Page Count:

Total number of pages in a book including blanks.

Page Makeup:

The electronic assembly of page elements to compose a complete page with all elements in place on a VDT.

Page Proof:

Proof of type and graphics as they will look on the finished page complete with elements such as headings, rules and folios.

Pagination:

In the book arena, the numbering of pages.

Painted Sheet:

Sheet printed with ink edge to edge, as compared to spot color. The painted sheet refers to the final product, not the press sheet, and means that 100 percent coverage results from bleeds off all four sides.

Pair Kerning:

Automatically kerning selected pairs of characters when they would otherwise be spaced too close or far apart. The font designer specifies characters that are pair-kerned.

Panel:

One page of a brochure, such as one panel of a rack brochure. One panel is on one side of the paper. A letter-folded sheet has six panels, not three.

PANTONE Colors:

A color system of over 1200 standard colors developed by Pantone.

Paper Plate:

A printing plate made of strong and durable paper in the short run offset arena (cost effective with short runs).

papiNet:

Began in Europe, in efforts to automate paperwork between paper companies and their customers, printers, and print buyers. It is based on using the Internet as a means of communication, and it seeks to standardize many transactions, including requests for quotes, order entry, order scheduling, order status, etc.

Parent Sheet:

Any sheet larger than 11' x 17' or A3.

Paste-up:

The process of manually adhering artwork, galleys and other type to a pasteboard or other substrate. The bonding agent is usually hot wax or adhesive.

Paste Board:

The physical substrate, usually composed of a stiff paper board, used for composing camera ready artwork.

PCS (Profile Connection Space):

A reference color space is a device-independent theoretical color model used by a CMM (color engine) for translating colors from one device's gamut to another. The CIE Lab is an example of a Reference Color Space. This component is built into the CMM; it is neither alterable nor visible to users; also Reference Color Space (RCS).

PDF (Portable Document File):

Acronym for Portable Document Format, the PDF file format created by Adobe Systems, Inc. uses the PostScript printer description language and is highly portable across computer platforms. PDF documents are created with Adobe Acrobat or other programs and can be viewed with Adobe Acrobat Reader and other PDF reader programs.

PE:

Proofreader mark meaning printer error and showing a mistake by a typesetter, prepress service or printer as compared to an error by the customer.

Penetration:

The ability of a liquid (ink, varnish or solvent) to be absorbed into a substrate.

Perfect Binding:

A book binding process where pages are glued together and directly to the cover of the book.

Perfecting Press:

Press capable of printing both sides of the paper during a single pass. Also called duplex press and perfector.

Perf Marks:

On a "dummy" marking where the perforation is to occur.

Perforating:

Taking place on a press or a binder machine, creating a line of small dotted wholes for the purpose of tearing-off a part of a printed matter (usually straight lines, vertical or horizontal).

Periodic Reverse Plating:

A method of plating in which the current is reversed periodically. The cycles are usually no longer than a few minutes and may be much less.

pH:

A measurement of acid strength.

Phenolic:

A synthetic resin to improve the drying and gloss.

Phosphors:

Materials that emit light when irradiated by cathode rays, or when placed in an electric field. The quantity of visible light is proportional to the amount of excitation energy present.

Photocopy:

A mechanical printing process that uses a light sensitive printing element, electrostatic toner and a heating element to fuse the toner to the paper.

Photoelectric:

Pertaining to the electrical effects of light or other radiation— for example, emmision of electrons.

Photoengraving:

Engraving done using photochemistry.

Photo Initiator:

An additive in ultraviolet curable inks and coatings that acts as a catalyst when the ink or coating is exposed to ultraviolet light.

Photo Plate:

A light-sensitive printing plate. The plate is developed like film and then used on a printing press.

Photoreceptor

The cone   and rod shaped nuerons that cover the retina of the eye. Photoreceptors are excited by visible wavelengths, then send signals to the brain where the sensation of color is perceived.

Pica:

A unit of measure in the printing industry. A pica is approximately 0.166 in. There are 12 points to a pica.

Picking:

Partially dried ink or part of the substrate surface transferring from the substrate web to a roller. It occurs when the pulling force (tack) of ink is greater than the surface strength of the paper, whether coated or uncoated.

Pickle:

An acid solution used to remove oxides or other compounds from a metal surface by chemical or electrochemical action.

Pickup Art:

Artwork, used in a previous job, to be incorporated in a current job.

PICT/PICT 2:

A common format for defining bitmapped or object-oriented images on the Macintosh. The more recent format (PICT 2) supports 24-bit color.

Pigment:

(1.) Fine solid particles used to give color to printing inks. (2.) Coloring and opacifying materials used in paper coatings, such as refined clays, calcium carbonate and titanium dioxide.

Piling:

The build-up of ink on rollers, plates or blankets, instead of transferring readily. Also known as Caking.

Pinholing:

Small holes (unwanted) in printed areas because of a variety of reasons.

Pin Register:

Technique of registering separations, flats and printing plates by using small holes, all of equal diameter, at the edges of both flats and plates.

Pitot Tube:

A device for measuring the pressure created by air velocity.

Pixel (Picture Element):

The smallest distinct unit of a bitmapped image displayed on a screen. A single element or point in a picture. A monitor's image is made up of individual dots of light, or pixels. The resolution of a monitor is often described in terms of how many pixels it can display (e.g., 768 pixels vertically by 1028 pixels horizontally). A monitor resolution description in terms of pixels-per-inch (ppi) is similar to a printer resolution description in terms of dots-per-inch (dpi).

Planographic Printing:

Printing method whose image carriers are level surfaces with inked areas separated from noninked areas by chemical means. Planographic printing includes lithography, offset lithography and spirit duplicating.

Plasticizers:

Liquid or solid additives used to impart flexibility to a dry ink film or overprint varnish.

Plate:

Piece of paper, metal, plastic or rubber carrying an image to be reproduced using a printing press.

Platemaker:

(1) In quick printing, a process camera that makes plates automatically from mechanicals. (2) In commercial lithography, a machine with a vacuum frame used to expose plates through film.

Plate-Ready Film:

Final photographic film or other artwork used to "burn" printing plates. No additional paste-up or stripping should be required if artwork is actually plate ready.

Plating Range:

The current density range over which a satisfactor electroplate can be deposited.

PLI:

Abbreviation for Pounds per Lineal Inch. A unit of tension measurement expressed as the total force (in pounds) on the web in the machine direction (MD) divided by the width (in inches) of the web. Expressing tension in PLI allows comparison of typical tensions between various width webs or various web substrates. See the chart for Typical Recommended Running Tensions for Common Web Materials.

Plotter:

A device that exposes photographic film or paper, printing plates or cylinders in a sequential linear raster fashion.

PMS (Pantone Matching System):

A means of choosing and matching specific colors by assigned numbers. See also - Pantone Colors.

Point:

(1) Regarding paper, a unit of thickness equating 1/1000 inch. (2) Regarding type, a unit of measure equaling 1/12 pica and .013875 inch (.351mm).

Polarization:

The change in potential of an electrode during electrolysis.

Polar Solvents:

Solvents with oxygen in their molecule, such as water, alcohols, esters and ketones.

Polishing:

Smoothing of a metal surface by means of the action of abrasive particles attached to the surface of wheels of endless belts, usually driven at high speed.

Polymerization:

The union of molecules to form molecules of larger size. In the oxidation of drying oils, it is accompanied by the change from the liquid to the solid state.

Poor Trapping:

In printing, the condition in wet printing lithography when less ink transfers to a previously printed ink than to unprinted paper. The general problem is usually unsuitable ink tack, but can also be affected by the surface of the paper, the pH of the water and alcohol, improper blanket packing, oversensitive plates, ink of poor quality, incorrect ink sequence, etc.

Pores:

Discontinuities in a metal surface that extend through it.

Porosity:

A measure of the "openness" of a paper as determined by the spacing between the fibers.

Portrait:

A page whose width is shorter than its height.

Positive:

In photography and lithography, a film or print containing an image in which the light and dark values are the same as the original. The reverse would be a negative.

Post Bind:

To bind using a screw and post inserted through a hole in a pile of loose sheets.

Posterization:

The deliberate constraint of a gradation into limited, compressed steps as a special effect.

PostScript®:

A computer language licensed by Adobe Systems, Inc. that allows computer programs (Adobe Illustrator, Quark XPress, Aldus FreeHand, Aldus PageMaker) to describe complex text and graphic elements on a printed page. The biggest advantage of PostScript is that the information it creates can be understood on many different computer systems, as long as there is a PostScript Interpreter for that system. Abbreviated as PS.

Power Factor:

The ratio of actual power to apparent power.

PPI (Pixels Per Inch):

A measure of the amount of scanned information. The finer the optics of the scanner, the higher the scan resolution.

Prepress:

The various printing related preparation services performed before ink is applied to the printing press (et. al., scanning, "stripping" or placing the negatives, color separating, etc.)

Prepress Services:

The various steps necessary, up to final printing, to transform original copy and art into the form required for printing. Services include: (1) Color Proofing. Proofs made from the separate plates in color process work, showing the sequence of printing and the result after each additional color has been applied. (2) Digital Color Proofing. An off-press color proof produced from digital data without the need for separation films. (3) Image Manipulation. Custom alterations of digital images. (4) Imagesetter. A typesetting system that can process both text and images. (5) Scanning. Desktop, High-End, Mid-Range Electronic process used to make color and tone-corrected separations of images. (6) Scanner. A device that interprets the reflected light from a physical image and digitizes it so it can be stored on a computer. Using a scanner can eliminate the need for human contact with individual documents. (7) Thermal Dye Sublimation. Proof-making process where pigments are vaporized and float to desired proofing stock.

Press Check:

Event at which makeready sheets from the press are examined before authorizing full production to begin.

Press Proof:

An image printed before the production pressrun to verify that the desired effect can be achieved, using the production inks and production substrate. The pressrun may or may not be the one used for the production pressrun.

Pressroom:

Area where printing presses are located.

Pressrun:

The actual running of the press to print the job, immediately following the makeready.

Press Sheet:

The untrimmed, full-size sheet as it leaves the press.

Press Time

(1) Amount of time that one printing job spends on press, including time required for makeready. (2) Time of day at which a printing job goes on press.

Price Break:

Quantity at which unit cost of paper or printing drops.

Primary Colors:

Additive primaries are red, blue and green. The subtractive primaries are cyan, magenta and yellow. See also - Additive and Subtractive Primaries.

Primary Current Distribution:

The distribution of the current over the surface of an electrode, in the absence of polarization.

Printability:

The ability of a paper or substrate to produce an acceptable printed image, as distinguished from runnability, which deals only with the paper's ability to pass mechanically through the press.

Printed Gloss:

Reflection of brightness or luster from a printed surface.

Printing:

The process of applying ink to paper.

Printing Plate:

Surface carrying an image to be printed. Quick printing uses paper or plastic plates; letterpress, engraving and commercial lithography use metal plates; flexography uses rubber or soft plastic plates. Gravure printing uses a cylinder. The screen printing is also called a plate.

Print Quality:

The properties of paper that affect its appearance and the quality of the reproduction.

Print Queue:

A list of files that have been sent to a particular printer. The list includes the file currently printing and those waiting to be printed.

Print Station:

A workstation on which a printing operation is conducted.

Prism:

Triangular-shaped glass or other transparent material. When light is passed through a prism, its wavelengths refract light in such a manner that the visible spectrum can be seen.

Process Colors:

In printing, the subtractive primary process ink colors are cyan, magenta, yellow plus black in four color process printing. When viewed under a loupe, the individual color halftone dots are visible in a process color image. See also - CMYK.

Process Control:

Using densitometric and colorimetric measurement data from press sheet color bars to monitor press performance throughout the press run. Data is analyzed in relation to established control limits.

Process Printing:

The printing from a series of two or more plates containing halftones representing process colors in order to produce intermediate colors, shades and tones.

Product and Packaging Rotogravure Printing:

The production on a rotogravure press of any printed substrate not otherwise defined as publication rotogravure printing. This includes, but is not limited to, folding cartons, flexible packaging, labels and wrappers, gift-wraps, wall and floor coverings, upholstery, decorative laminates, and tissue products.

Production Run:

Press run intended to manufacture products as specified, as compared to makeready.

Progressive Proof:

(Also called a “progressive”) A series of color proofs that include the finished four-color proof, a three color proof, each individual process color and two-color combinations of each process ink, which makes it possible to see each combination of colors separately. Progressive proofs are printed with ink-on-paper and used for process control when visually compared to the press sheet.

Proof:

In graphic arts, a colored material, substrate or dye used to simulate the subtractive printing primaries of cyan, magenta and yellow and also includes black, as well as the other colors. The colors used in these proof materials should render process colors with no apparent hue error. When the proof colors are combined in registration they will show the approximate printing values, colors and hues of how an original will look when printed or compared to how the original looked.

Proofer:

A printing device used to simulate color achieved on press. A service bureau uses proofers to create images as contracts (also called a contract proof) to match in the final output from the offset press. Traditional analog proofers create prints from the actual separation negatives. Examples of these kinds of proofs are MatchPrint, Fuji Color Art, or Chromalins. Newer digital proofers and proofs are becoming more popular. These proofers do not use the film used for the final print job. Instead, they simulate color using ink-jet, dye-sublimation, or other technology.

Proofing:

The technique of making a proof, the visual impression of the expected final reproduction. There are many proofing methods depending on the type of proof that is needed. The most common types of proofs are contract proof, DDCP, digital proof, hard proof, off-press, overlay color proof, position proof, press proof, prog, single sheet color proof and soft proof.

Proofreader Marks:

Standard symbols and abbreviations used to mark up manuscripts and proofs. Also called correction marks.

Proprietary Solvent Alcohol:

A completely denatured ethyl alcohol, mixed to government specifications and sold by vendors under a trade name.

Psychological Aspects of Color:

Individual perception of color is not directly measurable by the human eye. Subjective interpretations of color can differ in matters such as light wavelength, amount of hue, saturation, and brightness. Therefore, printers measure color and ink thickness with densitometers.

PTE: Permanent Total Enclosure:

An area segregated from the environment for safety, health, or customer consideration.

Publication Rotogravure Printing:

The production on a rotogravure press of the following saleable paper products: (1) Catalogues, including mail order and premium, (2) Direct mail advertisements, including circulars, letters, pamphlets, cards, and printed envelopes, (3) Display advertisements, including general posters, outdoor advertisements, car cards, window posters; counter and floor displays; point of purchase and other printed display material, (4) Magazines, (5) Miscellaneous advertisements, including brochures, pamphlets, catalog sheets, circular folders, announcements, package inserts, book jackets, market circulars, magazine inserts, and shopping news, (6) Newspapers, magazine and comic supplements for newspapers, and preprinted newspaper inserts, including hi-fi and spectacolor rolls and sections, (7) Periodicals, and (8) Telephone and other directories, including business reference services.

Pulldown:

Ink testing procedure, conducted by spreading ink on a substrate sample with a rod or K-coater, by hand or by mechanical means. Also known as Drawdown.

Purple Boundary:

The line in a chromaticity diagram that represents additive mixtures of monochromatic stimuli of wavelengths.