Printing Related Terms

Back up
Printing the reverse side of a printed sheet.

Blanket
The rubber sheet that covers the cylinder of a printing press.

Cyan
A light blue colour used in 4 colour process printing.

Chromolin Proof
A fast proofing method from film origination and uses powder instead of ink. The powder is sealed with a laminate.

Dot Gain
The amount the ink spreads or bleeds on the page or when making films or plates. This percentage is the amount you have to allow to obtain the optimum reproduction to match the original.

Four colour process
A standard printing method to achieve full colour using a combination of 4 colours, cyan, magenta, yellow and black.

Embossing
A finishing method using stamping dies that result in the image/type being raised above the paper surface.

Film
Transparent light sensitive acetate that contains the processed image from a computer file that is used to make a printing plate.

Hickies
Small particles of dirt on the plate or cylinder that usually result in a small solid area with a white halo on the printed matter.

Machine proof
A proof produced on a printing press that gives a close simulation to the final printed job.

Magenta
A colour used in 4 colour process printing.

Screen printing
A printing method in which ink is forced through a fine mesh than has the image imposed on or in which a stencil has been cut.