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Glossary Of Printing Terms [48]

P Page Proof A printer's proof of a page to be published.
Paper Test A wide variety of paper tests are available, depending on the specific needs and on the governing contract or specification. Some of those tests are: grammage or basis weight, paper shade, pick test, tensile and elongation, tear resistance, energy absorption, wet tensile, burst strength, smoothness, contact angle and surface energy.
Paperboard A thick paper-based material. While there is no rigid differentiation between paper and paperboard, paperboard is generally thicker (usually over 0.25 mm, 0.010 in, or 10 points) than paper. Paperboard can be easily cut and formed, is lightweight, and because it is strong, is used in packaging. Another end-use would be graphic printing, such as book and magazine covers or postcards. Sometimes it is referred to as cardboard, which is a generic, lay term used to refer to any heavy paper pulp–based board. Paperboard is also used in fine arts for creating sculptures.
Parent Sheet Any sheet larger than 11' x 17' or A3. Printing firms use bigger sheets of paper that will contain more copies or pages of a certain publication, flyer and so on. These big sheets, called parent sheets, are then folded and cut as needed to give us the printed product in the final size, which is what we see.
Paste-up A document prepared for copying or printing by combining and pasting various sections on a backing. In publishing and design industry, paste-up predates the usage of now standardized computer designing programs.
Pasteboard A type of thin board made by pasting together sheets of paper.
PE An acronym for "Printer's Error."
Perf Marks On a "dummy" marking where the perforation is to occur.
Perfect Binding Perfect Binding is a widely used soft cover book binding method. The pages and cover are glued together at the spine with a strong yet flexible thermal glue. The other three sides of the book are then trimmed to give them precisely cut “perfect” edges.
Perfecting Press A printing press that allows the simultaneous printing on both sides of a sheet of paper in one pass through the press.
PET Film PET film, also known as polyester film, is a type of plastic material made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymer. It is a versatile and widely used material due to its excellent properties and various applications. Some key characteristics of PET film include: Transparency: PET film is highly transparent, making it suitable for applications where optical clarity is essential. Strength and Durability: It is a strong and durable material, offering good resistance to tearing, punctures, and impact. Flexibility: PET film is flexible and can be easily formed into different shapes. Chemical Resistance: It has good resistance to chemicals, oils, and greases. Heat Resistance: PET film can withstand moderate temperatures without deforming or melting. Moisture Barrier: It provides a certain level of moisture resistance, which makes it suitable for packaging applications. PET film finds a wide range of uses in various industries, including: Packaging: It is commonly used for food and non-food packaging, such as trays, blister packs, and shrink-wrap. Printing: PET film is used in printing applications, including labels, posters, and overhead transparencies. Electrical and Electronics: It is utilized in electrical insulation, display screens, and other electronic components. Industrial Applications: PET film is employed in industrial tapes, protective films, and release liners. Lamination: It is used in laminating applications to enhance the strength and appearance of materials. Due to its eco-friendly nature, recyclability, and extensive applications, PET film has become a popular choice in various industries as a versatile and reliable material.
Photo engraving Photoengraving is a process that uses a light-sensitive photoresist applied to the surface to be engraved to create a mask that shields some areas during a subsequent operation which etches, dissolves, or otherwise removes some or all of the material from the unshielded areas. Normally applied to metal, it can also be used on glass, plastic and other materials.
Photoengraving A process that uses a light-sensitive photoresist applied to the surface to be engraved to create a mask that shields some areas during a subsequent operation which etches, dissolves, or otherwise removes some or all of the material from the unshielded areas. Normally applied to metal, it can also be used on glass, plastic and other materials.
Photomechanical Effect The change in the shape of a material when it is exposed to light. The phenomenon was first documented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1880.
Photostat An early projection photocopier created in the decade of the 1900s by the Commercial Camera Company, which became the Photostat Corporation. The "Photostat" name, which was originally a trademark of the company, became genericized, and was often used to refer to similar machines.
Phototypesetting The preparation of manuscript for printing by the projection of images of type characters on photographic film, which is then used to make printing plates. Nowadays the method is considered obsolete due to the popularity of personal computers and desktop publishing softwares.
Pica A typographic unit of measure corresponding to approximately 1⁄6 of an inch.
Picking Printing malfunction - a speck of dirt, hardened ink, or extra metal on set type or a plate.
Pickup Art Artwork which has been used in a previous job, and then incorporated in a current job.
Pigment Printing A method of printing textiles with water-insoluble pigments, using a resin or other bonding substance to bind the pigment to the cloth.
Pinholing A printing defect characterized by an incomplete ink film comprising small holes, caused by the failure of an ink to wet the entire surface of the substrate.
Planographic Printing Any printing process which incorporates printing from a flat surface, as opposed to a raised surface (as with relief printing) or incised surface (as with intaglio printing). Lithography and offset lithography are planographic processes.
Plate A thin paper or metal sheet that is sensitive to light. An image is burned on the plate using a light of high intensity. When exposed to light, an image is transferred to paper or fabric using ink and will only reflect the image on the plate.
Plate-ready Film Final photographic film or other artwork used to "burn" printing plate.
Platemaker A machine for making printing plates and especially offset printing plates.
Pleasing Color A printing industry standard which means that the color printing is done in a way that’s pleasing to the eye.
PMMA PMMA or acrylic is a widely used transparent plastic material known for its applications in various markets from picture framing, car windows, smartphone screens to aquariums. It is a tough plastic, easy to shape and a great alternative to the high cost and less resilient glass.
PMS In printing, it stands for Pantone Matching System. It is a proprietary color space used in a variety of industries, primarily printing, though sometimes in the manufacture of colored paint, fabric, and plastics. By standardizing the colors, different manufacturers in different locations can all refer to the Pantone system to make sure colors match without direct contact with one another.
PMT It stands for Photomechanical Transfer. It is a process where original copy is exposed to a photosensitive paper, which is then matted with a receiver paper. The two are processed together, resulting in the transfer of the image to the receiver paper, producing a black and white print. No negative is needed in this process.
Pocket part A special document located inside the back cover of certain hardcover legal reference books. Legal researchers consult it to ensure that the most current law is examined.
Point In typography, the point is the smallest unit of measure. It is used for measuring font size, leading, and other items on a printed page. One point is equal to 1/72 in or 0.3528 mm.
Position Stat Photocopy or PMT of a photo or illustration made to size and affixed to a mechanical.
Positive Film A film or paper record of a scene that represents the color and luminance of objects in that scene with the same colors and luminances (as near as the medium will allow).
Prepress The processes and procedures that occur between the creation of a print layout and the final printing. The prepress procedure includes the manufacture of a printing plate, image carrier or form, ready for mounting on a printing press, as well as the adjustment of images and texts or the creation of a high-quality print file. In today's prepress shop, the form of delivery from the customer is usually electronic.
Preprint In academic publishing, a preprint is a version of a scholarly or scientific paper that precedes publication in a peer-reviewed scholarly or scientific journal.
Press Check A step in the printing process which takes place after a printing press is set up but before the print run is underway. The main purpose of a press check is to make sure that the color on press comes as close as possible to the color proof.
Press Time The time at which a publication, especially a newspaper, is submitted for printing.
Print Printing in photography refers to the process of producing physical copies of digital images on paper or other printable substrates using a variety of printing methods and technologies. Printed photographs serve as tangible, archival records of visual memories, artistic expressions, and moments captured by photographers. Printing allows photographers to showcase their work, share their vision with others, and preserve their images for posterity. Common printing methods used in photography include inkjet printing, laser printing, and traditional photographic printing processes such as silver halide printing (e.g., darkroom printing) and digital C-type printing (e.g., digital chromogenic printing). The choice of printing method depends on factors such as image quality, color accuracy, durability, cost, and intended use. Photographers may print their images for personal enjoyment, portfolio presentation, exhibition, commercial sale, or publication in books, magazines, and fine art prints. Printing technology continues to evolve, offering photographers and artists a wide range of options and opportunities to produce high-quality, archival prints that faithfully reproduce the beauty and impact of their digital images.
Print Resolution Print resolution refers to the level of detail and clarity of an image when it is printed onto a physical medium, such as paper or canvas. It is typically measured in dots per inch (DPI) or pixels per inch (PPI), indicating the number of individual dots or pixels that can be printed within a one-inch square area. The higher the print resolution, the finer the detail and smoother the appearance of the printed image. Print resolution is determined by factors such as the quality of the printer, the type of printing technology used, the characteristics of the paper or substrate, and the resolution of the digital image file being printed. For high-quality prints with sharp detail and vibrant colors, it is generally recommended to use a print resolution of 300 DPI or higher, although the optimal resolution may vary depending on factors such as viewing distance, print size, and intended use. When preparing images for printing, photographers and designers often resize and optimize the digital files to ensure they meet the desired print resolution requirements and achieve the best possible results when reproduced in physical form.
Print Size Print size refers to the dimensions of a printed image when reproduced on a physical medium, such as paper, canvas, or other printable substrates. Print size is typically measured in inches or centimeters and represents the width and height of the printed image. The print size is determined by factors such as the resolution of the digital image file, the aspect ratio of the image, and the dimensions of the physical print medium. When printing digital images, photographers and designers often consider factors such as viewing distance, intended use, and display environment to determine the optimal print size for achieving the desired visual impact and readability. Large print sizes are suitable for wall art, gallery exhibitions, and poster displays, while smaller print sizes may be more appropriate for photo albums, greeting cards, or promotional materials. The choice of print size also affects the level of detail and clarity of the printed image, with larger prints requiring higher resolution digital files to maintain sharpness and image quality.
Print-On-Demand A printing technology and business process in which book copies (or other documents) do not print until the company receives an order, allowing prints of singular or small quantities. While other industries established the build to order business model, "print on demand" could only develop after the beginning of digital printing, because it was not economical to print single copies using traditional printing technology such as letterpress and offset printing.
Printer Spreads The general description for a pair of facing pages, typically the left- and right-hand pages in a publication, such as a book, magazine or newspaper.
Printing Plate A thin paper or metal sheet that is sensitive to light. An image is burned on the plate using a light of high intensity. When exposed to light, an image is transferred to paper or fabric using ink and will only reflect the image on the plate.
Printing press A machine that transfers inked images onto a medium such as paper or cloth
Printing Unit Assembly of fountain, rollers and cylinders that will print one ink color. Also called color station, deck, ink station, printer, station and tower.
Process Camera A large camera used in the photographic processes involved in the printing industry.
Process Color (Inks) A color printed from four separate printing plates. Four-color process printing uses cyan, magenta, yellow and black (CMYK) inks to produce full color reproduction.
Proofreader Marks Marks used to indicate and correct problems in a text. They come in two varieties, abbreviations and abstract symbols.