Jargon Buster

A

Steven Kiernan — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:09:00 GMT

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

B

Steven Kiernan — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:08:00 GMT

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.

C

Steven Kiernan — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:07:00 GMT

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.

D

Steven Kiernan — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:06:00 GMT

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.

E

Steven Kiernan — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:04:00 GMT

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.

F

Steven Kiernan — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:03:00 GMT

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.

G

Steven Kiernan — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:02:00 GMT

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).

H

Steven Kiernan — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:01:00 GMT

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.

I

Steven Kiernan — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:00:00 GMT

ICC Profile
A file that describes how a specific device (digital press, monitor etc) reproduces colour.

J

Steven Kiernan — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:59:00 GMT

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.

K

Steven Kiernan — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:58:00 GMT

K
The initial stands for black, or 'key', in four-colour process printing. It is the 'K' in the industry-standard colour model CMYK.

L

Steven Kiernan — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:57:00 GMT

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.

M

Steven Kiernan — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:56:00 GMT

Makeready
The work and preparation needed to set up a press before a production run.

N

Steven Kiernan — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:55:00 GMT

Nested
Signatures assembled inside one another in the correct sequence for binding. Teh alternative is 'gathered'. Nested is also called inset.

O

Steven Kiernan — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:54:00 GMT

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.