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earth colors
pigments such as ochre, Venetian red, Indian red, the siemans, or umber all made from various ores and oxides found in the earth.

earthenware
glazed or unglazed porous nonvitreous ceramic whiteware.

easeling
the attaching of easels to displays.

easy release
a condition where the proper combination of adhesive product and liner or backing paper facilitates separation of the face sheet from the backing such as when neutralized, reflective, or laminated sheets are involved.

EDG
acroynm for electronic dot generation.

edge acutance
the edge sharpness of the printed image, controlled by the screen stencil, screen tension, ink thixotropy, and related factors.

edge curl
the tendency of a pressure sensitive sheet to deform or bend away from the surface to which it has been adhered.

edge definition
the sharpness and integrity of the image edge lines or data compared to the original represented on the film.

edge guide
refer to web guide.

edge sealer
a material designed to provide additional security and durability after application of a pressure sensitive product to a substrate.

edition
the size of a print run, particularly of fine-art prints or serigraphs, where the number of prints is limited, and each print is generally signed by the artist.

EEOC
acronym for Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (US).

effective resolution
the final appearance of a scan that has been enhanced to produce more data than the scanner can record. This is done by interpolation.

effloresce
to dry or crystallize into a white powder.

effluent
(1) waste material treated or untreated in liquid form; (2) the release of pollutants into a waterway.

Efflux cup
a simple viscometer such as a Zahn cup or Shell cup used to measure viscosity by the number of seconds required for the cup to empty through an orifice of known size.

EGA resolution
computer monitor resolution, which is typically 660 x 440 data (pixels) for the entire screen.

eggshell
(1) a slight gloss surface resembling an egg shell in color and texture; pale yellow to yellowish white; (2) a very thin transluscent prcelain.

eight sheet
a poster made up of eight individual sheets measuring 153 x 203 cm (60 x 80 in).

ejector pin
a device for knocking a cured plactic part from a mold.

EL
abbreviation for electroluminescence.

EL lamp
a thin 0.0103 to 6.35 mm (0.010 to 0.25 inches) illuminating device used to light large areas in liquid crystal displays, control panels and membrane switch backlighting.

elastic elongation
the stretching of a material and yet it retains the ability to return to its original length.

elasticity
the capability of a material to recover its original shape and size after it has been stretched or altered.

elasticity reserve
the extra resilience in a tautly stretched screen mesh that permits its conformance to moderate curvature in the substrate.

elasticity, modulus of
ratio of stress to strain exhibited by an elastically deformed material.

elastic limit
the maximum stress a material is capable of sustaining without any permenant change remaining after the stress is released.

elastic memory
refer to elastic elongation.

elastomer
a material at room temperature that can be stretched repeatedly to at least twice its original length and upon immediate release of the stress will return with force to its original length.

Elastane
the original name for Spandex™; term used in Europe.

electroformed printing screen
the direct conversion of electrical energy into light, through the use of a capacitive sandwich that includes a transparent conductive coating, a phosphor layer, and an opaque conductive layer, separated by a dielectric film.

electroluminescence
the direct conversion of electrical energy into light by solid phosphor subjected to an alternating electrical field.

electrolyte
(1) a non-metallic substance, when in solution or fused, is capable of conducting electric current; (2) chemicals (soda and silicate of soda) used to make slip more fluid for casting.

electromagnetic spectrum
the complete range of wavelengths and frequencies of electromagnetic radiation extending from gamma rays to the longest radio waves including visible light.

electron beam
a continuous stream of electrons used to cure or crosslink reactive inks and coatings.

electronic dot generation (EDG)
process used in digital halftone production that allows negatives or plates to be generated by grouping micro dots into regular groups to function in the same manner as a photographically produced halftone.

electroplating
a process of depositing metal particles onto a conductive surface by electrolytic action.

electroscopic ink
finely ground, spherically shaped, dry particles of resin and coloring matter that take a static charge from the metal screen and are thus attracted through the openings in the stencil that forms the design to the grounded back plate.

electrostatic decorating
a method of decorating an article utilizing the phenomenon of opposite electrically-charged particles attracting each other such as flock or ink particles applied to a substrate by positively charging the particles and negatively charging the substrate.

electrostatic film
a PVC plastic sheet that has been electrostatically charged so that it "clings" to any highly polished surface without adhesive, offering easy removal and reuse capability.

electrostatic flocking
a process using an electrostatic charge to drive flock fibers into an adhesive that has been printed on a substrate.

electrostatic printing
an impactless imaging process where electrically charged, powdered colorant particles are transferred from the image carrier to a substrate and fused to the substrate to form a permenant image.

elliptical dot
an elongated oval shaped halftone dot that forms an image that tends to produce better tonal gradations across 50% tint area; also called a chain dot.

elliptical reflector
a direct light source reflector used in UV curing for focusing the energy onto a specific area.

Elmendorf test
a standard test for determining the tear strength of a material such as paper.

elongation
(1) loss of memory or irreversible change in the dimensions of a screen mesh that has been over-stressed; (2) the increase in length or width of a material produced by extending it to the point of rupture; (3) length of printed image stretched or increased in size; (4) the difference between the length of a mesh thread before and after tensioning.

elongation, ultimate
the maximum distance a material will stretch in a lengthwise direction before breaking, expressed as a percent of the original (unstretched) length.

em (em quad)
defined as a square equal in width and height to the height of the letter "m" in any size type, and used as a unit of measure for printing matter; also called the mutton.

embedment
a process where pre-screen printed graphics are placed within a translucent polyester resin containing fiberglass strands, to produce a durable outdoor sign or other item. (The graphics are printed onto rice paper or special embedment papers with cellulose inks).

emboss
mechanical and termoforming of graphic features, providing a rasised area for accenting key surfaces, logo, and to allow for embedding of surface mount LED within the switch.

embossed
a print or design made by using impress dies that create raised relief images on the surface of a material.

embossed pillow
a raised surface in the graphic overlay over the entire key area (0.10 to 0.015 high).

embossed rail (embossed racetrack)
a raised ridge around the perimeter of the key area (0.10 to 0.015 high).

embossing
a technique for impressing a design or texture into a sheet of material from the back of the sheet so that the design, though remaining an integral part of the sheet, extends forward toward the viewer.

embrittlement
the loss of plasticity in a material resulting in brittleness.

embroidery
the process of working with needle and thread to form raised decorative designs on fabric.

EMI
acroynm for electromagnetic interference.

EMI shield
a printed conductor pattern or separate aluminum or copper film used in a membrane switch to reduce the affects of electromagnetic and radio frequency interference.

emission curve
curve plotted on graph to indicate variances to and from peak performance of emitted light or other rays.

emission factor
the average amount of pollutants that will be emitted per unit of material manufactured.

emission standard
the maximum legal amount of a pollutant allowed to be discharged from a single source, either mobile or stationary.

emissivity
the ratio of energy emitted by an object to that emitted by a theoretical object that radiates the maximum amount of energy at the same temperature such as a blackbody.

emulsifying agent (emulsifier)
material used to facilitate the preparation of emulsions and to improve their stability.

emulsion
a liquid or semi-liquid light sensitive compound usually of silver halide grains in a thin gelatin layer.

emulsion coater
refer to scoop coater.

emulsion side
the side of the photosensitive stencil or photographic film that is coated with the light sensitive material.

emulsion speed
the rate of response to light under standard conditions of a light sensitive material.

emulsion up
refers to a photographic film positive or negative where the emulsion side is placed facing up for direrct contact with a photostencil.

en (en quad)
one-half the width of an em; a unit of measure in printed matter that is one half the width of an em; also called a nut.

enamel
(1) in glass decorating, a dry powder substance composed of a mixture of frit and inorganic pigment; (2) a screen printing ink or coating the dries hard and glossy; (3) a coated paper with a glossy surface.

enamel stock
coated paper with a hard, glossy surface usually obtained by calendering the clay impregnated surface.

encapsulated ink
ink or ink particles covered or enclosed with a coating to produce a free flowing dry system that can be activated by thermal change or physical pressure such as scratch and sniff ink.

encapsulated postscript (EPS)
Adobe® format that translates graphics and text into a code that a printer can read and print.

endothermic
a chemical change or transformation that absorbs heat.

end point density
the highlight and shadow densities representing the desired dot reproduction at both ends of the halftone range.

engineer grade
a second grade reflective sheeting made to specifications for a variety of uses including highway signs; also referred to as diamond grade.

engineered prints
cut-sheet transfers (not continuous rolls) that may be individual products such as bath rugs or individual parts of a garment.

engineering control
any equipment, material, or process that reduces the source of a hazardous exposure.

engineering plastic
refer to high performance plastic.

English finish
a grade of book paper that has a smooth non-glossy paper finish.

enlargement
a reproduction or copy larger than the original; also called blowup.

enlarger
a device for projecting a photographic positive or negative onto a sensitized material or onto a wall of a darkroom for the purpose of obtaining a larger image.

enlarging
refer to enlargement and blow-up.

englobe
a slip or liquid clay used for decorating.

engobe
a slip coating applied to a ceramic body to mask the body color.

engraving
any recessed printing plate that is produced by an etching or cutting.

Ente Nazionale Italiano di Unificazone
standards organization in Italy.

entrapped carbon
dark carbon film between enamel/gold film and glass usually due to rapid firing or lack of oxygen in the lehr.

environmental influences
all conditions of weather, sunshine, heat, rain, and cold including gases that may be present in exterior exposure conditions; interior environment may include heat, humidity, vapors, fumes, and all other characteristics of surrounding atmosphere.

enzymes
composition derived usually from meat by-products which digest gelatin materials, i.e., photoscreen films, without harming the fabric.

Environmental Protection Agency (US)
a government agency formed to implement the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972 and subsequent environmental legislation, including the Clean Air Act and Solid Waste Amendments.

EOQ
acroynm for European Organization for Quality.

eosin
a red crystalline powder used in textile dyeing and ink manufacturing; refer to phloxine.

EPA
acronym for the Environmental Protection Agency (US).

EPA hazardous waste number
the number assigned by EPA to each hazardous waste listed in 40 CFR 261 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations.

EPA identification number
the number assigned by EPA to each U.S.hazardous waste generator, hazardous waste transporter or hazardous waste facility.

EPS
acronym for encapsulated postscript; a vector based computer graphics file format developed by Adobe™ and is preferred format for computer illustrations because of its efficient use of memory and fine color control.

epoxy
a group of thermosetting resins having strong adhesive qualities, also capability of forming a very tough ink film with excellent chemical and environmental resistance.

epoxy plastic
plastic based on resins made by the reaction of expoxides or oxiranes with other materials such as amines, alcohols, phenols, carboxylic acids, acid anhydrides and unsaturated compounds.

epoxy polyurethane
a general term for a film-forming system made up of isocyanate resins reacted with water (moisture cured) or hydroxy functional polyester, polyethers, or polyols and modified with an epoxy resin.

epoxy system
a system or systems using inks or coatings that require catalytic reaction in order to change from liquid to dry state.

Epson™ emulation
industry standard control codes for dot matrix printers, developed by Epson™.

EP toxicity (Extraction Procedure Toxicity)
a characteristic that a substance exhibits when the extract is tested in accordance with a procedure described in US Appendix II to 40 CFR Part 260 (or an equivalent method) and is found to equal or exceed concentrations of the contaminants shown.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
a US federal government commission that enforces anti-discrimination laws based on sex, race, or national origin.

equalization
an image processing technique where the range of tones or colors in an image file is expanded to produce a more pleasing image.

equalizer rod
refer to drawdown rod.

equilibrium constant
the product of the concentrations (or activities) of the substances produced at equilibrium in a chemical reaction divided by the product of concentrations of the reacting substances, each concentration raised to that power which is the coefficient of the substance in the chemical equation.

equilibrium moisture content
the point where paper or other material will neither gain nor lose moisture in a constant temperature and humidity environment.

equilibrium relative humidity
point where the moisture content of paper reaches equilibrium with the relative humidity.

equivalent weights
a mathematical calculation that provides an equal comparison of different size and ream weights of papers that have the same basis weight.

ergonomics
the application of biotechnology and engineered principles to improve convenience, ease of use, and operator comfort.

ERH
acroynm for equilibrium relative humidity.

errata
an acknowledgement of a printing error.

error diffusion
in electronic scanning, smoothing a rough area of a digital image by averaging the difference of adjoining pixels.

erythema
an irritation of the skin, typically exhibited by redness thatcan be caused by exposure to UV light rays.

ESMA
acroynm for European Screen Printing Manufacturers Association.

essence
special thinner used with lusters and brigt gold precious metal compositions.

E-stat
a shortened term for electrostatic.

ester
a class of organic compounds corresponding to the inorganic salts formed from an acid by the replacement of hydrogen by an alkl radical such as eyhyl acetate solvent and butyl phthalate plasticizers.

ester gum
the glycerol ester of rosin used as an ingredient in certain screen printing varnishes.

etch
(1) the result of application of hydrofluoric acid to a glass surface for making or decoration with a "frosty" appearance; (2) removal of unwanted portions of conductive metal not protected by resist coatings in printed circuit production; (3) change of character of any surface by chemical reaction.

etch imitation
a fired or baked on vitrerous enamal that produces a frosty or matte surface to simulate acid etch finish.

etchant
a chemical solution that has the capability of reacting to a surface brought into contact with the chemical, resulting in dissolving and removing the surface of the product being etched.

etched printed circuit
an electronic circuit or printed wiring pattern formed by etching away, by chemical action, unwanted portions of a conductive film, which portions are not protected by the imprint of resist ink or other media.

etching
(1) the process of forming a design or drawing on a metal or plastic plate; (2) a design or picture etched on a plate or a print made from an etched plate.

etch resist
a material or compound applied to portions of a product in process (usually in a pattern), prior to etching, to protect the covered portions from the action of the etchant.

ethyl acetate
a colorless, inflammable liquid with a fruity fragrance made by heating acetic and ethyl alcohol in the presence of sulfuric acid, used as a solvent.

ethyl alcohol
grain alcohol; a colorless limpid volatile liquid widely used solvent, where high volatility is essential.

ethyl cellulose
an ethyl ether of cellulose commonly used as a film former, soluble in most organic liquids and possessing generally good compatibilities with various resins, waxes, oils, and plasticizers; inert to alkalis and dilute acid; very common in the coatings industry.

ethyl cellulose formulation
a group of chemical coating compounds with the major film-forming constituent based on ethyl cellulose or ethyl hydroxyl, ethyl cellulose with appropriate solvents, modifying resins, plasticizers and pigmentation.

ethylene dichloride
frequently employed as an extractive agent to degum silk and cotton in the textile industry.

ethylene glycol mono ethyl ether
an active solvent used in lacquers and brushing enamels, also used as a retarder in some ink formulations, has fast rate of evaporation and high flash point.

ethylene glycol mono methyl ether
a glycol ether used in lacquers and as an intermediate for various plasticizers.

EU
acroynm for European Union.

European print stroke
the direction of the printing stroke found on many screen printing presses made in Europe, where the squeegee moves toward the front of the press during printing.

eutectic
any mixture of two or more components that melt at a lower temperature than the individual components, or any other mixture of the same components.

eutectic solder
most common solder compound of 68% tin and 37% lead with a melting point of 83.88ºC (183ºF).

evap
abbreviation for evaporation.

evaporate
to convert from the liquid to the vapor stage such as a solvent leaving a printed ink film during drying.

evaporation rate
the speed at which a solvent, or other volatile, changes into its vapor state; generally measured relative to butyl acetate, which has an arbitrary rate of 1.0.

EVA
acroynm for polyethylene vinyl acetate.

exa
a prefix utilized in the metric system of measurement which denotes 10 to the power of 18 (10¹⁸) or 1 000 000 000 000 000 000.0. Its symbol is E.

excitation purity
a relative colorimetric quantity used in designating depth of color. One of the three quantities used in the C.I.E. specification of color.

exhaust system
a system where a duct or flue, and/or blower system is used to remove air or gases from a dryer or lehr.

exothermic
the property of giving off or releasing heat; heat generated by a chemical reaction.

expanding corner frame
screen frame that has hollow metal section fitted with elbow in the corner that are designed to expand to tension the mesh.

expansion
an overall increase in the dimensions of a substrate.

expansion factor
correction factor for the change in density between two pressure measurement areas in a constricted flow.

explode
to burst suddenly and violently.

explosive
a substance that can explode.

exposure
(1) a predetermined length of time that a given photosensitive emulsion or film is affected by a controlled intensity of actinic illumination, product of intensity and time; (2) occurs when an employee is subjected to hazardous chemical; (3) the length of time that a material is exposed to environmental influences; (4) an individual prospective consumer’s sensual contact with a POP display or other advertising media.

exposure area
the area of a light sensitive material that is subjected to change by action of actinic light rays.

exposure calculator (graphic)
a circular slide rule or system of concentric dials for computing proper camera exposure by matching lens aperture, shutter speed, light intensity, and camera distance on the several dials.

exposure calculator (screen)
a inexpensive device used for determining the correct exposure time for photostencil films and emulsions.

exposure index
a number assigned to a photographic material to relate its speed to other photographic materials.

exposure latitude
(1) the range of camera exposures, from underexposure to overexposure that will permit acceptable reproduction; (2) the range of exposure for an emulsion coated screen that will permit acceptable reproduction with no loss of detail and still be fully cured.

exposure meter
an instrument that measures the intensity of light that is reflected from a subject or light that reaches the lens, indicating practical exposure recommendations and f-stop.

exposure test
a test made by exposing to actinic light sensitized films or coatings for a series of equal time intervals at a given distance from light sources, in order to establish standard time of exposure and standard distance of light from sensitized surface.

exposure time
the relative amount of time in seconds or minutes during which a photosensitive material is acted upon by light.

exposure unit
the light source or system used in exposing photostencil materials.

extender base (extender)
a non-pigmented transparent or white binder used to increase ink volume without reducing viscosity, which reduces the ink strength withour affecting its hue.

extender pigment
a pigment added to an ink to reinforce the color, but typically having little effect on opacity.

extensibility tester
instrument used to measure the elongation of a material by applying stress on the original cross-sectional area of the specimen.

exterior durability
a measure of the length of time a print will withstand outdoor exposure without appreciable loss of quantity.

extra spacious pocket
a display pocket with greater width, depth, or length, or any combination above the usual size.

extrusion
to shape by forcing through a die.

exudation
the migration of solid materials to the surface of a film.

eyelet
a rimmed metal or plastic grommet inserted into the holes of a banner or display for reinforcement.

eyeletting
the punching of small holes into a material for the purpose of attaching grommets, cords, or hooks for hanging.

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