First Impressions

Plate Press

Print, Pre-press and Some Other Terminology From Discturnkey

Adobe Illustrator: a popular software program used in the manipulation of electronic files and images, toward the creation of the final artwork.

Bleed: Printing that extends beyond the edge of a panel or page.

Blueline / Dylux: photosensitive paper that images in varying degrees of the color blue. This proof is used as to check copy and position.

Buttfit / Kissfit: the meeting on 2 or more colors where there is no overlap or trap.The result is often a visible thin white line.

Caliper: the thickness of board measured in thousands of an inch called "points".

Choke and Spread: (Fatty/Skinny) to slightly decrease (choke) or increase (spread) the size of a graphic element to create a trap or fit.

Cromalin proof: DuPont trade name for a color contract proof,used as Color Guide on press.

Color Correct: to retouch or enhance color in specific areas.

Color Key: 3M trade name for an overlay color proof.

Color Separation: the separation of a continuous tone image into the four process colors: black, cyan, yellow and magenta.

Composite Film: or final film,a single piece of film that contains all the characteristics of several pieces of working films. Also known as plate ready film.

Crossover: an image that continues from one page or panel to another.

DPI: Dots Per Inch; used loosely to describe the resolution of an element.

Die template: the finished outline of a package or shape.

Directory: a list of the files, fonts and software programs used to create an electronic file.

Direct to Plate: also known as CTP (computer to plate); the process of transferring electronic files directly to print plates, eliminating the intermediate step of imaging films.

Discturnkey: The trades mark for Discturnkey Solution Co., Limited It is the leading manufacturer of CD&DVD products in China.

Dry Trap: refers to the overlapping of inks done in two press passes while one of the inks is dry and one wet.

Duotone: the graphic representation of an image using only two colors.

Dylux: Dupont trade name for a blueline proof showing type and position of images. (blueline)

EPS: Encapsulated Post Script, a commonly used format for moving files from one application to another electronically. The element is locked to prevent inadvertent changes.

EPS Template: an electronic drawing of the actual die layout. It is used to prepare and layout artwork in its proper orientation. It is also used to create the die tool and should not be altered without notice.

Four color process: the representation of all colors through an arrangement of dots of the four process printing ink colors: cyan, magenta, yellow and black.

Halftone: a one-color photographic image, with tones reproduced by varying-size dots of ink.

Hickie: an imperfection in a printed sheet caused by a contaminant in the print process. Any paper dust, spray powder or other contaminant will adhere to a blanket or plate on press and prevent ink from being used in that area. The result is a small white spot.

Hot spot: increased density of a color in a small area that can occur in film or plate making.

Keylines: rules that are placed in a document to mark specific areas to place graphic images. A keyline can also represent the shape of a three dimensional product while in a flat two dimensional drawing.

Knockout: the removal of all other colors behind a specific element. (with a black background you would remove the black behind any colored type)

Lines per inch: number of rows of dots per inch in a screen tint, half tone, or separation.

MAC: an Apple-based computing software or hardware system.

Make ready: activities required to set up a manufacturing process or piece of equipment.

Matchprint: 3M trade name for a color proof of final films.

Moire: Undesirable pattern in halftones and screen tints caused by conflicted screen patterns.

Page count: total number of pages including blanks and printed pages.

PC: an IBM-based software or hardware system.

PMS: (Pantone Matching System); a check standard for color reproduction.

Preflight / Flightcheck: the verification of an electronic document for potential problems prior to outputting film or plates.

Proof: a test sheet produced to check color, type, layout, and design.

Prototype: a machine or handmade sample of a pre-production package.

Prototype Dylux: a prototype made from a dylux proof that illustrates the printing, folding and scoring in a 3-dimensional form.

Quark File: a document or part of an art file that was created with Quark Xpress.

Quark Xpress: a software program written for the graphic arts industry.A tool for page construction and type manipulation.

Random/scatter: proof of a scanned image. Used to check the color or quality on an image prior to final films/plating.

Reverse: image showing out of a printed background area.

Screen: piece of film with dots of uniform density.

Screen ruling: the number of rows of dots per inch in a screen for tints or halftones.

Screen tint: area printed with dots where ink coverage is less that 100% to simulate shading.

Trap: The overlapping of adjacent colors, so as to avoid the potential of a white gap between images.

Trim size: size of the printed sheet after last trim is made.

UCR: Under Color Removal; done during scanning to reduce the total amount of ink

coverage in shadow areas by replacing some of the cyan, magenta and yellow with black. Reductions of ink usage can improve ink drying and dot gain control while on press.

Wet Trap: refers to the overlapping of inks done in one press pass while the inks are all still wet.

Window: an area cut out of masking material on a mechanical to position a graphic element.

Working film: Preliminary or intermediate films, which are then combined to produce the final (composite) film.

CD & DVD TERMINOLOGY

A-Time: Absolute time, elapsed time, measured in minutes, seconds, and frames. (00:00:00) Ref start of the program.

Authoring: Creation of a database for CD-ROM. The end product is usually a search and retrieval type document with the addition of a user interface. Specific authoring functions include tagging and indexing.

Block Error Rate: (BLER) the number of error correction blocks which contain errors, usually expressed in counts per second. Most errors can be corrected by the error correction system; a high BLER can lead to uncorrectable errors or poor performance.

CD: Compact Disc.

CD-DA: Compact Disc Digital Audio.

CD-I: Compact Disc Interactive. An interactive multi-media system which connects to a television. The CD-I standard is known as the Green Book.

CD-ROM: a read-only Compact Disc.

CD-ROM XA: Extended Architecture. A standard that allows interleaving of compressed audio and video data for synchronization purposes.

Disc At Once: during recording of the CDR disc, all data is recorded continuously in one session.

Discturnkey: The trades mark for Discturnkey Solution Co., Limited She is the leading manufacturer of CD&DVD products in China.

DLT Tape: Digital Linear Tape. This is a standard input media form of DVD.

DVD: Digital Versatile Disc: A high density format for data, video and audio approximately 4X the density of a normal CD.

ECC/EDC: Error Correction Code/ Error Detection Code. Codes specified in the color book standards and embedded in CD data which facilitate the reconstruction of data if read errors occur.

Glass Master: a master made from a CD and used for the replication of additional CDs.

HFS, HFS+: Hierarchical File System, the Apple/MAC file structure standard. HFS+ was introduced in 1998 to allow greater file density on larger storage media.

Hybrid Disc: a CD-ROM which can function on both PC and MAC platforms. The disc contains separate ISO 9660 and HFS partitions.

Indexing: Creation of a data index to speed up search and retrieval.

Inlay Card: a printed insert that fits inside a jewel case for identification, advertising, or instruction.

ISO 9660: an international standard for defining the file and directory structures for CD-ROM.

Jewel Case: a hinged plastic case for the storage of a CD.

Kodak Photo CD: digital photographs encoded onto a CD.

Media Conversion: The process of converting data from one type of media to another for premastering and mastering. Premastering software typically requires input data on hard disk. 8MM tape and compact disc are preferred as input media for the mastering process.

Mixed Mode Disc: a CD-ROM that contains both computer data and audio tracks.

Mode 1: the most common CD-ROM format. Contains 3 layers of error correction and computer data.

Mode 2: CD-ROM data format with 2 layers of data correction for audio and compressed video.

PQ Information: disc or tape information that determines track start points, control bits, timing info etc.

Premastering: formatting data into the exact image that will appear on the CD-ROM so it is ready to be mastered and replicated. Includes file structure and location.

SID Code: Source Information Code: this code identifies the origin of the disc to help prevent piracy.

SMPTE Time: time code adopted for use in the video industry used in CD production.

Tagging: placing hidden markers in text that indicate where to start specific images.

Track at Once: during recording of CDR disc, each track is written individually. The recorder starts and stops recording between tracks. This puts link transitions between each track which can cause problems for some mastering facilities.

Transfer Rate: The amount of data transferred from a CD-ROM to a computer. This rate is limited by the rotating speed of a disc drive.

Video CD: provides full motion video and audio in a CD format.

Yellow Book: International standard which defines the physical properties of a CD-ROM disc.

PACKAGING AND PAPER TERMINOLOGY

80# Gloss Text: Standard glossy paper stock, about as thick as a light magazine cover. The shiny finish provides an excellent opaque base for rich process color printing. This is our most popular stock for: Brochures, Catalog Inserts, Flyers, Posters, etc.

100# Gloss Text: Similar to the 80# gloss text, but 25% thicker and heavier, for a more substantial feeling piece. Standard Uses: Brochures, Information Sheets, Self-mailers, etc.

80# Matte Text: This stock is finely coated with a non-gloss finish. It provides an excellent opaque base for easy to read, crisp typography. Standard Uses: Brochures, Catalog Inserts, and Flyers, etc.

80# Gloss Cover: As a "cover" stock, this paper is stiff, about like a postcard or baseball card. This stock is coated with a glossy finish, making photographs and other images look beautiful. Standard uses: durable, heavy-weight Brochures, Catalog Covers, Product Spec Sheets.

100# Uncoated Cover: An option for business cards, rack cards and bookmarks. This bright white smooth #1 grade cover stock is 14 pt in thickness and matches the 70# text-weight stock we use for letterhead and envelopes.

120# Gloss Cover: We use this stock exclusively for postcards, business cards and rack cards. The glossy, coated finish makes photographs and other images look beautiful. 12 pt thickness.

70# Uncoated Text: We use 70# Lustre for stationery and envelopes and 70# Cougar Opaque Offset on calendars and newsletters. These uncoated (non-glossy) white stocks are guaranteed safe for desktop laser printing. Many common stationery stocks are not appropriate for 4-color printing, so we have selected these for best results. Feels thick and substantial in your hands.

24# Uncoated and 28# Uncoated: This is a standard stock commonly used for envelopes, also called White Wove. The 28# is thicker and heavier than the 24#.

10-point C1S: A Bristol stock, gloss coated on the outside and uncoated on the inside. Used for Greeting Cards.

Aircell: a space created by forming a substrate into a shape to provide protection in a package.

Acetate Window: clear film covering a die-cut opening.

Applique: an secondary layer of material joined over an existing substrate that creates a multi-level finish.

Angle Ring: binder ring metal that appears like a backwards "D".

Aqueous Coating: a clear liquid topcoat applied to a printed sheet.

Assemble: to set up and finish into a fully completed format.

Bleach: a process used in paper making to whiten paper. Also a reference as to the whiteness of the paper.

Bleach/Oyster: corrugate term referring to the color of a sheet: bright white one side, egg shell white the other.

Bleach/Kraft: corrugate term referring to the color of a sheet that’s bright white one side, brown kraft the other.

Blind Emboss: the registration of an embossed area to a printed area. (see embossing)

Board: a generic term referring to the substrate.

Boosters: triggers at the ends of the ring metal that assist the opening of the ring.

C1S: paper coated one side.

C2S: paper coated 2 sides.

Caliper: the thickness of material measured in thousands of an inch often referred to as "points".

Capacity Pocket: a pocket formed with a double score along each side, to create a spine that gives the pocket a greater thickness, and capacity, than a flat pocket.

Cast Coated: Paper with a high-gloss clay coating that can rival the gloss of a photograph.

Cavity: recessed area of a package used to house an item (CD, VHS, promotional item, etc.).

Chipboard: a paperboard substrate, normally recycled and used primarily in consumer packaging.

Combo Form: a print form that combines more than one item for print and finishing.

Consignee: the party that is receiving goods.

Corrugate: flat paper joined together with a fluted medium or middle using starch and steam. (double face board).Can be flexo-printed, silk screened or litho labeled.

Corrugation Direction: the running direction of the flute or center of the material.

Corrugate Medium: the fluted or wave portion in the middle of a corrugate sheet.

Crease: a score or impression in a substrate that facilitates folding and bending.

Deboss: an area on a sheet that has a depression created using an engraved tool and a die-press.

Deckle Edge: feathered edge of a specialty paper.

Die-Cut: the process of cutting a material into its finished shape using a steel rule cutting die and a die press.

Discturnkey: The trades mark for Discturnkey Solution Co., Limited. It is the leading manufacturer of CD&DVD products in China.

E-Flute: corrugate material 1/169 thick.

Emboss: a raised area of the sheet created using an engraved tool and a die-press.

EPS: Expanded Poly Styrene. Styrene foam blocks are hotwire-cut to create inserts used to support the structure of a dimensional package.

Expandable Pocket: a flat pocket that can become a capacity pocket using a z-fold design technique.

F.O.B.: Freight On Board. The payment point on a freight shipment. "F.O.B. Destination" indicates the shipper is paying the transportation costs through to the final destination. "F.O.B. shipping point" means freight costs are not being paid by the shipper. "F.O.B." can be followed by a zip code, which is the point to which the shipper is paying the freight.

Film Lamination: a layer of polypropylene or polyester that is applied to a printed sheet. It is available is gloss, matte, satin or a metallic finish.

Finishing: the process of converting a sheet into its final form.

Flaps: material extending off the ends of various panels on a package.

Flute: the wave or center section of a corrugate sheet. Available in several thicknesses: E is 1/169,B is 1/89, C is 3/169,

Foil Stamp: the flat application and transfer of foil to a substrate using heat and pressure. This graphic technique can be used in conjunction with debossing or embossing.

Fulfillment: collating, inserting ,and loading materials into a package for bulk shipment or mailing.

Gloss Lamination: see Lamination.

Grain: the fiber direction in a sheet of paper.

Gusset: a flat panel with a center score that expands to a given width. Gussets can be pushed in or out in manufacturing and should be specified at the time of order.

Hidden Hinge: a 3rd piece of vinyl that is sealed to the outside of a binder without the hinge bars.

Hinge: a score or crease that is used to open and close a panel.

Hook and Loop: generic term for Velcro.

Hot Melt: an extremely durable and reliable adhesive used in the construction of a package.

Hotwire: a technique for cutting and shaping EPS foam.

Inner Packing: materials used to position, support and protect an object inside its package.

KD: knocked down flat.

Kraft: paper color; natural kraft has a characteristic light brown appearance.

Lamination: (see also Film Lamination) the application of litho label to a corrugate sheet using a cold adhesive and pressure.

Laminator: a machine that applies film lamination to paperboard.

Litho-Label: usually a 80# or 100# C1S stock that is printed and applied with adhesive to an E-flute corrugated sheet. Film lamination is required to prevent cracking on folding scores.

Locking Tabs: tabs used in packaging for closure. They may be passive for re-opening a package, or positive for mailing or more permanent applications.

Machinable: the ability to automatically glue, die cut or finish a package.

Pallet/Palletize: a wooden deck-like structure for loading boxes onto for storage or shipping.

Panel: the face or side of a package.

Paperboard: solid fiber board used for making packaging.

Plant Load: a US Postal term: certification that allows manufacturing companies to mail packages or flats directly from their facilities into a US Postal vehicle, bypassing the local post office.

Score: an impression or crease in a substrate that is used for folding or bending.

Slip-sheet: to insert a material between two packages to prevent abrasion and scratching in shipping. Un-printed newsprint is often used.

Slit: a cut made in a substrate without removing any material.

Slot: a cut made in a substrate that does remove material.

Substrate: the core material (i.e.: corrugate or paperboard) used in a printing, finishing or packaging process.

Super Panel: a panel or page of a package that is printed on one side, but folded onto itself, presenting graphics on both sides.

Tuck Tabs: tabs that extend off a panel and are tucked into a mated slit; often used to close a package.

Turned Edge: litho-label wrapped over a fiber or chipboard edge, for instance on a slipcase, to provide a more finished appearance.

Window: an area cut out of a panel. Can be covered in cello.

About the Author

entertainment supply chain management in China

My gf and I got into a fist fight at Denny's because she stuck her hand in my plate, can she press charges?

She can press charges but you already know that. You can go to jail and you can be forced to take an anger management program. But if she does not press charges then you should get into an anger management program because you really do need to learn how to control your anger.

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