Glossary Of Terms
FAQs | Glossary Of Terms | How-To Articles
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— A —
Absorbency: The ability of a material
to take up moisture
Accordion Fold: A type of paper folding
in which each fold runs in the opposite direction
to the previous fold creating a pleated or accordion
affect.
Acetate: A transparent or translucent
plastic sheet material of a variety of colors,
used as a basis for artwork and overlays.
Achromatic: The non-colors... black,
white and gray.
Acid Resist: An acid-proof protective
coating applied to metal plates prior to etching
designs thereon. Bichromated solutions employed
in photoengraving as sensitizers provide acid
resist through the action of light on sensitized
surface.
Acrylic: A water-soluble polymer used
in paints to make them dry both tough and flexible.
Actinic Rays: Light exposure that affects
chemical changes in paper.
Additive Colors: In photographic reproduction,
the primary colors of red, green and blue which
are mixed to form all other colors.
Aerate: This refers to a manual process
whereby an air stream is blown onto paper sheets
to create a riffling effect that separates the
sheets as they are fed to the printing press.
Agate: A type size of 5 1/2 points. Reference,
agate line.
Agate Line: In newspaper classifieds,
a measurement denoting 1/4 inch depth by one column
width. 14 agate lines = one column inch.
Air: Large white areas in a design layout.
Airbrush: A compressed air tool that
dispenses a fine mist of paint or ink; used in
illustration and photo retouching.
Alignment: The condition of type and
or art materials as they level up on a horizontal
or vertical line.
Amberlith: 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.
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.
Antigua: An eleventh century Italian
script typeface.
Antiquarian: A handmade paper (53 x 31
inches), largest known handmade paper.
Antique Finish: Paper with a rough, sized
surface used for book and cover stock.
Antiskinning Agent: An antioxidant agent
used to prevent inks from skinning over in the
can.
Apron: The white area of text (or illustrations)
at the margins which form a foldout.
Aqua Tint: A printing process that uses
the recessed areas of the plate; ideal for graded
and even tones.
Aqueous Plate: Water soluble plate coatings,
which are less toxic and less polluting.
Arc Light: A light source produced by
the passing of electric current between two electrodes;
used in the production of plates in photolithography.
Arms: Those elements of letters that
branch out from the stem of a letter, such as:
"K" and "Y".
Arrowhead: A symbol shaped like an arrowhead
that is used in illustration to direct a leader
line. Reference, leader line
Art Paper: A paper evenly coated with
a fine clay compound, which creates a hard smooth
surface on one or both sides.
Art Work: Any materials or images that
are prepared for graphic reproduction.
Art-Lined Envelope: An envelope that
is lined with an extra fine paper; can be colored
or patterned.
Artwork: All illustrated material, ornamentation,
photos and charts etc., that is prepared for reproduction.
As To Press: In gravure printing, (recessed
areas of plate hold ink), a term used for proofs
showing the final position of color images.
ASA: A number set by the American Standards
Assoc., which is placed on film stock to allow
calculation of the length and "F" number
of an exposure. Reference, "F" numbers.
Ascender: Any part of a lower case letter
which rises above the main body of the letter
such as in "d", "b" and "h".
Assembled negative: Film negatives consisting
of line and halftone copy which are used to make
plates for printing.
Assembled view: In illustration, a term
used to describe a view of a drawing in its assembled
or whole format.
Author's Alterations (AA's): Changes
made after composition stage where customer is
responsible for additional charges.
Autochrome paper: Coated papers that
are regarded as exceptional for multi-colored
printing jobs.
Autolithography: A printing method whereby
the image is hand drawn or etched directly onto
lithography plates or stones.
Autopositive: Any photo materials which
provide positive images without a negative.
Azure: The light blue color used in the
nomenclature of "laid" and "wove"
papers.
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