Glossary

The rectangle for a page containing all text and graphics. See “document image
defined” at the bottom of this page.

Whenever any printed content or image runs to the trimmed edge of a printed page, we
say that the page bleeds. Trimming paper is an inherently inexact process. So, in order to
make sure the art or content goes to the trim line without any gaps, the content is enlarged about
.25″ beyond the trim line. The bleed box is the rectangle representing the area outside the
trim box where the art or content extends.

An abbreviation for the 4 process color inks, cyan, magenta, yellow and black.
“Document size” • Refers to the size of the document set-up in your layout program. It is the
same as the trim size of the document. See “document image defined” at the bottom of this
page.

Dots per inch.

File Transport Protocol – it’s a method of transferring files over an internet connection
using a program made specifically for that purpose.

An image file compression format generally used for internet images, but not for printing.

An image that uses shades of gray is a grayscale image. On a press the gray shades
will be produced by using dots of black ink.

Refers to the actual dimensions of the content that is printed on a page. It is the
same as the art box size. See “document image defined at the bottom of this page.

An image file compression format suitable for internet images, but not for printing.

Drawings or cartoons made up of lines and/or solid color areas and which contain no
greyscale or continuous tone areas or color tints.

Refers to the spacing and frequency of the dot pattern used to produce tints and
continuous tone (photo) images when printing. It is usually measured by lines per inch, or lpi.

Lines per inch – the measurement of the frequency of dots used for printing tints and
continuous-tone images on a press.

refers to a distracting optical effect usually produced by an incorrect pattern of color
ink dots that make up a printed image.

Portable Document Format

A high resolution output device that produces printing plates.

Refers to the programming language which most high resolution printers and
imagesetters use.

Refers to the process of creating a postscript file from a document layout program. It is normally done through the print function of the program.

Usually refers to the resolution of a printing device (but not a printing press), or the smallest mark the printer can make. Usually measured in dots per inch (dpi). It is sometimes confused with linescreen (see above).

Refers to the standard cyan, magenta, yellow and black ink (CMYK) color printing process.

Red, green, blue; the colors used by monitors and other light projection devices to create color images. This system cannot be used by printers, who are not projecting light, but are creating images by placing ink on paper that reflects light. Scanners often produce RGB images that must be converted to CMYK for printing.

The resolution the scanner uses to scan an image.

Refers to ink separations, or the process of separating out what is going to be printed according to the ink colors that will be used on the press. The separations can be for CMYK process inks and/or spot color inks.

Wherever two colors of ink are printed in areas which abut each other, there is the possibility that a gap will appear between the two colors if the press is not exactly registered, or the paper moves or flexes during printing. Even the smallest gap can be noticeable. To avoid these gaps, programs can create tiny overlaps where different colors meet. This overlapping process is called ? trapping?

“Tagged Image File Format” – This is a image format that uses a “loss-less” compression technology. TIFF files will produce a very high quality image, recommenced for master files and for printing.

Refers to the line around a page where the paper will be cut. The trim box refers to the rectangular border of the document as it will be trimmed and folded.

A type of font which uses only one file for the screen and printer descriptions.

A type of font for use with postscript printers. A type 1 font has a font ?suitcase?
containing the computer screen version of the font, and separate files for the printer version.