A preliminary estimate intended to give an idea of what the costs will be. Usually ballparks are provided when all of the details are not known.
Baud
The measure of speed at which a modem can transmit data over a phone line. Roughly equivalent to bits per second.
The smallest unit of information in a computer. It can define by itself one of two conditions (on or off.)
[ Go to top ] An image formed by a rectangular grid of pixels. the computer assigns a value to each pixel, from one bit of information (black or white), to as much as 24 bits per pixel for full color images.
A measure of transmission speed equal to how many bits of binary data can be transmitted in one second.
Bleed
An extra amount of printed image which extends beyond the trim edge of the sheet or page.
Blueline
A photoprint made by the printer, from stripped-up negatives or positives. It's used as a final proof to check position of image elements and copy before the plates are made. It is printed in blue.
[ Go to top ] A unit of measure equal to 8 bits of digital information. The standard unit measure of file size.
Cache
A portion of RAM or disk space used to keep often-used data for quicker access.
Calibration
Setting equipment to a standard measure to produce reliable results.
Calibration Bars
On a negative, proof or printed piece, a strip of tones used to check printing quality.
A finalized composition, with everything in place at the right resolution. Ready to be sent to a publication for printing.
[ Go to top ] CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black)
The process colors that make up full color, or "four color", images in printing.
Coated Paper
Paper having a surface coating which produces a smooth finish. Finish could range from glossy to matte.
Color Proof
A representation of what the final printed composition will look like. The resolution and quality of different types of color proofs can vary greatly.
When a color image is broken down into actual ink colors. Each color is represented as a piece of registered film.
[ Go to top ] Compression
Decreasing the size of an image file or storage with little or no distortion of the image data and quality.
A layout that is carefully done to represent a close approximation of the finished piece. It is what is shown to sell an idea without actually producing it.
Contrast
The relationship between the lightest and darkest areas of an image.
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A shape that is cut from a printed sheet. Can be an irregular shape.
Digital Proof
Is made directly from the digital file, not from film. Usually not exactly color correct.
Dot Gain
A printing deficit in which dots print larger than intended, causing darker colors or tones.
DPI (Dots Per Inch)
A measure of the output resolution produced by printers, imagesetters or monitors.
[ Go to top ] Drum Scanner
A scanner in which the original is wrapped around a circular drum during the scanning process.
Dummy
A hand-assembled version of a brochure, or any other three-dimensional piece.
Duotone
A photo that is printed in two overlapping colors. (A two-color separation.)
A computer's display device capable of displaying 256 colors or shades of gray.
[ Go to top ] Impressing an image in relief to achieve a raised surface; either by overprinting or on blank paper (which is called "blind embossing").
EPS (Encapsulated Postscript)
A file format used to transfer Postscript image information from one program to another.
Estimate
A statement of price for which specified work will be done. Estimates are based on the number of hours of work, the prevailing scale of rates, and the cost of materials, supplies and services necessary to do the work. The estimate is based on producing the actual approved comp. This is more accurate than a "ballpark estimate".
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A transparent material coated with a light-sensitive substance.
A piece of film with a reversed image.
Finishing
A general term describing the processes, (such as scoring, folding, die-cutting, and embossing) that printed work goes through between the press and shipping.
In printing, the use of cyan, magenta, yellow and black to produce full color art and photos.
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Gigabyte
A unit of measure equal to 1,024 megabytes of data or 1,048,576 bytes.
Gradation
A smooth transition from one color to another, or one shade to another.
Grayscale
The depiction of up to 256 gray shades between black and white. A grayscale monitor is able to display distinct gray pixels as well as back and white ones, but not color pixels.
Gutter
The blank space or inner margin, from the printed area to the binding.
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The reproduction of continuous-tone artwork, such as photographs through a crossline or contact screen, which converts the image into dots of various sizes.
Hickeys
Spots or imperfections in the printing due to such things as dirt on the press.
Highlight
The lightest or whitest part in a photograph represented in a halftone reproduction by the smallest dots or the absence of all dots.
A device used to output a computer image or composition at high resolution onto photographic paper or film.
[ Go to top ] ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network)
A standard of telecommunications that will allow digital information of all types to be transmitted over the phone lines.
Justify
When type in set in lines of even lengths, not ragged.
Kerning
In typesetting, subtracting or adding the space between each character, so that overall they appear to be a consistent distance from each other.
[ Go to top ] A shape or object printed by eliminating (knocking out) all background colors. Contrast to overprinting.
Lamination
A plastic film bonded by heat and pressure to a printed sheet for protection or appearance.
LAN (Local Area Network)
A group of connected computers in a relatively small area that share access to printers and other peripheral devices.
Laser Proof
A proof created on a desktop laser printer.
[ Go to top ] A representation of the positioning of all elements on a page.
Leading (Led-ding)
The vertical distance between lines of type; measured in points.
Line screen
The number of lines or dots per inch on a halftone screen.
LPI (Lines Per Inch)
A measure of the frequency of a halftone screen (usually ranging from 55-200).
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Make-Ready
In printing, running paper and inks through the press to make final adjustments. The purpose is to look at actual ink on actual paper at a point when changes can still be made.
Matchprint
Proofs made by photo-mechanical from film in less time and at lower cost than press proofs (Also called Pre-press proofs.)
A unit of measure of stored data corresponding to 1,024 kilobytes (1,000 bytes), or 1,048,576 bytes.
[ Go to top ] Midtones
The range of colors or levels of gray between the brightest and darkest ones in an image.
A device used to transmit data between two computers over telephone lines.
Moire
In printing, when halftone screens are misaligned and cause unwanted patterns.
Printing over areas already printed. Contrast to knockout.
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Perfect Binding
A method of binding in which pages are held together and fixed to the cover by means of flexible adhesive. Widely used for paperback books.
Any device connected to a computer or network to give it input, output or external storage capabilities (such as a scanner or printer).
The smallest distinct unit of a bitmapped image displayed on a screen.
[ Go to top ] The surface which has the image which is to be printed. The offset plate has image areas which accept ink, and non-image areas which accept water. The image is transferred from the plate to the blanket, and then to the paper.
Plus-Cover
In a brochure, when the cover is a different paper than the inside text pages. For example: "8 pages plus cover", (total of 12 pages).
"Pantone Matching System" which specifies ink color by using a number system.
Posterization
The deliberate constraint of a gradation to create special effects.
[ Go to top ] The computer language used to describe the position and characteristics of elements on a page for output.
Preparation for printing, including high-end scanning and color separation.
In color reproduction, a sample of a printed piece from a printing press, during the actual production run.
In printing, full color art and photos are printed with four "process" inks that overlap, as dots, to make every other color. The process colors are: yellow, magenta, cyan and black.
[ Go to top ] A representation of the finished printed piece showing all elements in their proper positions.
The memory a computer needs to store the information it is processing at any given moment. This is short-term memory and is lost when the power is shut off.
The process of converting mathematical and digital information into a series of dots by an imagesetter for the production of negative or positive film.
[ Go to top ] Reflective Art
Artwork that light reflects off, for example anything on paper; rather than a transparency, which light goes through.
The alignment of different films or printing plates to produce one printed image.
RGB (Red, Green, Blue)
The primary colors that make up all other colors when used for computer monitor displays, television, film and transparencies.
RIP (Raster Image Processor)
Part of an output device that rasterizes information so that it may be imaged onto film or paper.
[ Go to top ] Rough Layouts or "thumbnails"
A quick layout that gets across an idea, but not real type or art. Is usually used to discuss concept direction.
Saddle-Stitch
In binding, to fasten a booklet by wiring it through the middle fold of the sheets.
Saturation
The amount of gray in a color. The lower the gray content the higher the saturation of the color.
[ Go to top ] A device used to digitize images to be manipulated, output, or stored on a computer.
To impress or indent a line in the paper to make folding easier and neater.
Self-Cover
In a brochure, when the cover is the same paper as the inside text pages.
Service Bureau
A vendor that specializes in outputting computer files.
[ Go to top ] Shadow
The darkest parts in a photograph, represented in a halftone by the largest dots.
Sheetwise
To print one side of a sheet of paper with one form or plate, then turn the sheet over and print the other side with another form using same gripper and side guide.
A press which prints single sheets of paper up to 28" x 40".
In printing, a term used to describe a single printed sheet, folded down, ready to be bound.
[ Go to top ] Silhouette
A photo of an object or person with the background removed.
Specification
All the facts about a job, for example: sizes, colors, paper, etc...
Spot Color
Usually, the addition of a second color to a black and white composition. Most often specified with Pantone colors.
Spot Varnish
A varnish applied only to parts of job, usually to enhance the images and create subtle effects.
[ Go to top ] Stripping
The preparation and assembling of film prior to platemaking.
SWOP (Specifications for Web Offset Publications)
Developed in the U.S. as a standard for magazine production, and used to ensure consistency of color printing.
32-Bit Color System
A computer system or software capable of displaying and processing 24 bit color with 8 extra bits of information for creating transparency effects or masks.
TIFF (Tagged Image File Format)
A file format for exchanging bitmapped images (usually scans) between applications.
[ Go to top ] Positive film, which is viewed in front of light.
Trapping
A prepress technique which allows for variation in registration during the press run. On the desktop, this is done primarily by allowing an overlap between butting colors.
(Noun) : The finished size of a printed piece. (Verb): To cut a signature to its finished size.
A computer's display device capable of displaying over 16 million colors. 24-bit color is also called true color.
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Velox
A photographic paper print, (black on white), made from a screened negative.
Vignette
An illustration or photo with soft, faded edges.
Virtual Memory
A means of using storage memory on a disk to simulate RAM. This allows a computer to process much larger files and to perform much more complicated processing, usually at the expense of processing speed.
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Webpress
A press which prints on a roll (or web) of paper, as opposed to sheet fed.
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