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.
  • Auxiliary racks
    Display fixtures that are in addition to general line racks, including checkout racks, and racks that can be attached to a general line rack.
  • Checkout rack
    A display fixture that is placed near or at the checkout area in a supermarket.
  • Cold cracking
    Deterioration of a plastic from cold temperatures causing stiffness and even brittleness, breaking or shattering under stress as temperature is lowered.
  • Cracking
    A breakdown in which cracks penetrate at least one coat of an ink layer and which may be expected to result ultimately in complete failure.
  • Crackle
    An intentional effect that is given to ware to heighten its age and give a particular design similar to broken or cracked glass.
  • Drying rack
    A series of metal or wooden shelves of open construction designed to separate and hold printed substrates in sheet form for drying at room temperature or similar device for drying screens.
  • Embossed rail (embossed racetrack)
    A raised ridge around the perimeter of the key area (0.10 to 0.015 high).
  • Fire cracks
    Cracks in ware caused by local thermal shock.
  • Rack
    A series of usually flat platforms of open construction stacked or hinged one over the other on which printed sheets may be placed for air drying at ambient temperature.
  • Rack drying
    The air drying of screen printed sheets in racks, usually at ambient temperatures, but can also be dried in a room where temperatures are elevated.
  • Racking
    The placing, manually, of screen printed sheets on racks for drying.
  • Stress crack
    The susceptibility of a thermoplastic to crack or craze under the influence of certain chemicals, aging, weather, or other stress; small fine line, cobweb-like microscopic, and larger defects found in plastic caused from tension stress or chemical attack.
  • Tracking
    (1) The degree of lateral movement of a belt such as a conveyor on a belt dryer; (2) The adjustment of overall spacing between all text characters in a word or words.