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.
  • Brightness range
    The difference in lighting brilliance between the brightest bright and the darkest dark of an original scene or transparency.
  • CIE - Commission International de l'Eclairange
    A set of color standards based on mathematical modeling of human vision and light, CIE color spaces are used for the communication of color independent of a specific device.
  • Density range (density scale)
    The difference between the highest density and the lowest density in a negative, transparency, photographic print, or printed press sheet; determines the amount of light that will pass through a transparency or reflect from a print.
  • Dinitrosaniline orange
    An organic orange pigment with good bleed and permanency.
  • Distillation range
    A series of temperatures recorded while boiling a solvent sample.
  • Dot range
    Difference between the smallest printable halftone dot and the largest non-solid printing dot.
  • Dynamic range
    The measurable difference between the brightest highlight and the darkest value.
  • Firing range
    The range of firing temperatures in which a ceramic composition develops properties which make it commercially useful.
  • Maturing range
    Time/temperature range required when firing ceramics.
  • Molybdate orange
    An inorganic pigment used to produce opaque orange and red inks, contains a mixture of lead chromate and lead molybdate; (no longer used because of its toxic hazard).
  • Orange peel
    Very small elevations and valleys in an ink film, coating, or glaze that failed to flow out properly, surface characteristics resemble the texture of an orange peel.
  • Persian orange
    A clean, brilliant, transparent flaked orange ink pigment.
  • Range
    A measure of dispersion equal to the difference or interval between the smallest and the largest set of quantities.
  • Screen range
    The density difference between the highlight and shadow areas of copy that a halftone screen can produce.
  • Tonal range
    (1) The entire area covering highlights, shadows, and all intermediate tones in a halftone; (2) The density difference of continuous tone images on either paper or film.