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.
  • Boss
    Projection designed into a plastic part to add strength, facilitate alignment during assembly, or to provide for fastening.
  • Bottle cap printer (cap printer) (bottle caps)
    A printing device that prints an image onto bottle closures of different sizes.
  • Bottle topper
    A small cardboard display tag designed to circle the neck of a bottle and carry an advertising image.
  • Bowing
    To bend or bring to a curved form such as the sides of a frame bending toward the center when under tension.
  • Box connector
    A display part used for connecting unattached planes in parallel.
  • Box easel
    A display part used for connecting unattached planes in a predetermined angle.
  • Box rest
    A support for displays placed on top of rods or bars.
  • Bpi
    Acceptable abbreviation for bits per inch.
  • Bps
    Acceptable abbreviation for bits per second.
  • Brayer
    A small hand roller used to distribute ink on a test slab or proof press.
  • Break
    (1) Release of screen mesh from substrate surface at completion of printing stroke; (2) Tear in screen mesh and/or stencil caused by excessive stress or impact; (3) Non-productive rest period; (4) The gap allowed in an incomplete circumferential print of the screen on a cylindrical object; (5) A tear or other defect in web face material or release liner, such defects are usually spliced and the location indicated by a protruding signal or flag; (6) Resin separation.
  • Break for color
    In artwork, to separate and mark the parts to be printed in different colors, also refer to color break.
  • Breakdown voltage
    Electromotive force where the insulation between two conductors is destroyed.
  • Breaking length
    The length of a strip of paper which would break of its own weight when suspended on end. A value calculated from the tensile strength and the basis weight of the sheet, also refer to tensile strength.
  • Breaking load
    The degree to which a material resists rupture by tension, measured in pounds, under specified conditions.
  • Bridging
    The ability of a direct emulsion stencil material to fill the area (bridge the gap) between screen threads and to retain solidity after exposure and washout.
  • Bright copper
    Bright gold fluxed to fire out with a reddish copper color on glass or ceramic ware.
  • Bright enamel
    Paper that has a glossy hard surface on one side or both sides.
  • Bright glaze
    A colorless or colored ceramic glaze with a high gloss.
  • Bright gold
    A metallo-organic compound of gold dissolved in a suitable solvent system for producing a bright gold surface when fired.
  • Bright lemon gold
    A bright gold with a bright yellow hue when fired; formulated with gold and silver alloys.
  • Bright red gold
    Bright gold with red hue when fired.
  • Brightmeter
    An instrument used to measure TAPPI (Technical Association of Pulp and Paper Industry) brightness, and the fluorescent component of brightness in paper, adding optical brighteners increases the brightness of a paper.
  • Brightness
    (1) Degree of reflectivity of a sheet of paper or similar substrate for blue light measured under standardized conditions by reflectometer calibrated for the wavelength of 457nm. (2) The overall intensity of the image. The lower the brightness value, the darker the image; the higher the value, the lighter the image will be. (3) Dimension of color that is referred to in an achromatic scale, ranging from black to white; also called lightness or luminous reflectance or transmittance (q.v.).
  • Brightness range
    The difference in lighting brilliance between the brightest bright and the darkest dark of an original scene or transparency.