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.
  • Liquid frisket (maskoid)
    A water-soluble latex solution that becomes water-insoluble when dry, used in the preparation of resist stencils.
  • Mask
    A covering or coating used to protect, cover, or conceal.
  • Masking
    (1) Technique of placing a mask in the path of light to stop passage, reduce the quantity of light, or modify a photographic result; (2) Technique that allows manipulation of one area of an image while other areas remain unaffected.
  • Masking film
    (1) Manual knife-cut film that does not permit passage of actinic light; (2) Photographic-light sensitive film for making masks for color correction.
  • Metal mask
    A stencil made entirely of metal, with open (print) areas having been etched into it, leaving completely open apertures, void of screen mesh. Used for depositing solder onto surface mount circuit boards.
  • Photo mask
    (1) A manually produced opaque design on masking film for preventing exposure of predetermined areas of photographic film or stencil material; (2) A photographically produced duplicate of a halftone negative or positive with very thin density, designed to add slight density to the halftone film from which it was made to reduce future exposure effects in controlling color density in the final printing.
  • Premasking
    The application of protective paper or tape to the surface of a substrate prior to printing.
  • Solder resist (solder mask)
    A coating applied by screen printing to a printed circuit board to prevent bridges from forming between circuits during the soldering or hot-air leveling steps in production.