Help & Info
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.
Saddle Stitching
Stitching where the wire staples pass through the spine from the outside and are clinched in the center which is only used with folded sections in four page increments
Safety Paper
A paper that can not be altered or tampered with easily
Satin Finish
An uncoated paper very similar to matte paper
Score
Light indentation to help folding or tearing. Reduces or prevents cracking of folds
Screen Angles
The placement of halftone screen in printing to avoid unwanted moiré patterns Frequently used angles are black 45deg, magenta 75deg, yellow 90deg, and cyan 105deg
Scumming
Ink film on paper due to lack of water balance
Self Cover
A cover made out of the same paper stock as the internal (guts) sheets
Sheetwise
The printing of two different images on two different sides of a sheet of paper by turning the paper by turning the page over after the first side is printed and using the same gripper and side guides on press. Also known as a work and back
Short Run Printing
Denotes runs with small quantities
Show Through
When the printing on one side of a sheet is seen from the other side and can be helped by using a more opaque sheet
Side Guide
The guides on the sides of the press that position the sheet sideways as the paper is led towards the front guides. This controls the sheet position sideways for registration.
Side Stitching
Stitching where the staples pass through the paper gathered upon each other and are closed on the underside
Signature
Printed sheet that consists of a number of pages of a book, paginated so they will fold and bind together as a section of a book-The printed sheet after folding.
Slitting
A term to describe the process of cutting of printed sheets by the cutting wheels of a folding machine
Spine
Back edge of a book
Spiral Bind
A binding whereby a wire or plastic is spiraled through holes punched along the binding side which allows the book to lay flat
Spot Color
Area printed in a second color, other than black
Spread
The amount of increase in size of image to create ink trap
Static Neutralizer
Device on a printing press that minimizes the amount of static build up on paper as it passes through the press to enable it run faster
Step and Repeat
A process of generating multiple exposures by taking an image and stepping it in a set measurement
Stet
A proofreader's symbol that indicates that the copy, which was marked for correction is actually ok
Stock
A term for paper or other material to be printed
Super Calendaring
A machine that produces a high finished paper surface that is extremely smooth and exceptional for printing. (Usually on coated paper)
Synthetic Papers
Substrate not made from wood or cotton pulp. Usually petroleum based plastic materials.
