Jargon Buster

July 2008 - Posts

• A

  Artwork All original copy (including type, photos and illustrations) for printing. Against the grain At right angles to the direction of the grain in paper substrates Posted Jul 22 2008, 06:09 AM by Steven Kiernan with no comments Filed under: Artwork, against the grain

• B

  Bindery A department within a printing company responsible for creating finished, saleable products. Binding The process of fastening papers together with wire, thread, glue, or other method. Posted Jul 22 2008, 06:08 AM by Steven Kiernan with no comments Filed under: Bindery, Binding

• C

  CMYK Cyan, magenta, yellow and key (black), the four process colours. Calibration Using a fixed measurement to ensure accurate performance in a machine or process Calliper Paper thickness, measured in microns Carton A container generally made from paper or board delivered by carton manufacturers to a user either in flat or collapsed form, for assembly at the packaging point. Posted Jul 22 2008, 06:07 AM by Steven Kiernan with no comments Filed under: Calliper, Carton, CMYK, Calibration

• D

  Densitometer A device that measures the density of printed inks/toner. Densitometers are used to measure printed output and ensure quality, as well as calibrate printing presses. Die Metal rule or imaged block for cutting or placing an image onto paper as part of the finishing process Dwell time The length of time during which elements remain in contact or in a static position; pause. For example, the length of time that the ductor roller contacts the fountain roller. Posted Jul 22 2008, 06:06 AM by Steven Kiernan with no comments Filed under: Densitometer, Die

• E

  Electrostatic Printing The process uses a photoconductor that is charged, exposed by lasers, and imaged with dry powder or liquid toners. It is used extensively for on-demand printing. Colour electrophotographic printing systems are used for short-run variable and on-demand printing. Enterprise system software Specialised software applications that are primarily code-based and are used exclusively within a particular company or business. This category tends to be robust and can be largely responsible for digitally managing virtually everything within an organisation. EMAS Defined: Eco-management and auditing scheme (EMAS) Environmental management has become a core business issue for many organisations. EMAS is a voluntary initiative, adopted by the EU in 1993, designed to improve companies’ environmental performance. The aim of the scheme is to recognise and reward organisations that go beyond minimum legal compliance and continuously improve their green performance. In addition, the scheme requires participating organisations to regularly produce a public statement, independently checked by an environmental verifier for accuracy and reliability, that reports on their environmental effort. EMAS is backed by government and environmental regulators, and organisations that participate will be recognised for making strong commitments to the environment and to improving their economic competitiveness. Posted Jul 22 2008, 06:04 AM by Steven Kiernan with no comments

• F

  Face Edge of a bound publication opposite the spine. Also called foredge. Also an abbreviation for 'typeface' referring to a family of general style. FTP A way to distribute files over the internet. File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is the tool used to retrieve information in the form of electronic files from any number of computer systems linked via the TCP/IP protocol. In effect, users transfer transfer copies of information found on remote computers either directly to their computers or to a service provier's network and then to their own computers. Posted Jul 22 2008, 06:03 AM by Steven Kiernan with no comments

• G

  Gear marks Repeating horizontal bands of inconsistent ink densities typically resulting from wear or damage to gear teeth, worn bearings or bearing journal surfaces, or combinations of these. The distance between the marks is the same as the interval between the gear teeth on a cylinder. Grammage Basis weight of paper, usually expressed in grams per square metre (gsm). Posted Jul 22 2008, 06:02 AM by Steven Kiernan with no comments

• H

  Halftone Technique that represents a continuous tone through the use of equally spaced dots of various sizes. The technique relies on an optical illusion, namely that the dots are blended into smooth tones by the human eye. Posted Jul 22 2008, 06:01 AM by Steven Kiernan with no comments

• I

  ICC Profile A file that describes how a specific device (digital press, monitor etc) reproduces colour. Posted Jul 22 2008, 06:00 AM by Steven Kiernan with no comments

• J

  JDF Job Definition Format is an XML-based industry standard describing job ticket, message description and message interchange data and designed to simplify information exchange between applications and systems from different vendors in and around the graphic arts industry. Posted Jul 22 2008, 05:59 AM by Steven Kiernan with no comments Filed under: JDF

• K

  K The initial stands for black, or 'key', in four-colour process printing. It is the 'K' in the industry-standard colour model CMYK. Posted Jul 22 2008, 05:58 AM by Steven Kiernan with no comments Filed under: K

• L

  Laminate To cover paper or other material with a thin transparent plastic sheet or coating that is used to protect it from wear and tear. Types include gloss, matt and silk laminates. Posted Jul 22 2008, 05:57 AM by Steven Kiernan with no comments Filed under: Laminate

• M

  Makeready The work and preparation needed to set up a press before a production run. Posted Jul 22 2008, 05:56 AM by Steven Kiernan with no comments Filed under: Makeready

• N

  Nested Signatures assembled inside one another in the correct sequence for binding. Teh alternative is 'gathered'. Nested is also called inset. Posted Jul 22 2008, 05:55 AM by Steven Kiernan with no comments Filed under: Nested

• O

  Offset printing Printing technique which transfers ink from a plate to a blanket to paper as opposed to directly from plate to paper. Overrun An overrun, or 'over', is a quantity of printed copies exceeding the number ordered to be printed. Trade custom allows a certain tolerance for overruns and underruns. The set-up process on finishing machines will often require a certain number of printed overs for makeready. Posted Jul 22 2008, 05:54 AM by Steven Kiernan with no comments Filed under: Offset