Camera Ready Artwork

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

CMYK

Refers to the four colors used in process printing; cyan, magenta, yellow and black.

Color Gamut

Refers to the range of colors possible to reproduce using a specific device, ie., a monitor, or printer (inkjet) or process, four-color process printing.

Color Separation

Dividing a continuous-tone color image into the four process color components.

Coverage

Extent to which ink covers the surface of a substrate. Ink coverage is usually expressed as light, medium or heavy.

Cyan

One of the four process colors. Also known as process blue.

Die

Device created for cutting, scoring, stamping, embossing and debossing.

Die Cut

To cut irregular shapes in paper or paperboard using a die.

Dot Gain

Phenomenon of halftone dots printing larger on paper than they are on films or plates, reducing detail and lowering contrast. Also called dot growth, dot spread and press gain.

Dots-per-inch

Measure of resolution of input devices such as scanners, display devices such as monitors, and output devices such as laser printers, imagesetters and monitors. Abbreviated DPI. Also called dot pitch.

DPI

Considered as "dots per square inch," a measure of output resolution in relationship to printers, imagesetters and monitors.

Emboss

To press an image into paper so it lies above the surface. Also called cameo and tool.

Engraving

Printing method using a plate, also called a die, with an image cut into its surface.

Foil Emboss

To foil stamp and emboss an image. Also called heat stamp.

Foil Stamp

Method of printing that releases foil from its backing when stamped with the heated die. Also called block print, hot foil stamp and stamp.

Four-color Process Printing

Technique of printing that uses black, magenta, cyan and yellow to simulate full-color images. Also called color process printing, full color printing and process printing.

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

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.

Linen Finish

Embossed finish on text paper that simulates the pattern of linen cloth.

Magenta

One of the four process colors.

Matte Finish

Flat (not glossy) finish on photographic paper or coated printing paper

Metallic Ink

Ink containing powdered metal or pigments that simulate metal.

Metallic Paper

Paper coated with a thin film of plastic or pigment whose color and gloss simulate metal.

Overprint

To print one image over a previously printed image, such as printing type over a screen tint. Also called surprint.

Pica

A unit of measure in the printing industry. A pica is approximately 0.166 in. There are 12 points to a pica.

Pixel

Short for picture element, a dot made by a computer, scanner or other digital device. Also called pel.

Point

(1) Regarding paper, a unit of thickness equating 1/1000 inch. (2) Regarding type, a unit of measure equaling 1/12 pica and .013875 inch (.351mm).

Process Color (Inks)

The colors used for four-color process printing: yellow, magenta, cyan and black.

Rag Paper

Stationery or other forms of stock having a strong percentage content of "cotton rags."

Ream

500 sheets of paper.

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.

Resolution

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

RGB

Abbreviation for red, green, blue, the additive color primaries

Separations

Usually in the four-color process arena, separate film holding qimages of one specific color per piece of film. Black, Cyan, Magenta and Yellow. Can also separate specific PMS colors through film.

Subtractive Color

Color produced by light reflected from a surface, as compared to additive color. Subtractive color includes hues in color photos and colors created by inks on paper.

Subtractive Primary Color

Yellow, magenta and cyan. In the graphic arts, these are known as process colors because, along with black, they are the inks colors used in color-process printing.

Thermography

Method of printing using colorless resin powder that takes on the color of underlying ink. Also called raised printing.

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.

Wove

Paper manufactured without visible wire marks, usually a fine textured paper.