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.
  • Non-reproducible color
    Refers to certain colors that cannot be exactly reproduced by process printing especially fluorescent colors.
  • OD
    Outside dimension of an item.
  • ODC
    Acceptable acronym for ozone depleting chemical or compound.
  • On-Demand Color (ODC)
    This term typically refers to short run color printing. These processes include ink-jet, electrostatic and direct-to-press.
  • Outdoor board (ODB)
    A weatherproof board or paper used for outdoor advertising signs and displays.
  • Photodegradation
    The chemical breakdown of a substance caused by exposure to light.
  • Photoflood light
    Electric incandescent filament lamp that provides a high intensity light source on relatively low current consumption.
  • Puddle method
    A method of developing stencils without complete immersion in the developer.
  • Quartz-iodine lamp (quartz-halogen)
    An improved tungsten bulb that has a tungsten filament surrounded by iodine and inert gases, enclosed in a quartz envelope; also referred to as quartz halogen.
  • Reheology modifier
    Alters the flow characteristics of an ink.
  • Reproduction
    The multiple, identical duplication of an original.
  • Reproduction copy
    Finished, camera ready art; also refer to camera ready art.
  • Reproductive toxins
    Chemical substances that affect reproductive ability including chromosome damage (mutation) and effects on fetuses (teratogenesis).
  • Rhodamine red
    A class of clean organic bluish red pigments with excellent light fastness, good resistance to acid, poor resistance to alkali, often called magenta when used in color process screen printing inks.
  • Self-adhesive product
    (1) A pressure sensitive material; (2) Converted pressure-sensitive decal or product protected by a release liner.
  • Shear modulus
    The ratio of the shear stress and the angular shear distortion.
  • Silver iodide
    Pale yellow odorless powder that darkens on exposure to light.
  • Soak period
    The time the ware remains at peak temperature.
  • Soda lime glass
    Most common glass manufactured made from a combination of sand, limestone, and sodium carbonate.
  • Sodium meta periodate
    An oxidizer that breaks down the chemical bond of most screen emulsions and is the chief active ingredient in most screen reclaiming solutions.
  • Specific modulus
    Young’s modulus divided by material density.
  • Spectrodensitometer
    A spectrally based densitometer that combines the functions of a spectrophotometer, colorimeter, and densitometer.
  • Stoddard solvent
    A high flash point hydrocarbon with a good odor, and comparatively widely used for screen cleaning where inks are soluble in mineral spirit type solvents.
  • Sulfate wood pulp
    Paper pulp made from wood chips cooked under pressure in a solution of caustic soda and sodium sulfide.
  • Sulfite wood pulp
    Paper pulp made from wood chips cooked under pressure in a solution of bisulfite of lime.