Resources

DPI:dots per inch; measure for output resolution of various devices.

Dummy:a mock-up made to resemble the final printed product which uses the proposed grade, weight, finish and colour of paper.

Estimate:a price given to a customer based on specifications provided by the customer. The price can change if the order specifications are not the same as the estimate specifications.

Flush:even with (as with to a margin).

Four-colour process:reproduction of full-colour photographs or art with the four basic colours of ink (yellow, magenta, cyan, black).

Gutter:line or fold at which facing pages meet.

Halftone:picture with shades of tone created by varying size dots.

Imagesetter:a device that plots high-resolution bitmaps which have been processed by a RIP. May include type, graphics and photographic images. It outputs a to film or paper.

Justified:text which is flush to both the left and right margins.

Line copy:copy which can be reproduced without using halftones.

Make-ready:the work associated with the set-up of printing equipment before running a job.

Over-run:copies printed in excess of the quantity specified in the order.

Perfect binding:a bookbinding method in which pages are glued rather than sewn to the cover. Used primarily for paperback books.

Point:a measurement for the size of type, distance between lines and thickness of rules. One point equals one seventy-second of an inch (0.3515mm).

Ragged right:typesetting style in which lines end in unequal lengths on the right side (usually justified on left).

Registration marks:crosses or other marks placed on artwork which ensure perfect alignment (‘registration’).

Reversed-out:type appearing white on a black or colour background, either a solid or a tint.

Resolution:the number of dots per inch (dpi) in a computer-processed document. The level detail retained by a printed document increases with higher resolution.

RIP (raster image processor):computer used to create an electronic bitmap for actual output. This may be built into an imagesetter or may be separate.

Saddle stitch:a binding process in which a pamphlet or booklet is stapled through the middle fold of its sheets using saddle wire.

Score:a pressed mark in a sheet of paper, usually a thick paper, to make folding cleaner and easier.

Self-cover:the paper used inside a booklet is the same as that used for the cover and is generally printed on the same press run.

Signature:folded, printed paper forming a section of a book; usually in a multiple of four, and more often a multiple of eight.

Solid:an area on the page which is completely covered by the ink.

Stock:the paper or card which is to be printed on.

Tint:an area of tone made by a pattern of dots, which lightens the apparent colour of the ink with which it is printed.