Odisha CHSE +2 Vocational Printing Technology key terms

The art and technique of arranging type so that written language becomes readable and visually effective, covering choice of typeface, size, spacing and layout for print.

A complete group of related typefaces sharing one design but differing in weight, width or slant, such as regular, bold and italic versions of the same letterform.

The standard unit of measurement for type, where one point equals approximately 0.353 millimetres and twelve points make one pica, used to specify type size and leading.

The vertical distance from one baseline of text to the next, traditionally created by inserting strips of lead, controlling how tightly or loosely lines of type sit.

Adjustment of space between individual pairs of characters so that combinations such as AV or To appear evenly spaced, improving the visual rhythm of set text.

Uniform adjustment of spacing across a whole word, line or block of text, used to loosen or tighten the overall fit rather than the gap between two letters.

A reproduction technique that converts continuous-tone images into patterns of dots of varying size, which the eye blends into apparent shades of grey or colour.

The number of halftone dot rows or cells per unit length, usually expressed in lines per inch or centimetre, determining how much fine detail a printed image can hold.

A digital picture built from a rectangular grid of pixels, each holding colour values, whose quality depends on resolution and which can show jagged edges when enlarged.

An image described mathematically by points, lines and curves rather than pixels, so it can be scaled to any size without loss of sharpness, ideal for logos and type.

The amount of detail an image or output device can record, stated as pixels per inch for scans and screens or dots per inch for printers and imagesetters.

The arrangement of individual pages on a large press sheet so that after printing, folding and trimming they fall into the correct reading order in the finished product.

Small crosshair or target symbols placed outside the trim area on each separation so the printer can align all colour plates precisely during makeready and running.

A prepress technique of slightly overlapping adjacent colour areas so that small misalignments on press do not leave unprinted white gaps or hairlines between them.

A relief printing process in which raised inked surfaces of type or plates are pressed directly onto paper, leaving a characteristic slight indentation in the sheet.

A planographic process where ink transfers from a plate to a rubber blanket and then to paper, relying on the mutual repulsion of oil-based ink and water.

A rotary relief process using flexible photopolymer plates and low-viscosity liquid inks, widely used for packaging films, corrugated board, labels and newspapers.

An intaglio process in which tiny cells engraved into a metal cylinder carry ink that is doctored off the surface and transferred to the substrate under pressure.

A stencil process where ink is forced through open mesh areas of a stretched fabric screen onto the substrate, suited to thick ink films and irregular surfaces.

The thick rubber-covered cylinder that receives ink from the offset plate and transfers it to paper, also cushioning the printing nip and absorbing some pressure.

The part of an offset press that applies a thin, even film of fountain solution to the non-image areas of the plate to keep them ink-repellent.

A finely engraved ceramic or metal roller in flexographic presses whose cells meter a precise, uniform volume of liquid ink onto the printing plate.

A rubber or polyurethane blade that travels across a screen printing mesh, pushing ink through the open stencil areas while wiping the rest clean.

The force exerted between press cylinders at the printing nip, which must be set correctly so ink transfers fully without crushing dots or distorting the sheet.

The mass of paper expressed in grams per square metre, the standard measure of substance used to classify and specify paper for a given print job.

The thickness of a sheet of paper or board, usually measured in micrometres or thousandths of an inch with a micrometer under controlled pressure.

The relationship between thickness and weight of paper, indicating how stiff and bulky a sheet feels; bulky papers print thicker but weigh less per area.

The alignment of paper fibres, running either along the long or short side of the sheet, which affects folding, tearing and dimensional stability during printing.

A dilute mixture of water, gum arabic, acid or buffer and wetting agents applied to offset plates to keep non-image areas clean and ink-free.

A measure of a fluid's resistance to flow; in ink it governs how readily the ink travels through the press and how it behaves at the printing nip.

The stickiness or internal cohesion of an ink, determining how strongly it resists splitting between rollers and how it may pick fibres from paper.

A printing fault in which small fibres or coating particles are pulled from the paper surface by sticky ink, leaving visible white specks in printed solids.

A small ring-shaped or solid spot in a printed image caused by a particle of dust, dried ink or paper debris adhering to a plate or blanket.

The increase in halftone dot size during prepress, platemaking and printing, which darkens midtones and must be compensated for in colour management.

Incorrect alignment of two or more colour separations on the printed sheet, producing blurred edges, colour fringes or out-of-register image detail.

An instrument that measures the optical density of ink films or printed patches, used to monitor ink laydown and control consistency on press.

A device that measures colour by filtering reflected light through three broad channels, giving numeric values that can be compared against a standard target.

The science of quantifying colour by measuring light spectra or tristimulus values so that colours can be communicated, compared and reproduced consistently.

A folded sheet or group of pages that forms one section of a book, later gathered and bound with other signatures in the correct sequence.

The progressive outward shift of inner pages in a folded signature, caused by paper thickness, which must be compensated in trimming to keep margins equal.

A layer of clay, calcium carbonate or polymer applied to paper or printed surfaces to improve smoothness, gloss, ink holdout or scuff resistance.

A transparent protective or decorative coating applied over printed ink to add gloss, seal the surface or protect against abrasion and handling damage.

A finishing operation in which a shaped steel rule die cuts or scores the printed sheet into a custom outline such as a carton blank or label.

A binding method in which gathered pages have their spine edges trimmed and glued into a flexible cover, common for paperbacks and thick catalogues.

A binding method where folded signatures are nested over a saddle and fastened with wire staples along the fold, suited to thin booklets and magazines.

The preparation of a press before a production run, including mounting plates, setting ink and water, adjusting registration and pulling waste sheets until quality is right.

A safety procedure in which an energy source is isolated and physically locked before maintenance, preventing accidental start-up or release of stored energy.

A formal written authorisation issued before high-risk maintenance or repair tasks, recording hazards, precautions and the responsible persons involved.

A document supplied with chemicals such as inks, solvents and fountain solutions, listing hazards, handling precautions, first aid and emergency measures.

The sales volume at which total revenue equals total cost, so the business makes neither profit nor loss and every additional unit sold adds profit.

An expense that stays broadly the same regardless of how much is produced or sold in a period, such as rent, insurance or machinery depreciation.

A cost that rises or falls in direct proportion to output, such as paper, ink, plates, binding wire and direct labour for each job.

A priced quotation prepared for a customer before work begins, itemising materials, machine time, labour and overheads with an allowance for profit.