Glossary Of Terms Used In Printing And Publishing
The magazine publishing industry relies on terminology that may come across as confusing to our advertisers, so we’ve put together a glossary of definitions and terms we hope will prevent some of that confusion. We understand that it may not answer all of your concerns, but it’s an excellent starting point!
Quick Search
A
AA (Author’s Alterations)
An author’s change in copy or specifications made after production.
Adobe Illustrator
Vector-based design software used in the creation of illustrations, logos, typography/typographics, maps, etc. Adobe Illustrator (or “Illustrator,” as it is called) is considered the industry standard. Artwork can be saved as a stand-alone Illustrator document, or imported into Adobe Indesign or opened in Adobe Photoshop. You will however lose editing capabilities once opened in Photoshop.
Adobe InDesign
Industry standard page layout software used in the creation of magazines, newspapers, books, brochures, posters and various other publications. Indesign can be utilized as a “meeting place” for graphics and photos imported from Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. Can also be used as a word processor.
Adobe Photoshop
A raster-based image-editing application used to edit and save images and photos. Adobe Photoshop is considered the industry standard for image editing. Images can be saved in a variety of formats for various needs, (.psd, .jpeg, .tiff, .bmp, etc)
Alley
The space between columns of type/text on a page.
Application Software
A computer program or software designed to perform specific tasks. Broad examples of computer applications are word processing and graphics programs such as Microsoft Word, Quark Xpress and Adobe Illustrator.
Artwork
Illustrative material, paste-up or mechanical. Images including type and photos, prepared for printing.
ASCII
Acronym for American Standard Code for Information Interchange, a standard code used to help interface digital equipment.
B
Backup
The process of copying a file or program in the event the original is damaged, lost or unavailable.
Back Matter
Material that follows the main content sections of a magazine. In some magazines or other periodicals, these can include content like an appendix, glossary, or a bibliography, just as they might appear at the back of a book. For example, scholarly magazines and literary reviews sometimes do this.
Banner
In online periodicals, this may be an image with a headline and accompanying ad or callout copy. Within the discipline of typography, however, any large headline can be called a banner, especially when spanning the width of the page.
Baseline
The invisible horizontal line upon which the “feet” of the characters on a line of type are set. This line is used for proper alignment of type.
Bind
To fasten sheets or signatures and adhere covers with glue, wire, thread, or by other means.
Bindery
Print shop department or separate business that does trimming, folding, binding and other finishing tasks.
Binding and Finishing
A “back-end” printing production process that usually takes place after the job has been printed and trimmed. Documents are collated and bound (stapled, glued, saddle-stitched or perfect-bound.) The finishing process includes trimming, (which can also take place after being bound) die-cutting, scoring or embossing.
Bitmap
A digital image made up of dots. In the simplest form of a bitmap, each dot is either on (white) or off (black) and is stored as a single “bit” of information in the computer’s memory.
Blanket
A specially-designed synthetic rubber mat which is implemented in offset lithography. It’s used to transfer (i.e., “offset”) an image from a metal plate to a paper surface.
Bleed
Bleed occurs when the image extends to the edge of a page or printed sheet, without showing a white border (thus “bleeding” off the edge of the page.) Images are set to extend beyond the final trim size of a page by anywhere from .125” to .25” . The excess trimmed part of the sheet containing the portion that was cut off is known as the “trim”.
Bleed Marks
Horizontal and vertical lines placed at each corner of an uncut sheet, that indicate where the blades of a cutter will fall when trimming the document.
Block Quote
Four or more lines quoted within the body of the text layout, set apart to help the reader more clearly discern the author’s words from the words the author is quoting. Blocked quotes are indented on both left and right sides well inside of the right and left margins or page edges.
Block-Style Paragraphs
(“Block Type” or “Block Text”) Within the discipline of typography, paragraphs that are set without indents are typically known as block text, as they form solid rectangular-shaped blocks.
Blow-Up
To enlarge photographically. Such an enlargement is called a “blow-up.”
Blueline
A blue-toned photoprint produced from film negatives or positives, digital proofing methods or sometimes directly from a plate that was produced using computer-to-plate technology.
Body Text
An article’s main text, usually set at a size anywhere from 9-12 points.
Bond Paper
Grade of paper commonly used for writing, printing and photocopying.
Bullet
A centered dot marking the beginning of a line or paragraph.
Butt-Registration
When two colors line up flush against one another with no white space or overlap.
Byline
The line in an article or editorial (usually following the headline/title or subhead) that identifies its author.
C
Callout
A visual design element which is used to highlight a specific piece of information not contained in the main body of an article. Callouts are usually smaller than a typical sidebar and may involve text, graphics, or both. In layout design, they normally allow an online reader to click to another web page to take an action, such as branching off to a new browser tab to subscribe to the online magazine they’re reading.
Camera-Ready
A finished and approved layout requiring no further work, and is ready to proceed with printing. The terms “camera ready art” and “camera ready copy” are used interchangeably.
Cap Height
Within the larger discipline of typography, the cap height is simply the distance from the baseline of the text characters to the top of the capital letters on such a line.
Character
A letter, numeral, punctuation symbol, mathematical sign or any other symbol normally created by pressing a key(s) on a keyboard.
CMYK
The abbreviation for the four process colors (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black) used in full color (four-color/process) printing. Varying percentages are mixed together to produce a wide range of colors. “K” is used to stand for black and to avoid confusion with blue. In printing, we use CMYK, web and digital utilizes RGB (Red, Blue and Green.)
Coated Paper
Paper with a coating of clay that improves ink holdout.
Color Bars
Small bars positioned outside of the printed area of a page, in each of the process colors and various tones of black. These instruments aid a printer in adjusting and maintaining ink density/consistent color quality as well as registration.
Color Break
In multi-color printing, the point or line at which one ink color stops and another begins.
Color Separation
The process by which the four process colors (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black) are separated into four separate plates or files. Each plate/file, when aligned on top of one another creates a full color image.
Color Swatch
Sample of an ink color.
Column
This is a vertical block of content positioned on the page. Margins flank the sides of columns to give them space or “breathing room and are often separated by gutters. Column formatting of a page’s text is generally considered to improve the readability of the text on the page, by providing shorter lines of running horizontal text to follow.
Columns also allow text to not appear as dense and time-consuming as it may actually be.
Comb Bind
To bind by inserting teeth of a flexible plastic comb through holes in a stack of paper.
Compression
The use of special coding techniques so that data can be stored more compactly in order to reduce the amount of room it takes to be transmitted via modem or other transmission method.
Condensed font (condensed type)
A font having narrower widths than the standard typeface. This is sometimes used to conserve space in a limited-space format.
Continuous Tone
A photographic image that has not been printed or reproduced via printing. Continuous tone images are composed of gradations in colors, and not halftone dots. A good example would be a photographic print versus an image taken from a magazine, or other printed publication. When magnified, halftone dots will be visible in the gradations of the printed piece, while a gradient in the photograph, would show a “continuous tone” of color.
Contrast
Tonal gradation in an image between highlights, mid-tones and shadows.
Copy
Any text that is to be utilized in a layout, including photos and graphics. Text will usually be saved in a word processing application such as Microsoft Word or Notepad, Indesign, Textedit, etc.) For an editor or typesetter, all written material. For a graphic designer or printer, everything that will be printed: art, photographs, and graphics as well as words.
Copyright
Protection available to the owner of a manuscript, piece of art or publication preventing others from making unfair use of it or profiting from it at the expense of the owner.
Crop
To eliminate portions of an illustration or photograph so the remainder is more clear, interesting or able to fit the layout.
Crop Marks
Horizontal and vertical lines/rules positioned at each corner of a page (or image) indicating the usable area, and where blade should fall in order to trim away the excess.
Cutline
Another term for a caption accompanying a photograph.
Cyan
One of the four process colors; also known as process blue.
D
Department
An article category that regularly appears in a magazine, departments often have a more consistent look from issue to issue.
Digital
Information that relies soley on Arabic numerals for expression. In computers, all information is processed in binary numerics (0 and 1) through on/off electrical impulses.
Digital Edition
An online version of a magazine that is converted into a web page, accommodating a wide range of devices (desktops/laptops, tablets and smartphones). In the past, a digital edition was merely the magazine in an electronic format such as a static pdf. Now, the process of creating a digital edition falls under what is called “responsive design.”
Dot Gain or Spread
An increase in the size of a halftone dot between its generated size and printing onto paper.
Download
The transfer of data from a computer or telecommunications network to another electronic device or storage medium.
Downrule
The vertical line placed between two columns of text to emphasize their separation.
DPI
Dots Per Inch. The measure of resolution in a halftone or printed image. It is also used to describe pixels per inch in a bitmapped image.
Dropcap
A large, one-letter, typographic design element used as the first character of the first word in the opening paragraph of an article or editorial. Drop caps extend or “drop” down, usually about 2-4 lines in the paragraph. It is a decorative element that aids in drawing the reader’s eye to the beginning of the article.
Duplicator
Small offset press using paper 12×18 or smaller, (not to be confused with spirit duplicator).
E
Editorial
Non-advertising content in a magazine or newspaper that is used to express a viewpoint, stance or opinion on a recent topic, on behalf of the publication.
EPS (Encapsulated Postscript)
A way of storing visual data so that it can be exchanged between programs or different computer systems. When you save in EPS format, you save a description of your art or page layout in postscript language together with some minimal instructions enabling the graphics to be displayed on a non-postscript video device.
Export
To move data on a form that another program can read.
Eyebrow
A text/design element often used at the tops of article pages (particularly a department page) to indicate the magazine section to which an article belongs.
F
Feature
A centerpiece article within a magazine issue. Features are typically more involved/elaborate in terms of design. The cover story is usually considered to be one of the feature articles, but an issue may contain several other features as well.
File
A collection of related data (text and graphics) grouped under one name.
File Server
A powerful computer containing programs and data which may be accessed by other computers that are linked with it via a network.
Finish
Surface characteristics of paper.
Flipbook
A popular option for distributing online versions of a magazine utilizing Flash-based reproductions that simulate the look and feel of “flipping” pages in digital format. Flipbooks can also contain multimedia and other features not available in print editions and are typically made with XHTML, such as the “flippable” Kindle editions of books.
Foldout
A foldout (or “gatefold”) is a page which folds out beyond the edges of the publication. Most foldouts tend to be centerfold spreads, but not always.
Folio
The information at the bottom of most non-advertising magazine pages, often including the page number, magazine title and issue name.
Font
A complete set of type characters in one typeface and type size.
Format
The organization and layout of material for document creation. In computers, the way in which a disk has been magnetically prepared to have data saved on it.
Four Color Process
Technique of printing that uses four process colors of ink to simulate color photographs or illustrations.
Fractional ads
A generic name for ads smaller than a half-page. These are quarter-page, and eighth-page.
G
GBC Binding
General Binding Corporation trade name for plastic comb binding.
Gloss
Characteristic of paper, ink, or varnish that reflects relatively large amounts of light.
Grain
In paper, the direction in which fibers are aligned. In photography, crystals that make up emulsion on film.
Graphic Arts
The crafts, industries and professions related to designing and printing messages.
Graphic Designer
Professional who conceives the design, plans how to produce and may coordinate production of a printed piece.
Grayscale
Small areas of solid gray color ranging in density from 0% to100%.
Gutter
Space between two pages, where they meet at the binding.
H
Hairline
Very thin line or gap about the width of a hair. (1/100 inch).
Halftone
A system of “dots” in varying sizes that when applied to an image create the illusion of a continuous tone gradation in an image or photograph. Halftones are used when reproducing photographic images via print.
Hard Copy
A printed copy of output in readable form.
Hickey
A printing defect caused by a particle of debris attached to the printing plate at the time of printing.
I
Image Area
Portion of paper on which ink appears.
Import
To merge text or graphics into a document that has been created or edited with the aid of a computer program. Usually the imported file is generated with a different program.
Impression
One pressing of paper against type, plate, blanket or die to transfer an image.
Inkjet Printer
An electronic output proofing device that prints by spraying streams of ink onto the paper.
J
JPEG
Joint Photographic Experts Group. Usually used to identify the image compression standard established by JPEG.
K
Kerning
A typographic term used to describe the space between characters of type. Creating less or more affects readability and aids in adjusting overall spacing of text.
Kilobyte
K, Kb or KB. A unit of measuring digital information which equals 1,024 bytes.
L
Laminate
To bond plastic film to paper or to glue paper to chipboard or corrugated cardboard.
Latin
Mock-ups typically use Latin text (“Lorem Ipsum”, etc.) to stand in for actual text in the vernacular of the intended audience’s language and region. This dummy text represents the space where actual text will later go in a design where text is not yet available or created.
Laser Printer
Output device which scans a laser beam across a photoconductive drum according to the instructions of a computer whose memory holds a bitmapped construction of the image to be printed. After the electrostatic image has developed, it is put on paper by the Xerographic process.
Layout
Sketch or drawing of a design for a proposed printed piece showing position, size and color of copy. Also, the design of the page, as it is “laid out” on the printed or digital page. Also sometimes known as “page layout.”
Leading
The distance between lines of type according to their baselines, which can be adjusted as needed.
Leaf
Another way of referring to a sheet of paper in a periodical, book, or other publication. Each side of a leaf is essentially a page in the publication in a book or perfect-bound publication, whereas each side of a leaf in a saddle-stitched publication would be two pages (one leaf is thus stitched into two pages per side for a total of four total pages.)
Legible
Characteristics of copy having sufficient contrast with the paper on which it appears and determined by such features as typeface, size, leading and quality of printing.
Letterpress
Method of printing from raised surfaces. A Letter Press is the kind of press used.
Logo
Assembly of type and art into a distinctive symbol unique to an organization, business or product.
LPI
Lines per inch.
M
Magenta
One of the four process colors; also known as process red.
Make-ready
All activities required to set up a press before production begins. Also refers to paper used in the process.
Margin
Space forming the border of a page or a sheet.
Masthead
A small section of the magazine, usually located near the front, containing a list of magazine staff and contributors, issue volume/number information, copyright information, ISBN information, legal notices, etc. The term is also used as an alternate name for the “Nameplate.”
Matte Finish
Slightly dull finish on coated, lightly calendared paper.
Matte Ink or Varnish
Ink or varnish that appears dull when dry.
Mechanical
Camera ready assembly of type, graphics and other copy complete with instructions to the printer.
Megabyte (MB)
A unit of measure for digital data which is 1,024 kilobytes or 1,048,576 bytes.
Metallic Ink
Ink containing powdered metal that sparkles in light.
Moire (pronounced Mor-ray)
Undesirable pattern in halftones and screen tints made with improperly aligned screens.
Multicolor Printing
Printing done in more than one ink color.
N
Nameplate
The magazine’s logo that appears on the cover of the magazine and sometimes elsewhere within the pages wherever the magazine brand is represented.
Negative
Characteristics of an image on film or paper in which blacks in the original subject are white or clear and whites in the original are black or opaque. Also a piece of film on which a negative image appears.
O
OCR
Optical Character Recognition. A function of specialized software capable of interpreting a scanned image of text into machine code for later manipulation of text.
Offset Printing
Method of lithographic printing that transfers ink from a plate to a blanket, then from the blanket to paper.
Output specs
When an issue is ready to send to the printer (and/or digital edition/flipbook provider), your magazine designer will need a list of specifications to use when outputting the final PDFs. These specs can include image resolution, bleed size and a number of other criteria.
P
Pad
To bind by applying glue along one edge of a stack of sheets.
Page
A single side of a leaf of a magazine, or other such material to be printed, such as a newspaper.
Palette
The complete collection of colors and color hues available or used in the color scheme. The palette of a magazine would then be not the total collection of colors in the images and other elements in total, but just the total collection of such colors and hues in the non-image graphics of the layout and cover.
Paper Dummy
Unprinted sample of a proposed job.
Paper stock
The paper on which the print version of the magazine will be printed. Normally, when paper stock is mentioned, it is in reference to the specifications of the paper type, thickness, color, degree of gloss, etc.
Perfect binding
A binding process in which the gutter edges of the interior of the magazine are evenly trimmed, coated with adhesive, and bound to the cover at the spine. Perfect binding is not practical for small page counts, but effective for thicker publications with numerous pages. Consult your printer as to what binding method will best fit your needs. Your printer can advise you on specifics as to the best fit for your needs.
Photocopy
Method of printing that transfers images electrostatically and creates them on paper with powder (toner) bonded by heat.
PICT
A picture file format developed by Apple for use on the Macintosh. The format defines bitmapped or object-oriented images on the screen.
Pantone Matching System/PMS colors
A universal system of standardized colors (owned by Pantone, Inc.) utilizing a numbering system to identify and match colors. PMS Colors use a three or four digit number followed by a C, U, or M which stands for Coated, Uncoated or Matte. This system helps to keep colors consistent across various types of print and digital media.
Point
In paper, a unit of thickness equalling 1/1000 inch. In typesetting, unit of height equalling 1/72 inch.
Postscript
A page-description language (PDL) developed by Adobe Systems. A page is stored as a set of instructions specifying the measurements, typefaces and graphic shapes that make up a page.
Pre-flighting
A preliminary step performed by the designer prior to releasing the press-ready material to the printer or before being posted digitally. This consists of ensuring that all images are accounted for and saved in the appropriate location, images are at the correct resolution, page elements are checked for alignment, spacing issues are resolved and any other design related “loose ends” before are fixed before production.
Prepress
Camerawork, stripping platemaking and other activities by a printer before press work begins. Also called prep. Alternate term for preparation.
Press-Ready Files
See definition for “Camera-ready.” These usually Represent the final edition of the publication.
Press Run
The number of pieces printed.
Press Sheet
One sheet as it comes off the printing press.
Process Blue
Alternate term for Cyan.
Process Colors
The colors needed for four color process printing: yellow, magenta, cyan and black.
Process Red
Alternate term for magenta.
Proof
A test page or image intended to give an accurate idea of what the final job will look like. A test sheet made to reveal errors or flaws, predict results, and record how a printing job is intended to appear.
Proofread
To examine a copy or a proof for errors in writing or composition.
Pulled-quote
A design element where a quote or fragment of a sentence is pulled from the article’s content to highlight and draw attention to important points or interesting facts.
Q
Quickprinter
Printer whose business attitude emphasizes basic quality, small presses and fast service.
R
Ragged
Typographic term used to indicate the alignment (either right or left) of a body of type. If the type is “ragged left,” then the body of type is usually aligned to the right margin. If the type is “ragged right,” then the text is usually aligned to the left margin. Ragged right and left usually suggests a body of type that is centered.
Raised Printing
Alternate term for Thermography.
Readable
Characteristic of messages that are written, edited and set in type selected and composed to make them easy to understand.
Ream
500 sheets of paper.
Register
The precise alignment of two or more images or colors that are printed in succession on one sheet of paper.
Registration Marks
Elements such a color bars, targets and crop marks, positioned just outside of the printable area that are utilized by the printer to aid in registration, (the precise alignment of colors) in printing.
Resolution
The amount of detail measured in dots-per-inch (dpi) in a pixel-based image. 300dpi is the standard resolution for print and often referred to as “high-resolution” or “high-res.” For standard websites where images need to be able to load quickly, 72dpi is preferred. Medium resolution images range from about 150dpi to 240dpi and are suitable for online flipbooks and digital editions. Printing below 300dpi will result in obvious distortions and will appear pixelated.
RGB
Red, green and blue. The additive primaries which are used in video monitors.
Rights
Conditions and terms of a licensing agreement between a copyright owner and client.
Run
Total number of copies ordered and printed.
Saddle-Stitch
Bindery process taking place after the document has been collated. Sheets are held together where they fold at the spine. Too many pages makes a booklet more difficult to saddle-stitch, thus making perfect binding a more viable option.
S
Scanner
An input device that digitizes and converts two-dimensional information, such as photographic prints, transparencies and paper images into bitmapped images that can be manipulated electronically.
Score
To compress paper along a line so that it will fold more easily.
Section
An article category that appears in a magazine.
Self Mailer
Printed piece designed to be mailed without an envelope.
Service Bureau
A company that provides the various services required to transform the elements used to produce a page or publication into the correct digital format required to output it to a particular chosen media. These include conventional print, various forms of direct digital printing, disk-based and other forms of alternative media.
Separation
Alternate term for color separation.
Sharp
Characteristics of an image in clear focus.
Sheetfed Press
Press that prints sheets of paper.
Shrinkwrap
Method of tightly wrapping packages or products in plastic films.
Sidebar
A smaller article whose content is associated with the main article, but is visually separated from that article.
Side Stitch
To bind by stapling through sheets along one edge.
Silhouetting
A production process carried out using Adobe Photoshop, usually to remove/isolate a photo subject from its background or surroundings.
Slug
As with a typical bleed, the slug is the marginal area outside the post-cut printed page. Slugs are handy for generating proofs that require a sign-off box to be printed in the bleed and checked off before printing. Some publishers alternatively use this area to create additional printer instructions.
Software (see “Application Software”)
Specifications
Complete and precise descriptions on paper, ink, binding, quantity and other features of a printing job.
Spine
Binding edge of a signature or publication. The strip that separates the front and back covers in a perfect bound publication, usually containing the magazine’s title, issue date and volume number.
Spiral Bind
To bind using a spiral wire or plastic, looped through holes.
Spoilage
Paper wasted during makeready, printing and bindery operations.
Spreads
A set of two facing pages viewed together create a spread. It’s how the reader sees the magazine or book when it is open and both pages are shown. There are two types of spreads. A “reader spread” is two consecutive pages shown in sequence as they would appear in a publication. Pages are ordered as such; 1, 2/3, 4/5, 6/7, and so on. A “printer spread” is two pages that have been paired together in proper order so that once they have been folded collated, pages appear in consecutive order.
Stationary
Letterhead, envelopes, cards and other materials for business correspondence.
Stock
Paper or substrate.
Stock Images
Photos and illustrations made available for license by paying a fee to stock agencies that represent photographers, designers and artists. The use of stock images saves time and money when hiring a photographer, designer or artist is impractical or not affordable.
Stripper
Person who strips negatives.
Stripping
The process of manually creating composite and fully imposed flats for platemaking. Most work is being done electronically, bypassing the traditional craftsman.
Substrate
A surface on which printing is done.
T
Thermography
Method of printing using colorless resin powder and heat applied to wet ink yielding raised images.
Thumbnail Sketch
Rough sketch of a design.
TIFF (Tagged Information File Format)
A graphics and page layout file format for desktop computers. Used as an intermediary file format for both color and black and white images, TIFF is used to transfer documents between different applications and computer platforms.
TOC
Short for the “table of contents.”
Toner
Powder forming an image in photocopy.
Trim Marks
Lines on a mechanical, negative, plate, or press sheet showing where to cut edges off of paper or cut paper apart after printing.
Trim size
The final, trimmed size of a printed magazine.
Turnaround Time
Amount of time needed to complete a job or one stage of it.
U
Uncoated Paper
Paper that is not clay coated.
V
Varnish
Clear liquid applied like ink on press for beauty and protection.
Vector Images
Images utilizing mathematical processes to create their shapes, and are created by software, like Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw. Illustrations, Flash animation images, logos and icons typically use this format. Unlike bitmap images, vectors can be scaled up infinitely without a loss of resolution/quality.
Vellum Finish
Relatively rough finish on uncoated paper.
W
Waste
Alternate term for Spoilage.
Watermark
Distinctive design created in paper during manufacture.
Web
A roll of printing paper.
Web Press
Press that prints paper from a roll.
White space
The empty space within a layout, and which also can be used intentionally as a design technique to create the visual cues that assist in the guiding the reader’s visual focus to a particular place on the page. White space (sometimes spelled “whitespace”) is also known as negative space in the magazine design industry and helps to create the most appropriate mood, ambiance, or aesthetic.
Work Order
Form used by printing companies to specify and schedule production of jobs and record the time, materials and supplies that each job requires to complete.
X
Y
Z
Glossary Of Terms Used In Printing And Publishing
The magazine publishing industry relies on terminology that may come across as confusing to our advertisers, so we’ve put together a glossary of definitions and terms we hope will prevent some of that confusion. We understand that it may not answer all of your concerns, but it’s an excellent starting point!
Quick Search
A
AA (Author’s Alterations)
An author’s change in copy or specifications made after production.
Adobe Illustrator
Vector-based design software used in the creation of illustrations, logos, typography/typographics, maps, etc. Adobe Illustrator (or “Illustrator,” as it is called) is considered the industry standard. Artwork can be saved as a stand-alone Illustrator document, or imported into Adobe Indesign or opened in Adobe Photoshop. You will however lose editing capabilities once opened in Photoshop.
Adobe InDesign
Industry standard page layout software used in the creation of magazines, newspapers, books, brochures, posters and various other publications. Indesign can be utilized as a “meeting place” for graphics and photos imported from Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. Can also be used as a word processor.
Adobe Photoshop
A raster-based image-editing application used to edit and save images and photos. Adobe Photoshop is considered the industry standard for image editing. Images can be saved in a variety of formats for various needs, (.psd, .jpeg, .tiff, .bmp, etc)
Alley
The space between columns of type/text on a page.
Application Software
A computer program or software designed to perform specific tasks. Broad examples of computer applications are word processing and graphics programs such as Microsoft Word, Quark Xpress and Adobe Illustrator.
Artwork
Illustrative material, paste-up or mechanical. Images including type and photos, prepared for printing.
ASCII
Acronym for American Standard Code for Information Interchange, a standard code used to help interface digital equipment.
B
Backup
The process of copying a file or program in the event the original is damaged, lost or unavailable.
Back Matter
Material that follows the main content sections of a magazine. In some magazines or other periodicals, these can include content like an appendix, glossary, or a bibliography, just as they might appear at the back of a book. For example, scholarly magazines and literary reviews sometimes do this.
Banner
In online periodicals, this may be an image with a headline and accompanying ad or callout copy. Within the discipline of typography, however, any large headline can be called a banner, especially when spanning the width of the page.
Baseline
The invisible horizontal line upon which the “feet” of the characters on a line of type are set. This line is used for proper alignment of type.
Bind
To fasten sheets or signatures and adhere covers with glue, wire, thread, or by other means.
Bindery
Print shop department or separate business that does trimming, folding, binding and other finishing tasks.
Binding and Finishing
A “back-end” printing production process that usually takes place after the job has been printed and trimmed. Documents are collated and bound (stapled, glued, saddle-stitched or perfect-bound.) The finishing process includes trimming, (which can also take place after being bound) die-cutting, scoring or embossing.
Bitmap
A digital image made up of dots. In the simplest form of a bitmap, each dot is either on (white) or off (black) and is stored as a single “bit” of information in the computer’s memory.
Blanket
A specially-designed synthetic rubber mat which is implemented in offset lithography. It’s used to transfer (i.e., “offset”) an image from a metal plate to a paper surface.
Bleed
Bleed occurs when the image extends to the edge of a page or printed sheet, without showing a white border (thus “bleeding” off the edge of the page.) Images are set to extend beyond the final trim size of a page by anywhere from .125” to .25” . The excess trimmed part of the sheet containing the portion that was cut off is known as the “trim”.
Bleed Marks
Horizontal and vertical lines placed at each corner of an uncut sheet, that indicate where the blades of a cutter will fall when trimming the document.
Block Quote
Four or more lines quoted within the body of the text layout, set apart to help the reader more clearly discern the author’s words from the words the author is quoting. Blocked quotes are indented on both left and right sides well inside of the right and left margins or page edges.
Block-Style Paragraphs
(“Block Type” or “Block Text”) Within the discipline of typography, paragraphs that are set without indents are typically known as block text, as they form solid rectangular-shaped blocks.
Blow-Up
To enlarge photographically. Such an enlargement is called a “blow-up.”
Blueline
A blue-toned photoprint produced from film negatives or positives, digital proofing methods or sometimes directly from a plate that was produced using computer-to-plate technology.
Body Text
An article’s main text, usually set at a size anywhere from 9-12 points.
Bond Paper
Grade of paper commonly used for writing, printing and photocopying.
Bullet
A centered dot marking the beginning of a line or paragraph.
Butt-Registration
When two colors line up flush against one another with no white space or overlap.
Byline
The line in an article or editorial (usually following the headline/title or subhead) that identifies its author.
C
Callout
A visual design element which is used to highlight a specific piece of information not contained in the main body of an article. Callouts are usually smaller than a typical sidebar and may involve text, graphics, or both. In layout design, they normally allow an online reader to click to another web page to take an action, such as branching off to a new browser tab to subscribe to the online magazine they’re reading.
Camera-Ready
A finished and approved layout requiring no further work, and is ready to proceed with printing. The terms “camera ready art” and “camera ready copy” are used interchangeably.
Cap Height
Within the larger discipline of typography, the cap height is simply the distance from the baseline of the text characters to the top of the capital letters on such a line.
Character
A letter, numeral, punctuation symbol, mathematical sign or any other symbol normally created by pressing a key(s) on a keyboard.
CMYK
The abbreviation for the four process colors (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black) used in full color (four-color/process) printing. Varying percentages are mixed together to produce a wide range of colors. “K” is used to stand for black and to avoid confusion with blue. In printing, we use CMYK, web and digital utilizes RGB (Red, Blue and Green.)
Coated Paper
Paper with a coating of clay that improves ink holdout.
Color Bars
Small bars positioned outside of the printed area of a page, in each of the process colors and various tones of black. These instruments aid a printer in adjusting and maintaining ink density/consistent color quality as well as registration.
Color Break
In multi-color printing, the point or line at which one ink color stops and another begins.
Color Separation
The process by which the four process colors (Cyan, Magenta, Yelow and Black) are separated into four separate plates or files. Each plate/file, when aligned on top of one another creates a full color image.
Color Swatch
Sample of an ink color.
Column
This is a vertical block of content positioned on the page. Margins flank the sides of columns to give them space or “breathing room and are often separated by gutters. Column formatting of a page’s text is generally considered to improve the readability of the text on the page, by providing shorter lines of running horizontal text to follow.
Columns also allow text to not appear as dense and time-consuming as it may actually be.
Comb Bind
To bind by inserting teeth of a flexible plastic comb through holes in a stack of paper.
Compression
The use of special coding techniques so that data can be stored more compactly in order to reduce the amount of room it takes to be transmitted via modem or other transmission method.
Condensed font (condensed type)
A font having narrower widths than the standard typeface. This is sometimes used to conserve space in a limited-space format.
Continuous Tone
A photographic image that has not been printed or reproduced via printing. Continuous tone images are composed of gradations in colors, and not halftone dots. A good example would be a photographic print versus an image taken from a magazine, or other printed publication. When magnified, halftone dots will be visible in the gradations of the printed piece, while a gradient in the photograph, would show a “continuous tone” of color.
Contrast
Tonal gradation in an image between highlights, mid-tones and shadows.
Copy
Any text that is to be utilized in a layout, including photos and graphics. Text will usually be saved in a word processing application such as Microsoft Word or Notepad, Indesign, Textedit, etc.) For an editor or typesetter, all written material. For a graphic designer or printer, everything that will be printed: art, photographs, and graphics as well as words.
Copyright
Protection available to the owner of a manuscript, piece of art or publication preventing others from making unfair use of it or profiting from it at the expense of the owner.
Crop
To eliminate portions of an illustration or photograph so the remainder is more clear, interesting or able to fit the layout.
Crop Marks
Horizontal and vertical lines/rules positioned at each corner of a page (or image) indicating the usable area, and where blade should fall in order to trim away the excess.
Cutline
Another term for a caption accompanying a photograph.
Cyan
One of the four process colors; also known as process blue.
D
Department
An article category that regularly appears in a magazine, departments often have a more consistent look from issue to issue.
Digital
Information that relies soley on Arabic numerals for expression. In computers, all information is processed in binary numerics (0 and 1) through on/off electrical impulses.
Digital Edition
An online version of a magazine that is converted into a web page, accommodating a wide range of devices (desktops/laptops, tablets and smartphones). In the past, a digital edition was merely the magazine in an electronic format such as a static pdf. Now, the process of creating a digital edition falls under what is called “responsive design.”
Dot Gain or Spread
An increase in the size of a halftone dot between its generated size and printing onto paper.
Download
The transfer of data from a computer or telecommunications network to another electronic device or storage medium.
Downrule
The vertical line placed between two columns of text to emphasize their separation.
DPI
Dots Per Inch. The measure of resolution in a halftone or printed image. It is also used to describe pixels per inch in a bitmapped image.
Dropcap
A large, one-letter, typographic design element used as the first character of the first word in the opening paragraph of an article or editorial. Drop caps extend or “drop” down, usually about 2-4 lines in the paragraph. It is a decorative element that aids in drawing the reader’s eye to the beginning of the article.
Duplicator
Small offset press using paper 12×18 or smaller, (not to be confused with spirit duplicator).
E
Editorial
Non-advertising content in a magazine or newspaper that is used to express a viewpoint, stance or opinion on a recent topic, on behalf of the publication.
EPS (Encapsulated Postscript)
A way of storing visual data so that it can be exchanged between programs or different computer systems. When you save in EPS format, you save a description of your art or page layout in postscript language together with some minimal instructions enabling the graphics to be displayed on a non-postscript video device.
Export
To move data on a form that another program can read.
Eyebrow
A text/design element often used at the tops of article pages (particularly a department page) to indicate the magazine section to which an article belongs.
F
Feature
A centerpiece article within a magazine issue. Features are typically more involved/elaborate in terms of design. The cover story is usually considered to be one of the feature articles, but an issue may contain several other features as well.
File
A collection of related data (text and graphics) grouped under one name.
File Server
A powerful computer containing programs and data which may be accessed by other computers that are linked with it via a network.
Finish
Surface characteristics of paper.
Flipbook
A popular option for distributing online versions of a magazine utilizing Flash-based reproductions that simulate the look and feel of “flipping” pages in digital format. Flipbooks can also contain multimedia and other features not available in print editions and are typically made with XHTML, such as the “flippable” Kindle editions of books.
Foldout
A foldout (or “gatefold”) is a page which folds out beyond the edges of the publication. Most foldouts tend to be centerfold spreads, but not always.
Folio
The information at the bottom of most non-advertising magazine pages, often including the page number, magazine title and issue name.
Font
A complete set of type characters in one typeface and type size.
Format
The organization and layout of material for document creation. In computers, the way in which a disk has been magnetically prepared to have data saved on it.
Four Color Process
Technique of printing that uses four process colors of ink to simulate color photographs or illustrations.
Fractional ads
A generic name for ads smaller than a half-page. These are quarter-page, and eighth-page.
G
GBC Binding
General Binding Corporation trade name for plastic comb binding.
Gloss
Characteristic of paper, ink, or varnish that reflects relatively large amounts of light.
Grain
In paper, the direction in which fibers are aligned. In photography, crystals that make up emulsion on film.
Graphic Arts
The crafts, industries and professions related to designing and printing messages.
Graphic Designer
Professional who conceives the design, plans how to produce and may coordinate production of a printed piece.
Grayscale
Small areas of solid gray color ranging in density from 0% to100%.
Gutter
Space between two pages, where they meet at the binding.
H
Hairline
Very thin line or gap about the width of a hair. (1/100 inch).
Halftone
A system of “dots” in varying sizes that when applied to an image create the illusion of a continuous tone gradation in an image or photograph. Halftones are used when reproducing photographic images via print.
Hard Copy
A printed copy of output in readable form.
Hickey
A printing defect caused by a particle of debris attached to the printing plate at the time of printing.
I
Image Area
Portion of paper on which ink appears.
Import
To merge text or graphics into a document that has been created or edited with the aid of a computer program. Usually the imported file is generated with a different program.
Impression
One pressing of paper against type, plate, blanket or die to transfer an image.
Inkjet Printer
An electronic output proofing device that prints by spraying streams of ink onto the paper.
J
JPEG
Joint Photographic Experts Group. Usually used to identify the image compression standard established by JPEG.
K
Kerning
A typographic term used to describe the space between characters of type. Creating less or more affects readability and aids in adjusting overall spacing of text.
Kilobyte
K, Kb or KB. A unit of measuring digital information which equals 1,024 bytes.
L
Laminate
To bond plastic film to paper or to glue paper to chipboard or corrugated cardboard.
Latin
Mock-ups typically use Latin text (“Lorem Ipsum”, etc.) to stand in for actual text in the vernacular of the intended audience’s language and region. This dummy text represents the space where actual text will later go in a design where text is not yet available or created.
Laser Printer
Output device which scans a laser beam across a photoconductive drum according to the instructions of a computer whose memory holds a bitmapped construction of the image to be printed. After the electrostatic image has developed, it is put on paper by the Xerographic process.
Layout
Sketch or drawing of a design for a proposed printed piece showing position, size and color of copy. Also, the design of the page, as it is “laid out” on the printed or digital page. Also sometimes known as “page layout.”
Leading
The distance between lines of type according to their baselines, which can be adjusted as needed.
Leaf
Another way of referring to a sheet of paper in a periodical, book, or other publication. Each side of a leaf is essentially a page in the publication in a book or perfect-bound publication, whereas each side of a leaf in a saddle-stitched publication would be two pages (one leaf is thus stitched into two pages per side for a total of four total pages.)
Legible
Characteristics of copy having sufficient contrast with the paper on which it appears and determined by such features as typeface, size, leading and quality of printing.
Letterpress
Method of printing from raised surfaces. A Letter Press is the kind of press used.
Logo
Assembly of type and art into a distinctive symbol unique to an organization, business or product.
LPI
Lines per inch.
M
Magenta
One of the four process colors; also known as process red.
Make-ready
All activities required to set up a press before production begins. Also refers to paper used in the process.
Margin
Space forming the border of a page or a sheet.
Masthead
A small section of the magazine, usually located near the front, containing a list of magazine staff and contributors, issue volume/number information, copyright information, ISBN information, legal notices, etc. The term is also used as an alternate name for the “Nameplate.”
Matte Finish
Slightly dull finish on coated, lightly calendared paper.
Matte Ink or Varnish
Ink or varnish that appears dull when dry.
Mechanical
Camera ready assembly of type, graphics and other copy complete with instructions to the printer.
Megabyte (MB)
A unit of measure for digital data which is 1,024 kilobytes or 1,048,576 bytes.
Metallic Ink
Ink containing powdered metal that sparkles in light.
Moire (pronounced Mor-ray)
Undesirable pattern in halftones and screen tints made with improperly aligned screens.
Multicolor Printing
Printing done in more than one ink color.
N
Nameplate
The magazine’s logo that appears on the cover of the magazine and sometimes elsewhere within the pages wherever the magazine brand is represented.
Negative
Characteristics of an image on film or paper in which blacks in the original subject are white or clear and whites in the original are black or opaque. Also a piece of film on which a negative image appears.
O
OCR
Optical Character Recognition. A function of specialized software capable of interpreting a scanned image of text into machine code for later manipulation of text.
Offset Printing
Method of lithographic printing that transfers ink from a plate to a blanket, then from the blanket to paper.
Output specs
When an issue is ready to send to the printer (and/or digital edition/flipbook provider), your magazine designer will need a list of specifications to use when outputting the final PDFs. These specs can include image resolution, bleed size and a number of other criteria.
P
Pad
To bind by applying glue along one edge of a stack of sheets.
Page
A single side of a leaf of a magazine, or other such material to be printed, such as a newspaper.
Palette
The complete collection of colors and color hues available or used in the color scheme. The palette of a magazine would then be not the total collection of colors in the images and other elements in total, but just the total collection of such colors and hues in the non-image graphics of the layout and cover.
Paper Dummy
Unprinted sample of a proposed job.
Paper stock
The paper on which the print version of the magazine will be printed. Normally, when paper stock is mentioned, it is in reference to the specifications of the paper type, thickness, color, degree of gloss, etc.
Perfect binding
A binding process in which the gutter edges of the interior of the magazine are evenly trimmed, coated with adhesive, and bound to the cover at the spine. Perfect binding is not practical for small page counts, but effective for thicker publications with numerous pages. Consult your printer as to what binding method will best fit your needs. Your printer can advise you on specifics as to the best fit for your needs.
Photocopy
Method of printing that transfers images electrostatically and creates them on paper with powder (toner) bonded by heat.
PICT
A picture file format developed by Apple for use on the Macintosh. The format defines bitmapped or object-oriented images on the screen.
Pantone Matching System/PMS colors
A universal system of standardized colors (owned by Pantone, Inc.) utilizing a numbering system to identify and match colors. PMS Colors use a three or four digit number followed by a C, U, or M which stands for Coated, Uncoated or Matte. This system helps to keep colors consistent across various types of print and digital media.
Point
In paper, a unit of thickness equalling 1/1000 inch. In typesetting, unit of height equalling 1/72 inch.
Postscript
A page-description language (PDL) developed by Adobe Systems. A page is stored as a set of instructions specifying the measurements, typefaces and graphic shapes that make up a page.
Pre-flighting
A preliminary step performed by the designer prior to releasing the press-ready material to the printer or before being posted digitally. This consists of ensuring that all images are accounted for and saved in the appropriate location, images are at the correct resolution, page elements are checked for alignment, spacing issues are resolved and any other design related “loose ends” before are fixed before production.
Prepress
Camerawork, stripping platemaking and other activities by a printer before press work begins. Also called prep. Alternate term for preparation.
Press-Ready Files
See definition for “Camera-ready.” These usually Represent the final edition of the publication.
Press Run
The number of pieces printed.
Press Sheet
One sheet as it comes off the printing press.
Process Blue
Alternate term for Cyan.
Process Colors
The colors needed for four color process printing: yellow, magenta, cyan and black.
Process Red
Alternate term for magenta.
Proof
A test page or image intended to give an accurate idea of what the final job will look like. A test sheet made to reveal errors or flaws, predict results, and record how a printing job is intended to appear.
Proofread
To examine a copy or a proof for errors in writing or composition.
Pulled-quote
A design element where a quote or fragment of a sentence is pulled from the article’s content to highlight and draw attention to important points or interesting facts.
Q
Quickprinter
Printer whose business attitude emphasizes basic quality, small presses and fast service.
R
Ragged
Typographic term used to indicate the alignment (either right or left) of a body of type. If the type is “ragged left,” then the body of type is usually aligned to the right margin. If the type is “ragged right,” then the text is usually aligned to the left margin. Ragged right and left usually suggests a body of type that is centered.
Raised Printing
Alternate term for Thermography.
Readable
Characteristic of messages that are written, edited and set in type selected and composed to make them easy to understand.
Ream
500 sheets of paper.
Register
The precise alignment of two or more images or colors that are printed in succession on one sheet of paper.
Registration Marks
Elements such a color bars, targets and crop marks, positioned just outside of the printable area that are utilized by the printer to aid in registration, (the precise alignment of colors) in printing.
Resolution
The amount of detail measured in dots-per-inch (dpi) in a pixel-based image. 300dpi is the standard resolution for print and often referred to as “high-resolution” or “high-res.” For standard websites where images need to be able to load quickly, 72dpi is preferred. Medium resolution images range from about 150dpi to 240dpi and are suitable for online flipbooks and digital editions. Printing below 300dpi will result in obvious distortions and will appear pixelated.
RGB
Red, green and blue. The additive primaries which are used in video monitors.
Rights
Conditions and terms of a licensing agreement between a copyright owner and client.
Run
Total number of copies ordered and printed.
S
Saddle-Stitch
Bindery process taking place after the document has been collated. Sheets are held together where they fold at the spine. Too many pages makes a booklet more difficult to saddle-stitch, thus making perfect binding a more viable option.
Scanner
An input device that digitizes and converts two-dimensional information, such as photographic prints, transparencies and paper images into bitmapped images that can be manipulated electronically.
Score
To compress paper along a line so that it will fold more easily.
Section
An article category that appears in a magazine.
Self Mailer
Printed piece designed to be mailed without an envelope.
Service Bureau
A company that provides the various services required to transform the elements used to produce a page or publication into the correct digital format required to output it to a particular chosen media. These include conventional print, various forms of direct digital printing, disk-based and other forms of alternative media.
Separation
Alternate term for color separation.
Sharp
Characteristics of an image in clear focus.
Sheetfed Press
Press that prints sheets of paper.
Shrinkwrap
Method of tightly wrapping packages or products in plastic films.
Sidebar
A smaller article whose content is associated with the main article, but is visually separated from that article.
Side Stitch
To bind by stapling through sheets along one edge.
Silhouetting
A production process carried out using Adobe Photoshop, usually to remove/isolate a photo subject from its background or surroundings.
Slug
As with a typical bleed, the slug is the marginal area outside the post-cut printed page. Slugs are handy for generating proofs that require a sign-off box to be printed in the bleed and checked off before printing. Some publishers alternatively use this area to create additional printer instructions.
Software (see “Application Software”)
Specifications
Complete and precise descriptions on paper, ink, binding, quantity and other features of a printing job.
Spine
Binding edge of a signature or publication. The strip that separates the front and back covers in a perfect bound publication, usually containing the magazine’s title, issue date and volume number.
Spiral Bind
To bind using a spiral wire or plastic, looped through holes.
Spoilage
Paper wasted during makeready, printing and bindery operations.
Spreads
A set of two facing pages viewed together create a spread. It’s how the reader sees the magazine or book when it is open and both pages are shown. There are two types of spreads. A “reader spread” is two consecutive pages shown in sequence as they would appear in a publication. Pages are ordered as such; 1, 2/3, 4/5, 6/7, and so on. A “printer spread” is two pages that have been paired together in proper order so that once they have been folded collated, pages appear in consecutive order.
Stationary
Letterhead, envelopes, cards and other materials for business correspondence.
Stock
Paper or substrate.
Stock Images
Photos and illustrations made available for license by paying a fee to stock agencies that represent photographers, designers and artists. The use of stock images saves time and money when hiring a photographer, designer or artist is impractical or not affordable.
Stripper
Person who strips negatives.
Stripping
The process of manually creating composite and fully imposed flats for platemaking. Most work is being done electronically, bypassing the traditional craftsman.
Substrate
A surface on which printing is done.
T
Thermography
Method of printing using colorless resin powder and heat applied to wet ink yielding raised images.
Thumbnail Sketch
Rough sketch of a design.
TIFF (Tagged Information File Format)
A graphics and page layout file format for desktop computers. Used as an intermediary file format for both color and black and white images, TIFF is used to transfer documents between different applications and computer platforms.
TOC
Short for the “table of contents.”
Toner
Powder forming an image in photocopy.
Trim Marks
Lines on a mechanical, negative, plate, or press sheet showing where to cut edges off of paper or cut paper apart after printing.
Trim size
The final, trimmed size of a printed magazine.
Turnaround Time
Amount of time needed to complete a job or one stage of it.
U
Uncoated Paper
Paper that is not clay coated.
V
Varnish
Clear liquid applied like ink on press for beauty and protection.
Vector Images
Images utilizing mathematical processes to create their shapes, and are created by software, like Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw. Illustrations, Flash animation images, logos and icons typically use this format. Unlike bitmap images, vectors can be scaled up infinitely without a loss of resolution/quality.
Vellum Finish
Relatively rough finish on uncoated paper.
W
Waste
Alternate term for Spoilage.
Watermark
Distinctive design created in paper during manufacture.
Web
A roll of printing paper.
Web Press
Press that prints paper from a roll.
White space
The empty space within a layout, and which also can be used intentionally as a design technique to create the visual cues that assist in the guiding the reader’s visual focus to a particular place on the page. White space (sometimes spelled “whitespace”) is also known as negative space in the magazine design industry and helps to create the most appropriate mood, ambiance, or aesthetic.
Work Order
Form used by printing companies to specify and schedule production of jobs and record the time, materials and supplies that each job requires to complete.
X
Y
Z
Glossary Of Terms Used In Printing And Publishing
The magazine publishing industry relies on terminology that may come across as confusing to our advertisers, so we’ve put together a glossary of definitions and terms we hope will prevent some of that confusion. We understand that it may not answer all of your concerns, but it’s an excellent starting point!”
Quick Search
A
AA (Author’s Alterations)
An author’s change in copy or specifications made after production.
Adobe Illustrator
Vector-based design software used in the creation of illustrations, logos, typography/typographics, maps, etc. Adobe Illustrator (or “Illustrator,” as it is called) is considered the industry standard. Artwork can be saved as a stand-alone Illustrator document, or imported into Adobe Indesign or opened in Adobe Photoshop. You will however lose editing capabilities once opened in Photoshop.
Adobe InDesign
Industry standard page layout software used in the creation of magazines, newspapers, books, brochures, posters and various other publications. Indesign can be utilized as a “meeting place” for graphics and photos imported from Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. Can also be used as a word processor.
Adobe Photoshop
A raster-based image-editing application used to edit and save images and photos. Adobe Photoshop is considered the industry standard for image editing. Images can be saved in a variety of formats for various needs, (.psd, .jpeg, .tiff, .bmp, etc)
Alley
The space between columns of type/text on a page.
Application Software
A computer program or software designed to perform specific tasks. Broad examples of computer applications are word processing and graphics programs such as Microsoft Word, Quark Xpress and Adobe Illustrator.
Artwork
Illustrative material, paste-up or mechanical. Images including type and photos, prepared for printing.
ASCII
Acronym for American Standard Code for Information Interchange, a standard code used to help interface digital equipment.
B
Backup
The process of copying a file or program in the event the original is damaged, lost or unavailable.
Back Matter
Material that follows the main content sections of a magazine. In some magazines or other periodicals, these can include content like an appendix, glossary, or a bibliography, just as they might appear at the back of a book. For example, scholarly magazines and literary reviews sometimes do this.
Banner
In online periodicals, this may be an image with a headline and accompanying ad or callout copy. Within the discipline of typography, however, any large headline can be called a banner, especially when spanning the width of the page.
Baseline
The invisible horizontal line upon which the “feet” of the characters on a line of type are set. This line is used for proper alignment of type.
Bind
To fasten sheets or signatures and adhere covers with glue, wire, thread, or by other means.
Bindery
Print shop department or separate business that does trimming, folding, binding and other finishing tasks.
Binding and Finishing
A “back-end” printing production process that usually takes place after the job has been printed and trimmed. Documents are collated and bound (stapled, glued, saddle-stitched or perfect-bound.) The finishing process includes trimming, (which can also take place after being bound) die-cutting, scoring or embossing.
Bitmap
A digital image made up of dots. In the simplest form of a bitmap, each dot is either on (white) or off (black) and is stored as a single “bit” of information in the computer’s memory.
Blanket
A specially-designed synthetic rubber mat which is implemented in offset lithography. It’s used to transfer (i.e., “offset”) an image from a metal plate to a paper surface.
Bleed
Bleed occurs when the image extends to the edge of a page or printed sheet, without showing a white border (thus “bleeding” off the edge of the page.) Images are set to extend beyond the final trim size of a page by anywhere from .125” to .25” . The excess trimmed part of the sheet containing the portion that was cut off is known as the “trim”.
Bleed Marks
Horizontal and vertical lines placed at each corner of an uncut sheet, that indicate where the blades of a cutter will fall when trimming the document.
Block Quote
Four or more lines quoted within the body of the text layout, set apart to help the reader more clearly discern the author’s words from the words the author is quoting. Blocked quotes are indented on both left and right sides well inside of the right and left margins or page edges.
Block-Style Paragraphs
(“Block Type” or “Block Text”) Within the discipline of typography, paragraphs that are set without indents are typically known as block text, as they form solid rectangular-shaped blocks.
Blow-Up
To enlarge photographically. Such an enlargement is called a “blow-up.”
Blueline
A blue-toned photoprint produced from film negatives or positives, digital proofing methods or sometimes directly from a plate that was produced using computer-to-plate technology.
Body Text
An article’s main text, usually set at a size anywhere from 9-12 points.
Bond Paper
Grade of paper commonly used for writing, printing and photocopying.
Bullet
A centered dot marking the beginning of a line or paragraph.
Butt-Registration
When two colors line up flush against one another with no white space or overlap.
Byline
The line in an article or editorial (usually following the headline/title or subhead) that identifies its author.
C
Callout
A visual design element which is used to highlight a specific piece of information not contained in the main body of an article. Callouts are usually smaller than a typical sidebar and may involve text, graphics, or both. In layout design, they normally allow an online reader to click to another web page to take an action, such as branching off to a new browser tab to subscribe to the online magazine they’re reading.
Camera-Ready
A finished and approved layout requiring no further work, and is ready to proceed with printing. The terms “camera ready art” and “camera ready copy” are used interchangeably.
Cap Height
Within the larger discipline of typography, the cap height is simply the distance from the baseline of the text characters to the top of the capital letters on such a line.
Character
A letter, numeral, punctuation symbol, mathematical sign or any other symbol normally created by pressing a key(s) on a keyboard.
CMYK
The abbreviation for the four process colors (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black.) used in full color (four-color/process) printing. Varying percentages are mixed together to produce a wide range of colors. “K” is used to stand for black and to avoid confusion with blue. In printing, we use CMYK, web and digital utilizes RGB (Red, Blue and Green.)
Coated Paper
Paper with a coating of clay that improves ink holdout.
Color Bars
Small bars positioned outside of the printed area of a page, in each of the process colors and various tones of black. These instruments aid a printer in adjusting and maintaining ink density/consistent color quality as well as registration.
Color Break
In multi-color printing, the point or line at which one ink color stops and another begins.
Color Separation
The process by which the four process colors (Cyan, Magenta, Yelow and Black) are separated into four separate plates or files. Each plate/file, when aligned on top of one another creates a full color image.
Color Swatch
Sample of an ink color.
Column
This is a vertical block of content positioned on the page. Margins flank the sides of columns to give them space or “breathing room and are often separated by gutters. Column formatting of a page’s text is generally considered to improve the readability of the text on the page, by providing shorter lines of running horizontal text to follow.
Columns also allow text to not appear as dense and time-consuming as it may actually be.
Comb Bind
To bind by inserting teeth of a flexible plastic comb through holes in a stack of paper.
Compression
The use of special coding techniques so that data can be stored more compactly in order to reduce the amount of room it takes to be transmitted via modem or other transmission method.
Condensed font (condensed type)
A font having narrower widths than the standard typeface. This is sometimes used to conserve space in a limited-space format.
Continuous Tone
A photographic image that has not been printed or reproduced via printing. Continuous tone images are composed of gradations in colors, and not halftone dots. a good example would be a photographic print versus an image taken from a magazine, or other printed publication. When magnified, halftone dots will be visible in the gradations of the printed piece, while a gradient in the photograph, would show a “continuous tone” of color.
Contrast
Tonal gradation in an image between highlights, mid-tones and shadows.
Copy
Any text that is to be utilized in a layout, including photos and graphics. Text will usually be saved in a word processing application such as Microsoft Word or Notepad, Indesign, Textedit, etc.) For an editor or typesetter, all written material. For a graphic designer or printer, everything that will be printed: art, photographs, and graphics as well as words.
Copyright
Protection available to the owner of a manuscript, piece of art or publication preventing others from making unfair use of it or profiting from it at the expense of the owner.
Crop
To eliminate portions of an illustration or photograph so the remainder is more clear, interesting or able to fit the layout.
Crop Marks
Horizontal and vertical lines/rules positioned at each corner of a page (or image) indicating the usable area, and where blade should fall in order to trim away the excess.
Cutline
Another term for a caption accompanying a photograph.
Cyan
One of the four process colors; also known as process blue.
D
Department
An article category that regularly appears in a magazine, departments often have a more consistent look from issue to issue.
Digital
Information that relies soley on Arabic numerals for expression. In computers, all information is processed in binary numerics (0 and1) through on/off electrical impulses.
Digital Edition
An online version of a magazine that is converted into a web page, accommodating a wide range of devices (desktops/laptops, tablets and smartphones). In the past, a digital edition was merely the magazine in an electronic format such as a static pdf. Now, the process of creating a digital edition falls under what is called “responsive design.”
Dot Gain or Spread
An increase in the size of a halftone dot between its generated size and printing onto paper.
Download
The transfer of data from a computer or telecommunications network to another electronic device or storage medium.
Downrule
The vertical line placed between two columns of text to emphasize their separation.
DPI
Dots Per Inch. The measure of resolution in a halftone or printed image. It is also used to describe pixels per inch in a bitmapped image.
Dropcap
A large, one-letter, typographic design element used as the first character of the first word in the opening paragraph of an article or editorial. Drop caps extend or “drop” down, usually about 2-4 lines in the paragraph. It is a decorative element that aids in drawing the reader’s eye to the beginning of the article.
Duplicator
Small offset press using paper 12×18 or smaller, (not to be confused with spirit duplicator).
E
Editorial
Non-advertising content in a magazine or newspaper that is used to express a viewpoint, stance or opinion on a recent topic, on behalf of the publication.
EPS (Encapsulated Postscript)
A way of storing visual data so that it can be exchanged between programs or different computer systems. When you save in EPS format, you save a description of your art or page layout in postscript language together with some minimal instructions enabling the graphics to be displayed on a non-postscript video device.
Export
To move data on a form that another program can read.
Eyebrow
A text/design element often used at the tops of article pages (particularly department page) to indicate the magazine section to which an article belongs.
F
Feature
A centerpiece article within a magazine issue. Features are typically more involved/elaborate in terms of design. The cover story is usually considered to be one of the feature articles, but an issue may contain several other features as well.
File
A collection of related data (text and graphics) grouped under one name.
File Server
A powerful computer containing programs and data which may be accessed by other computers that are linked with it via a network.
Finish
Surface characteristics of paper.
Flipbook
A popular option for distributing online versions of a magazine utilizing Flash-based reproductions
that simulate the look and feel of “flipping” pages in digital format. Flipbooks can also contain multimedia and other features not available in print editions and are typically made with XHTML, such as the “flippable” Kindle editions of books.
Foldout
A foldout (or “gatefold”) is a page which folds out beyond the edges of the publication. Most foldouts tend to be centerfold spreads, but not always.
Folio
The information at the bottom of most non-advertising magazine pages, often including the page number, magazine title and issue name.
Font
A complete set of type characters in one typeface and type size.
Format
The organization and layout of material for document creation. In computers, the way in which a disk has been magnetically prepared to have data saved on it.
Four Color Process
Technique of printing that uses four process colors of ink to simulate color photographs or illustrations.
Fractional ads
A generic name for ads smaller than a half-page. These are quarter-page, and eighth-page.
G
GBC Binding
General Binding Corporation trade name for plastic comb binding.
Gloss
Characteristic of paper, ink, or varnish that reflects relatively large amounts of light.
Grain
In paper, the direction in which fibers are aligned. In photography, crystals that make up emulsion on film.
Graphic Arts
The crafts, industries and professions related to designing and printing messages.
Graphic Designer
Professional who conceives the design for plans how to produce and may coordinate production of a printed piece.
Grayscale
Small areas of solid gray color ranging in density from 0% to100%.
Gutter
Space between two pages, where they meet at the binding.
H
Hairline
Very thin line or gap about the width of a hair. (1/100 inch).
Halftone
A system of “dots” in varying sizes that when applied to an image create the illusion of a continuous tone gradation in an image or photograph. Halftones are used when reproducing photographic images via print.
Hard Copy
A printed copy of output in readable form.
Hickey
A printing defect caused by a particle of debris attached to the printing plate at the time of printing.
I
Image Area
Portion of paper on which ink appears.
Import
To merge text or graphics into a document that has been created or edited with the aid of a computer program. Usually the imported file is generated with a different program.
Impression
One pressing of paper against type, plate, blanket or die to transfer an image.
Inkjet Printer
An electronic output proofing device that prints by spraying streams of ink onto the paper.
J
JPEG
Joint Photographic Experts Group. Usually used to identify the image compression standard established by JPEG.
K
Kerning
A typographic term used to describe the space between characters of type. Creating less or more affects readability and aids in adjusting overall spacing of text.
Kilobyte
K, Kb or KB. A unit of measuring digital information which equals 1,024 bytes.
L
Laminate
To bond plastic film to paper or to glue paper to chipboard or corrugated cardboard.
Latin
Mock-ups typically use Latin text (“Lorem Ipsum”, etc.) to stand in for actual text in the vernacular of the intended audience’s language and region. This dummy text represents the space where actual text will later go in a design where text is not yet available or created.
Laser Printer
Output device which scans a laser beam across a photoconductive drum according to the instructions of a computer whose memory holds a bitmapped construction of the image to be printed. After the electrostatic image
has developed, it is put on paper by the Xerographic process.
Layout
Sketch or drawing of a design for a proposed printed piece showing position, size and color of copy. Also, the design of the page, as it is “laid out” on the printed or digital page. Also sometimes known as “page layout.”
Leading
The distance between lines of type according to their baselines, which can be adjusted as needed.
Leaf
Another way of referring to a sheet of paper in a periodical, book, or other publication. Each side of a leaf is essentially a page in the publication in a book or perfect-bound publication, whereas each side of a leaf in a saddle-stitched publication would be two pages (one leaf is thus stitched into two pages per side for a total of four total pages.)
Legible
Characteristics of copy having sufficient contrast with the paper on which it appears and determined by such features as typeface, size, leading and quality of printing.
Letterpress
Method of printing from raised surfaces. A Letter Press is the kind of press used.
Logo
Assembly of type and art into a distinctive symbol unique to an organization, business or product.
LPI
Lines per inch.
M
Magenta
One of the four process colors; also known as process red.
Make-ready
All activities required to set up a press before production begins. Also refers to paper used in the process.
Margin
Space forming the border of a page or a sheet.
Masthead
A small section of the magazine, usually located near the front, containing a list of magazine staff and contributors, issue volume/number information, copyright information, ISBN information, legal notices, etc. The term is also used as an alternate name for the “Nameplate.”
Matte Finish
Slightly dull finish on coated, lightly
calendared paper.
Matte Ink or Varnish
Ink or varnish that appears dull when dry.
Mechanical
Camera ready assembly of type, graphics and other copy complete with instructions to the printer.
Megabyte (MB)
A unit of me asure for digital data which is 1,024 kilobytes or 1,048,576 bytes.
Metallic Ink
Ink containing powdered metal that sparkles in light.
Moire (pronounced Mor-ray)
Undesirable pattern in halftones and screen tints made with improperly aligned screens.
Multicolor Printing
Printing done in more than one ink color.
N
Nameplate
The magazine’s logo that appears on the cover of the magazine and sometimes elsewhere within the pages wherever the magazine brand is represented.
Negative
Characteristics of an image on film or paper in which blacks in the original subject are white or clear and whites in the original are black or opaque. Also a piece of film on which a negative image appears.
O
OCR
Optical Character Recognition. A function of specialized software capable of interpreting a scanned image of text into machine code for later manipulation of text.
Offset Printing
Method of lithographic printing that transfers ink from a plate to a blanket, then from the blanket to paper.
Output specs
When an issue is ready to send to the printer (and/or digital edition/flipbook provider), your magazine designer will need a list of specifications to use when outputting the final PDFs. These specs can include image resolution, bleed size and a number of other criteria.
P
Pad
To bind by applying glue along one edge of a stack of sheets.
Page
A single side of a leaf of a magazine, or other such material to be printed, such as a newspaper.
Palette
The complete collection of colors and color hues available or used in the color scheme. The palette of a magazine would then be not the total collection of colors in the images and other elements in total, but just the total collection of such colors and hues in the non-image graphics of the layout and cover.
Paper Dummy
Unprinted sample of a proposed job.
Paper stock
The paper on which the print version of the magazine will be printed. Normally, when paper stock is mentioned, it is in reference to the specifications of the paper type, thickness, color, degree of gloss, etc.
Perfect binding
A binding process in which the gutter edges of the interior of the magazine are evenly trimmed, coated with adhesive, and bound to the cover at the spine. Perfect binding is not practical for small page counts, but effective for thicker publications with numerous pages. Consult your printer as to what binding method will best fit your needs. Your printer can advise you on specifics as to the best fit for your needs.
Photocopy
Method of printing that transfers images electrostatically and creates them on paper with powder (toner) bonded by heat.
PICT
A picture file format developed by Apple for use on the Macintosh. The format defines bitmapped or object-oriented images on the screen.
Pantone Matching System/PMS colors
A universal system of standardized colors (owned by Pantone, Inc.) utilizing a numbering system to identify and match colors. PMS Colors use a three or four digit number followed by a C, U, or M which stands for Coated, Uncoated or Matte. This system helps to keep colors consistent across various types of print and digital media.
Point
In paper, a unit of thickness equalling 1/1000 inch. In typesetting, unit of height equalling 1/72 inch.
Postscript
A page-description language (PDL) developed by Adobe Systems. A page is stored as a set of instructions specifying the measurements, typefaces and graphic shapes that make up a page.
Pre-flighting
A preliminary step performed by the designer prior to releasing the press-ready material to
the printer or before being posted digitally. This consists of ensuring that all images are accounted for and saved in the appropriate location, images are at the correct resolution, page elements are checked for alignment, spacing issues are resolved and any other design related “loose ends” before are fixed before production.
Prepress
camerawork, stripping platemaking and other activities by a printer before press work begins. Also called prep. Alternate term for preparation.
Press-Ready Files
See definition for “Camera-ready.” These usually Represent the final edition of the publication.
Press Run
The number of pieces printed.
Press Sheet
One sheet as it comes off the printing press.
Process Blue
Alternate term for Cyan.
Process Colors
The colors needed for four color process printing: yellow, magenta, cyan and black.
Process Red
Alternate term for magenta.
Proof
A test page or image intended to give an accurate idea of what the final job will look like. A test sheet made to reveal errors or flaws, predict results, and record how a printing job is intended to appear.
Proofread
To examine a copy or a proof for errors in writing or composition.
Pulled-quote
A design element where a quote or fragment of a sentence is pulled from the article’s content to highlight and draw attention to important points or interesting facts.
Q
Quickprinter
Printer whose business attitude emphasizes basic quality, small presses and fast service.
R
Ragged
Typographic term used to indicate the alignment (either right or left) of a body of type. If the type is “ragged left,” then the body of type is usually aligned to the right margin. If the type is “ragged right,” then the text is usually aligned to the left margin. Ragged right and left usually suggests a body of type that is centered.
Raised Printing
Alternate term for Thermography.
Readable
Characteristic of messages that are written, edited and set in type selected and composed to make them easy to understand.
Ream
500 sheets of paper.
Register
The precise alignment of two or more images or colors that are printed in succession on one sheet of paper.
Registration Marks
Elements such a color bars, targets and crop marks, positioned just outside of the printable area that are utilized by the printer to aid in registration, (the precise alignment of colors) in printing.
Resolution
The amount of detail measured in dots-per-inch (dpi) in a pixel-based image. 300dpi is the standard resolution for print and often referred to as “high-resolution” or “high-res.” For standard websites where images need to be able to load quickly, 72dpi is preferred. Medium resolution images range from about150dpi to 240dpi and are suitable for online flipbooks and digital editions. Printing below 300dpi will result in obvious distortions and will appear pixelated.
RGB
Red, green and blue. The additive primaries which are used in video monitors.
Rights
Conditions and terms of a licensing agreement between a copyright owner and client.
Run
Total number of copies ordered and printed.
Saddle-Stitch
Bindery process taking place after the document has been collated. Sheets are held together where they fold at the spine. Too many pages makes a booklet more difficult to saddle-stitch, thus making perfect binding a more viable option.
S
Scanner
An input device that digitizes and converts two-dimensional information, such as photographic prints, transparencies and paper images into bitmapped images that can be manipulated electronically.
Score
To compress paper along a line so that it will fold more easily.
Section
An article category that appears in a magazine.
Self Mailer
Printed piece designed to be mailed without an envelope.
Service Bureau
A company that provides the various services required to transform the elements used to produce a page or publication into the correct digital format required to output it to a particular chosen media. These include conventional print, various forms of direct digital printing, disk-based and other forms of alternative media.
Separation
Alternate term for color separation.
Sharp
Characteristics of an image in clear focus.
Sheetfed Press
Press that prints sheets of paper.
Shrinkwrap
Method of tightly wrapping packages or products in plastic films.
Sidebar
A smaller article whose content is associated with the main article, but is visually separated from that article.
Side Stitch
To bind by stapling through sheets along
one edge.
Silhouetting
A production process carried out using Adobe
Photoshop, usually to remove/isolate a photo subject from its background or surroundings.
Slug
As with a typical bleed, the slug is the marginal area outside the post-cut printed page. Slugs are handy for generating proofs that require a sign-off box to be printed in the bleed and checked off before printing. Some publishers alternatively use this area to create additional printer instructions.
Software (see “Application Software”)
Specifications
Complete and precise descriptions on paper, ink, binding, quantity and other features of a printing job.
Spine
Binding edge of a signature or publication. The strip that separates the front and back covers in a perfect bound publication, usually containing the magazine’s title, issue date and volume number.
Spiral Bind
To bind using a spiral wire or plastic, looped through holes.
Spoilage
Paper wasted during makeready, printing and bindery operations.
Spreads
A set of two facing pages viewed together create a spread. It’s how the reader sees the magazine or book when it is open and both pages are shown. There are two types of spreads. A “reader spread” is two consecutive pages shown in sequence as they would appear in a publication. Pages are ordered as such; 1, 2/3, 4/5, 6/7, and so on. A “printer spread” is two pages that have been paired together in proper order so that once they have been folded collated, pages appear in consecutive order.
Stationary
Letterhead, envelopes cards and other materials for business correspondence.
Stock
Paper or substrate.
Stock Images
Photos and illustrations made available for license by paying a fee to stock agencies that represent photographers, designers and artists. The use of stock images saves time and money when hiring a photographer, designer or artist is impractical or not affordable.
Stripper
Person who strips negatives.
Stripping
The process of manually creating composite and fully imposed flats for platemaking. Most work is being done electronically, bypassing the traditional craftsman.
Substrate
A surface on which printing is done.
T
Thermography
Method of printing using colorless resin powder and heat applied to wet ink yielding raised images.
Thumbnail Sketch
Rough sketch of a design.
TIFF (Tagged Information File Format)
A graphics and page layout file format for desktop computers. Used as an intermediary file format for both color and black and white images, TIFF is used to transfer documents between different applications and computer platforms.
TOC
Short for the “table of contents.”
Toner
Powder forming an image in photocopy.
Trim Marks
Lines on a mechanical, negative, plate, or press sheet showing where to cut edges off of paper or cut paper apart after printing.
Trim size
The final, trimmed size of a printed magazine.
Turnaround Time
Amount of time needed to complete a job or one stage of it.
U
Uncoated Paper
Paper that is not clay coated.
V
Varnish
Clear liquid applied like ink on press for beauty and protection.
Vector Images
Images utilizing mathematical processes to create their shapes, and are created by software, like Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw. Illustrations, Flash animation images, logos and icons typically use this format. Unlike bitmap images, vectors
can be scaled up infinitely without a loss of resolution/quality.
Vellum Finish
Relatively rough finish on uncoated paper.
W
Waste
Alternate term for Spoilage.
Watermark
Distinctive design created in paper during manufacture.
Web
A roll of printing paper.
Web Press
Press that prints paper from a roll.
White space
The empty space within a layout, and which also can be used intentionally as a design technique to create the visual cues that assist in the guiding the reader’s visual focus to a particular place on the page. White space (sometimes spelled “whitespace”) is also known as negative space in the magazine design industry and helps to create the most appropriate mood, ambiance, or aesthetic.
Work Order
Form used by printing companies to specify and schedule production of jobs and record the time, materials and supplies that each job requires to complete.
