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Print Glossary

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Galileo (A & B)

The Agfa computer-to-plate devices situated in the press room. These machines use ruby-red laser technology to expose to a photo-sensitive plate surface and deliver them for use via an in-line Lithostar processor.

Galley Proof

Proof of type from any Source, whether metal type or photo type.

Gang

1. To halftone or separate more than one image in only one exposure.

2. To reproduce two or more different printed products simultaneously on one sheet of paper during one press run. Also called combination run.

Gate Fold

A sheet that folds where both sides fold toward the gutter in overlapping layers.

Gathered

Signatures assembled next to each other in the proper sequence for binding, as compared to nested.

Ghost Halftone

Normal halftone whose density has been reduced to produce a very faint image.

Ghosting

1. Phenomenon of a faint image appearing on a printed sheet where it was not intended to appear. Chemical ghosting refers to the transfer of the faint image from the front of one sheet to the back of another sheet. Mechanical ghosting refers to the faint image appearing as a repeat of an image on the same side of the sheet.

2. Phenomenon of printed image appearing too light because of ink starvation.

GIF

Graphics Interchange Format. An image format used primarily for Web or Internet images. Not suitable for High-End print reproduction.

Gilding

Mostly in the bookwork field, gold leafing the edges of a book.

Given, The

Generic term used to describe the publication containing all the Parliamentary Questions tabled on a given day. Printed on blue stock and forms part of the Vote Bundle.

Given Supplement

Generic term for the publication containing all the Commons Amendments tabled on a given day. It contains the amendments to a particular Bill in the order they were tabled, not the order in which they are to be considered. Printed on Blue, Bench Copies will also be produced.

GLA

1. The abbreviation used for Greater London Assembly.

2. Generic term used to refer to any publication produced for the Greater London Assembly. These publications are digitally produced in the main.

Gloss

Consider the light reflecting on various objects in the printing industry (e.g., paper, ink, laminates, UV coating, varnish).

Gloss Ink

Ink used and printed on coated stock (mostly litho and letterpress) such as the ink will dry without penetration.

Goatskin

Term used to describe Goatskin Parchment. A thick, durable stock used for the production of archival material.

Graduated Screen Tint

Screen tint that changes densities gradually and smoothly, not in distinct steps. Also called degrade, gradient, ramped screen and vignette.

Grain Direction

Predominant direction in which fibres in paper become aligned during manufacturing. Also called machine direction.

Grain Long Paper

Paper whose fibres run parallel to the long dimension of the sheet. Also called long grain paper and narrow web paper.

Grain Short Paper

Paper whose fibres run parallel to the short dimension of the sheet. Also called short grain paper and wide web paper.

Grammage

Basis weight of paper in grams per square meter.

See also GSM.

Graphic Design

Arrangement of type and visual elements along with specifications for paper, ink colours and printing processes that, when combined, convey a visual message.

Graphics

Visual elements that supplement type to make printed messages more clear or interesting.

Gravure

Method of printing using metal cylinders etched with millions of tiny wells that hold ink.

Grey Balance

Printed cyan, magenta and yellow halftone dots that accurately, reproduce a neutral grey image.

Grey Component Replacement

Technique of replacing grey tones in the yellow, cyan and magenta films, made while colour separating, with black ink. Abbreviated GCR. Also called achromatic colour removal.

Grey Levels

Number of distinct grey tones that can be reproduced by a computer.

Grey Scale

Strip of grey values ranging from white to black. Used by process camera and scanner operators to calibrate exposure times for film and plates. Also called step wedge.

Grind Edge

Alternate term for binding edge when referring to perfect bound products.

Grindoff

Approximately 1/8 inch (3 mm) along the spine that is ground off gathered signatures before perfect binding.

Gripper Edge

Edge of a sheet held by grippers on a sheeted press, thus going first through the press. Also called grip, feeding edge and leading edge.

Groundwood Paper

Newsprint and other inexpensive paper made from pulp created when wood chips are ground mechanically rather than refined chemically.

GSM

The unit of measurement for paper weight (grams per square meter).

Gutter

In the bookwork field, the inside margins toward the back or the binding edges.

Print Glossary

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