CMYK
An abbreviation for the four primary colors used in four-color process printing–cyan (a light blue), magenta (a pinkish purple), yellow and black.
Caliper
The measurement of thickness of paper expressed in thousandths of an inch or mils.
Cameo
A dull coated paper, which is particularly useful in reproducing halftones and engravings.
Camera Ready
A term given to any copy, artwork etc., that is prepared for reproduction.
Canvas Board
A paperboard with a surface of simulated canvas, used for painting.
Cap Line
An imaginary horizontal line running across the tops of capital letters.
Caps & Lowercase
Instructions in the typesetting process that indicate the use of a capital letter to start a sentence and the rest of the letters in lower case.
Caps & Small Caps
Two sizes of capital letters made in one size of type, which is indicated by the use of a larger capital letter to start a sentence with the rest of the letters being in smaller capitals.
Cartridge
A rough finished paper used for wrapping.
Case
The stiff covers of a hardbound book.
Case Binding
Books bound using hard board (case) covers.
Casing In
The process of placing in and adhering a book to its case covers.
Cast Coated
A paper that is coated and then pressure dried using a polished roller which imparts an enamel-like hard gloss finish.
Catching Up
A term to describe that period of the printing process where the non-image areas can take on ink or debris.
Chain Lines
Lines that appear on laid paper as a result of the wires of the papermaking machine.
Chalking
A term used to describe the quality of print on paper where the absorption of the paper is so great that it breaks up the ink image creating loose pigment dust.
Coarse Screen
Halftone screens commonly used in newsprint; up to 85 lines per inch.
Coated Paper
Paper coated with clay, white pigments, and a binder. Better for printing because there is less picking.
Coated Stock
Any paper that has a mineral coating applied after the paper is made, giving the paper a smoother finish.
Cold-Set Inks
A variety of inks that are in solid form originally but are melted in a hot press and then solidify when they contact paper.
Collate
To gather sheets or signatures together in their correct order. Reference: Gather.
Collating Marks
Black step-marks printed on the back of folded sheets, to facilitate collating and checking of the sequence of book signatures.
Color Bar
This term refers to a color test strip, which is printed on the waste portion of a press sheet. It is a standardized GATF (Graphic Arts Technical Foundation) process which allows a pressman to determine the quality of the printed material relative to ink density, registration and dot gain. It also includes the Star Target, which is a similar system designed to detect inking problems.
Color Separating
The processes of separating the primary color components for printing.
Color Strength
A term referring to the relative amount of pigmentation in an ink.
Color Transparency
Transparent film containing a positive photographic color image.
Column Gutter
Space between two or more columns of type on one page.
Commercial Register
Color registration measured within plus or minus one row of dots.
Composition
The assembly of characters into words, lines and paragraphs of text or body matter for reproduction by printing.
Condensed Type
A narrow, elongated type face.
Contact Print
A print made from contact of a sensitive surface to a negative or positive photograph.
Contact Screen
A halftone screen made on film of graded density, and used in a vacuum contact with the film.
Contrast
The degree of tonal separation or gradation in the range from black to white.
Copy
Refers to any typewritten material, art, photos, etc., to be used for the printing process.
Copyboard
A board upon which the copy is pasted for the purpose of photographing.
Corner Marks
Marks on a final printed sheet that indicate the trim lines or register indicators.
Cover
A term describing a general category of papers used for the covers of books, pamphlets, etc.
Creep
When the rubber blanket on a cylinder moves forward due to contact with the plate or paper. Result of added thickness of folded sheets being behind one another in a folded signature. Outer edges of sheets creep away from back most fold as more folded sheets are inserted inside the middle.
Crop
To eliminate a portion of the art or copy as indicated by crop marks.
Crop Mark
Markings at edges of original or on guide sheet to indicate the area desired in reproduction with negative or plate trimmed (cropped) at the markings.
Curl
Not lying flat and tending to form into cylindrical or wavy shapes. A term to describe the differences of either side of a sheet relative to coatings, absorbency, etc.; the concave side is the curl side.
Cutter
Machine for accurately cutting stacks of paper to desired dimensions; can also be used to crease. Also trims out final bound books’ top size (soft cover).
Cutting Die
Sharp edged device, usually made of steel, to cut paper, cardboard, etc., on a printing press.
Cyan
A shade of blue used in the four-color process; it reflects blue and green and absorbs red.
Cylinder Gap
The gap in the cylinders of a press where the grippers or blanket clamps is housed.
