Label Printing and Printers Glossary
The wholesale label printing glossary resource for all of your questions.
A - D E - H I - L M - P Q - T U - Z All
Abrasiveness: The tendency of a paper, coating or ink to abrade or wear away die edges, slitting blades, printing type, etc., by friction.
Abrasion Resistance: The degree to which a label surface - including printing and protective coatings - is able to resist rubbing or wearing away by friction.
Accelerated Aging: Test procedures for subjecting P.S. label stock to special environmental conditions in order to predict the course of natural aging in a far shorter period of time.
Accordion Fold: Bindery term, two or more parallel folds which open like an accordion.
Acetate: A plastic synthesized from cellulose dissolved in acetic acid which exhibits rigidity, dimensional stability and ink receptivity. Transparent or matte films, sometimes used for label stocks.
Acrylic: A general chemical term of a particular family of thermoplastic resins based on acrylic acid and its derivatives.
Acrylic Adhesive: Pressure-sensitive adhesive based on high-strength, acrylic polymers. Can be coated as a solvent or emulsion system.
Acrylic Emulsion: A water-based latex make with acrylic polymers, used in coatings and adhesives.
Adhesion: A measurement of the force required to remove a label from a substance.
Adhesive: A substance capable of holding materials together by surface attachment.
Adhesive Cold Temperature: An adhesive that will enable a P.S. label to adhere when applied to refrigerated or frozen substrates...generally +35 F or colder.
Adhesive High Temperature: An adhesive that will enable a P.S. label to withstand sustained elevated temperature (+200 F or higher).
Adhesive Pressure Sensitive: A type of adhesive which in a dry form is aggressively tacky at room temperature. It has the capability of promoting a bond to dissimilar surfaces on contact, with pressure.
Adhesive Removable: An adhesive characterized by relatively high cohesive strength and low ultimate adhesion. It can be removed easily from most surfaces. Some adhesive transfer could take place depending on the affinity of the adhesive to the surface.
Adhesive Strike-Through: When adhesive penetrates through the face material of a pressure-sensitive lamination.
Adhesive Residue: The adhesive remaining behind on a substrate when a P.S. label is removed.
Adhesive Splitting: Condition where part of the adhesive remains on the face stock and part on the substrate when the label is put under stress or removed.
AGA: American Gas Association
Against The Grain: At right angles to direction of paper grain.
Alteration: Change in copy of specifications after production has begun.
Ambient Temperature: A term used to denote the temperature of the surrounding air.
Anchor Coat: A coating applied to the face material on the side opposite the printed surface to provide increased opacity to the face material and/or to prevent migration between adhesive and the face material and/or to improve anchorage of adhesive to a face material.
ANSI: The American National Standards Institute. A non-governmental organization responsible for the development of voluntary industry standards.
Anvil: A hardened steel roll upon which the bearers of a rotary die cutter ride which also provides the hardened surface to support the die cutting.
Application Temperature: Temperature of a substrate or label material at the time the label will be applied. All adhesives have a minimum application temperature rating.
Applicator: A device that automatically feeds and applies pressure sensitive labels to a product.
Artboard: Alternate term for mechanical art.
ASCII: The character set and code described in the American National Standard Code for Information Interchange, ANSI X3.4-19777. Each ASCII character is encoded with 7 bits (8 bits including parity check). The ASCII character set is used for information interchange between data processing systems, communications systems, and associated equipment. The ASCII set consists of both control and printing characters.
Aspect Ratio: The ratio of height to width of a bar code symbol. A code twice as high as wide would have an aspect ratio of 2; a code twice as wide as high would have an aspect ratio of 1/2 or 0.5.
Author's Corrections: Also know as "AC's". Changed and additions in copy after it has been typeset.
Autoclave: Container for sterilizing, i.e. in label application, label must endure a cooking process by superheated steam under pressure.
Back Up: Printing the second side of a sheet already printed on one side.
Backing: Refers to the carrier sheet of material in a pressure sensitive lamination as opposed to the face material. Usually has a release coating applied so that the adhesive will not stick too tightly to it. Release liner, backing paper, carrier, etc.
Bagginess: A slack, floppy area usually caused by gauge variation. The material has been stretched and is actually longer in that area.
Banding: Method of packaging printed pieces of paper using rubber or paper bands.
Bar: The dark element of a printed symbol.
Bar Code: An array of rectangular bars and spaces which are arranged in a predetermined pattern following unambiguous rules in a specific way to represent elements of data which are referred to as characters.
Bar Code Density: The number of data characters which can be represented in a linear unit of measure. Bar code density is often expressed in characters per inch.
Bar Code Reader: A device used to identify and read bar code symbols.
Bar Length: The bar dimension perpendicular to bar width.
Bar Width: The thickness of a bar measured from the edge closest to the symbol start character to the trailing edge of the same bar.
Bar Width Reduction: Reduction of the nominal bar width dimension on film masters or printing plates to compensate for printing gain.
Barrier Coat: A coating applied to the face material on the side opposite the printed surface to provide increased opacity to the face material and/or to prevent migration between adhesive and the face material and/or to improve anchorage of adhesive to face material.
Base: The major constituent, other than pigments and filler, comprising the non-volatile portion of an adhesive coating or sealer compound.
Basic Sheet Size: The size of a sheet of paper which is used to determine paper weight. Sizes vary depending on the type of stock
Basis Weight: Weight in pounds of a ream of paper cut to the basic size for its grade.
Bearer: Type-high supports mounted or molded around each end of printing plate to help carry part of the impression load and to help prevent bounce. Also the load bearing surface(s) of a rotary die, usually positioned at each end of the die.
Bearing Block: A device that holds the die in place in the die station.
Biax: Biaxially oriented material, that is, oriented in the machine and transverse directions.
Bidirectional Read: The ability to read data successfully
whether scanning is done left to right or right to left.BARRIER COAT
A coating applied to the face material on the side opposite the printed surface
to provide increased opacity to the face material and/or to prevent migration
between adhesive and the face material and/or to improve anchorage of adhesive
to face material.
Bind: To fasten sheets or signatures with wire, thread, glue. or by other means.
Bindery: The finishing department of a print shop or firm specializing in finishing printed products.
Blanket: The thick rubber mat on a printing press that transfers ink from the plate to paper.
Bleed: Printing that goes to the edge of the sheet after trimming.
Bleedthrough: Migration of materials from an adhesive or substrate into a face material, resulting in a mottled appearance of the face stock and possible detrimental effects to the adhesive.
Blind Embossing: An image pressed into a sheet without ink or foil.
Blocking: Condition where the labels in a roll of material stick to the backside of the liner above them. Usually due to adhesive cold flow, incomplete die cutting of the adhesive, improper drying of inks or improper drying of coatings.
Blueline: A blue photographic proof used to check position of all image elements.
Board: Alternate term for mechanical.
Bond & Carbon: Business form with paper and carbon paper.
Bond Paper: Strong durable paper grade used for letterheads and business forms.
Break For Color: Also known as a color break. To separate mechanically or by software the parts to be printed in different colors.
Brightness: The brilliance or reflectance of paper.
Bulk: Thickness of paper stock in thousandths of an inch or number of pages per inch.
Bulk Pack: Boxing printed product without wrapping or banding.
Burn: Exposing a printing plate to high intensity light or placing an image on a printing plate by light.
Bursting Perf: A fold perforation that permits mechanical bursting.
Bursting Strength: The pressure required to rupture a material specimen when it is tested in a specified instrument under specified conditions. It is largely determined by the tensile strength and extensibility of the material.
Butt: Joining images without overlapping.
Butt Cut Labels: Rectangular labels in continuous form separated by a single knife cut to the liner across the web. Also face cut, knife cut.
Butt Fit: Printed colors that overlap one row of dots so they appear to butt.
Butted Rectangles: Die cut rectangles butted to each other with no around and/or across matrix to remove.
Carbonless: Pressure sensitive writing paper that does not use carbon.
Calender Finished: A term applied to any paper with a surface glazed by means of a calendar stack.
Caliper: Thickness, usually measured in mils or thousandths of an inch. A mil is sometimes called a "point." A 10 mil tag might also be called a 10 point tag stock.
Camera-Ready Copy: Print ready mechanical art.
Carload: A truck load of paper weighing 40000 pounds.
Carrier: Sometimes used to refer to the liner materials of pressure sensitive labels.
Case Bind: A type of binding used in making hard cover books using glue.
Cast Coated: Coated paper with a high gloss reflective finish.
Cast Coated Paper: A paper, the coating of which is allowed to harden or set while in contact with a finished casting surface.
Cast Film: Plastic sheeting manufactured by the casting process, as opposed to the extruding process.
Cast Vinyl: Vinyl sheeting manufactured by coating a liquid vinyl acetate or similar ester onto a casting paper and curing in a heated oven.
Cavity: Usually refers to the engraving on a rotary die cutter that die cuts a single shape.
Central Impression: A press with a number of printing units around a large cylinder that serves as the impression cylinder against which the substrate rides.
Character: A single group of bars with spaces which represents an individual number, letter or punctuation mark.
Check Digit: A digit included with-in a symbol whose value is based mathematically on other characters included in the symbol. It is used to perform a check to ensure the accuracy of the read.
Chemical Resistance: The resistance of a P.S. label to the deteriorating effects of exposure to various chemicals under specified conditions.
Chill Roll: Metal roll or drum cooled internally with water, etc. Often used after the press dryer to cool the printed web prior to die cutting, rewinding, etc.
Chrome: A term for a transparency.
Clay Coated: A term used to describe a paper with a clay coating on either one or both sides.
Clear Area: A required clear space, containing no data marks, which precedes the start character of a symbol and follows the stop character. Also known as the "quiet area."
Coated Paper: A clay coated printing paper with a smooth finish.
Coating: In printing, an emulsion, varnish or lacquer applied in-line or off-line, often over a printed surface to give it added protection.
Coating Weight: The amount of weight of coating per unit area. This is expressed in various units including grams per square meter or pounds per ream.
Code 128: A full alphanumeric bar code capable of encoding all 128 ASCII characters.
Code 39: A full alphanumeric bar code consisting of nine black and white bars for each character symbol.
Co-Extrusions: Film produced by more than one extruder through a common die. Films have been made with as many as 13 layers.
Cohesion: The internal strength of an adhesive, its resistance to flow, and the resistance to failure or splitting when labels are removed or under stress.
Cold Flow: The flow of a Pressure Sensitive adhesive under pressure or stress.
Collate: A finishing term for gathering paper in a precise order.
Color Bar: A quality control term regarding the spots of ink color on the tail of a sheet.
Color Correction: Methods of improving color separations.
Color Filter: Filters uses in making color separations, red, blue, green.
Color Key: Color proofs in layers of acetate:
Color Matching System: A system of formulated ink colors used for communicating color.
Color Separations: The process of preparing artwork, photographs, transparencies, or computer generated art for printing by separating into the four primary printing colors.
Comb Bind: To plastic comb bind by inserting the comb into punched holes.
Composite Film: Combining two or more images on one or more pieces of film.
Conditioning: Process of subjecting material to specific temperature and humidity conditions for stipulated time.
Conformability: The ability of a P.S. material to yield to the contours of a curved or rough surface.
Continuous-Tone Copy: Illustrations, photographs or computer files that contain gradient tones from black to white or light to dark.
Continuous Code: A bar code or symbol where the space between characters (intercharacter group) is part of the code.
Continuous Label: Fan-folded labels manufactured from a continuous web of label stock which is not cut into units prior to execution. Continuous labels are mostly used for data processing applications.
Contrast: The tonal change in color from light to dark.
Converter: Refers to that type of manufacturer who produces plain or printed rolls, sheets, bags or pouches, etc., from rolls of film, foil or paper, including pressure sensitive labels and tags.
Copier Label: A label designed for overprinting by a plain paper photo-copier.
Copy: All furnished material or disc used in the production of a printed product.
Corner Radius: Describes the arc or curvature of the die blades where they meet so that they can impart a rounded corner to a die cut label.
Corona Treatment: Altering the surface characteristics by exposing the surface to a high voltage discharge (corona) resulting in an increase in surface energy (dyne level).
Coupon: Removable label either supplying information or having redeemable value. They may be either pressure sensitive on non-pressure sensitive.
Cover Paper: A heavy printing paper used to cover books, make presentation folders, etc.
Crash Number: Numbering paper by pressing an image on the first sheet which is transferred to all parts of the printed set.
Crimping: Puncture marks holding business forms together.
Cromalin: Trade name for DuPont color proofs.
Crop: To cut off parts of a picture or image.
Crop Marks: Printed lines showing where to trim a printed sheet.
Cross Direction: The direction across the web. Papers are weaker and are affected more by changes in relative humidity in the cross direction than the grain direction.
Crossover: Printing across the gutter or from one page to the facing page of a publication.
Crush Cut: A cut made by a rotary blade in contact with an anvil or base roll.
Curl: The tendency of material by itself or in a laminate to bend or partly wrap around the axis of its directions. Curl is often caused by humidity or improper tension.
Cut-Off: In web printing, the cut or print length corresponding to the circumference of the plate cylinder and/or die cutter; equipment.
Cut Rule: Steel rule blades designed to cut material being produced on flat-bed die cutting equipment.
Cyan: One of four standard process colors. The blue color.
Cylinder: In flexography, most rollers in the printing press are called rolls with the exception of ones on which the rubber plates are mounted, and the one which receives the impression. These are usually referred to as cylinders, i.e., plate cylinder, impression cylinder.
Debossed: An indent or cut in design or lettering of a surface.
Delamination: The separation of a material into layers in a direction approximately parallel to the surface. The partial or complete separation of the layers of a laminate.
Densitometer: A quality control devise to measure the density of printing ink.
Density: The degree of color or darkness of an image or photograph.
Destaticization: Treating plastic materials to minimize their accumulation of static electricity.
Diazo: A light sensitive coating used on printing plates.
Die: Metal rule or imaged block used to cut or place an image on paper in the finishing process.
Die Adapter: A device used to modify a die station of one type of press so that it will accommodate dies originally designed to be used on different presses.
Die Blades: Sharpened, thin steel blades used in flat or rotary dies. Also refers to blades on machine engraved or EDM manufactured rotary dies.
Die Cut: To cut labels with a die. A term used to describe a label formed by die-cutting
Die Cut Label: Pressure sensitive labels mounted on a release liner from which the matrix has been die cut and usually removed.
Die Cutting: Curing images in or out of paper.
Die Hold-Down Assembly: A steel block incorporating bearing which apply pressure to the bearer surface of a rotary die cutter through pressure screws.
Die Life: Mileage expected from a new die and that expected following a resharpening of a die.
Die Lines: A hand drawn or computer generated layout of the die cut shape or shapes on a clear or matte finish acetate or mylar.
Die Stain: Used to check die cutting accuracy. Usually done with diluted ink applied to the die cut surface of the backing or liner material. The ink wicks into any fractures of the silicone coated surface, thereby exhibiting the problem areas.
Dimensional Stability: The property of a material which relates to the degree of its growth or shrinkage from temperature or tension.
Discrete Code: A bar code or symbol in which the spaces between characters (intercharacter gap) are not part of the code.
Dispenser: A device that deeds pressure sensitive labels, either manually or automatically, making them ready for application. It can serve as a package for the labels as well (dispenser boxes).
Dispensing Edge: A relatively sharp edge around which a backing material is pulled in order to dispense a pressure sensitive label from that backing. Sometimes referred to as a peeler plate.
Dot: An element of halftones. Using a loupe you will see that printed pictures are made many dots.
Dot Gain or Spread: A term used to explain the difference in size between the dot on film v paper.
Double Burn: Exposing a plate to multiple images.
Double Coated: A pressure sensitive product consisting of a carrier material with similar or dissimilar adhesives applied to the two surfaces and wound with a silicone release paper.
Draw-Down: A sample of ink and paper used to evaluate ink colors.
Driving Side: That side of a flexographic press on which the main gear train(s) are located. Also gear side; opposite of the operator side.
Drop-Out: Portions of artwork that do not print.
Dummy: A rough layout of a printed piece showing position and finished size.
Duotone: A halftone picture made up of two printed colors.
Dwell: 1)The time during which P.S. material remains on a surface before testing for permanence or removability. 2)The time during which a hot-stamp, embossing, head, or thermal die remains in contact with the surface of a P.S. material.
Dylux: Photographic paper made by DuPont and used for bluelines.
EDM: Electronic Discharge Machining Process for removing metal - as in rotary dies.
Edge Lift: The tendency of the edge of a label to rise off the surface of the substrate. This condition occurs most frequently on small diameter curved surfaces. Resistance to edge lift is dependent on the bond strength of the adhesive and the flexibility of the face stock. (Butterflying, Wing Up).
EDM Die: Die produced using Electronic Discharge Machining.
EDP: Electronic Data Processing - Pressure sensitive labels, usually blank, for use on computer printing equipment. Webs are usually perforated, fanfolded and hole-punched ( "line holes" ) for pin-wheel feeding.
Elongation: The distance a material will stretch lengthwise before breaking, expresses as a percentage of original length. Elongation is not necessarily an indication of conformability.
Emboss: Pressing an image into paper so that it will create a raised relief.
Embossed: Condition in which the image is raised above the surface.
Emulsion Adhesive: A dispersion of fine particles or globules in another liquid. Many P.S. adhesives are emulsion systems.
Emulsion: Light sensitive coating found on printing plates and film.
Engraving: A general term normally applied to any pattern which has been cut into or incised into a surface by hand, mechanical or etching process.
Eurobind: A patented method of binding perfect bound books so they will open and lay flatter.
Eye Mark: A small rectangular printing area usually located near the edge of a web or design, to activate an automatic electronic position regulator for controlling register or the printed design with subsequent equipment or operations.
Face-Cut Label: Any pressure sensitive label where the face material is cut to the liner.
Face Material: Any paper, film, fabric, laminate or foil material suitable for converting into pressure sensitive label stock. In the finished construction, this web is bonded to the adhesive layer and becomes the functional part of the construction.
Face Slit: A slit in the face material of a pressure sensitive product to facilitate removal from the backing.
Facsimile Transmission: The process of converting graphic images into electronic signals.
Feed Slots: Round or rectangular holes or slits put in pressure sensitive label stock to maintain the register of pressure sensitive labels while they are being printed or imprinted.
Film: Acetate, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, vinyl, and other polymeric materials used as face stocks.
Film Rip: See Rip film.
Finish: The surface property of a paper or film determined by its texture and gloss. A gloss finish, for example, can be shiny and highly reflective, while a matte finish is generally dull and reflects little light.
First Read Rate: The percentage representing the number of successful reads per 100 attempts.
Fish Eyes: Round or oval deformations in an adhesive, coating or ink.
Flat: An assembly of negatives taped to masking materials for platemaking.
Flat Pack: A continuous web folded at a cross perforation at regular intervals. See fan fold.
Flex: Another term for deflection of rolls or cylinders in press. Also, bending qualities or characteristics of any material, including printing substrates.
Flexibility: Property of face stock material that indicates how readily it conforms to curved surfaces.
Flexing: Condition that can occur on a die when the die circumference is less than the width of the cross-blades. Causes the center of the cross-blades to fail to cut properly and consistently.
Flexographic Printing: Method of rotary printing which employs flexible plates, rotary die cutting, rapid-drying inks, in-line laminating and other converting operations.
Flood: To cover a printed page with ink, varnish, or plastic coating.
Flop: The reverse side of an image.
Fluorescent Paper: A paper that is coated with fluorescent pigment which not only reflects a visible wavelength, but is activated by most of the remaining absorbed light to re-emit it as color of a longer wavelength which results in reinforcement of the reflected color.
Foil: A metallic or pigmented coating on plastic sheets or rolls used in foil stamping and foil embossing.
Foil Emboss: Foil stamping and embossing a image on paper with a die.
Foil Paper Laminate: A foil laminate to a sheet of paper used as a face stock. The foil is usually topcoated to improve ink receptivity.
Foil Stamping: Using a die to place a metallic or pigmented image on paper.
Food Contact Adhesives: Adhesives meeting specified sections of the Food & Drug Administration Code of Federal Regulations. These regulations cover direct food labeling as well as incidental contact. Special product recommendations are necessary for specific applications.
4-Color-Process: The process of combining four basic colors to create a printed color picture or colors composed from the basic four colors, yellow, magenta and cyan inks plus black, using screens to create full color images.
Freezer Adhesives: Adhesives that can be applied and will function at temperatures below the freezing point. They are usually removable at room temperature.
French Fold: Two folds at right angles to each other.
Galley Proof: Text copy before it is put into a mechanical layout or desktop layout.
Gang: Getting the most out of a printing press by using the maximum sheet size to print multiple images or jobs on the same sheet. A way to save money.
Gear Chart: A handy reference compilation of the various printing lengths, or repeats obtainable within the different gearing systems.
Generation: Stages of reproduction from original copy. A first generation reproduction yields the best quality.
Ghost Bars: A quality control method used to reduce ghosted image created by heat or chemical contamination.
Ghosting: A faint printed image that appears on a printed sheet where it was not intended. More often than not this problem is a function of graphical design. It is hard to tell when or where ghosting will occur. Sometimes you can see the problem developing immediately after printing the sheet, other times the problem occurs while drying. However the problem occurs it is costly to fix, if it can be fixed. Occasionally it can be eliminated by changing the color sequence, the inks, the paper, changing to a press with a drier, printing the problem area in a separate pass through the press or changing the racking (reducing the number of sheets on the drying racks). Since it is a function of graphical design, the buyer pays for the increased cost.
Glassine: Super calendered, smooth, dense, transparent or translucent paper manufactured primarily from chemical wood pulps which have been beaten to secure a high degree of hydration of the stock. Sometimes used as a backing paper.
Gloss: Characteristics of the surface which causes it to reflect light at a given angle.
Grain: The direction in which the paper fiber lie.
Gram: Unit of weight in the metric system; the weight of one cubic centimeter of water at standard conditions. 28.35 grams equal one ounce.
Gravure Printing: Intaglio printing process employing minute engraved "cells" which carry the ink to the printing surface. Rotogravure employs etched cylinders and webfed stock. Sheetfed gravure, as the name implies, involves individual sheet feeding.
Grippers: The metal fingers on a printing press that hold the paper as it passes through the press.
Guard Bars: The bars that are at both ends and center of UPC and EAN symbols. They provide reference points for scanning.
Hairline: A very thin line or gap about the width of a hair or 1/100 inch.
Halftone: Converting a continuous tone to dots for printing.
Hang Tag: A term used to describe fold-over labels generally used for product identification. These products usually 'hang' in the retail marketplace.
Hard Copy: The output of a computer printer, or typed text sent for typesetting.
Hardness: Degree of hardness. Shore and Rockwell being two scales used to measure and compare hardness.
Heat Resistance: Property of a material which inhibits the occurrence of physical or chemical changes caused by exposure to high temperatures.
Heat Seal: Label paper that has a plastic coating which melts under heat to form the bonding agent.
Heavy Coat Weight: A higher-than-standard weight of coating per unit area.
Hickey: Reoccurring unplanned spots that appear in the printed image from dust, lint, dried ink.
High-Bulk Paper: A paper made thicker than its standard basis weight.
Highlight: The lightest areas in a picture or halftone.
Holding Power: Ability to withstand stress, as in holding rigid label materials on small diameter cylindrical objects. Involves both adhesive and cohesive strength.
Hot Melt Adhesives: Thermoplastic materials with 100% solids that liquefy when heated and resolidify on cooling to form a bond with the face sheet the adhesive was applied to and a pressure sensitive lamination which includes a release coated backing sheet.
Hot Stamping: A printing process in which the image is transferred to a label material by a combination of heat and pressure.
ID: Inside diameter.
Idler Rolls: Roller mechanisms on converting machines used to support, smooth or direct the web in its course of travel through a machine. Not driven.
Image Area: Portion of paper on which ink can appear.
Impact Printing: Any printing system where microprocessor-controlled hammer impacts against a ribbon and a substrate.
Imposition: Positioning printed pages so they will fold in the proper order.
Impression: Putting an image on paper.
Impression Cylinder: In printing, the cylinder on a printing press over which the material feeds to pick up the impression from the inked plate.
Imprint: Adding copy to a previously printed page.
Imprinting: Technique which applies variable copy to blank or pre-printed labels with a secondary device.
Indicia: Postal information place on a printed product.
Ink Fountain: The reservoir on a printing press that hold the ink.
In-Line Press: A press coupled to another operation such as sheeting, die-cutting, creasing, etc. A multi-color press in which the color stations are mounted horizontally in a line.
In-Mold Labels: Special type of labels which are pre-applied to plastic bottles during the blow-molding operation.
Infeed Nip: A mechanism designed to control the forward travel of the web into the press.
Infrared: The band of light wavelengths too long to be seen by the human eye. Represented by waves that are between 750 and 4 million nanometers.
Ink Jet: A method of printing using liquid ink projected a drop at a time against a substrate.
Interleaved Bar Code: A bar code in which characters are paired using bars to represent the first character and spaces to represent the second.
Journals: The end shafts on which a roll rotates, usually within the needle bearing or busing of a die block.
Key Mark or Trigger: A code bit(s) that tells the scanner if the code is in a position to be read; used with some fixed beam readers.
Keylines: Lines on mechanical art that show position of photographs or illustrations.
Kiss Die Cut: To cut the top layer of a pressure sensitive sheet and not the backing.
Knock Out: To mask out an image.
Label: The functional portion of a pressure-sensitive construction compromising the face material and adhesive, die cut into various shapes.
Label Stock: Pressure-sensitive laminate from which labels are produced, usually refers to roll stock.
Labeling Machine: Dispensing apparatus that, by means of driving or pulling the backing, delivers a pressure-sensitive label and applies it to a product.
Laid Finish: Simulating the surface of handmade paper.
Laminant: An adhesive for combining and bonding a combination of films, foils, plastics, papers or other materials. Pressure-sensitive constructions are often called laminants.
Laminate: To cover with film, to bond or glue one surface to another.
Lamination: A plastic film bonded by heat, adhesive, and/or pressure to a printed web for protection or appearance. Two or more materials bonded together functioning as one.
Laser Paper: Paper suitable to accept laser printing.
Laser Scanner: An optical bar code reading device that uses a low energy laser light beam to illuminate the code.
Latex: An emulsion of rubber or resin particles dispersed in an aqueous medium. A natural or synthetic elastomeric dispersion in an aqueous system.
Latex Paper: Paper manufactured by two major processes; one of which is where latex is incorporated with the fibers in the beater prior to formation of the sheet, and the second of which is where a preformed web of absorbent fiber is saturated with properly compounded latex. The papers are characterized by strength, folding endurance, resistance to penetration by water, flexibility, durability and resistance to abrasion.
Layflat: A label material with good non-curling characteristics making it suitable for automatic overwrapping, insertion or any other form of further processing requiring a flat sheet (stay flat).
Legging: The stringing out of a P.S. adhesive. This can occur when the label is being removed from a substrate or release liner or when the matrix is being removed during die cutting and stripping.
Letterpress Printing: Printing process in which ink is applied to a surface from raised portions of rigid printing plates or type.
Lexan: General Electric Company's trademark for polycarbonate film.
Lift Tab: Ungummed edge of a label designed to make removal from the release liner easier. Sometimes used with order picking labels.
Line Copy: High contrast copy not requiring a halftone.
Lines Per Inch: The number of rows of dots per inch in a halftone.
Lithographic Paper: A paper coated on at least one side, suitably prepared for lithographic printing.
Loupe: A magnifying glass used to review a printed image, plate and position film.
Machine Direction: The direction of any material parallel to its forward movement on the press. Also Web Direction.
Magenta: Process red, one of the basic colors in process color.
Magnetic Cylinder: A cylinder used in diecutting that is magnetized to accept and hold in place flexible steel dies. Also used for metal-backed printing plates.
Magnetic Die: A thin, flexible, steel cutting plate that is held on to a base cylinder magnetically. Quite common in EDP label production where identical repeats are frequently used.
Makeready: On printing presses, all operation prior to running; such as mounting plates, adjusting the in-feed, edge guide, putting ink on the fountain, adjusting the impression, setting up the die cutting, color machine, etc. All preparatory operations preceding production.
Mandrel: A shaft upon which cylinders, or other devices, are mounted or affixed. Also unwind or rewind shaft on to which rolls of materials (or labels) are mounted.
Marginal Words: Call outs for directions on various parts of a business form.
Mask: Blocking light from reaching parts of a printing plate.
Master Roll: A full width roll that has finished the primary manufacturing process and is usually untrimmed and unslit.
Matchprint: Trade name for 3M integral color proof.
Material: Usually refers to unconverted stock, pressure-sensitive or not.
Material Space: An area where tape has been used to attach two rolls of material together to form one continuous web.
Matrix: The face material and adhesive surrounding a self-adhesive label, usually removed after die-cutting.
Matte Finish: Dull paper or ink finish.
Mechanical: Camera ready art all contained on one board.
Mechanical Separation: Mechanical art overlay for each color to be printed.
Memory: The property of a material that causes it to attempt to return to its original dimensions after being distorted.
Metal Foil: Thin, flexible layer of metal, such as aluminum, sued as face materials. Thinner gauges are often laminated to paper for strength.
Metalized Film: A plastic or resinous film that has been coated on one side with a very thin layer of metal.
Metalized Paper: A label substrate consisting of a lacquered CIS paper on which a very thin film of aluminum has been deposited.
Metalizing: Applying a thin coating of metal to a non-metallic surface. May be done by chemical deposition or by exposing the surface to vaporized metal in a vacuum chamber.
Micrometer: Instrument used to measure the thickness of different papers.
Micron: A unit of measure. On millionth of a meter or about .00004" (25 microns = 0.001").
Middle Tones: The tones in a photograph that are approximately half as dark as the shadow area.
Migration: The movement of one or more components of the P.S. adhesive into either a substrate or face material.
Mil: Unit of thickness measurement used for thin materials. 1 mil=0.001 inch=100 gauge.
Moire: Occurs when screen angles are wrong causing odd patterns in photographs.
Moisture Content: The moisture present in a material as determined by specified methods.
Moisture Vapor Transmission: A measure of the rate of water vapor transmission through a P.S. label.
Mold Release Agents: Materials used in the manufacture of molded objects to facilitate their removal from the mold. Mold release agents can, in some instances, cause serious adhesion problems.
Mono Web: A brand name for a printed pressure-sensitive label web that is self wound. A release coating is applied over the print so that the adhesive on the back will not stick to the printed surface. The actual die cutting becomes a function of the label application equipment. This process is covered by a patent.
Mottle: Non-uniform coloring or coating of a face material or of the printing on the label.
Moving Beam Bar Code Reader: A device which searches for a bar code pattern by sweeping a moving optical beam through a field of view
Mylar: Dupont's trademark for clear, tough polymeric polyester film.
Negative: The image on film that makes the white areas of originals black and black areas white.
Neoprene Rubber: A polymer of chloroprene, it is used as an adhesive base. Commonly used where oil and gasoline resistance is required. Resistance to swelling action of aromatics (pure and fuels) is poor but much better than natural rubber. Also used to coat doctor or metering rolls.
Nip: Line of contact between two rolls. Often referred to as the pull or draw rolls of a web press.
Non-Reproducing Blue: A blue color the camera cannot see. Used in marking up artwork.
Non-Woven Materials: Usually refers to paper 'tissues' or synthetics such as tynek.
OD: Outside diameter of a cylinder, roller or roll of labels.
OEM: Original Equipment Manufacturer. One who produces a component or components used in the making of a finished assembled product.
Offsetting: Using an intermediate surface used to transfer ink. Also, an unpleasant happening when the images of freshly printed sheets transfer images to each other.
Offset Paper: Term for uncoated book paper.
Offset Printing: Process of indirect printing in which an impression on a flat plate is printed on a rubber-blanketed cylinder, from which it is impressed, i.e. offset, upon the surface to be decorated.
Ok Sheet: Final approved color inking sheet before production begins.
Olefins: A group of unsaturated hydrocarbons of the general formula CnH2n, and named after the corresponding paraffins by the addition of 'ene' or 'ylene' to the stem.
Opacity: The amount of show-through on a printed sheet. The more opacity or the thicker the paper the less show-through. (The thicker/heavier the paper the higher the cost.)
Opaque Ink: An ink that is not transparent and reflects only its color regardless of what colors it overprints.
Ooze: Adhesive moving out of ends of rolls or stacks of sheets causing ends to feel sticky and possible causing material to block. Adhesive cold flow.
Operating Side: That side of a label press on which the printing unit adjustments are located. Opposite of driving side or gear side.
OPP: Oriented polypropylene.
Opticite Film: Trademark of a label film supplied by Dow Chemical (polystyrene type).
Orientation: The alignment of bars and spaces to the scanner. Often referred to as vertical (picket fence) or horizontal (ladder).
Outline Halftone: Removing the background of a picture or silhouetting an image in a picture.
Overlaminating: Applications of a clear film to a label stock for the purpose of protection or to enhance graphic quality, usually done in-line on the press.
Overlay: The transparent cover sheet on artwork often used for instructions.
Overrun or Overs: Copies printed in excess of the specified quantity. (Printing trade terms allow for + - 10 % to represent a completed order.)
Page Count: Total number of pages in a book including blanks.
Pattern Carbon: Special carbon paper used in business forms that only transfers in certain areas.
Pattern Coated: Refers to the width and spacing arrangement of strips of adhesive laid down parallel to machine direction and across the width of pressure sensitive label stock during its manufacture. Also refers to adhesive coating applied in a pattern which is not related to web direction.
Peel Adhesion: The force required to remove a P.S. label from a standard test panel at a specific angle and speed after the label has been applied under specified conditions (Pressure-Sensitive Tape Council). The strip of test material is usually one inch wide, and the angle of measurement can be 90 to 180 degrees from the surface.
Peeler Plate: A sharp edged, flat piece of metal around which the backing or carrier material is threaded, the prime function being a mechanical device which causes a pressure-sensitive label to be dispensed from the backing material.
Penetration: Change of appearance of the face material due to movement of one or more components from the adhesive or the labeled surface. Bleed through, migration
Perfect Bind: A type of binding that glues the edge of sheets to a cover like a telephone book, Microsoft software manual, or Country Living Magazine.
Perfecting Press: A sheet fed printing press that prints both sides of a sheet in one pass.
Perforated: Refers to a series of small incisions make in laid-on labels and/or their release liner to facilitate tearing along a pre-determined line, or for fan folding.
Permanency: A measure of an adhesive's ultimate holding power or bond strength. A permanent adhesive will develop a bond that makes label removal difficult or impossible without distorting the face stock.
Permanent Adhesive: An adhesive characterized by having relatively high ultimate adhesion to a wide variety of surfaces.
Phosphorescent Face: A face material coated with phosphorescent ink that emits light in a visible spectrum.
Photopolymer: Plate material that is photsensitive and upon exposure, its compounds polymerize to form a tough, abrasion resistant surface which becomes the inking media.
Pica: Unit of measure in typesetting. One pica = 1/6 inch.
Picking: Printers nightmare that occurs as the surface of a sheet lifts off during printing. Generally a paper manufactures quality control problem.
Piggyback: Multi-ply P.S. laminate consisting of a face stock; a layer of adhesive; a standard release liner; a layer of adhesive; and a standard release liner. This type of product provides a single label that can be applied to a substrate using the adhesive on the middle liner; then the top ply is removed and applied to a different substrate using the adhesive on the face stock.
Pigment: Finely ground, solid particles used to give color opacity to printing inks and coatings, usually insoluble in such a mixture.
Pin Register: A standard used to fit film to film and film to plates and plates to press to assure the proper registration of printer colors.
Pitch Diameter: The measurement of a gear or cylinder, determined by dividing the circumference by Pi (3.1416).
Plate: The image carrier in letterpress and flexographic printing.
Plate Gap: Gripper space. The area where the grippers hold the sheet as it passes through the press.
Platen Press: Printing press in which a flat surface bearing the paper is pressed against a flat surface bearing the inked type.
PMS: The abbreviated name of the Pantone Color Matching System.
PMT: Abbreviated name for photomechanical transfer. Often used to make position prints.
Point: For paper, a unit of thickness equaling 1/1000 inch. for typesetting, a unit of height equaling 1/72 inch.
Polycarbonate: A high clarity film having the versatility of acetate with the durability of polyester.
Polyester: A strong film having good resistance to moisture, solvents, oils, etc. Usually transparent, although available with opaque ester formed by polymerization or condensation. Excellent strength, clarity and dimensional stability.
Polyester Liner: A polyester film that is silicone release coated. It provides an excellent die cutting surface and is also used on overlaminating films to provide a smooth, glass-like surface of adhesive.
Polyester Overlam: A clear, glossy polyester film coated with clear acrylic adhesive. Can also be supplied with a matte surface.
Polyethylene: A tough, stretch plastic film having very good low temperature characteristics, also used a great deal for producing semi-rigid recyclable bottles.
Polymer: A compound formed by the reaction of simple molecules called monomers, having functional groups that permit their combination to proceed to high molecular weights under suitable conditions. A long-chain molecular structure.
Polypropylene: Similar to polyethylene but stronger and having a higher temperature resistance. Various thermoplastics are polymers of propylene; excellent clarity. Also used in various thickness in the printing of labels as well as backing or liner materials.
Polystyrene: A thermoplastic produced by the polymerization of styrene. The electrical insulating properties are outstanding and the material is relatively unaffected by moisture.
Polyvinyl: Refers to a group of resins formed by polymerizing various vinyl monomers.
Polyvinylidene Chloride: Usually a very thin transparent film with excellent resistance to acids, water and organic solvents. Saran.
Porosity: In paper the degree of air permeability measured in terms of air floe through the sheet.
PostScript: The computer language most recognized by printing devices.
Press Number: A method of numbering manufacturing business forms or tickets.
Pressure Bridge: The steel support mechanically secured over the die stations, through which the pressure screws are threaded.
Pressure Screws: Steel shafts threaded through the pressure bridge which are used to apply pressure (in rotary die cutting station) to facilitate die cutting.
Pressure Sensitive Label: A label product that is processed through roll or sheetfed equipment utilizing a P.S. material which has a protective backing. The manufactured product is generally in the form of rolls, sheets, or fanfolded packs.
Pressure Sensitive Label Stock: The combination of face material, pressure-sensitive adhesive and release liner from which pressure-sensitive labels are manufactured.
Pressure Sensitive Paper: Paper material with self sticking adhesive covered by a backing sheet.
Pressure Sensitive Tape: A combination of a pressure-sensitive adhesive with a carrier. Tapes are either self-wound or utilize release liners or films.
Primary Label: Label that acts as the main identification of a product. Often designed to attract attention and contains information to appeal to a buyer and is usually applied at the time of its manufacture.
Primer: Coating applied to the face material on the side opposite to the printing surface to improve anchorage of the adhesive and prevent migration of adhesive components into face material.
Print Treated: A proprietary chemical alteration of the surface by the film manufacturer done during the film making process.
Process Blue: The blue or cyan color in process printing.
Process Colors: Cyan (blue), magenta (process red), yellow (process yellow), black (process black).
Process Printing: Multi-color printing utilizing a variety of printing screens, depth of etch, etc., and usually using yellow, magenta, cyan and black inks to give an optical effect of all colors and hues being present in a composite picture.
Protective Coating: Coating that protects printing on and the face material of a pressure sensitive label from abrasion, chemicals and moisture.
PSI: Pounds per Square Inch.
Pull Tab: Area on a face stock that facilitates easy removal of the label, usually a cut area on a sheeted label. Also called a peel tab or tear tab.
Punched Out Labels: Anvil cut or sheeted labels. Also referred to as metal-to-metal cutting due to the die cutting edge coming in contact with the anvil.
Quickstick: The property of a P.S. adhesive which allows it to adhere to a surface under light pressure. Also a measure of the bond strength immediately after application.
Ragged Left: Type that is justified to the right margin and the line lengths vary on the left.
Ragged Right: Type that is justified to the left margin and the line lengths vary on the right.
Ream: Five hundred sheets of paper.
Ream Weight: The amount which one ream of paper weighs.
Recto: Right-hand page of an open book.
Reflectance: The measured level of light reflected by a paper or imprinted characters thereon, expressed in percent of a standard reference material.
Reflective Copy: Copy that is not transparent.
Register: To position print in the proper position in relation to the edge of the sheet and to other printing on the same sheet.
Register Marks: Cross-hair lines or marks on film, plates, and paper that guide strippers, platemakers, pressmen, and bindery personnel in processing a print order from start to finish.
Relative Humidity: The amount of water vapor present in the atmosphere, expressed as a percent of maximum that could be present at the same room temperature.
Release Coat: Material coated on the liner which allows P.S. labels to release.
Release Liner: The component of the pressure-sensitive label stock which functions as a carrier for the pressure-sensitive label. Prior to application, it protects the adhesive, and readily separates from the label immediately before the label is applied to product.
Removable Adhesive: A pressure-sensitive adhesive characterized by low ultimate adhesion and clean removability from a wide variety of surfaces.
Removability: A relative term to describe the force or condition under which a P.S. label can be removed from a substrate. A removable label is one in which no damage or staining occurs to the substrate or face material and no adhesive residue is left on the substrate upon removal.
Repeat: The printing length of a plate cylinder, determined by one revolution of the plate cylinder gear.
Residue: Adhesive left on substrate when a label is removed.
Resolution: 1. The dimension of the smallest element which can be printed using a particular technique. 2. The narrowest element dimension which can be distinguished by a particular reading device.
Reverse: The opposite of what you see. Printing the background of an image. For example; type your name on a piece of paper. The reverse of this would be a black piece of paper with a white name.
Rip Film: A method of making printing negatives from PostScript files created by desktop publishing.
Rockwell Hardness: A method of determining the surface hardness of a substance. Degree of hardness.
Roll Label: Pressure-sensitive labels that are produced in a continuous roll form.
Roll to Roll: A method of running materials through a printing machine. A roll of material is fed into a printing unit, is printed, then is rewound into a roll as it exits the machine.
Roll to Sheet: A method of running material through a printing machine. A roll or material is fed into a printing unit, then is sheeted as it exits the printing machine.
Rotary Press: A press that in normal use features a roll-to-roll operation.
Rotary Printing: Accomplished by means of a cylindrical impression cylinder and a cylindrical printing plate.
Rubber Base Adhesive: Pressure-sensitive adhesive based on natural or synthetic rubber. Can be coated as a solvent, hot melt or emulsion system.
Running Register: That control on a flexographic press which accurately positions, while in the run mode, the printing of each color station in the direction of the web travel. Also called circumferential register or longitudinal register.
Saddle Stitch: Binding a booklet or magazine with staples in the seam where it folds.
Sandwich Construction: Panels composed of a lightweight core material to which two relatively thin, dense, high strength faces or skins are adhered.
Scanner: Device used to make color separations, halftones, duo tones and tri tones. Also a device used to scan art, pictures or drawings in desktop publishing.
SCK: (Super-calendered Kraft) A bleached, white paper used as a release liner with most standard roll label products.
Score: A crease put on paper to help it fold better.
Screen Angles: Frequently a desktop publishers nightmare. The angles at which halftone, duo tones, tri tones, and color separation printing films are placed to make them look right.
Screen Printing: Method of printing in which the ink is forced through a design on a taut screen and onto the object to be printed. This process results in a heavy ink deposit that provides excellent outdoor durability.
Self-Cover: Using the same paper as the text for the cover.
Self Wound: A roll of material with a single liner, which is coated on both sides with a release coating and a carrier having a pressure-sensitive adhesive on both sides. Also a material that has pressure-sensitive adhesive applied to one side and then rolled up on itself (no liner).
Service Temperature: The temperature range that a P.S. label will withstand after a 24-hour residence time on the substrate. The range is expressed in degrees Fahrenheit or Celsius.
Shadow: The darkest areas of a photograph.
Shear Cut: Term that describes a cut of a continuous web of stock using an action similar to the action of scissors.
Shear Strength: The internal or cohesive strength of the adhesive.
Sheeting: Process whereby rolls of P.S. base stock are converted into sheets of finished labels by cutting them to the desired length in the sheeting stations on a rotary press.
Shelf Life: The period of time during which a product can be stored under specified conditions and still remain suitable for use (normally one year).
Show-Through: Printing on one side of a sheet that can be seen on the other side of the sheet.
Side Guide: The mechanical register unit on a printing press that positions a sheet from the side.
Side Stitch: Binding by stapling along one side of a sheet.
Signature: A sheet of printed pages which when folded become a part of a book or publication.
Silhouette Halftone: A term used for an outline halftone.
Silicone: A polymer of organo-siloxane used as an ink additive to aid ink flow out. Also used for pressure-sensitive adhesives capable of withstanding extreme temperatures. A polymeric material with exceptionally high repellency properties towards adhesives used extensively in the coating of release liners.
Silicone Coating: A unique polymer system which can be a very effective release coating.
Silicone Stain Test: A water based stain used to test silicone coating coverage and continuity on die cut paper release liners.
Skid: A pallet used for a pile of cut sheets.
Slit: To cut rolls of stock to specified widths. Either rotary or stationary knives or blades are used with mechanical unwinding and rewinding devices.
Slot: A cut make in a material of a specific size and location. May have the face material removed when used to feed through imprinters.
Smudge Resistance: The resistance of a printed surface to smearing.
Solvent: A chemical substance capable of thinning or reducing the viscosity of ink, coating or adhesives. Specifically, a solvent is a liquid that dissolves another substance.
Solvent Adhesives: Adhesives' components are dissolved in a variety of organic solvents for coating. Rubber or acrylic-based systems can be coated this way.
Solvent Resistance: The resistance of a P.S. label to the action of specific organic liquids.
Specifications: A precise description of a print order.
Spine: The binding edge of a book or publication.
Split Back: Slits in the release liner to facilitate its removal by hand.
Split Face: Slits in face or pressure-sensitive product usually for facilitating removal from the release coated backing.
Split Fountain: Putting more than one ink in a printing fountain to achieve special color affects.
Spoilage: Planned paper waste for all printing operations.
Spot Varnish: Varnish used to hilight a specific part of the printed sheet.
Spunbonded Olefin: Describes a synthetic plastic material formed by the random distribution of very fine continuous fibers which are self-bonded by heat and pressure.
Stack Press: Flexographic press where the printing stations are placed one above the other, each with its own impression roll.
Stacker: Device on the take-off end of a press that automatically stacks sheeted labels.
Stamping: Term for foil stamping.
Start Stop Character: A bar code character that provides the scanner with start or stop reading instructions as well as code orientation. The start character is usually at the left-hand end and the stop character at the right-hand corner of a picket-fence oriented code.
Stat: Term for inexpensive print of line copy or halftone.
Static: Electrical charges generated in handling materials which cause materials to cling together. Can jump to humans or equipment causing shock or fire if solvents are present. With reference to films, causes them to cling to one another or to other insulating surfaces.
Static Cling: An induced property of a film which enables it to grab onto a smooth clean surface without using a pressure-sensitive adhesive. Static cling is a phrase applied to both mechanical grabbing and grabbing by electrical static.
Static Eliminator: A device for neutralizing static electricity.
Step and Repeat: A procedure for placing the same image on plates in multiple places.
Stepped Anvil: An anvil which has had either the bearer or body area reduced in order for die blades to cut to different depth than originally intended.
Stet: A proof mark meaning let the original copy stand.
Stickyback: Double-faced adhesive coated material used for mounting printing plates to the plate cylinder.
Stock: The material to be printed.
Stripping: The positioning of film on a flat prior to platemaking.
Stub Roll: A short roll of face material or pressure-sensitive label stock.
Styrene: A liquid unsaturated hydrocarbon (CgHg). See polystyrene.
Substance Weight: A term of basis weight when referring to bond papers.
Substrate: The surface to which a label is applied; adherend. Converters also refer to the face stock being printed as the substrate.
Tack: The property of a P.S. label which causes it to adhere to a surface instantly with a minimum of pressure and contact time.
Tags: Any identification that is only partially affixed to the product/item. System tags: converted through roll-fed production equipment. Merchandise tags: converted through narrow web roll-fed production equipment.
Tamper Evident Label: A pressure-sensitive construction made of materials which will partially destruct upon removal, indicating that a package, label or container has been tampered with.
Tedlar: Du Pont's trademark for bi-axially oriented polyvinyl fluoride. One of the most durable, chemical-resistant, protective films.
Tensile Strength: The force parallel to the plane of the specimen required to break a given width and length of stock under specified conditions.
Tension: The mechanical control of unwinding a rewinding paper, film, foil and other roll materials. The stress caused by a force operating to extend, stretch or pull apart.
Text Paper: Grades of uncoated paper with textured surfaces.
Thermal: A printing system where dots are selectively heated and cooled and dragged upon heat-sensitive paper. The paper turns dark in the heated areas.
Thermal Transfer: A printed system like thermal except a one-time ribbon is used and common paper is used as a substrate; eliminates the problems of fading or changing color inherent in thermal.
Thermal Transfer Paper: A face paper specifically designed to accept heat-activated ink from the ribbon of a thermal-transfer printe
Thermographic Paper: A label paper having a heat activated coating that will accept an image from a thermal graphic printer.
Through Cut: A die cut in a pressure sensitive label which has been made through all components of the label stock and liner.
Tie: A term used to denote the uncut portion of a perforation.
Tints: A shade of a single color or combined colors.
Tissue Overlay: Usually a thin transparent paper placed over artwork for protection uses for marking color breaks and other printer instructions.
Tolerance: Dimensions within a given range of preset standards.
Tooling: Usually refers to die cutters, butt cutters, etc., used to cut out the labels.
Tooth Count: Refers to the actual number of teeth there are on the gear which is attached to the dies and printing cylinders. Each tooth count refers to a separate and actual repeat length.
Top Coating: A chemical coating applied to the surface to improve ink and toner anchorage.
Top Lamination: See overlaminating.
Tractor Feed: See pin feed.
Transfer Tape: A peel and stick tape used in business forms.
Translucent Label: Material capable of transmitting light yet not totally transparent.
Transparency: A positive photographic slide on film allowing light to pass through.
Transparent Copy: A film that light must pass through for it to be seen or reproduced.
Transparent Label: Material capable of transmitting light so that the objects can be distinctly seen through the specimen.
Transparent Ink: A printing ink that does not conceal the color under it.
Trigger or Key Mark: A code bit(s) that tells the scanner if the code is in a position to be read; used with some fixed beam readers.
Trapping: The ability to print one ink over the other.
Trim Marks: Similar to crop or register marks. These marks show where to trim the printed sheet.
Trim Size: The final size of one printed image after the last trim is made.
Tyvek: Du Pont's trademark for spun bonded polyolefin material frequently used as a face stock where very high tensile strength is required.
U.L.: Underwriters Laboratories.
Ultimate Adhesion: The resistance to removal of a label after adhesion has been allowed to build for a period of time. The time required to reach ultimate adhesion varies with the adhesive, substrate and labeling conditions, but is approximately 24 hours.
Ultra-Violet Resistance (UV): The ability of a material to withstand extended exposure to sunlight (ultra-violet) without degradation, hardening, or excessive discoloration.
Unbleached: A term applied to paper or pulp which has not been treated with bleaching agents.
Undercut Plate Cylinder: See plate cylinder.
Under Run: Production of fewer copies than ordered. See over run.
Up: Printing two or three up means printing multiple copies of the same image on the same sheet.
UV Coating: Liquid laminate bonded and cured with ultraviolet light. Environmentally friendly.
Varnish: A clear liquid applied to printed surfaces for looks and protection. (UV coating looks better.)
Verso: The left hand page of an open book.
Vignette Halftone: A halftone whose background gradually fades to white.
Vinyl: Synthetic plastic products which can be made in film, sheet or other forms. Vinyls can be manufactured in rigid or flexible constructions. Generally more flexible and formable than polyesters. Also known as PVC or polyvinyl chloride. A tough durable plastic film having excellent resistance to oils, chemicals and many solvents. It has excellent abrasion-resistance, and can also be colored. Its high stretch is due to the addition of plasticizer.
Washup: Removing printing ink from a press, washing the rollers and blanket. Certain ink colors require multiple washups to avoid ink and chemical contamination.
Waste: A term for planned spoilage.
Watermark: A distinctive design created in paper at the time of manufacture that can be easily seen by holding the paper up to a light.
Weatherability: Capability of a label to withstand the effects of outdoor conditions such as sunlight, heat, cold, humidity, rain, snow, and time.
Web: The paper, foil, film or other flexible material, from a roll, that moves through the machine in the process of being formed, converted, printed, etc.
Web Direction: See machine direction.
Web Press: The name of a type of presses that print from rolls of paper.
Web Tension: The amount of pull or tension applied in the direction of travel of a web of paper through a web press.
Wire O: A bindery trade name for mechanical binding using double loops of wire through a hole.
Wire-O Binding: A method of wire binding books along the binding edge that will allow the book to lay flat using double loops.
With The Grain: Folding or feeding paper into the press or folder parallel to the grain of the paper.
Work and Tumble: Printing one side of a sheet and turning it over from the gripper to the tail to print the second side using the same side guide and plate for the second side.
Work and Turn: Printing one side of a sheet and turning it over from left to right ussing the same side guides and plate for the second side.
Wove Paper: A paper having a uniform unlined surface with a smooth finish.
Wrap Around Label: Label that extends completely around the labeled surface.
Yellowing: Gradual color change in the original appearance
of a P.S. label, characterized by the development of yellowish and brownish
hues.