The printing industry has its fair share of jargon, which can be tough to navigate whether you're new to making or a veteran. Here's a list of the terms from A to Z that we've come across most frequently to help you understand all this tricky industry-speak.

A

Acetate: A transparent sheet that is placed on top of original pieces of artwork so that the designer can write special instructions.

Acid-free / Archival Paper: Paper that has little or no acid, making it more resistant to deterioration over time. Also called alkaline paper, archival paper, neutral pH paper, permanent paper, and thesis paper.

Alteration: Changes made by the artist after the piece has been given to the printer. This is referred to as AA, or author alteration.

Antique Paper: The roughest finish available for offset paper.

Aqueous Coating: A fast drying, water based protective coating that protects the print surface from smudges or dirt.

B

Basic Size: The standard size of sheets of paper used to calculate basic weight.

Basic Weight: The weight, in pounds of a ream (500 sheets) of paper cut to basic size. In the United States and Canada this is also called ream weight or substance weight.

Blank: A category of paperboard that ranges from 15 to 48 points in thickness.

Bromite: A photographic print on bromide paper.

C

Calendar: To make the surface of paper smooth by pressing it between two rollers during the manufacturing process.

Carbonless Paper: Paper coated with chemicals that enable the transfer of images from one sheet of paper to another with pressure

Color Correct: To adjust the relationship among the process colors to achieved the desired color results.

Color Sequence: The order in which inks are printed. Also called the laydown sequence and rotation.

Cure: To properly dry inks, varnishes or other coating to ensure a quality finish.

D

Deckle Edge: The edge of a paper that is left ragged as it comes out of the papermaking machine (instead of being cleanly cut). Also called a feather edge.

Die: The device used for cutting, scoring, stamping, embossing and debossing.

Digital Proofing: Page proofs produced digitally and transferred onto paper via ink-jet or laser.

Double Burn: To expose film or a plate two times so that it has two layers of ink.

Dull Finish: A flat finish on coated paper that is smoother than matte. Also called velour or velvet finish.

Duotone: Black-and-white photograph reproduced using two halftone negatives, each shot to emphasize different tonal values in the other one.

E

Emboss: To press an image into paper so that it lies above the surface. Also called tool or cameo.

F

Fast Color Inks: Inks with colors that retain their density and resist fading when a product is used and washed.

Flood: To print an entire sheet with ink or varnish. This is also called painting the sheet.

Four-Color Process Printing: A technique for printing that uses black, magenta, cyan and yellow to simulate full-color images. Also referred to as full color printing, process printing, and color process printing.

G

Gang: To run two or more printed products at the same time on one sheet of paper. Also called a combination run.

Giclee: A specific type of inkjet printing invented in the 1980s that is commonly used for large canvasses of fine art. It is typically more expensive than offset lithography, but the process allows artists to better control their inventory by printing specific pieces individually.

Gloss Ink: Ink used and printed on coated stock so that the ink will dry without penetrating into the paper.

GSM: The abbreviation for grams per square meter, a unit of measurement for paper weight.

H

Halo Effect: Faint shadow sometimes surrounding halftone dots printed. The halo itself is also called a fringe and the halo effect is also sometimes referred to as halation.

High-Fidelity Color: Color reproduced using six, eight, or 12 separations as opposed to the regular four-color process.

HLS: An abbreviation for hue, lightness and saturation. Also called HVS.

I

Image Area: The actual area on the printed matter that is not restricted to ink coverage.

Impression: (1) When referring ink color, one impression equals one press sheet passing once through a printing unit. (2) Referring to speed of a press, one impression equals one press sheet passing once through the press.

Integral Proof: Color proof of separations shown on one piece of proofing paper, as compared to an overlay proof. Also called composition proof, laminate proof, plastic proof and single-sheet proof.

J

Job Lot Paper: Paper that has been discontinued and is no longer considered top quality.

K

Key Negative or Plate: Negative or plate that prints the most detail, thus whose image guides the register of images from other plates. Also called key printer.

Kiss Impression: The lightest possible impression that will transfer to a substrate.

L

Laminate: A clear, thin plastic sheet or coating applied to a thick stock. Laminate provides protection against liquid and heavy use, and usually accents existing color, providing a glossy (or lens) effect.

Letterpress: Method of printing from raised surfaces, either metal type or plates whose surfaces have been etched away from image areas. Also called block printing.

Lignin: A substance in trees that holds cellulose fibers together.

Lithograph: A method of printing that uses plates where image and non-image areas attract and repel ink to create the final product.

M

Machine Glazed: Paper holding high-gloss finish only on one side. Abbreviated as MG.

Midtones: Tones created by dots between 30 and 70 percent of coverage as opposed to highlights or shadows.

N

Newton Ring: A flaw in a photograph or halftone that looks like a droplet of water.

Nonimpact Printing: Printing using laser, ions, ink jets or heat to transfer images to paper.

O

Offset Printing: A printing technique that transfers ink from a plate to a blanket of paper instead of directly from plate to paper.

Overlay Proof: A color consisting of polyester sheets laid on top of each other. Each sheet represents the image to be printed in one color. Also called a celluloid or layered proof.

P

Plate: Piece of paper, metal, plastic or rubber that carries an image to be reproduced during the printing process.

PMT: An abbreviation used for photomechanical transfer.

Printing Plate: Surface carrying an image to be printed. Plates are used in quick printing, letterpress, engraving and lithography.

Process Color: The colors used for four-color process printing. Yellow, magenta, cyan and black.

Proof: A test sheet created to detect flaws and predict the results of a final print job.

Q

Quarto: A sheet folded twice, making pages one quarter of their original size. A quarto makes an eight page signature.

R

Rag Paper: Stationary or other forms of stock with a large percentage of cotton rags.

Register: To place printing properly with regard to the edges of paper and other printing on the same sheet. Such printing is said to be "in register."

S

Satin Finish: An alternate term for a dull finish on coated paper.

Screen Printing: A method of printing that utilizes a squeegee to force ink through an assembly of mesh, fabric and stencil

Screen Tint: Color created by dots instead of solid ink. Also referred to as Benday, fill pattern, shading, tint and tone.

Sheetwise: The technique of printing one side of a sheet with one set of plates, and then printing the other side with another set of pates. Also called work and back.

Size: A compound that's mixed with paper to make it stiffer and more resistant to absorbing water.

Soy-Based Inks: Inks that use vegetable oils as opposed to petroleum products. Soy based inks are beneficial to the environment.

Substrate: Any surface where printing is done.

T

Trim Size: The size of the printed material in its complete form.

U

Uncoated Paper: Paper that has not been covered with clay. Also known as offset paper.

UV Coating: Liquid applied to a printed sheet before being bonded and cured with ultraviolet light. This process creates a durable protective surface.

V

Vellum Finish: A somewhat rough, toothy finish that's smoother than antique but rougher than English.

W

Watermark: A translucent logo that is embossed into paper during the manufacturing process.

Web Gain: The stretching of paper as it passes through the press.

Woodfree Paper: Paper made with chemical pulp only. This kind of paper is usually classified as calendared or supercalendared.

See any we missed? Leave us a comment below!