We take great pride in making our clients feel confident about their jobs during the production process. To help you gain a better understanding of what’s happening to your project, we’ve compiled a glossary of terms that we commonly use in our industry. If you have any further questions just call one of our customer service representatives, they will help you all the way through so you understand what is happening with you job.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
Face
Edge of a bound publication opposite the spine. Also called foredge. Also, an abbreviation for typeface referring to a family of a general style.
Felt Finish
Soft woven pattern in text paper.
Fifth Color
Ink color used in addition to the four needed by four-color process.
Fine Screen
Screen with ruling of 150 lines per inch (80 lines per centimeter) or more.
Finish
(1) Surface characteristics of paper. (2) General term for trimming, folding, binding and all other post press operations.
Finished Size
Size of product after production is completed, as compared to flat size. Also called trimmed size.
Fixed Costs
Costs that remain the same regardless of how many pieces are printed. Copyrighting, photography and design are fixed costs.
Flat Color
(1) Any color created by printing only one ink, as compared to a color created by printing four-color process. Also called block color and spot color. (2) color that seems weak or lifeless.
Flat Size
Size of product after printing and trimming, but before folding, as compared to finished size.
Flood
To print a sheet completely with an ink or varnish. flooding with ink is also called painting the sheet.
Flush Cover
Cover trimmed to the same size as inside pages, as compared to overhang cover. Also called cut flush
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.
Folder
A bindery machine dedicated to folding printed materials.
Fold Marks
With printed matter, markings indicating where a fold is to occur, usually located at the top edges.
Format
Size, style, shape, layout or organization of a layout or printed product.
Fountain
Trough or container, on a printing press, that holds fluids such as ink, varnish or water. Also called duct.
Fountain Solution
Mixture of water and chemicals that dampens a printing plate to prevent ink from adhering to the nonimage area. Also called dampener solution.
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.
French Fold
A printed sheet, printed one side only, folded with two right angle folds to form a four page uncut section.
Top of Page
