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