Glossary

The PRINTING United Alliance Glossary serves as an excellent industry terminology resource. It is the language by which we all communicate. Without it, universal understanding would be impossible.

To keep our constituents well informed about changes to the increasingly complex industry terminology, PRINTING United Alliance has developed this glossary of terms. Definitions are for general reference only. Usage may vary between companies, individuals, or national and country customs. The information presented is as accurate as the authors and editors can ascertain and PRINTING United Alliance assumes no responsibility for the use of information presented herein.
  • Magnetic ink character recognition paper
    Paper free of all metallic and magnetizable particles with superior strength, levelness, good stiffness, and propensity for flatness despite continual handling.
  • Neutral pH paper
    An acid-free paper.
  • Offset paper
    A grade of paper manufactured in a range of weights in white or light colors with good dimensional stability, cleanliness, and pick resistance; alterative term for uncoated book paper.
  • Paper
    A sheet of fibers (wood) manufactured on a fine wire from a water suspension.
  • Paper abrasion test
    Paper used to determine dry rub, wet rub, wet bleed, smear, and rub qualities, incorporating several types of motion, also used for the testing of surface areas, under a variety of load conditions.
  • Paper conditioning
    To bring paper temperature and moisture content into equilibrium with the atmospheric conditions of the pressroom.
  • Paper equilibrium tester
    An instrument used to indicate maximum changes likely in size or shape of stacked, wrapped paper, once the wrapping has been removed.
  • Paper stencil
    A screen printing stencil made of thin paper that is adhered to the mesh.
  • Paper thermometer
    A strip of heat sensitive paper that indicates achieved temperature; also refer to temperature tapes.
  • Paperboard
    One of the two broad subdivisions of paper that is generally 12 points (0.3 mm/0.012 inch) or more in thickness.
  • Permanent paper
    A paper that resists the effects of aging, usually acid-free, used for archival or artistic (serigraph) prints.
  • Poster paper
    A name commonly used by printers for paper sheet material used in the printing of an outdoor advertising poster, usually wet-strengthened with opaque additives for minimum see-through when posted, rough on one side to facilitate pasting.
  • Pulp type papers
    Those papers containing ground woods, sulfate and/or sulfate pulps exhibiting characteristics of high opacity and high strength.
  • Reflex paper
    A light sensitive material for contacting same size reproductions.
  • Sign paper
    An outdoor/indoor sign and poster material, generally made of bleached wood pulp and surface sized or treated; normal basis weights are 90, 100 or 110 pounds with rigidity, light fastness, water resistance, and fair strength.
  • Simplex decal paper
    A single sheet of heavy paper that has been coated with a water soluble adhesive used for decals smaller than 23 x 23 cm (9 x 9 inches); (2) temporary support sheet for a water slide decal prior to application.
  • Soft finish paper
    Paper stock that has not been treated on the surface to provide a higher sheen or to reduce absorption.
  • Specialty paper
    Papers that typically contain 25 to 100% rag, or are polymeric coated, cast coated, or are high gloss.
  • Synthetic paper
    A non-cellulosic material that is made from plastic or other non-petroleum based product.
  • Thermographic paper
    A substrate where the image is formed by an irreversible chemical change that occurs when heat is applied or as a result of a physical change that occurs in a thin coating over the sheet.
  • Transfer paper
    A wide variety of papers on which a design is printed and which acts as a temporary carrier of the design until permanently attached to a substrate.