| A | B |
|---|
| Gravure | A printing process in which the image is etched below the surface of the printing plate. aka: intaglio |
| Image Area | That part of the plate which repels water and carries the ink to print the image |
| Letterpress | Aka Relief printing. The process of printing from a raised surface |
| Offset Lithography | The process of printing from a flat surface with the image and nonimage areas kept separated by chemistry… based on the concept that water and grease don’t mix. |
| Sheet-fed press | A printing press that takes individual sheets of paper rather than rolls of paper. |
| Web-fed press | A press that prints from a roll of paper |
| Flexography | Modern relief printing process that prints from a curved or flexible plate containing images raised from the surface. |
| Squeegee | A rubber or plastic blade used to force ink through the open areas of a screen printing stencil. |
| Digital Printing | Type of printing technology that receives electronic files (from computer) and uses spots (or dots) for reproduction. |
| Computer-to-plate | Technology that uses digital material (computer) to expose the printing plate without creating film intermediates. |
| Computer-to-Press | Technology that uses digital material (computer) to send the image directly to the press |
| Finishing | General term for the many operations carried out during and following printing such as cutting, folding, drilling, padding, etc. |
| Plate Cylinder | The cylinder which holds the printing plate |
| Plate | A thin sheet of paper, metal, or plastic which carries the image |
| Impression Cylinder | The cylinder which applies pressure for image transfer to the paper. |
| Blanket | In offset printing, a smooth rubber surface which transfers the image from the plate to the paper. |
| Blanket Cylinder | The cylinder which holds the rubber blanket on an offset press. |
