A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W XYZ
Dagger and Double Dagger - Symbols used mainly as reference marks for footnotes.
Dampener Fountain - Alternate term for Water fountain on a press.
Dampening Solution - Alternate term for Fountain solution.
- (1) A plain roll situated above the wet web of the paper to provide a smoothing action to the top surface of the paper as it passes under the roll. (2) A watermarking dandy roll is a roll of skeletal structure, sheathed in a wire cloth that has designs, letters or figures affixed to it. As the wet paper web passes under the turning watermarking dandy, the designs are impressed into the paper and a permanent watermark is left in the sheet.Dash - A short horizontal rule used for punctuation.
DAT - Digital Audio Tape has gotten its name from the advent of DATs for music. These tapes are really DDT or Digital Data Tapes. Used mainly for long term archives and data storage, this media is slower and is used mainly by system managers.
Data Compression - Technique of reducing the amount of storage required to hold a digital file to reduce the disk space the file requires and allow it to be processed or transmitted more quickly.
Data Conversion - To change digital information from its original code so that it can be recorded by an electronic memory using a different code.
Deboss - To press an image into paper so it lies below the surface.
- Often used interchangeably with trim, referring to the salable width of the web on the paper machine.Deckle Edge - Edge of paper left ragged as it comes from the papermaking machine instead of being cleanly cut. Also called feather edge.
- Essentially, recycled paper. Ink has been removed by mechanical and chemical means to produce clean fibers. - The process of removing lignin from wood to leave only cellulose fibers. - A sensitive photoelectric instrument that measures the density of colors. Reflection densitometers measure light reflected from paper and other surfaces; transmission densitometers measure light transmitted through film and other materials.Density - (1) Regarding ink, the relative thickness of a layer of printed ink. (2) Regarding color, the relative ability of a color to absorb light reflected from it or block light passing through it. (3) Regarding paper, the relative tightness or looseness of fibers.
Density Range - Difference between the darkest and lightest areas of copy. Also called contrast ratio, copy range and tonal range.
Descender - Any part of a lower case letter that extends below the x-height, as in the case of y and j.
Desktop Publishing - Technique of using a personal computer to design images and page layouts, then using a laser printer or imagesetter to output the assembled pages onto paper, film or printing plate. Abbreviated DTP.
Device Independent Colors - Hules identified by wavelength or by their place in systems such as developed by CIE. 'Device independent' means a color can be described and specified without regard to whether it is reproduced using ink, projected light, photographic chemistry or any other method.
- Measurement of the widest point across the end of the roll.Diazo - Light-sensitive coating on paper or film for making contact prints of technical drawings.
Die - Sharp metal device for cutting, scoring, stamping, embossing and debossing.
Die Cutting - To cut irregular shapes in paper using metal rules mounted on a letter press.
Digital Color Printing
- A printing process that allows color printing directly from electronic images without the need for film or color separations.Digital Proofing - Page proofs produced through electronic memory transferred onto paper via laser or ink-jet.
Diffusion Transfer - Chemical process of reproducing line copy and making halftone positives ready for paste-up.
- Pressure vessels in which wood chips are cooked to separate fibers from each other and to remove detrimental particles.Digital Dot - Dot created by a computer and printed out by a laser printer or imagesetter. Digital dots are uniform in size, as compared to halftone dots that vary in size.
Dimensional Stability - Characteristic of paper and other substrates to retain their exact size despite the influence of temperature, moisture, or stretching.
Direct Mail - Mail designed to motivate readers to respond directly to senders with a purchase, donation, or other action.
- Dirt in paper consists of any imbedded foreign matter or specks that contrast in color to the remainder of the sheet.Display Type - Larger type used for headings etc. Normally about 18 point or larger.
- (1) Mechanism used during manufacture to clean the surface of the paper (excess pulp and size) while on the paper machine roll. (2) In gravure printing, used to wipe away the excess ink in the non-printing areas of the plate.Dodge - To block light from selected areas while making a photographic print.
Dog Ear - A letter fold at the side of one of the creases, an indentation occurs.
Dot Etching - Chemical or photographic method of color correcting separation negatives.
Dot Gain or Spread - Phenomenon of halftone dots printing larger on paper than they are on negatives or plates. Also called dot growth, dot spread and press gain.
Dot Size - Relative size of halftone dots as compared to dots of the screen ruling being used. There is no unit of measurement to express dot size. Dots are too large, too small or correct only in comparison to what the viewer finds attractive.
Double Black Duotone - Duotone printed from two halftones, one shot for highlights and the other shot for midtones and shadows.
Double Bump - To print a single image twice so it has two layers of ink.
Double Burn - To expose film or a plate twice to different negatives and thus create a composite image.
- A sheet that has been coated twice on the same side.Double Dot Halftone - Halftone double burned onto one plate from two halftones, one shot for shadows, the second shot for midtones and highlights.
Double Page Spread - Two facing pages of newspaper or magazine where the textual material on the left hand side continues across to the right hand side. Abbreviated to DPS.
Doubling - Printing defect appearing as blurring or shadowing of the image. Doubling may be caused by problems with paper, cylinder alignment, blanket pressures or dirty cylinders.
Downloadable Fonts - Type faces which can be stored on a disk and then downloaded to the printer when required for printing. These are, by definition, bit-mapped fonts and, therefore, fixed in size and style.
DPI (Dots Per Inch) - The measurement of resolution for page printers, imagesetting machines and CTP.
Drawdown - Sample of specified inks applied to the substrate specified for a job. Also called pulldown.
Drawn On - A method of binding a paper cover to a book by drawing the cover on and gluing to the back of the book.
- A series of large, cylindrical steam heated rolls that dry the paper webs to the final moisture content.Drop Cap - A large initial letter at the start of the text that drops into the line or lines of text below.
Dropout - To eliminate halftone dots or fine lines from highlights by overexposure during camera work or platemaking. The lost copy is said to have dropped out.
- The section on the machine where the driers, cutters, slitters and reels are located.Dry Back - Phenomenon of printed ink colors becoming less dense as the ink dries.
- Term indicating that paper or paperboard is calendered without use of water. Also, paper with unglazed, rough finish obtained by the dry finish process.Dry Gum Paper - Label paper with glue that can be activated by water.
Dry Offset - Using metal plates in the printing process, which are etched to .15mm (.0006 in) creating a right reading plate, printed on the offset blanket transferring to paper without the use of water.
Dry Transfer (lettering) - Characters, drawings, etc, that can be transferred to the artwork by rubbing them off the back of the transfer sheet. Best known is Letraset.
Dry Trap - To print over dry ink, as compared to wet trap.
Dual-purpose Bond Paper
- Bond paper suitable for printing by either lithography (offset) or xerography (photocopy). Abbreviated DP bond paper.Dull Finish - Not glossy finish on coated paper; slightly smoother than matte. Also called suede finish, velour finish and velvet finish.
Dull Ink or Varnish
- Alternate term for Matte ink or varnish.Dummy - A simulation of a final printed piece. Also called mockup.
- Protective, inflatable bag used in shipping to protect product from transit damage due to shifting and rough handling.Duotone - Photograph reproduced from two halftone negatives and usually printed in two ink colors.
Duplex Paper - Thick paper made by pasting two thinner sheets together, usually of different colors. Also called double-faced paper and two-tone paper.Duplexed - When paper is printed on both sides of the sheet.
Duplicator - Small offset press using paper 12 x 18 or smaller.
Dye Transfer - A photographic colour print using special coated papers to produce a full colour image. Can serve as an inexpensive proof.
Dylux
- DuPont trade name for photographic paper used to make blueline proofs.
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