixels that can fit into one inch determines the sharpness and quality of an image. Computer monitors are 72-96 DPI while most printed jobs are 300 DPI or above.

RGB (Red, Green, Blue)

When mixed together these colors create a white light. Computer monitors display color in RGB.

Rule Up

A flat proof with lines drawn on it to show where the piece will be cut, perforated and folded.

S

Scoring

Using a letterpress and a piece of metal to make an indent in paper. This step is necessary when folding cover stock.

Split Run

An order with the same front side but may have two or more different backsides.

T

TIFF (Tagged Image File Format)

A TIFF is one of most widely supported file format for storing images on a computer. It can handle a range from one bit to 24 bits of photographic image, but as an older format, images saved as TIFF files tend to be larger than JPEG or .PSD formats.

Typesetting

To layout words, text and logos for printing.

U

Uncoated

Paper that is not treated as explained above. Most copier paper, laser printer paper and stationery is uncoated paper.

UV Coating

Plastic coating that is applied after the printing process. This yields a very tough, almost unscratchable surface that is more durable than aqueous coatings.

V

Vector Images

Object-oriented graphics of defined curves and line segments; these are resolution independent and can be stretched or resized.