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Glossary of Printing Terms
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| Adobe Acrobat
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Acrobat is part of a set of applications developed by Adobe to create and view PDF files. Acrobat is used to create the PDF files and can be used to edit the files, and the freeware Acrobat Reader is used to only read the PDF files. Creating a file in PDF format can save storage space, making it easier to email or send it to others. It can also keep any page layout information so that the person viewing the file sees the layout as the writer created it.
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| Aliasing
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In graphic design terms, aliasing is said to occur when a computer monitor, printer, or graphics file does not have a sufficiently high enough resolution to be able to represent a graphic image or text. An image that is aliased is often seen to be blurred, jagged or "rough" around the edges of the design. This is where the pixels in the image can be seen. Some PC software will compensate for the jagged edges (see 'Anti Aliasing'). Aliasing can also be reduced by careful selection or preparation of the original image, because some file formats show more aliasing than others.
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| Alignment
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Text within a document or design layout can be positioned in a number of standard ways. Text can be positioned either to the left, right, or centre of a page. It can also be fully justified, this is where text appears in a block that is bound by both the left and the right margins.
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| Anti- Aliasing
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This is where an image is smoothed or blended to avoid pixelation or blurring at the edges of an image. Anti-aliasing will make the edges of an image smoother.
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| Aquaseal
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Branded sealing varnish applied on the printing press at the same time as the colour, giving semi-gloss effect.
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| Art Paper
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Smooth surfaced paper, coated with a china clay/other mineral pigment compound. Glossy or matt in appearance.
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| A-Sizes
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A-sizes (e.g. A5, A4, A3, A2, A1, A0), are a series of finished trimmed sizes of paper in the ISO international paper size range.
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B
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| Backlining
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Mounting a blank sheet to the back of a board which has a printed sheet mounted to the front to prevent bowing
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| Bitmap image
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A bitmap (.bmp) is a graphic image that is stored in a specific arrangement of pixels (dots on the screen). The graphic is defined by the specification of the colours of the pixels that make up the picture. Bitmaps are also known as raster or rasterised graphics/images. Common bitmapped graphics formats are; .gif, .jpeg, .tif, Each format will use a different amount of disk space to store the same image. Gif images are commonly used for pictures on web pages and jpeg includes image compression to reduce disk space.
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| Bleed or Bleeding Edge
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This is where a design appears on a page or a brochure cover and it extends over the edge of the paper/page. This is what is known as a "bleed". The design or block(s) of colour extend over or off the page. Generally the design is printed on paper that is larger than the required size (e.g. if A4 is required then it will be printed on A3). The design is then printed and trimmed to the required size. The final result then shows colour to the very edge of the page - the "bleeding edge". Unless the image is printed on a paper larger than the required page size, it is not usually possible to achieve a "bleeding edge".
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| Blend
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This is where there is a smooth transition between two colours in an image or area of an image. It is also known as a graduated tint. Better quality printers will help improve the smooth transition. Higher resolution images can also help improve smooth transitions, but they do require more time to process in the PC.
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| BPOP
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Bulk packed on pallet.
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| Brightness
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Brightness is associated with white paper and is defined as being the paper's ability to reflect light. Brightness is expressed as being a percentage and is obtained by comparing a sample of paper (a 'calibration sample'), with the paper that is to be tested. The correct choice of paper has a great impact on the finished result. Good quality overall colour, bright white areas and "highlights" can be improved by choosing papers with high brightness.
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| B-sizes
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B-sized paper belongs to the ISO International paper sizes range. It is a series of paper sizes that are intended primarily for use in the production of posters, wall charts and similar items.
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| Bulk
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Thickness of paper
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D
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| Driver
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noun: a program that determines how a computer will communicate with a peripheral device
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P
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| Printer
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noun: someone whose occupation is printing
noun: an output device that prints the results of data processing
noun: a machine that prints
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T
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| TTS
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Trimmed to Size
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| Typeface
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Typeface contains a number or series of fonts. An example of a typeface is Arial. Examples of fonts in this typeface would be Arial Bold, Arial Italic, Arial Bold Italic.
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| Typography
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Typography is the art of arrangement, style, appearance and printing of type and typefaces.
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W
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| Wets
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A wet proof - actual printed sheet from the final plates / screens.
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| Work and Tumble
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A double sided print where the sheet is turned over head to foot to print on the other side.
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| Work and Turn
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A double sided print where the sheet is turned over left to right to print on the back
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