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Glossary
Top of Glossary
Glossary
A
A
Approval
1.) Authorization from the customer to proceed with production.
2.) A color correct proof used to match at press (a Kodak product).
Antique Paper
Offset stock with a very rough finish.
Author Alterations
Customer requested changes to be made to images, or text (usually at additional
cost to the customer).
B
B
Basis Weight
A measurement of paper in points, or pounds. The higher the number, the heavier
the stock.
Bleed
Image that extends beyond the trim of the book to be intentionally trimmed off
during binding.
Blind Stamp
A debossed area on a case that does not receive foil.
Book Block
Folded and gathered signatures that are bound with glue, staples, or sewn, but
have not received a case or cover.
C
C
C1S / C2S
C1S is stock that has a coating on one size. C2S has coating on both sides.
Cambric Embossing
Lamination embossed with a criss-cross pattern
Case
Board with a cover applied that will wrap around a book block.
Case Bound
A hard cover book.
Casing In
To enclose a book block within a case.
CMYK
The four process colors used to create images (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black).
Coated Paper
Coating applied to the stock by the mill to enhance ink, such as gloss, dull, or matte.
Color Correct
Adjusting files to match the color of original artwork, or some other media, usually
at additional cost to the customer.
Continuous Tone
Artwork, files, or proofs that have varying shades but do not have dots.
Crossover
Artwork that spans both pages of an open book.
D
D
Debossing
A lowered section of paper or cloth created by compressing dies or patterned
rollers together with force.
Deckled Edge
Leaving the face edge of the book torn instead of cut.
Digital Blueline
A low resolution proof used to ensure proper page position, and collation.
DPI
A measurement used to determine the number of Dots Per Inch. Higher DPI
produces a sharper image.
Dummy Book
A handmade mock up of a finished book with blank pages and cover.
Dull Lamination
A film applied to covers and jackets with a dull finish. Also called Matte
Lamination. Dull finish is prone to scuffing.
Dull UV
A liquid coating applied to covers on press that is cured with ultraviolet light
producing a dull finish.
Duotone
A color image created using only two colors.
E
E
Endsheet
Sheets attached to the first and last section of a book which will adhere to the
case board, thereby casing in the book.
Embossing
A raised section of paper or lamination created by compressing dies or patterned
rollers together with force.
Epson Proof
A color correct continuous tone proof (an Epson product).
F
F
Face Edge
The edge of the book opposite the spine and gutter.
Fifth Color
A premixed ink color used in addition to four color process.
Fold and Gather
A set of trimmed signatures. Also called F &G’s.
Foil Stamp
Stamping a case with a heated die adhering colored foil to the case.
Folio
A page number.
Foot
The bottom of a page.
Four Color Process
The four process colors used to create images (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black).
Also called CMYK.
G
G
Gloss Lamination
A film applied to covers and jackets with a gloss finish.
Gloss UV
A liquid coating applied to covers on press that is cured with ultraviolet light
producing a gloss finish.
Groundwood Stock
Paper made using mechanical grinding instead of chemical processing.
Newspaper is a good example of this.
Gutter
The portion of a page that is next to the spine.
H
H
Halftone
Photographs that have been converted to images comprised of dots.
Head
The top of a page.
Hickey
A bulls eye shaped imperfection caused by a speck of dust stuck to a printing
blanket.
Hinge
An area running parallel and next to the spine of a hard case book without board
adhered, to allow the cover to bend and the book to open.
I
I
Ink Drawn Down
A test showing how a specific color of ink will look on a specific kind of stock.
ISBN Number – (International Standard Book Number)
A number assigned to a specific book publication.
L
L
Layout
A diagram showing dimensions required for covers and jackets, etc.
Linen Embossing
Lamination embossed with a linen pattern to simulate cloth.
M
M
Makeready
The process required to prepare a piece of equipment to perform a particular task.
Margin
Space between the edge of the book and the image, or text.
Moiré
A moiré occurs when two screens of dots are improperly aligned causing a
displeasing pattern within a color. An example of this can be seen with two
window screens laid on top of each other and slowly rotating one of them.
N
N
Notch Bind
Similar to Perfect Binding, with the addition of grooves cut into the spine area to
allow adhesive to penetrate more deeply into the paper.
O
O
Offset Press
Printing press that transfers ink from plate to blanket, then to the paper instead of
from the plate directly to the paper.
P
P
Page
One side of a sheet in a book.
Paperback
A book bound with a paper cover.
Perfect Bind
Using adhesive to bind a book (not sewn or stapled).
Perfect Case Bound
A hard cover book bound using adhesive (not sewn or stapled).
PMS
Pantone Matching System used to specify color mix of ink.
R
R
RGB
Red, Green, Blue. Computer monitors display in RGB format. Most image files
were created in RGB format. For images to be compatible with print production,
images must be converted to the proper format, typically CMYK.
S
S
Saddle Stitch
Binding using staples through the spine.
Sheet
1.) A sheet has two sides, and is made up of two pages.
2.) A single piece of paper run through a press.
Sheetfed Press
Offset presses that print a single sheet of paper at a time.
Side Sewn
Sewing a book through the sheets near the spine.
Signature
A single sheet of stock printed on both sides. Signatures may still be flat, or folded
and trimmed in varying page counts.
Soft Proofing
Software that allows you to view changes, or corrections to your project online.
This method is best used for a small number of correction pages, and not an
entire book.
Smyth Sewn
Binding by sewing through the spine of each section, then to each other.
Spine
The back of a book, or the binding edge.
W
W
Web Press
Offset presses that print from a roll of paper.
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