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.
  • Additive lamps
    A medium pressure mercury vapor UV lamp (arc or microwave) that has small amount of metal halide added to the mercury. (These materials will emit their characteristic wavelengths in addition to the mercury emissions).
  • Carbon arc (arc lamp)
    A light source of high actinic value, contains two carbon rods spaced slightly apart at the tips through which passes an electric current that bridges the gap between the tips, the resulting arc emits light extremely high in actinic value. (Note: Carbon arc lamps were once used for exposing photo stencil films and emulsions, but they have been largely replaced by other types of exposure units.)
  • Cold-cathode lamp
    A low pressure UV germicidal lamp, refer to germicidal lamp.
  • Doped lamp
    An ultraviolet lamp where the spectral output has been changed by the addition of a dopant, such as beryllium or iron.
  • 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.
  • Germicidal lamp
    A low pressure mercury-vapor lamp operating between one and ten watts per linear inch, and used as a UV energy source in conjunction with those units utilizing an inert atmosphere.
  • Lamp
    A light source.
  • Lampblack
    A gray or black material made from soot obtained from the incomplete combustion of carbonaceous material used as a pigment to achieve a dull black ink with softer, grayer top tones and bluer undertones.
  • Mercury halide lamp
    A light source that uses an electrical discharge enclosed within a quartz glass tube containing mercury to produce light for stencil exposure; also referred to as metal halide lamp.
  • Mercury vapor lamp
    An enclosed light source that produces radiation by passing an electrical current through gaseous mercury.
  • Metal halide lamp
    A mercury light source enhanced by the addition of metallic elements to increase emission spectra and output energy; also refer to mercury halide lamp.
  • Printing lamp
    An actinic light source used in illuminating or in exposing screen printing films and other sensitized materials.
  • 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.
  • Screen holder (frame clamp)
    The fittings or clamps where a screen printing frame is attached to a screen printing press or manual screen printing unit.
  • Side clamp
    A screen holding device on a textile printing press that secures the printing screen by clamping it on the sides rather than one end.
  • Tunsten lamp
    An incandescent electric bulb with a tungsten filament, 3200 Kelvin, an orange color.