Glossary - N to Z

N

NCR – No carbon required. Pressure sensitive paper for printed forms and sets.

Negative – Photographic film that has been exposed and processed from which a positive print can be made.

Numbering – Usually printed offline, numbers added to printed sheets for Administration forms such as Purchase Order pads.

O

Opacity – The level of opaqueness in a sheet of paper, this term is used when referring to show-through in a brochure or for an envelope. Sometimes an envelope is printed to the inside to make it more opaque.

Overs – Extra copies used when printing a specified amount. When overprinting onto pre-printed items, a small number of extras are always needed.

P

Pagination – The numbering of pages in any item with multiple leaves.

Pantone colours – Universal system of colours. There are colour references for printing onto Coated and Uncoated materials. A Pantone number should be supplied wherever possible for printing corporate colours and logos to ensure brand consistency.

Perforating – This process adds a series of small slits into paper or card to enable neat and accurate tearing.

Pocket envelope – An envelope with a flap opening on the shorter edge.

Process colours – Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black (abbreviated to CMYK)

Proof – This is a hardcopy print out or pdf of the artwork file, this is sent to the client for approval prior to print production. This is essential for quality checking against a job specification.

Q

Quantity – The number of copies required for any printing job.

R

Registration – The correct positioning of one colour over another in multiple colour printing

Rubbing - A proof from a hand engraved die or copperplate, this usually occurs where there is no exact artwork, the engraving may be produced from a photograph.

Run-on – To continue printing a job after the specified quantity required.

S

Sans Serif – A typeface (font) without serifs, these are usually simpler more modern fonts.

Score – An impression into paper or card to enable precise folding without cracking.

Serif – Small terminal stroke at the end of the main stroke of the letter on a typeface.

Spot Varnish – Varnish applied to a designated area on a printed sheet

Swatch – A book showing available colours of a specific brand of paper or card

T

Thermography – A print process in which freshly (flat) printed sheets are dusted with a resinous powder which when passed under heat makes the printed areas raised.

Tint – A less opaque colour made of dots, achieved by using a percentage of a specified solid colour.

Trim marks - Small printed lines which are placed slightly outside of the printed area which act as a guide for guillotine cutting (also referred to as Crop marks).

U

Uncoated paper / card – Paper or Card which does not have a China Clay coating, these materials are more absorbent of ink which results in a more subdued look when printing bright colours.

UV varnish – A high gloss varnish cured under ultra violet light which can be applied either as a spot image area or as an overall coating, only suitable for coated paper or card.

V

Varnish – Transparent coating applied onto a printed sheet for ink protection or to create an effect (available as Gloss, Satin or Matt).

W

Wallet envelope – An envelope with a rectangle shaped flap appearing on the long edge.

Watermark – A design or image deliberately impressed into the paper during the manufacturing process, this can normally be seen more easily when holding a sheet of paper up to a light (Please see section under 'Chemical Watermarking').

Wove paper – Smooth paper made on a roll of finely woven and textured wire leaving no texture marks or ‘laid lines’ on the surface.

Y

Y - Often used as an abbreviation for Yellow, one of the four colours used in 4-Colour Process printing.

Yellow - One of the four colours used in 4-Colour Process printing.