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JARGON BUSTER - The A to Z of Print Terminology
Making sense of baffling printing terms.
You know everything there is to know about your business. Yet, when it comes to dealing with print suppliers you're probably not clued up on the intricate details. Like every other industry, the Printing industry has its very own language and terminology.
To help keep things simple, we have created a Jargon Buster Guide where you can familiarize yourself with typical print terms and what they actually mean.
Back Lining
The fixing of material, either paper or cloth, to the inside of a book before it is bound. Can be colored, textured or finishes
Back to Back
Printing applied to both side of a sheet of paper
Backbone
The spine of the binding which connects the front of the book with the back of the book; also called back or spine
Background
Image that appears faintest and the type is usually printed over the background and used as effect
Back slant
Type that tilts to the left of backward direction; opposite of italic type, which is to the right
Banner
The top primary headline usually spanning the entire width of a page. Used to draw eye or grab attention
Base
The support onto which printing plates are fixed and is usually metal
Base Film
The foundation material onto which the film positives are stripped for making printing plates and becomes obsolete and was used primarily in the stripping process
Base Line
Term used to describe the imaginary horizontal line upon which stand capitals, lower case letters, punctuation points, etc.
Base Size
Standard size of paper stock; even though it is required size may be smaller or larger. It is different for types of paper, book and cover weight
Basis Weight
Basis weight refers to the weight, in pounds, of a ream (500 sheets) of paper cut to standard size for that particular paper grade and varies based on coated, uncoated, book and cover
Bed
The steel flat table of a cylinder printing press upon which the type or die sits during the printing process
Boldface
Type characteristic using bold or thicker lines
Bible Paper
A thin but strong paper (opaque)
Binder's Board
A heavy paperboard with a cloth covering that is used for hardback or case back binding of books.
Binding
Various methods of securing folded sections together and or fastening them to a cover, to form single copies of a book. Used on a spine.
Black
Ink that is one of the process colors. Also known as K in CMYK.
Blanket
On offset presses a fabric-reinforced sheet of rubber to transfer the impression from the plate onto the impression cylinder.
Blanket to Blanket Press
A printing method in which there are two blanket cylinders thought which a sheet of paper is passed and printed on both sides. Used on smaller presses or duplicators.
Bleed
Extra ink area that crosses the trim line.
Blind Emboss
Raising of the image on paper using a die and counter die with no ink involved.
Blind Embossing
Raising of images that are not inked or gold leafed.
Blind Folio
Page number not printed on page.
Blind Image
A problem that arises in the lithography process when an image loses it ink receptivity and fails to print.
Block
Illustrations or line are etched into zinc or cooper plates mounted to wood and used in letterpress printing.
Blow-up
Enlargement of photos, copies or line art.
Blue-Line
Photographic proof made from flats for checking accuracy, layout and imposition before plates are made. Becoming obsolete.
Boldface
Type that has a heavier stroke that makes it more bold.
Bond
A grade of durable writing, printing and typing paper that has a standard size of 17 x 22 inches. Used in business correspondence.
Book
A general classification to describe papers used to print books bookweight; its standard size is 25 x38 inches. A printed work that contains mare than 64 pages. Can be bound in a number of ways.
Bristol Board
A board paper of various thickness; having a smooth finish and used for printing and drawing.
Brocade
A heavily embossed paper.
Brochure
A pamphlet to convey or promote message.
Bronzing
A printing method whereby special ink is applies to sheets and then a powder is applied producing a metallic effect. Particles will come off on hand or in printers.
Buckle Folder
A piece of binding machinery with rollers that fold the paper.
Bulk
A term given to paper to describe its thickness relative to its weight.
Bullet
A boldface square or dot used before a sentence to emphasize its importance.
Burn
A term used in plate making to describe applying light to "burn" the image onto plate.
Burnish
A term used for the process of "rubbing down" lines and dots on a printing plate.
