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Print Glossary

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Saddle-Stitch

To bind by stapling sheets together where they fold at the spine, as compared to side stitch. . Our usual rule is Saddle-Stitch up to 96pp, above this then Flat Stitch or Perfect Bind. Be careful though. The calliper of the stock is a big factor. If a book is equal to, or greater than, 5mm then Saddle-Stitching may not be the best finishing method. Also called pamphlet stitch, saddle wire and stitch bind

Satin Finish

Alternate term for dull finish on coated paper.

Scale

To identify the percent by which photographs or art should be enlarged or reduced to achieve, the correct size for printing.

Scanner

Device used to scan an image and capture it in an electronic format.

Score

To compress paper along a straight line so it folds more easily and accurately. Also called crease.

Scottish

Generic term used to describe publications produced overnight for The Scottish Parliament. These jobs are produced from PDF files received from TSO in Edinburgh via ISDN and are usually produced digitally via the OCE web line.

Screen Angles

Angles at which screens intersect with the horizontal line of the press sheet. The common screen angles for separations are black 45 degree, magenta 75 degree, yellow 0 degree and cyan 105 degree.

Screen Density

Refers to the percentage of ink coverage that a screen tint allows to print. Also called screen percentage.

Screen Printing

Method of printing by using a squeegee to force ink through an assembly of mesh fabric and a stencil.

Screen Ruling

Number of rows or lines of dots per inch or centimetre in a screen for making a screen tint or halftone. Also called line count, ruling, screen frequency, screen size and screen value.

Screen Tint

Colour created by dots instead of solid ink coverage. Also called Benday, fill pattern, screen tone, shading, tint and tone.

Scumming

The non-image area of a printing plate attracts ink. This unwanted ink will print on a sheet and give a dirty background appearance. The problem is usually fixed by adjusting the ink/water balance on the press.

See also Catch-up.

Seal

Coating in water base and applied like ink by a printing press to protect and enhance the printing underneath. Also called Aqueous Coating.

Select

Generic term used to refer to all Select Committee publications (reports, minutes of evidence, memoranda, appendices to the minutes of evidence, minutes of proceedings).

Select Committee

A Committee of either House of Parliament drawn from its respective matters to discuss/investigate non-legislative material. Although a Select Committee carries no legislative powers, it may well publish a report to government recommending changes to existing, or new, legislation.

Selective Binding

Placing signatures or inserts in magazines or catalogues according to demographic or geographic guidelines.

Self-Cover

A publication not having a cover stock. A publication only using text stock throughout.

Self-Mailer

A printed item containing all relevant posting information and posted independently without the need for an envelope.

Separations

Usually in the field of four-colour process printing, separate film holding images of one specific colour per piece of film. Black, Cyan, Magenta and Yellow. Can also separate specific Pantone colours through film.

Serigraphic Printing

Printing method whose image carriers are woven fabric, plastic or metal that allow ink to pass through some portions and block ink from passing through other portions. Serigraphic printing includes screen and mimeograph.

Setoff

Undesirable transfer of wet ink from the top of one sheet to the underside of another as they lie in the delivery stack of a press. Also called offset.

SGML (Standard Generalised Mark-up Language)

A method of tagging text in order that it can be presented into a structured management program for detailed use. All Statutory Instruments and Chapters are converted into SGML for onward sale.

Shade

Hue made darker by the addition of black, as compared to tint.

Shadows

Darkest areas of a photograph or illustration, as compared to midtones and high-lights.

Sheetfed Press

Press that prints sheets of paper, as compared to a web press.

Sheetwise

Technique of printing one side of a sheet with one set of plates, then the other side of the sheet with a set of different plates.

Sherpa

Afga colour proofing device in DTP department. Produces high-quality colour inkjet proofs.

Sherpa proof

High-quality colour proof produced from Agfa Sherpa device. Although not a contract proof, this will give a good indication of how the finished product will look.

Shiner

A process whereby solid areas of colour are overprinted onto a percentage tint created to the same coverage area. For example, a solid area of black by be pre-printed on an earlier press unit with a 60% tint of Cyan.

Shingling

Allowance, made during paste-up or stripping, to compensate for creep. Creep is the problem; shingling is the solution.

Also called stair stepping and progressive margins.

SI (Statutory Instrument)

An HMSO publication which is a secondary-level legislative document. Typeset in Pre-press and printed digitally on sovereign wove.

SI Bound Volume

Produced in three annual parts, a collection of all SI documents published in that relevant period. SI Bound Volumes are produced by dropping PDFs of the SI documents into a page. Sections are printed digitally and case bound at Petams.

Side-Stitch

To bind by stapling through sheets along, one edge, as compared to saddle stitch. Also called cleat stitch, side wire and Side-Stab.

Signature

Printed sheet folded at least once, possibly many times, to become part of a book, or other publication.

Sitting

Generic term used to refer to the act of a days business in either House of Parliament.

Size

Compound mixed with paper or fabric to make it stiffer and less able to absorb moisture.

Slip Sheets

1. Separate sheets (stock) independent from the original run positioned between the "printed run" for a variety of reasons.

2. The flimsy paper used in a Galileo Platesetter to separate each individual printing plate within a plate cassette.

Slit

A cut made on a printing machine during the production run.

Slitter

The actual device/tool attached to a printing press (usually between cylinder and delivery) that allows for a cut to be made during the production run.

See also Slit.

Soft Dots

Halftones dots with halos.

Solid

Any area of the sheet receiving 100 percent ink coverage, as compared to a screen tint.

Solna

Cold-set web presses working in signatures of up to 32pp, delivery folded sections in bundles to the finishing department.

Soy-based Inks

Inks using vegetable oils instead of petroleum products as pigment vehicles, thus are easier on the environment.

Specifications (or Spec)

Complete and precise written description of features of a printing job such as type size and leading, paper grade and quantity, printing or binding method.

Spectrophotometer

Instrument used to measure the index of refraction of colour.

Specular Highlight

Highlight area with no printable dots, thus no detail, as compared to a diffuse highlight. Also called catchlight and dropout highlight.

Spine

Back or binding edge of a publication

Spine Width

The measurement made across the bulk of the backs of folded sections forming a publication to be allowed between cover pages 1 and 4 in order a good fit is achieved. The Spine Width will often contain text, e.g.. title of publication.

Spiral Bind

To bind using a spiral of continuous wire or plastic looped through holes. Also called coil bind.

Split Fountain

Technique of putting ink colours next to each other in the same ink fountain and printing them off the same plate. Split fountains keep edges of colours distinct, as compared to rainbow fountains that blend edges.

Split Run

1. Different images, such as advertisements, printed in different editions of a publication.

2. Printing of a book that has some copies bound one way and other copies bound another way.

Spoilage

Materials that, due to mistakes or accidents, must be thrown away instead of delivered printed to the customer, as compared to waste.

Spoilage Reprint

The second production run of a publication or signature due to mistake or accident.

Spot Colour or Varnish

One ink or varnish applied to portions of a sheet, as compared to flood or painted sheet.

Spread

1. Two pages that face each other and are designed as one visual or production unit.

2. Technique of slightly enlarging the size of an image to accomplish a hairline trap with another image. Also called fatty.

SRA0

ISO paper size 980 x 1280mm.

SRA1

ISO paper size 640 x 900mm.

SRA2

ISO paper size 450 x 640mm.

SRA3

ISO paper size 320 x 450mm.

SRA4

ISO paper size 225 x 320mm.

Stab tlhc

Generic term for finishing style which is a single stitch placed in the top, left-hand corner of the document.

Standard Viewing Conditions

Background of 60 percent neutral grey and light that measures 5000 degrees Kelvin, the colour of daylight on a bright day. Also called lighting standards.

Statistical Process Control (SPC)

Method used by printers to ensure quality and delivery times specified by customers.

Step and Repeat

Prepress technique of exposing an image in a precise, multiple pattern to create a flat or plate. Images are said to be stepped across the film or plate.

Stitch

A staple or metal fixing used to hold the sections of a document together.

Stocking Paper

Popular sizes, weights and colours of papers available for prompt delivery from a merchant's warehouse.

Stock Order

Order for paper that a mill or merchant sends to a printer from inventory at a warehouse, as compared to a mill order.

String Score

Score created by pressing a string against paper, as compared to scoring using a metal edge.

Strip

To assemble images on film for platemaking. Stripping involves correcting flaws in film, assembling pieces of film into flats and ensuring that film and flats register correctly. Also called film assembly and image assembly.

Style Copy

A sample of a (usually previously printed) document included with a job for the purpose of producing a document with the same characteristics and feel. Not to be confused with Customer's Copy, the style copy is a guide only.

Substance Weight

Alternate term for basis weight, usually referring to bond papers. Also called sub weight.

Stumping (Blocking)

In the bookwork field, hot die, foil or other means in creating an image on a case bound book.

Substrate

Any surface or material on which printing is done.

Subtractive Colour

Colour produced by light reflected from a surface, as compared to additive colour. Subtractive colour includes hues in colour photos and colours created by inks on paper.

Subtractive Primary Colour

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

Supercalendered Paper

Paper calendered using alternating chrome and fibre rollers to produce a smooth, thin sheet.

Surprint

Taking an already printed matter and re-printing again on the same.

Swatch Book

A book in a variety of forms, indicating specific stock in specific colours in a specific thickness.

SWOP (Specification for Web Offset Publications)

Specifications recommended for web printing of publications.

Systems

Generic term used to refer to the Miles typesetting administration department.

Print Glossary

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