Back Up
(1) To print on the second side of a sheet already printed on one side. (2) To adjust an image on one side of a sheet so that it aligns back-to-back with an image on the other side.

Bind
Usually in the book arena, but not exclusively, the joining of leafs or signatures together with either wire, glue or other means.

C1S and C2S
Abbreviations for coated one side and coated two sides.

Carbonless Paper
Paper coated with chemicals that enable transfer of images from one sheet to another with pressure from writing or typing.

Data Compression
Technique of reducing the amount of storage required to hold a digital file to reduce the disk space the file requires and allow it to be processed or transmitted more quickly.

Densitometer
Instrument used to measure density. Reflection densitometers measure light reflected from paper and other surfaces; transmission densitometers measure light transmitted through film and other materials.

Electronic Front End (Electronic Composition)
General term referring to a prepress system based on computers.

Electronic Image Assembly
Assembly of a composite image from portions of other images and/or other page elements using a computer.

Face
Edge of a bound publication opposite the spine. Also called foredge. Also, an abbreviation for typeface referring to a family of a general style.

Fast Color Inks
Inks with colors that retain their density and resist fading as the product is used and washed.

4pp Fold
ie one sheet folded in half (eg an A3 sheet folded in half creates 4pp A4)

Galley Proof
Proof of type from any Source, whether metal type or photo type. Also called checker and slip proof.

Gate Fold
A sheet that folds where both sides fold toward the gutter in overlapping layers.

Halftone
(1) To photograph or scan a continuous tone image to convert the image into halftone dots. (2) A photograph or continuous-tone illustration that has been halftoned and appears on film, paper, printing plate or the final printed product.

Halftone Screen
Piece of film or glass containing a grid of lines that breaks light into dots. Also called contact screen and screen.

Image Area
The actual area on the printed matter that is not restricted to ink coverage,

Imagesetter
Laser output device using photosensitive paper or film.

Job Number
A number assigned to a specific printing project in a printing company for use in tracking and historical record keeping.

Job Ticket
Form used by service bureaus, separators and printers to specify production schedule of a job and the materials it needs. Also called docket, production order and work order.

K
Abbreviation for black in four-color process printing. Hence the 'K' in CMYK.

Key
(1) The screw that controls ink flow from the ink fountain of a printing press. (2) To relate loose pieces of copy to their positions on a layout or mechanical using a system of numbers or letters. (3) Alternate term for the color black, as in 'key plate.'

Laid Finish
Finish on bond or text paper on which grids of parallel lines simulate the surface of handmade paper. Laid lines are close together and run against the grain; chain lines are farther apart and run with the grain.

Laminate
A thin transparent plastic sheet (coating) applied to usually a thick stock (covers, post cards, etc.) providing protection against liquid and heavy use, and usually accents existing color, providing a glossy (or lens) effect.

Machine Glazed (MG)
Paper holding a high-gloss finish only on one side.

Magenta
One of the four process colors.

Neutral Gray
Gray with no hue or cast.

News Print
Paper used in printing newspapers. Considered low quality and "a short life use."

Offset Printing
Printing technique that transfers ink from a plate to a blanket to paper instead of directly from plate to paper.

Opacity
(1) Characteristic of paper or other substrate that prevents printing on one side from showing through the other side. (2) Characteristic of ink that prevents the substrate from showing through.

Page
One side of a leaf in a publication.

Page Count
Total number of pages that a publication has. Also called extent.

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.

Quick Printing
Printing using small sheetfed presses, called duplicators, using cut sizes of bond and offset paper.

Raster Image Processor
Device that translates page description commands into bitmapped information for an output device such as a laser printer or imagesetter.

Ream
500 sheets of paper.

Saddle Stitch
To bind by stapling sheets together where they fold at the spine, as compared to side stitch. Also called pamphlet stitch, saddle wire and stitch bind.

Satin Finish
Alternate term for dull finish on coated paper.

Tabloid
Using a broadsheet as a measure, one half of a broadsheet.

Tagged Image File Format
Computer file format used to store images from scanners and video devices. Abbreviated TIFF.

Uncoated Paper
Paper that has not been coated with clay. Also called offset paper.

UV Coating
Liquid applied to a printed sheet, then bonded and cured with ultraviolet light.

Varnish
Liquid applied as a coating for protection and appearance.

Vellum Finish
Somewhat rough, toothy finish.

Wash Up
To clean ink and fountain solutions from rollers, fountains, screens, and other press components.

Waste
Unusable paper or paper damage during normal makeready, printing or binding operations, as compared to spoilage.