Colored Litho

Colored Litho

Glossary Of Printing Terms

Batch Printing or Gang-Run Printing

Also known as batch printing, this method which is applicable to litho-offset printing is a cost-effective and efficient way to produce all kinds of loose sheet printed documents. Gang-run printing is basically grouping customers' orders for a similar product or requirement into 1 print run. By doing this, your short-run jobs become more affordable as the initial production cost is now shared by various customers.

Bleed

Printing that goes to the edge of the sheet after trimming.

Colour Density

Describes the optical density if areas printed colour. This value is important when monitoring quality in printing processes and can be measured using densitometers. It is only possible to compare color densities of the similar hue.

Densitometer

Instrument used to measure ink density to ensure colour consistency from the first to last print.

Die Cut

The cutting of paper or card into irregular shapes using a die (specially shaped blades mounted on abacking).

Digital Offset

Digital Offset Printing makes use of advance digital technology to produce offset quality results. Not to be confused with digital reproduction (which is mostly associated with digital copiers and colour lasers), Digital Offset Printing eliminates many of the mechanical steps required for litho-offset printing (see below), including making films or plates. As image is transferred directly onto paper without the use of plates, the technology is cost-efficient and significantly makes small volume print-runs economical.

DPI (Dots Per Inch)

DPI is short for Dots Per Inch. It is a measurement of printer's output resolution. For printers, the DPI specification indicates the number of dots per inch that the printer has to output to form the image/text on the document. The higher the DPI, the more refined the image/text will appear. At Printfac3 the minimum DPI requirement for an image/text is 300dpi.

Fold

An intentional bend in the paper, usually done by special machines.

Grammage

Basis weight of paper in grams per square meter (gsm).

GSM

The unit of measurement for paper weight (grams per square meter).

Lamination

The process of coating a printed document with an extremely thin layer of either glossy or matt plastic. Lamination gives a highly professional look and provides an extra smooth finish. It can also protect the document surface from fingerprints and scratches.

Litho-Offset (Lithographic)

A printing technique where by the desired print image is transferred via computer-to-plate (CTP), then transferred (or offset) from the plate to a rubber blanket and then to the printing surface. The lithographic process is based on the repulsion of oil and water. The image to be printed gets ink from ink rollers, while the non printing area attracts a film of water, keeping the non printing areas ink-free.

On-Press

The process of a document being printed.

Overprint Varnish

A coating of clear varnish applied like ink, completely over a printed document. It is part of the finishing process.

Post-Press

The finishing processes a printed document goes through. Examples of the types of finishing are folding, creasing, punching, collation, gluing and stitching.

Pre-Press

The procedures and processes digital files must go through before they can be printed.

Stock / Paper Stock / Paper Material

Unprinted paper. More infomation on paper material here.

Trim Size

This is the final size of a document after excess edges have been cut off. Anything left outside the trim or crop marks/lines will be trimmed away. Therefore, refrain from adding a border or frame along the edge of a document as it may appear uneven after trimming.

Wire-O Binding

A document binding technique using a double-wire strip which is wound through pre-punched holes along the edge of the pages of a document. It is also called spiral binding and double-o binding.

About the Author

Printfac3 is an online printing service providing quality & affordabe printing - business cards, postcards, wedding invitations, greeting cards and more. Placing your order with Printfac3 is simple. You have the choice of uploading your own artwork or using our ready made designs.

Which frame color suits this pic?

Just bought an aspen litho and now I want to frame it, but I don't know what color to choose. This pic is quite fancy, so I'm going for an 'expensive' look. And here's the litho: http://www.aspenstore.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=498

I'd go with a silver frame myself. It's a nice pic.

Roland Practica Single Colour Litho Printer eBay 1