Printing Business - Glossary / Definitions

Here are some key definitions that help to explain the differences among printers / printing equipment - and the importance of matching a printing job to a printer to yield cost savings while achieving the level of quality that is required for the job.

Printing Press / Equipment Types

Sheet Fed Printer / Press

As its name implies, this press is a traditional low volume press that prints on pre-cut sheets of paper. Because of its more precise printing method, a sheet-fed press produces the sharpest printing of the three press types. It can also print on a wider variety of paper weights. However, because of its slower speed, it is the most expensive of the print methods and is generally only used for small print runs or jobs requiring the highest print quality.

Summary:

• Pre-Cut Sheets of Paper
• Low Volume
• Sharpest Printing
• More Expensive
• Suitable for Smaller Print Jobs

Web Press

A web press prints on a roll of paper rather than sheets, allowing faster printing. There are two types of web presses - heat-set and cold-set (see definitions below).

Heat-Set Web Press

A heat-set web press is the standard catalog and magazine printing press. This press has a heating unit that dries the printed ink as it exits the press. This allows the press to print at high speeds on coated (gloss) paper, which produces brilliant, crisp photo reproduction. Heat-set web presses are very large, complicated machines that require several people to set up and operate. It is only cost-effective to use this type of press for print runs of 10,000 copies or more and in increments of 8 (preferably 16) pages. 99% of all mail-order catalogs are printed on this type of press.

Summary:

• Rolls of Coated Paper
• High Speed
• High Color Accuacy
• Expensive Equipment & Operating Costs
• Suitable for High Volume Jobs

Cold-Set Web Press

A typical cold-set web press does not include a heating unit, so the printed ink must air dry before exiting the press. Since ink will dry faster on uncoated papers than on coated papers, only uncoated stock can be used in a cold-set web press. Uncoated papers produce a less glossy image and are usually used for black and white projects or when less color accuracy is required. Cold-set web presses are smaller and simpler than heat-set web presses, cost less and require less setup time. Therefore, it is a good press for small quantity catalog print runs starting at 1,000 copies. Once the quantity reaches about 20,000, the greater speed of the heat-set web press begins to be more cost effective.

Summary:

• Rolls of Uncoated Paper
• Lower Color Accuacy
• Lower Equipment & Operating Costs
• Suitable for Lower Volume Jobs

Other Key Concepts

Printing Value

Given the strategic importance of your print purchases, it makes sense to strike a balance - avoiding both "premium" pricing for unsupported quality / service claims - and low ball quotes from unknown / unqualified entities where you may be taking an unnecessary risk that can affect your company.

RJCO helps you find that balance - the best combination of cost savings along with track records of good print production quality and delivery timeliness.  As we handle numerous transactions similar to yours every week / month, we are able to montor the capabilities and performance of the printers on an ongoing basis - and we are able to recommend the best matches for your specific needs and budget.

Business Printing Buying Tips

Print Job Cost / Savings Estimator

Alteration
A change in specifications after the production of a job has begun. Printers typically charge extra for these changes.

Aqueous Coating
A clear, water based coating used to protect printed pieces. This coating creates a high-gloss surface that diminishes the appearance of fingerprints and dirt.

Bind
To secure sheets or signatures together with glue, wire, thread, or other means.

Bindery
The finishing department of a print company in charge of collating, folding, and trimming the final printed materials.

Bleed
Print that goes to the edge of the sheet after trimming has been performed.

Blueline
A blue photographic proof used prepress to check position, but not the color, of all image elements and text. Blueline is a generic term and may also be called - blackprint, blue, blueprint, brownline, brownprint, diazo, dyeline, ozalid, position proof, silverprint, Dylux and VanDyke.

Brightness
The luster or vividness of paper stock. Based on a 100 point scale with 100 being the brightest. Papers of the same brightness rating can appear different to the human eye due to shading. Brightness is normally measured using a device called a densitometer.

Bulk pack
The packaging, in boxes, of printed product without wrapping or other containment.

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

Camera-ready copy
Print ready mechanical art. Camera-ready Copy
Mechanicals, photographs and art fully prepared for reproduction according to the technical requirements of the printing process being used. Also called finished art and reproduction copy.

Case bind
Hard cover binding using hot glue. Think school text book cover.

Coated paper/stock
Paper with a smooth finish that is created by a clay or other mineral coating. There are four standard types of coated paper – gloss, matte, dull, and cast.

Collate
To gather paper in a specific order.

Color separations
The process of preparing artwork by separating it into the four primary printing colors. Separating into the 4 primary colors is necessary for the printing process.

Comb bind
To bind with a plastic comb with is inserted into punched holes.

Commercial Printer
A printer capable of producing a wide variety of products for a broad clientele. Commercial printing is typically used for marketing related work as opposed to financial, book, form, packing printing. Equipment across the various printers is similar but the production process / workflow is specialized in order to support the typical client within each market.

Copy
All furnished material or disc used in the production of a printed product.

Cover
Paper or other material that protects a publication and often contains other information about the printed material.

Cover paper
A thick or heavy printing paper used to cover books, make folders, menus, etc.

Coverage
The degree to which ink covers the surface. Ink coverage options are typically light, medium or heavy.

Customer Service Representative (CSR)
Individuals who coordinate projects and keeps customers informed.

CWT
Abbreviation for hundredweight. Use with regard to the cost of paper. Roman numeral C=100, WT = weight.

Die Cut
To cut shapes in or out of paper or paperboard.

Digital Proofing
Page proofs produced through electronic memory transferred onto paper via laser or ink-jet.

Direct Digital Color Proof
Color proof made by a laser, ink jet printer or other computer-controlled device without needing to make separation films first. Abbreviated DDCP.

Drill
To drill a hole in printed material.

Duotone
A halftone picture made up of two printed colors.

Dylux
Brand name photographic paper used for bluelines.

Electronic Proof
A process of generating a prepress proof in which paper is electronically exposed to the color separation negatives and passed through electrically charged pigmented toners, which adhere electrostatically, resulting in the finished proof.

Estimate
Price quotation that states what a job will probably cost.

Enamel
Gloss coated paper.

Film Laminate
A thin sheet of plastic affixed to a printed material for protection or increased gloss.

Finished Size
Size of printed material at completion. Also called trim size.

Flood
To cover a printed page with ink, varnish, or plastic coating.

Folder
A bindery machine dedicated to folding printed materials.

Foldout
Gatefold sheet bound into a publication, often used for a map or chart. Also called gatefold and pullout.

4-color-process
The process of combining four basic colors to create a printed color picture or colors composed from the basic four colors.

Gang
Combining two or more printing jobs on the same sheet of paper. Typically reduces machine setup costs by spreading them across 2 or more jobs.

Gate Fold
A three or four panel fold where the two outside panels fold inward to meet in the center. In an open gate fold, there are three panels, the bottom of which is twice the size of the folded panels. In a closed gatefold, there are four panels of roughly equal size where the outer panels are folded inward together.

Gloss
A shiny look which reflects light.

Groundwood Paper
Newsprint and other inexpensive paper made from pulp created when wood chips are ground mechanically rather than refined chemically.

Halftone
Using small dots to produce the impression of a continuous-tone image. The effect is achieved by varying the dot size and the number of dots per square inch. Used to creates shade of grey with just black ink.

Hard copy
The output of a computer printer, or typed text sent for typesetting.

Heat-set Web
Web press equipped with an oven to dry ink, thus able to print coated paper.

Highlight
The lightest areas in a picture or halftone.

Impression
Putting an image on paper.

Imprint
Adding copy to a previously printed page.

Inserts
Additional printed material place into another publication/printed material. Often found in magazines or catalogs.

Jacket
Or dust jacket. The paper cover sometimes called the “dust cover” of a hardbound book.

Knock out
To mask out an image.

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.

Layflat
Method of perfect binding that allows a publication to lie fully open. (Also known as Lay Flat Perfect Binding and OtaBind.)

Layout
A rendition that shows the placement of all the elements, images, thumbnails etc., of a final printed piece.

Letter fold
Two folds creating three panels that allow a sheet of letterhead to fit a business envelope. Also called barrel fold and wrap around fold.

Makeready
All the activities required to prepare a printing press for printing.

Matchprint
Trade name for 3M branded color accurate proof.

Matte finish
Dull or flat (not glossy) paper finish.

Mechanical
Camera ready art all contained on one board.

Mechanical Bind
To bind using a comb, coil, ring binder, post or any other technique not requiring gluing, sewing or stitching.

Mechanical separation
Mechanical art overlay for each color to be printed.

Negative
The image on film that makes the white areas of originals black and black areas white.

Newsprint
Lightweight, unbleached, low-cost paper used in printing newspapers.

Offset Printing
A technique that transfers ink from a plate to an intermediate surface to paper instead of directly from plate to paper.

Offset paper
Uncoated book paper.

Overrun or Overs
Copies printed in excess of the specified quantity. Overage policy varies in the printing industry and is typically less than 10% of the requested quantity.

Page count
Total number of pages in a publication. This count includes blank pages.

Perfect bind
A binding process in which the pages of a book are held together and to the cover by glue or another flexible adhesive.

Perfecting press
A sheet fed printing press that prints both sides of a sheet of paper in one pass.

Plate
Piece of paper, metal, plastic or rubber carrying an image to be reproduced using a printing press.

PMS
The abbreviated name of the Pantone Color Matching System.

Portrait
An art design in which the height is greater than the width. (Opposite of Landscape.)

Prepress
Camera work, color separations, stripping, plate making and other prepress functions performed by the printer, separator or a service bureau prior to printing. Also called preparation.

Prepress Proof
Any color proof made using ink jet, toner, dyes or overlays, as compared to a press proof printed using ink. Also called dry proof and off-press proof.

Proof
A trial print made to investigate how the final results may appear. A proof provides opportunity to revise and correct problems before a printing job is completed.

Quotation
A price estimate offered by a printer regarding the production of a specific job.

Recycled Paper
New paper made in part or entirely from pre or post consumer used paper.

Register
To position the printing of 1 color of ink in the proper position in relation to the edge of the sheet. Typically discussed when multiple colors of ink are not in correct alignment on the sheet.

Reverse
The opposite of what you see. Printing the background of an image. For example; type your name on a piece of paper. The reverse of this would be a black piece of paper with a white name.

Saddle stitch
Binding a booklet, magazine or catalog with staples in the seam of the folded spine.

Satin Finish
Another way to express a dull finish on coated paper.

Score
A crease put on paper to make it easier to fold.

Self-cover
A cover that is the same paper stock as the text sheets.

Separations
Usually in the four-color process arena, separate film holding images of one specific color per piece of film. Black, Cyan, Magenta and Yellow.

Sheetfed Press
Press that prints sheets of paper, as compared to a web press which prints on rolls of paper.

Side stitch
Binding by stapling along one side of a sheet.

Signature
A sheet of printed pages which when folded becomes part of a book or publication.

Skid
A pallet used for a pile of cut sheets.

Specifications
Complete and precise written description of a printing job such as trim size, page counts, quantity, paper grade and quantity, printing or binding method. Abbreviated as specs.

Spine
The binding edge of a book or publication.

Spot varnish
Varnish used to highlight a specific part of the printed sheet. In production, spot varnish is typically applied as an ink allowing for various shapes and placements on the sheet.

Stock
The material to which ink will be applied.

Text paper
Grades of paper measured as a basis weight of 500 sheets at 25 x 38”.

Tints
A shade of a single color or combined colors.

Transparency
A positive photographic slide on film allowing light to pass through.

Trim Size
The size of the printed material in its finished form.

Under-run
Production of fewer copies than ordered. See over run. Typically less than 10% of the requested quantity.

UV coating
Liquid laminate bonded to printed material and cured with ultraviolet light.

Varnish
A clear coating placed on the surface of printed materials to provide protection and often, higher gloss.

Web
A roll of printing paper which unwinds as it passes through the press.

Web press
The name of a type of presses that print from rolls of paper, the press usually cuts the roll into sheets as the paper passes through the press.

Wire-O binding
A method of wire binding books along the binding edge that will allow the book to lay flat using double loops. See Wire O.