PRINT ENCYCLOPEDIA ENTRY #8: PRINT JARGON

This week we wanted to do something a bit different.  Instead of one term, we wanted to publish several of our favorite printing terms
Back Pressure • The “squeeze” between the blanket cylinder and the impression cylinder.
Color Correction • Improving color; best done in scanning, but limited adustment possible on the press in makeready.
Ghosting • Faint, undesirable repeats of printed imagery due to strong changes in ink coverage. Printer can usually overcome this.
Color Separation • Converting a full-color image into the four primary ink colors by means of halftone dots.
Creep • Slight movement of the blanket or plate on a press due to misadjustment; causes poor registration.
Densitometer • Quality-control device that measures optical density of ink on paper.
Dot Gain • Enlargement of printed halftone dots due to paper absorption or inking levels.
Draw Down • An ink sample spread on paper to evaluate printed color.
Ink Fountain • A reservoir holding and dispensing ink within a printing press.
Four-Color Process • Printing that simulates full-color hues and gradations with a series of four primary color halftone plates: cyan, magenta, yellow & black.
Line Copy • Solid black type or illustration with no gradation in tones.
Makeready • All press adjustments preparatory to a print run; setting registration, balancing color, etc.
Moire • Undesirable patterns appearing in multicolor jobs when halftone screens are misaligned.
Off-line • Equipment or printing steps not part of the primary press; varnishing is typical.
Silhouette Halftone • An “outlined” image in which the background is removed around the subject.
Overprint • Printing over a previously printed area—type over a color area, for example.
 
If you have questions about any of these terms, call one of our experts at 804-794-8273.  (We’ve been studying these terms for years!)