Print Glossary

Index

M

Machine Glazed (MG)

Paper holding a high-gloss finish only on one side.

Magenta

One of the four process colours.

Makeready

(1) All activities required to prepare a press or other machine to function for a specific printing or bindery job, as compared to production run. Also called setup. (2) Paper used in the makeready process at any stage in production. Makeready paper is part of waste or spoilage.

Making Order

Order for paper that a mill makes to the customer's specifications, as compared to a mill order or stock order.

Male Die

Die that applies pressure during embossing or debossing. Also called force card.

Manuscript (MS)

An author's original form of work (hand written, typed or on disk) submitted for publication.

Margin

Imprinted space around the edge of the printed material.

Mark-Up

Instructions written usually on a "dummy."

Mask

To prevent light from reaching part of an image, therefore isolating the remaining part. Also called knock out.

Master

Paper or plastic plate used on a duplicating press.

Match Print

A form of a four-colour-process proofing system.

Matte Finish

Flat (not glossy) finish on photographic paper or coated printing paper.

Mechanical

Camera-ready assembly of type, graphic and other copy complete with instructions to the printer. A hard mechanical consists of paper and/or acetate, is made using paste-up techniques, and may also be called an artboard, board or paste-up. A soft mechanical, also called an electronic mechanical, exists as a file of type and other images assembled using a computer.

Mechanical Bind

To bind using a comb, coil, ring binder, post or any other technique not requiring gluing, sewing or stitching.

Mechanical Separation

colour breaks made on the mechanical using a separate overlay for each colour to be printed.

Mechanical Tint

Lines or patterns formed with dots creating artwork for reproduction.

Metallic Ink

Ink containing powdered metal or pigments that simulate metal.

Metallic Paper

Paper coated with a thin film of plastic or pigment whose colour and gloss simulate metal.

Midtones

In a photograph or illustration, tones created by dots between 30 percent and 70 percent of coverage, as compared to highlights and shadows.

Mil 1/1000 Inch

The thickness of plastic films as printing substrates are expressed in mils.

Misting

Phenomenon of droplets of ink being thrown off the roller train. Also called flying ink.

Mock Up

A reproduction of the original printed matter and possibly containing instructions or direction.

Modem

Mostly used over phone lines, a device that converts electronic stored information from point a. to point b.

Moiré

Undesirable pattern resulting when halftones and screen tints are made with improperly aligned screens, or when a pattern in a photo, such as a plaid, interfaces with a halftone dot pattern.

Monarch

Paper size (7" x 10") and envelope shape often used for personal stationery.

Mottle

Spotty, uneven ink absorption. Also called sinkage. A mottled image may be called mealy.

Mull

A specific type of glue used for books binding and personal pads needing strength.

Multicolour Printing

Printing in more than one ink colour (but not four-colour process). Also called polychrome printing.

M Weight

Weight of 1,000 sheets of paper in any specific size.

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N

Natural colour

Very light brown colour of paper. May also be called antique, cream, ivory, off-white or mellow white.

Nested

Signatures assembled inside one another in the proper sequence for binding, as compared to gathered. Also called inset.

Neutral Gray

Gray with no hue or cast.

News Print

Paper used in printing newspapers. Considered low quality and "a short life use."

Newton Ring

Flaw in a photograph or halftone that looks like a drop of oil or water.

Nipping

In the book binding process, a stage where air is expelled from it's contents at the sewing stage.

Nonheatset Web

Web press without a drying oven, thus not able to print on coated paper. Also called cold-set web and open web.

Nonimpact Printing

Printing using lasers, ions, ink jets or heat to transfer images to paper.

Nonreproducing Blue

Light blue that does not record on graphic arts film, therefore may be used to preprint layout grids and write instructions on mechanicals. Also called blue pencil, drop-out blue, fade-out blue and nonrepro blue.

Novelty Printing

Printing on products such as coasters, pencils, balloons, golf balls and ashtrays, known as advertising specialties or premiums.

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O

Offset Printing

Printing technique that transfers ink from a plate to a blanket to paper instead of directly from plate to paper.

Opacity

(1) Characteristic of paper or other substrate that prevents printing on one side from showing through the other side. (2) Characteristic of ink that prevents the substrate from showing through.

Onion Skin

A specific lightweight type (kind) of paper usually used in the past for air mail. Seldom used today (in the typewriter era).

Opaque

(1) Not transparent. (2) To cover flaws in negative with tape or opaquing paint. Also called block out and spot.

Open Prepress Interface

Hardware and software that link desktop publishing systems with colour electronic prepress systems.

Outer form

Form (side of a press sheet) containing images for the first and last pages of the folded signature (its outside pages) as compared to inner form.

Outline Halftone

Halftone in which background has been removed or replaced to isolate or silhouette the main image. Also called knockout halftone and silhouette halftone.

Overlay

Layer of material taped to a mechanical, photo or proof. Acetate overlays are used to separate colours by having some type or art on them instead of on the mounting board. Tissue overlays are used to carry instructions about the underlying copy and to protect the base art.

Overlay Proof

colour proof consisting of polyester sheets laid on top of each other with their image in register, as compared to integral proof. Each sheet represents the image to be printed in one colour. Also called celluloid proof and layered proof.

Overprint

To print one image over a previously printed image, such as printing type over a screen tint. Also called surprint.

Over Run

Additional printed matter beyond order. Overage policy varies in the printing industry. Advance questions avoid blind knowledge.

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P

Page

One side of a leaf in a publication.

Page Count

Total number of pages that a publication has. Also called extent.

Page Proof

Proof of type and graphics as they will look on the finished page complete with elements such as headings, rules and folios.

Pagination

In the book arena, the numbering of pages.

Painted Sheet

Sheet printed with ink edge to edge, as compared to spot colour. The painted sheet refers to the final product, not the press sheet, and means that 100 percent coverage results from bleeds off all four sides.

Panel

One page of a brochure, such as one panel of a rack brochure. One panel is on one side of the paper. A letter-folded sheet has six panels, not three.

Paper Plate

A printing plate made of strong and durable paper in the short run offset arena (cost effective with short runs).

Parallel Fold

Method of folding. Two parallel folds to a sheet will produce 6 panels.

Parent Sheet

Any sheet larger than 11" x 17" or A3.

Pasteboard

Chipboard with another paper pasted to it.

Paste-up

To paste copy to mounting boards and, if necessary, to overlays so it is assembled into a camera-ready mechanical. The mechanical produced is often called a paste-up.

PE

Proofreader mark meaning printer error and showing a mistake by a typesetter, prepress service or printer as compared to an error by the customer.

Perfect Bind

To bind sheets that have been ground at the spine and are held to the cover by glue. Also called adhesive bind, cut-back bind, glue bind, paper bind, patent bind, perfecting bind, soft bind and soft cover. See also Burst Perfect Bind.

Perfecting Press

Press capable of printing both sides of the paper during a single pass. Also called duplex press and perfector.

Perf Marks

On a "dummy" marking where the perforation is to occur.

Perforating

Taking place on a press or a binder machine, creating a line of small dotted wholes for the purpose of tearing-off a part of a printed matter (usually straight lines, vertical or horizontal).

Pica

A unit of measure in the printing industry. A pica is approximately 0.166 in. There are 12 points to a pica.

Photoengraving

Engraving done using photochemistry.

Photomechanical Transfer

Brand name for a diffusion transfer process used to make positive paper prints of line copy and halftones. Often used as alternate term for photostat. Abbreviated PMT.

Photostat

Brand name for a diffusion transfer process used to make positive paper prints of line copy and halftones. Often used as alternate term for PMT.

Picking

Phenomenon of ink pulling bits of coating or fiber away from the surface of paper as it travels through the press, thus leaving unprinted spots in the image area.

Pickup Art

Artwork, used in a previous job, to be incorporated in a current job.

Pinholing

Small holes (unwanted) in printed areas because of a variety of reasons.

Pin Register

Technique of registering separations, flats and printing plates by using small holes, all of equal diameter, at the edges of both flats and plates.

Pixel

Short for picture element, a dot made by a computer, scanner or other digital device. Also called pel.

Planographic Printing

Printing method whose image carriers are level surfaces with inked areas separated from noninked areas by chemical means. Planographic printing includes lithography, offset lithography and spirit duplicating.

Plate

Piece of paper, metal, plastic or rubber carrying an image to be reproduced using a printing press.

Platemaker

(1) In quick printing, a process camera that makes plates automatically from mechanicals. (2) In commercial lithography, a machine with a vacuum frame used to expose plates through film.

Plate-ready Film

Stripped negatives or positives fully prepared for platemaking.

Pleasing colour

colour that the customer considers satisfactory even though it may not precisely match original samples, scenes or objects.

PMS

Obsolete reference to Pantone Matching System. The correct trade name of the colours in the Pantone Matching System is Pantone colours, not PMS colours.

PMT

Abbreviation for photomechanical transfer.

Point

(1) Regarding paper, a unit of thickness equating 1/1000 inch. (2) Regarding type, a unit of measure equaling 1/12 pica and .013875 inch (.351mm).

Portrait

An art design in which the height is greater than the width. (Opposite of Landscape.)

Position Stat

Photocopy or PMT of a photo or illustration made to size and affixed to a mechanical.

Positive Film

Film that prevents light from passing through images, as compared to negative film that allows light to pass through. Also called knockout film.

Post Bind

To bind using a screw and post inserted through a hole in a pile of loose sheets.

Prepress

Camera work, colour separations, stripping, platemaking and other prepress functions performed by the printer, separator or a service bureau prior to printing. Also called preparation.

Prepress Proof

Any colour proof made using ink jet, toner, dyes or overlays, as compared to a press proof printed using ink. Also called dry proof and off-press proof.

Preprint

To print portions of sheets that will be used for later imprinting.

Press Check

Event at which makeready sheets from the press are examined before authorizing full production to begin.

Press Proof

Proof made on press using the plates, ink and paper specified for the job. Also called strike off and trial proof.

Press Time

(1) Amount of time that one printing job spends on press, including time required for makeready. (2) Time of day at which a printing job goes on press.

Price Break

Quantity at which unit cost of paper or printing drops.

Printer Pairs

Usually in the book arena, consecutive pages as they appear on a flat or signature.

Printer Spreads

Mechanicals made so they are imposed for printing, as compared to reader spreads.

Printing

Any process that transfers to paper or another substrate an image from an original such as a film negative or positive, electronic memory, stencil, die or plate.

Printing Plate

Surface carrying an image to be printed. Quick printing uses paper or plastic plates; letterpress, engraving and commercial lithography use metal plates; flexography uses rubber or soft plastic plates. Gravure printing uses a cylinder. The screen printing is also called a plate.

Printing Unit

Assembly of fountain, rollers and cylinders that will print one ink colour. Also called colour station, deck, ink station, printer, station and tower.

Process Camera

Camera used to photograph mechanicals and other camera-ready copy. Also called copy, camera and graphic arts camera. A small, simple process camera may be called a stat camera.

Process colour (Inks)

The colours used for four-colour process printing: yellow, magenta, cyan and black.

Production Run

Press run intended to manufacture products as specified, as compared to makeready.

Proof

Test sheet made to reveal errors or flaws, predict results on press and record how a printing job is intended to appear when finished.

Proofreader Marks

Standard symbols and abbreviations used to mark up manuscripts and proofs. Also called correction marks.

Proportion Scale

Round device used to calculate percent that an original image must by reduced or enlarged to yield a specific reproduction size. Also called percentage wheel, proportion dial, proportion wheel and scaling wheel.

Publishing Paper

Paper made in weights, colours and surfaces suited to books, magazines, catalogs and free-standing inserts.

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Q

Quality

Subjective term relating to expectations by the customer, printer and other professionals associated with a printing job and whether the job meets those expectations.

Quarto

(1) Sheet folded twice, making pages one-fourth the size of the original sheet. A quarto makes an 8-page signature. (2) Book made from quarto sheets, traditionally measuring about 9' x 12'.

Quick Printing

Printing using small sheetfed presses, called duplicators, using cut sizes of bond and offset paper.

Quotation

Price offered by a printer to produce a specific job.

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R

Rag Paper

Stationery or other forms of stock having a strong percentage content of "cotton rags."

Rainbow Fountain

Technique of putting ink colours next to each other in the same ink fountain and oscillating the ink rollers to make the colours merge where they touch, producing a rainbow effect.

Raster Image Processor

Device that translates page description commands into bitmapped information for an output device such as a laser printer or imagesetter.

Reader Spread

Mechanicals made in two page spreads as readers would see the pages, as compared to printer spread.

Ream

500 sheets of paper.

Recycled Paper

New paper made entirely or in part from old paper.

Reflective Copy

Products, such as fabrics, illustrations and photographic prints, viewed by light reflected from them, as compared to transparent copy. Also called reflex copy.

Register

To place printing properly with regard to the edges of paper and other printing on the same sheet. Such printing is said to be in register.

Register Marks

Cross-hair lines on mechanicals and film that help keep flats, plates, and printing in register. Also called crossmarks and position marks.

Relief Printing

Printing method whose image carriers are surfaces with two levels having inked areas higher than noninked areas. Relief printing includes block printing, flexography and letter press.

Repeatability

Ability of a device, such as an imagesetter, to produce film or plates that yield images in register.

Reprographics

General term for xerography, diazo and other methods of copying used by designers, engineers, architects or for general office use.

Resolution

Sharpness of an image on film, paper, computer screen, disc, tape or other medium.

Resolution Target

An image, such as the GATF Star Target, that permits evaluation of resolution on film, proofs or plates.

Reverse

Type, graphic or illustration reproduced by printing ink around its outline, thus allowing the underlying colour or paper to show through and form the image. The image 'reverses out' of the ink colour. Also called knockout and liftout.

RGB

Abbreviation for red, green, blue, the additive colour primaries.

Right Reading

Copy that reads correctly in the language in which it is written. Also describes a photo whose orientation looks like the original scene, as compared to a flipped image.

Rotary Press

Printing press which passes the substrate between two rotating cylinders when making an impression.

Round Back Bind

To casebind with a rounded (convex) spine, as compared to flat back bind.

Ruby Window

Mask on a mechanical, made with rubylith, that creates a window on film shot from the mechanical.

Rule

Line used as a graphic element to separate or organize copy.

Ruleup

Map or drawing given by a printer to a stripper showing how a printing job must be imposed using a specific press and sheet size. Also called press layout, printer's layout and ruleout.

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S

Saddle Stitch

To bind by stapling sheets together where they fold at the spine, as compared to side stitch. Also called pamphlet stitch, saddle wire and stitch bind.

Satin Finish

Alternate term for dull finish on coated paper.

Scale

To identify the percent by which photographs or art should be enlarged or reduced to achieve, the correct size for printing.

Scanner

Electronic device used to scan an image.

Score

To compress paper along a straight line so it folds more easily and accurately. Also called crease.

Screen Angles

Angles at which screens intersect with the horizontal line of the press sheet. The common screen angles for separations are black 45 degree, magenta 75 degree, yellow 90 degree and cyan 105 degree.

Screen Density

Refers to the percentage of ink coverage that a screen tint allows to print. Also called screen percentage.

Screen Printing

Method of printing by using a squeegee to force ink through an assembly of mesh fabric and a stencil.

Screen Ruling

Number of rows or lines of dots per inch or centimeter in a screen for making a screen tint or halftone. Also called line count, ruling, screen frequency, screen size and screen value.

Screen Tint

colour created by dots instead of solid ink coverage. Also called Benday, fill pattern, screen tone, shading, tint and tone.

Selective Binding

Placing signatures or inserts in magazines or catalogs according to demographic or geographic guidelines.

Self Cover

Usually in the book arena, a publication not having a cover stock. A publication only using text stock throughout.

Self Mailer

A printed item independent of an envelope. A printed item capable of travel in the mailing arena independently.

Separated Art

Art with elements that print in the base colour on one surface and elements that print in other colours on other surfaces. Also called preseparated art.

Separations

Usually in the four-colour process arena, separate film holding qimages of one specific colour per piece of film. Black, Cyan, Magenta and Yellow. Can also separate specific PMS colours through film.

Serigraphic Printing

Printing method whose image carriers are woven fabric, plastic or metal that allow ink to pass through some portions and block ink from passing through other portions. Serigraphic printing includes screen and mimeograph.

Service Bureau

Business using imagesetters to make high resolution printouts of files prepared on microcomputers. Also called output house and prep service.

Setoff

Undesirable transfer of wet ink from the top of one sheet to the underside of another as they lie in the delivery stack of a press. Also called offset.

Shade

Hue made darker by the addition of black, as compared to tint.

Shadows

Darkest areas of a photograph or illustration, as compared to midtones and high-lights.

Sheetfed Press

Press that prints sheets of paper, as compared to a web press.

Sheetwise

Technique of printing one side of a sheet with one set of plates, then the other side of the sheet with a set of different plates. Also called work and back.

Shingling

Allowance, made during paste-up or stripping, to compensate for creep. Creep is the problem; shingling is the solution. Also called stair stepping and progressive margins.

Side stitch

To bind by stapling through sheets along, one edge, as compared to saddle stitch. Also called cleat stitch and side wire.

Signature

Printed sheet folded at least once, possibly many times, to become part of a book, magazine or other publication.

Size

Compound mixed with paper or fabric to make it stiffer and less able to absorb moisture.

Slip Sheets

Separate sheets (stock) independent from the original run positioned between the "printed run" for a variety of reasons.

Soft Dots

Halftones dots with halos.

Solid

Any area of the sheet receiving 100 percent ink coverage, as compared to a screen tint.

Soy-based Inks

Inks using vegetable oils instead of petroleum products as pigment vehicles, thus are easier on the environment.

Specially Printer

Printer whose equipment, supplies, work flow and marketing is targeted to a particular category of products.

Specifications

Complete and precise written description of features of a printing job such as type size and leading, paper grade and quantity, printing or binding method. Abbreviated specs.

Spectrophotometer

Instrument used to measure the index of refraction of colour.

Specular Highlight

Highlight area with no printable dots, thus no detail, as compared to a diffuse highlight. Also called catchlight and dropout highlight.

Spine

Back or binding edge of a publication

Spiral Bind

To bind using a spiral of continuous wire or plastic looped through holes. Also called coil bind.

Split Fountain

Technique of putting ink colours next to each other in the same ink fountain and printing them off the same plate. Split fountains keep edges of colours distinct, as compared to rainbow fountains that blend edges.

Split Run

(1) Different images, such as advertisements, printed in different editions of a publication. (2) Printing of a book that has some copies bound one way and other copies bound another way.

Spoilage

Paper that, due to mistakes or accidents, must be thrown away instead of delivered printed to the customer, as compared to waste.

Spot colour or Varnish

One ink or varnish applied to portions of a sheet, as compared to flood or painted sheet.

Spread

(1) Two pages that face each other and are designed as one visual or production unit. (2) Technique of slightly enlarging the size of an image to accomplish a hairline trap with another image. Also called fatty.

Standard Viewing Conditions

Background of 60 percent neutral gray and light that measures 5000 degrees Kelvin the colour of daylight on a bright day. Also called lighting standards.

Stat

Short for photostat, therefore a general term for an inexpensive photographic print of line copy or halftone.

Statistical Process Control

Method used by printers to ensure quality and delivery times specified by customers. Abbreviated SPC.

Step and Repeat

Prepress technique of exposing an image in a precise, multiple pattern to create a flat or plate. Images are said to be stepped across the film or plate.

Stocking Paper

Popular sizes, weights and colours of papers available for prompt delivery from a merchant's warehouse.

Stock Order

Order for paper that a mill or merchant sends to a printer from inventory at a warehouse, as compared to a mill order.

String Score

Score created by pressing a string against paper, as compared to scoring using a metal edge.

Strip

To assemble images on film for platemaking. Stripping involves correcting flaws in film, assembling pieces of film into flats and ensuring that film and flats register correctly. Also called film assembly and image assembly.

Substance Weight

Alternate term for basis weight, usually referring to bond papers. Also called sub weight.

Stumping (Blocking)

In the book arena, hot die, foil or other means in creating an image on a case bound book.

Substrate

Any surface or material on which printing is done.

Subtractive colour

colour produced by light reflected from a surface, as compared to additive colour. Subtractive colour includes hues in colour photos and colours created by inks on paper.

Subtractive Primary colour

Yellow, magenta and cyan. In the graphic arts, these are known as process colours because, along with black, they are the inks colours used in colour-process printing.

Supercalendered Paper

Paper calendered using alternating chrome and fiber rollers to produce a smooth, thin sheet. Abbreviated SC paper.

Surprint

Taking an already printed matter and re-printing again on the same.

Swatch Book

A book in a variety of forms, indicating specific stock in specific colours in a specific thickness.

SWOP

Abbreviation for specifications for web offset publications, specifications recommended for web printing of publications.

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T

Tabloid

Using a broadsheet as a measure, one half of a broadsheet.

Tag

Grade of dense, strong paper used for products such as badges and file folders.

Tagged Image File Format

Computer file format used to store images from scanners and video devices. Abbreviated TIFF.

Target Ink Densities

Densities of the four process inks as recommended for various printing processes and grades of paper. See also Total Area Coverage.

Template

Concerning a printing project's basic details in regard to its dimensions. A standard layout.

Text Paper

Designation for printing papers with textured surfaces such as laid or linen. Some mills also use 'text' to refer to any paper they consider top-of-the-line, whether or not its surface has a texture.

Thermography

Method of printing using colourless resin powder that takes on the colour of underlying ink. Also called raised printing.

Thumbnails

Initial ideas jotted on virtually anything in regard to initial concept of a future project.

Tint

Screening or adding white to a solid colour for results of lightening that specific colour.

Tip In

Usually in the book arena, adding an additional page(s) beyond the normal process (separate insertion).

Tone Compression

Reduction in the tonal range from original scene to printed reproduction.

Total Area Coverage

Total of the dot percentages of the process colours in the final film. Abbreviated for TAC. Also called density of tone, maximum density, shadow saturation, total dot density and total ink coverage.

Touch Plate

Plate that accents or prints a colour that four-colour process printing cannot reproduce well enough or at all. Also called kiss plate.

Trade Shop

Service bureau, printer or bindery working primarily for other graphic arts professionals, not for the general public.

Transparency

Positive photographic image on film allowing light to pass through. Also called chrome, colour transparency and tranny. Often abbreviated TX.

Trap

To print one ink over another or to print a coating, such as varnish, over an ink. The first liquid traps the second liquid. See also Dry Traps and Wet Traps.

Trim Size

The size of the printed material in its finished stage (e.g., the finished trim size is 5 1\2 x 8 1\2).

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U

Uncoated Paper

Paper that has not been coated with clay. Also called offset paper.

Undercolour Addition

Technique of making colour separations that increases the amount of cyan, magenta or yellow ink in shadow areas. Abbreviated UCA.

Undercolour Removal

Technique of making colour separations such that the amount of cyan, magenta and yellow ink is reduced in midtone and shadow areas while the amount of black is increased. Abbreviated UCR.

Universal Copyright Convention (UCC)

A system to protect unique work from reproducing without knowledge from the originator. To qualify, one must register their work and publish a (c) indicating registration.

Unsharp Masking

Technique of adjusting dot size to make a halftone or separation appear sharper (in better focus) than the original photo or the first proof. Also called edge enhancement and peaking.

Up

Term to indicate multiple copies of one image printed in one impression on a single sheet. "Two up" or "three up" means printing the identical piece twice or three times on each sheet.

UV Coating

Liquid applied to a printed sheet, then bonded and cured with ultraviolet light.

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V

Value

The shade (darkness) or tint (lightness) of a colour. Also called brightness, lightness, shade and tone.

Varnish

Liquid applied as a coating for protection and appearance.

Vellum Finish

Somewhat rough, toothy finish.

Velox

Brand name for high-contrast photographic paper.

Viewing Booth

Small area or room that is set up for proper viewing of transparencies, colour separations or press sheets. Also called colour booth. See also Standard Viewing Conditions.

Vignette

Decorative design or illustration fade to white.

Vignette Halftone

Halftone whose background gradually and smoothly fades away. Also called degrade.

Virgin Paper

Paper made exclusively of pulp from trees or cotton, as compared to recycled paper.

VOC

Abbreviation for volatile organic compounds, petroleum substances used as the vehicles for many printing inks.

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W

Wash Up

To clean ink and fountain solutions from rollers, fountains, screens, and other press components.

Waste

Unusable paper or paper damage during normal makeready, printing or binding operations, as compared to spoilage.

Watermark

Translucent logo in paper created during manufacturing by slight embossing while paper is still approximately 90 percent water.

Web Break

Split of the paper as it travels through a web press, causing operators to rethread the press.

Web Gain

Unacceptable stretching of paper as it passes through the press.

Web Press

Press that prints from rolls of paper, usually cutting it into sheets after printing. Also called reel-fed press. Web presses come in many sizes, the most common being mini, half, three quarter (also called 8-pages) and full (also called 16-pages).

Wet Trap

To print ink or varnish over wet ink, as compared to dry trap.

Window

(1) In a printed product, a die-cut hole revealing an image on the sheet behind it. (2) On a mechanical, an area that has been marked for placement of a piece of artwork.

Wire Side

Side of the paper that rests against The Fourdrinier wire during papermaking, as compared to felt side.

With the Grain

Parallel to the grain direction of the paper being used, as compared to against the grain. See also Grain Direction.

Working Film

Intermediate film that will be copied to make final film after all corrections are made. Also called buildups.

Wove

Paper manufactured without visible wire marks, usually a fine textured paper.

Wrong Reading

An image that is backwards when compared to the original. Also called flopped and reverse reading.

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