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Glossary

Artwork - All original copy, including type. photos and illustrations, intended for printing. Also called originals.
Bindery - Collating, folding, scoring, perforating, stapling and trimming of paper.
Bleeds - Printing that extends off the edge of a sheet or business card after trimming.
Camera Ready Copy - Mechanicals, photographs and art fully prepared for printing as per the specifications of the printer. These need no work by the printer and are ready to go to press.
CMYK - Process color printing (full color). Also known as 4-color.
Collate - To organize printed sheets in a specific ordered as requested.
Die - Device for cutting, scoring, foil stamping, embossing and debossing.
Die Cut - To cut irregular shapes in paper or card stock using a die.
Drill - Drilling a hole in printed materials. Standards include 2 or 3 hole.
Dummy - Simulation of the final product. Also called a mockup.
Duplex Paper - Thick paper made by putting two papers together, usually of different colors. Also know as double faced or two-tone paper.
Emboss - To press an image into paper by a die so that it lies above the surface.
Felt Finish - A soft woven pattern in paper.
Film - Negatives used to burn metal plates for the press.
Foil Stamp - To stamp printed materials with a die that leave a foil impression on the sheet.
Folding - To fold printed materials into various sizes. (Z-fold, Tri-fold, etc.)
Ghost Screen - Normal halftone whose density has been reduces to produce a very faint image. Also know as Watermarking.
Graphic Design - Arrangement of type and visual elements along with specs of ink and paper, which create a finished look.
Gripper - Area on sheet which press needs to be clear for pull through. On 8.5 x 11 it is 3/8" and on 11 x 17 it is 1/2".
Halftone - To change a photograph or image into halftone dots so that the camera can reproduce. Can be used to create color variations or effects.
Insert - Within a publication and additional item positioned into the publication loose. (not bound in)
Laid Finish - Finish on paper which grids of parallel lines simulate the surface of handmade paper.
Layout - A sample of the original showing positioning and instructions.
Linen Finish - Embossed finish on paper that simulates the pattern of linen cloth.
Mockup - See Dummy.
Moire - Undesirable pattern resulting when halftones are rescreened.
Non-reproducing Blue - Light blue color that does not reproduce on plates or film.
Paper Plate - A printing plate for the press made of strong and durable paper.
Parent Sheet - Any sheet larger than 11 x 17.
Pasteup - To paste copy or artwork into an original.
Perforating - Creating a small line of dots or dashes for the purpose of creating tearoffs.
PMS (Pantone Matching System) - Ink colors specially mixed to create custom ink colors. Specified by a number, i.e. PMS# 327.
Proof - Sample of artwork to be checked for errors and omissions by the client.
Proportion - Scale in which something can be enlarged or reduced.
Ream - 500 sheets of paper.
Reverse - Type or graphic reproduced by printing ink around its outline letting the paper show through and create the image.
Saddle Stitch - To bind by stapling sheets together where they fold at spine. Also Known as center stapling.
Score - To compress paper along a straight line so it folds more easily and accurately.
Screens - A dot pattern created by rows and patterns. Can be used to create effects and shading.
Self Mailer - A printed item independent of an envelope.
Separated Art - Finished artwork separated into the different printing colors of the job.
Shells - Preprinted items such as business cards or newsletters printed with one or two colors of ink, needing one color to complete the job. Used to reduce cost and time for multi-colored jobs.
Solid - Any area receiving 100% ink coverage.
Spiral Bind - To bind using a spiral of plastic looped through punched holes.
Standard Inks - VanSon inks standard premixed colors with over 25 colors to choose from.
Thermography - Method of printing using heat that creates a raised print.
Washup - To clean ink and solutions for the press.
Wove - Paper finish without visible marks, usually a fine textured cotton paper.