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TSO - Print glossary Category: General technical and industrial > Printing Date & country: 25/11/2007, UK Words: 579

Putting the Tops On
Generic term used to define the process of placing the delivery label on top of a publication prior to it being shrink-wrapped.

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.

Quality Database
Electronic repository for all non-conformance information, based on Microsoft Access.

Quark Express (commonly Quark)
Industry standard, Mac-based page make-up software, particularly strong handling graphics within a page and its colour management features. Used extensively in DTP, it can also be found in PC versions.

Quarto
1. Sheet folded twice, making pages one-fourth the size of the original sheet. A quarto makes an 8-page signature.

Quotation
Price offered by a printer to produce a specific job.

RA0
ISO paper size 860 x 1220mm.

RA1
ISO paper size 610 x 860mm.

RA2
ISO paper size 430 x 610mm.

RA4
ISO paper size 215 x 320mm.

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.

Reel
A continuous length of paper wound title onto a central core to feed a continuous web press.

Reel End
The paper left around the core when a reel has been used up.

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 non-inked 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.

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

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.

Reverse Imposition
An imposition scheme where pages are in the reverse position to where they would be in a regular imposition, effectively resulting in a folded section with the last page where the first page would be expected to be. Used primarily in the production of matter for loose leaf matter for a ring binder, which has to be drilled.

RGB
Abbreviation for Red, Green, Blue, the additive colour primaries.

Ribboned Copy
The copy of a bill produced for presentational purposes in both Houses of Parliament which is bound by a ribbon through three drilled holes.

Rich Black
Rich black is colour made up of 100%K and 60%C. It is designed to give good coverage to solid areas of black and to 'lift' the flatness from a process black.

Right Reading
1. Copy that reads correctly in the language in which it is written.

Roll-fold
A method used to fold a sheet into 3 along its long edge. A method used by Parliamentary Press to produce 6pp pamphlets or a 6pp side-stitch publication.

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.

Royal Assent (RA) Proof
The version of a Bill as presented to the Lords in its final version which is given approval by the monarch and then becomes an Act of Parliament.

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

Rule-up
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 rule-out.

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
Device used to scan an image and capture it in an electronic format.

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

Scottish
Generic term used to describe publications produced overnight for The Scottish Parliament. These jobs are produced from PDF files received from TSO in Edinburgh via ISDN and are usually produced digitally via the OCE web line.

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 0 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 centimetre 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.

Seal
Coating in water base and applied like ink by a printing press to protect and enhance the printing underneath. Also called Aqueous Coating.

Select
Generic term used to refer to all Select Committee publications (reports, minutes of evidence, memoranda, appendices to the minutes of evidence, minutes of proceedings).

Select Committee
A Committee of either House of Parliament drawn from its respective matters to discuss/investigate non-legislative material. Although a Select Committee carries no legislative powers, it may well publish a report to government recommending changes to existing, or new, legislation.

Self-Cover
A publication not having a cover stock. A publication only using text stock throughout.

Self-Mailer
A printed item containing all relevant posting information and posted independently without the need for an envelope.

Separations
Usually in the field of four-colour process printing, separate film holding images of one specific colour per piece of film. Black, Cyan, Magenta and Yellow. Can also separate specific Pantone 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.

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.

Sherpa
Afga colour proofing device in DTP department. Produces high-quality colour inkjet proofs.

Sherpa proof
High-quality colour proof produced from Agfa Sherpa device. Although not a contract proof, this will give a good indication of how the finished product will look.

SI (Statutory Instrument)
An HMSO publication which is a secondary-level legislative document. Typeset in Pre-press and printed digitally on sovereign wove.

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

Sitting
Generic term used to refer to the act of a days business in either House of Parliament.

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

Slip Sheets
A cut made on a printing machine during the production run.

Soft Dots
Halftones dots with halos.

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

Solna
Cold-set web presses working in signatures of up to 32pp, delivery folded sections in bundles to the finishing department.

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

Specifications (or Spec)
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.

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

Spine Width
The measurement made across the bulk of the backs of folded sections forming a publication to be allowed between cover pages 1 and 4 in order a good fit is achieved. The Spine Width will often contain text, e.g.. title of 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.

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

Spoilage Reprint
The second production run of a publication or signature due to mistake or accident.

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

SRA0
ISO paper size 980 x 1280mm.

SRA1
ISO paper size 640 x 900mm.

SRA2
ISO paper size 450 x 640mm.

SRA3
ISO paper size 320 x 450mm.

Stab tlhc
Generic term for finishing style which is a single stitch placed in the top, left-hand corner of the document.

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.

Stitch
A staple or metal fixing used to hold the sections of a document together.

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.

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

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.

Stumping (Blocking)
In the bookwork field, hot die, foil or other means in creating an image on a case bound book.

Style Copy
A sample of a (usually previously printed) document included with a job for the purpose of producing a document with the same characteristics and feel. Not to be confused with Customer's Copy, the style copy is a guide only.

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

Substrate
Any surface or material on which printing is done.

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 process-process printing.

Supercalendered Paper
Paper calendered using alternating chrome and fibre rollers to produce a smooth, thin sheet.

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.

Systems
Generic term used to refer to the Miles typesetting administration department.

Table Office
Office within House of Commons which administers and processes copy prior to print production.