Lithographic

Offset lithography is mainly suited to printing illustrated work on a broad range of papers upto 350gsm and it is the main process for most types of printed matter on paper. Lithographic printing is ideal for:

  • Promotional literature, brochures and illustrated books
  • Magazines, newspapers, directories and catalogues
  • Printed stationery and forms
  • Security documents
  • Sheet labels and folding boxboard cartons
  • Spot colours, metallics and pastel colours

Digital

These are just some of the benefits of choosing digital print at Swallowtail Print

  • Our digital print facilities can produce finished material much faster than lithographic printing
  • We can print different versions of the same project within a single print-run, for example, variable data printing
  • We can personalise printed material with names, addresses or other relevant information – all at the same time

Simply tell us your needs and we’ll help you decide the best and most cost-effective printing method.

4:0 or 4:1 or 4:4 etc

Refers to the number of colours used per side. Can be referred to as four back zero / four back one / four back four.

4 Colour Process

Technique of printing that uses the four process colours of ink to simulate colour photographs or illustrations. See CMYK.

4pp

A product that has four pages and usually consists of a sheet folded in half. The 'outside right cover' is the first page, the 'inside' forms pages two and three, and the fourth page is the 'outside left cover'. For instance, an A4 sheet folded in half becomes an A5 4pp brochure.

4pp A4

A product where an A3 sheet is folded in half to create a multi-page A4 product. The first page is the outside right front cover, the second page is the inside left, the third page is the inside right, and the fourth page is the outside left cover. It is also known as double A4.

6pp

A product that has six pages and usually consists of a sheet folded into thirds. Each of the six panels are referred to as pages. For instance, an A4 page folded into three becomes a 6pp DL brochure.

8pp

A product that has eight pages and usually consists of a sheet folded into quarters. Each of the eight panels are referred to as pages. For instance, an over-sized A4 page folded into four becomes an 8pp DL brochure.

- A -

Abrasion Resistance

The resistance to scratching or scuffing of a surface of paper

Resistance to frictional rubbing as distinct from resistance to knocks and impacts. Abrasion tests may be made by means of the finger alone, or with a cloth or a pad with or without a mildly abrasive powder. The pressure, speed and time of rubbing as well as the character of the rubbing agent should be controlled when making comparisons of abrasion resistance.

Accordion Fold

A type of paper folding in which each fold of a brochure runs in the opposite direction to the previous fold of the brochure creating an accordion affect

Acetate

A thin flexible, clear or translucent plastic sheet material of a variety of colours used as an overlay usually

Additive Colours

In photographic reproduction the primary colours of red, green, and blue which are mixed to form all other colours. Also known as RGB

Adhesive Binding

Style of unsewn binding in which the backs of gathered sections are cut off and the leaves are held together at the binding edge by glue. Also referred to as perfect bound.

Aerate

This refers to a process whereby air is blown onto paper sheets to separate the sheets

Against the grain

At right angles to the grain direction of paper.

Agate

Type size of 5 ½ points

Airbrush

A compressed air tool that dispenses a fine mist of ink; used in illustration and photo retouching software to create effects

Alley

Space between columns of type on a page.

Alteration

Change in copy or specifications made after production has begun.

Amberlith

Was used in laying film and stripping. Red-orange acetate used for masking mechanicals when photographing for plates. The Amberlith area appears black to the camera, and prints clear on the resulting film. Not used much anymore

Anodized Plate

In lithography, a plate manufactured with a barrier of aluminum oxide, which prevents chemical reactions that break down the plate; it provides optimum press performance and can carry very small dot %'s

Antique Finish

Paper with a rough surface

Antiskinning Agent

An antioxidant agent used to prevent inks from skinning over in the can or on press

Aqueous Coating

Water soluble coating that protects ink and enables quick handling of piece. Comes in gloss, satin, and dull-Usually done in-line

Aqueous Plate

Water soluble plate coatings, which are less toxic and less polluting which enables quick handling of paper and high level of gloss

Art Board/Paper

A term used for coated papers

Art Work

Any materials or images which are prepared for graphic reproduction and can be produced manually or by software

Art-Lined Envelope

An envelope that is lined with fine paper; can be colored patterned or foiled

Artwork

The images/text that are to be printed (usually supplied digitally as a PDF). As a general rule, artwork should be supplied as a high resolution PDF at 300 dpi, with crop marks and 3mm bleed.

ASCII

Acronym for American Standard Code for Information Interchange, a standard code used to help interface digital equipment.

A-Sizes

The most common paper sizes used for stationery, leaflets and other publications

A0 - 841 x 1189 mm
A1 - 594 x 841 mm
A2 - 420 x 594 mm
A3 - 297 x 420 mm
A4 - 210 x 297 mm
A5 - 148.5 x 210 mm
A6 - 105 x 148.5 mm
A7 - 74 x 105 mm
A8 - 52 x 74 mm
A9 - 37 x 52 mm
A10 - 26 x 37 mm

Authors Amendments

Changes made by the customer, usually at the proofing stage. These are sometimes chargeable, as opposed to in-house errors which are not

Author or Customer Alterations (AA, CA's)

Changes made after the proof stage where a customer is responsible for additional charges

- B -

Back Lining

The fixing of material, either paper or cloth, to the inside of a book before it is bound. Can be colored, textured or finishes

Back to Back

Printing applied to both side of a sheet of paper

Backbone

The spine of the binding which connects the front of the book with the back of the book; also called back or spine

Background

Image that appears faintest and the type is usually printed over the background and used as effect

Back slant

Type that tilts to the left of backward direction; opposite of italic type, which is to the right

Back Up

To print on the reverse of a sheet which has already been printed on one side

Banding

Method of packaging printed pieces using paper, rubber, or fiberglass bands.

Banner

The top primary headline usually spanning the entire width of a page. Used to draw eye or grab attention

Base

The support onto which printing plates are fixed and is usually metal

Base Film

The foundation material onto which the film positives are stripped for making printing plates and becomes obsolete and was used primarily in the stripping process

Base Line

Term used to describe the imaginary horizontal line upon which stand capitals, lower case letters, punctuation points, etc.

Base Size

Standard size of paper stock; even though it is required size may be smaller or larger. It is different for types of paper, book and cover weight

Basis Weight

Basis weight refers to the weight, in pounds, of a ream (500 sheets) of paper cut to standard size for that particular paper grade and varies based on coated, uncoated, book and cover

Bed

The steel flat table of a cylinder printing press upon which the type or die sits during the printing process

Bible Paper

A thin but strong paper (opaque)

Binder's Board

A heavy paperboard with a cloth covering that is used for hardback or case back binding of books.

Bindery

Print shop department or separate business that does trimming, folding, binding, and other finishing tasks.

Binding

Various methods of securing folded sections together and or fastening them to a cover, to form single copies of a book. Used on a spine.

Adhesive Binding

Style of unsewn binding in which the backs of gathered sections are cut off and the leaves are held together at the binding edge by glue. Also referred to as perfect bound.

Burst Binding

Method of unsewn adhesive binding widely used on paperbacks. The back fold is burst through (nicked) in short lengths during folding so that the glue can reach each leaf as well as section without having to remove the usual 3mm as in perfect binding, unless PUR glue is utilised.

Due to the fact that each leaf and section is adhered with the glue, burst binding is considered to be a more robust form of binding than perfect binding.

As folded sheets are required to burst through, this method of binding does not lend itself to digital print processes.

Comb Bind

To bind by inserting the teeth of a flexible plastic comb through holes punched along the edge of a stack of paper.

Loose Leaf

Single sheets of paper or board bound together in a ring or similar device, which allows for easy removal or addition of pages.

Perfect Binding

An adhesive form of binding. Signatures that are folded will have a section of spine cut off with the back edge rougheed, glue will then be applied and the cover attached.

As perfect binding is able to utilise loose sheets, it is a suitable method for binding digitally produced work also. Perfect binding does not have the same robustness which a burst bound book offers, unless PUR glue has been used. PUR glue will create a bound book of similar robustness to that of a sewn book.

Spiral Bind

A form of binding using a spiral of continuous wire or plastic looped through punched holes in the documents back margin. This can be either metal or plastic.

Saddle Stitched

A form of binding that uses staple shaped wires through the middle fold of collated sheets. In saddle stitched work that printed sections are inserted one inside the other on a saddle before stapling along the back fold.

Although dependent on the stock weight, ideally most suitable for books with fewer that 80 pages.

Wire-O Binding (or Wiro)

A metal preformed binding, which is clamped through a series of punched holes on the binding edge.

Wire-O offers a variety of cover options, most common are:

-Standard Binding – separate front and back covers.

-Full Canadian – partially hidden wiro is exposed on front and back cover.

-Half Canadian – wiro is exposed on the back cover.

-Easel – a free standing triangular cover.

Samples of wire-o binding methods are illustrated below:

/ Standard Wiro Binding
Most common cover style. Separate front and back covers. Opens easily back to back.
/ Full Canadian Wiro (Square Back)
The partially hidden wiro is exposed on the front and back cover. Flat spine allows for easy identification.
/ Half Canadian Wiro (Back Cover Bind)
The partially hidden wiro is exposed on the back cover. Flat spine allows for easy identification.
/ Cased In Wiro
Standard wiro pasted into a hard case with all the advantages of opening.
/ Reverse Wiro Binding
Allows for an expandable inside cover where a large spread image is important. The binding is hidden and the spine is flat. Back flap can be pasted down or left free.
/ Catalogue/PublishersWiro
An intriguing one-piece cover style that opens “in reverse”, creating a flat spine for identification.
/ Concealed Wiro (Pasted Back)
Wiro bound insert is pasted inside a one-piece, flat spine cover. Binding is concealed. The spine can be printed.
/ Easel Wiro
A free-standing, triangular cover. Pages flip easily.
/ Calendar Wiro
The best way to bind wall or desk calendars – with or without a hanger and or thumb cut. Pages always

The advantages of wiro binding are:

-Pages turn easily.

-Sheets will also stay flat whenever the book is opened (impossible with gluing or stitching).

-Back to back opening without ever damaging the spine.

-Secure retention of pages.

-Perfect registration – ideal for overlays and double page spreads.

-Different materials and thickness can be combined anywhere in the book.

-Easy removal or replacement of sheets.

-Virtually no size restrictions.

Sewn With Drawn On Cover

Providing that extra robustness when required. A paper or board book cover that is attached to a sewn book block by gluing the spine and then trimmed to final size.

In producing the sewn book block, after gathering of signatures, the sewing machine inserts threads through the spine of each section and then uses further thread to join the sections to each other to form the book block.

Sewn books will generally tend to lie flatter when opened as opposed to a burst, perfect or saddle bound book.

PUR gluing will provide similar results to that of a sewn booklet.

Black

Ink that is one of the process colours. Also known as K in CMYK.

Blanket

On offset presses a fabric-reinforced sheet of rubber to transfer the impression from the plate onto the impression cylinder.

Blanket to Blanket Press

A printing method in which there are two blanket cylinders thought which a sheet of paper is passed and printed on both sides. Used on smaller presses or duplicators.

Blanket Cylinder

Cylinder of a press on which the blanket is mounted.

Bleed

Where the image to be printed extends (usually by 3mm) over the crop marks. This makes trimming easier and means the finished documents will run to the edges

Blind Emboss

Raising of the image on paper using a die and counter die with no ink involved.

Blind Embossing

Raising of images that are not inked or gold leafed.

Blind Folio

Page number not printed on page.

Blind Image

A problem that arises in the lithography process when an image loses it ink receptivity and fails to print.

Blind Emboss

A type of embossing where no ink is used. Instead, the design or text is only visible as a raised area on the paper/card. Also see debossing which has the opposite effect

Block

Illustrations or line are etched into zinc or cooper plates mounted to wood and used in letterpress printing.

Block Foiling

Where a design is stamped into the cover, usually in a metallic foil.

Blow-up

Enlargement of photos, copies or line art.

Blue-Line

Photographic proof made from flats for checking accuracy, layout and imposition before plates are made. Becoming obsolete.

Board paper

Grade of paper commonly used for file folders, display, and postcards.

Boldface

Type that has a heavier stroke that makes it more bold.

Bond

A grade of durable writing, printing and typing paper that has a standard size of 17 x 22 inches. Used in business correspondence. Strong, uncoated paper often used for stationery

Book

A general classification to describe papers used to print books bookweight; its standard size is 25 x38 inches. A printed work that contains mare than 64 pages. Can be bound in a number of ways.

Bookbinder

Alternate term for Trade Bindery.

Bristol Board

A board paper of various thickness; having a smooth finish and used for printing and drawing.

Brocade

A heavily embossed paper.

Brochure

A pamphlet to convey or promote message.

Bronzing

A printing method whereby special ink is applies to sheets and then a powder is applied producing a metallic effect. Particles will come off on hand or in printers.

B-Sizes

Larger than A-sizes, most sheet-fed print presses take these paper sizes. It then allows for trimming to A-sizes

B0 - 1000 × 1414 mm
B1 - 707 × 1000 mm
B2 - 500 × 707 mm
B3 - 353 × 500 mm
B4 - 250 × 353 mm
B5 - 176 × 250 mm
B6 - 125 × 176 mm
B7 - 88 × 125 mm
B8 - 62 x 88 mm
B9 - 44 × 62 mm
B10 - 31 × 44 mm

Buckle Folder

A piece of binding machinery with rollers that fold the paper.

Bulk

Thickness of paper measured in Microns (thousandths of an inch or pages per inch – ppi), as opposed to the weight (see GSM)

Bullet

A boldface square or dot used before a sentence to emphasize its importance.

Burn

A term used in plate making to describe applying light to "burn" the image onto plate.

Burnish

A term used for the process of "rubbing down" lines and dots on a printing plate.

Burst Binding

Method of unsewn adhesive binding widely used on paperbacks. The back fold is burst through (nicked) in short lengths during folding so that the glue can reach each leaf as well as section without having to remove the usual 3mm as in perfect binding, unless PUR glue is utilised.

Due to the fact that each leaf and section is adhered with the glue, burst binding is considered to be a more robust form of binding than perfect binding.

As folded sheets are required to burst through, this method of binding does not lend itself to digital print processes.

Butt

To join without overlapping or space between.

Butt fit

Ink colours overlapped only a hairline so they appear perfectly butted.

- C -

C1S

Paper coated on one side.

C2S

Paper coated on both sides.

CS

Graphics software

Caliper

The measurement of thickness of paper expressed in thousandths of an inch or mils.

Camera Ready

A term given to any copy, artwork etc., that is prepared for photographic reproduction. Can be manually created or created on computer.

Caps & Lowercase

Instructions in the typesetting process, that indicate the use of a capital letter and the rest of the letters in lower case.