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A

AA Author's alteration. Used in proofing to indicate any change in original copy that is not a typesetter's error Abrasion resistance The ability of ink or paper to withstand abrasion. Accent Mark used to indicate pronunciation in phonetic guide or languages other than English Acute Accent above the letter "é". Acoustic coupler A telecommunications coupling device that holds a standard telephone handset and transmits data through a telephone's analog signals. Agate Now used mostly as a measurement for newspaper advertising. Originally the name for 51/2-point type, 14 agate lines equal one inch Align or alignment To line up type horizontally (usually along the bottom or the baseline). Also alignment of any graphic element with another Alley Space between two columns of typeset material Alphabet length Length measurement of the lowercase alphabet, usually used to compare character counts of different typefaces Alphanumeric Combining letters and numbers. Contraction of alphabet and numeric Alternate character Nonstandard character available with some typefaces. Swash capitals and lowercase letters with shorter or longer ascenders and descenders are examples Ampersand Symbol (&) also called "short and" and used as substitute for the word and Analog A signal that continuously varies in tone over time. Aniline dye A synthetic, organic dye used in flexographic printing inks. Anti-offset spray A dry or liquid spray attachment on presses to prevent ink from transferring from the top of one printed sheet to the bottom of the next. Antique finish A rough, natural, textured surface on book, text and cover papers. Application program A computer software program, such as Word Processing, that performs a specific task or function. Arabic number Numerals 0 - 9. Compare Roman numeral Aec Lamp A lamp that produces light by an electrical current racing across two electrodes. Used as light source in photography and platemaking. Artwork Those elements of a printed item that are illustrative or decorative, as distinguished from text Ascending letter Type character having letter strokes rising above x-height, such as 44 b, d Asynchronous Communications The transmission, by computers, of one character at a time. ASCII Acronym for American Standard for Information Interchange. This computer code assigns a unique value (from 0 to 127) to each 128 letters, special characters, control characters and numbers. Author's alterations See AA Author's proof Clean proof for author after typographic errors have been corrected Autoflow A page layout program feature that automatically flows text from column to column and page to page. Autotrace A feature in draw programs that automatically traces bitmapped images to create line-art renderings. Go To Index

B

Backbone The back of a case-bound book connecting the front and back covers, Also called the spine. Backing up Printing the second side of a printed sheet. Bad break Applied, usually, to incorrect word division, but also when column starts with last line of preceding paragraph Banner Headline running across entire page; a screamer. Sometimes used incorrectly to refer to a newspaper's title. Compare Flag, Masthead, Nameplate Base Metal below the shoulder of a piece of type; the metal or wood block used for mounting letterpress printing plates to make them type high (0.918"). Baseline Imaginary horizontal line (bottom of x-height) which all type characters in a line must touch Bastard title Book title, standing alone, and appearing before full title page. Also called half title b/b or b to b Abbreviation for baseline to baseline. Used to indicate line spacing bf Proofer's mark indicating boldface Binding The process of fastening pages together to create a book, pamphlet, or booklet. To bind with wire, adhesive, thread, or other means Black-letter Applied to early typefaces designed to look like early German handwriting. Often referred to as Old English Bleed Printed area such as a photograph or tint allowed to run off the edge of the trimmed sheet Blind embossing Stamped design incorporating no colour; a bas-relief. See Embossing Block quote See Extract Blowup Photographic enlargement Blue Pre-press proof printed in blue; submitted by offset printer and made by exposing negatives against sensitized paper Also called vandykes when printed in brown. See Salt print Bodoni dash Also called a tapered dash. Thicker in the center and thinner on ends Body type Typeset text or copy, usually ranging from 6- to 14-point type, used as reading matter and set in one face. Compare Display type Boldface Heavier-weight version of a typeface; indicated by proofreader's mark (bf) Bond paper High-quality paper usually used for letterhead and business forms and having strength and durability Border Plain or ornamental frame around any typographic element. Boxed. Frame around type element, either "open" with rules top and bottom only, or on all four sides Box head Column heading enclosed in rules Brace or bracket Characters used in pairs to embrace type and available in many sizes, both plain and ornamental. Braces: } Brackets: [ Brady's Golden Rule "Space together those things that go together." All elements that relate to each other must be shown to do so visually Break Place where division is made, such as ending of line, division of type column Breakout Material pulled from text and displayed as quotation in larger or bolder type for emphasis. Also called pull-quote Brightness The brilliance of a sheet of printing paper; its light-reflecting quality Broadside Large sheet of paper, commonly printed on one side, sometimes folded. Often used for advertising circulars Bulking Degree of paper thickness Bullet Type character, usually round, used to draw attention, particularly in lists Go To Index

C

California Job Case Case for handset type, holding both upper and lowercase characters, plus figures, spaces, and related characters Calligraphic type Typefaces based on styles of handwriting, such as Slogan, Legend, Brush Callout Label used on illustration, sometimes with a line pointing to specific portion of illustration Camera ready Material ready to be photographed. See Mechanical. Cap height. Actual height of capital letter, as opposed to its point size. Sometimes used in type specifications. See Type size Capital Large letters of the alphabet, also termed caps, uppercase and, anciently, majuscules Caps and small caps Two sizes of matching capitals made in one size of type, available with many fonts. Small caps are the same height as the lower case "x." Abbreviated as c/sc Caption A title and/or a short explanation or description adjacent to an illustration or photograph. See Legend and Cut lines Caret Mark ^A used by copyeditors and proofreaders to indicate where material is to be inserted Casting off Estimating the space typewritten copy will occupy when set in a specific size typeface Chapter head Display heading appearing at the beginning of a chapter Character A letter of the alphabet, number, punctuation mark, etc. Also, the quality inherent in design of each typeface and projected to reader Character count Average number of type characters in a line, page, manuscript, publication, etc. Characters-per-pica Average number of characters that will fit in one pica for individual typefaces; used to calculate the length copy will be when set in a given typeface Circular A printed advertisement-booklet, leaflet, or letter-distributed to a large number of persons Clip art Illustrative material which can be purchased and used by "clipping" from supplied camera-ready material. Also termed stock art. Some types available on floppy diskette Close spacing Thin spacing between words Close up To reduce space between graphic elements, such as type lines Coated paper Papers with surface coatings that produce ultra smooth finishes, ranging from matte to super-glossy Cold type Composition achieved by direct impression, such as a typewriter or a word processor-printer combination. Sometimes called "strike-on" composition. See Hot type Colour See Weight Colour separation Separation of colour original into the four primary printing colour components: yellow, red (magenta), blue (cyan), black Column rule Line used to separate columns of type Composition Typesetting Comprehensive layout A "comp" - carefully prepared layout or dummy finished to closely approximate the look of the planned printed piece. Computerized typesetting. General term for typesetting that uses computers to automatically hyphenate, justify, and do page formatting Condensed type A typeface thinner than normal, often prepared as a variation of a standard face. Compare Expanded type Continuous tone Any illustration or photograph containing varied tones, either shades of gray from black to white, or colour Continuous tone art must be converted to halftone screens before printing Contour Type set to wrap around another element or create an unusual shape. Also called run-around Copy Text, usually typewritten or computer produced, from which type is to be composed. Also, general term for text Copy fitting Determining the space a given amount of copy will fill when set in a specific typeface and size. Also, selecting or adjusting typeface and size to fit a predetermined space Copy preparation Editing copy to insure all style and other typographic directions are indicated properly before typesetting Counter Opening within a type character Cover paper, or stock Heavier weight stock used for covers of booklets, catalogues, and similar items; often available with matching text paper Cromalins Brand name for full-colour proofs made before printing from special positive film Crop To mark for removal, or to remove, unwanted portions of a photograph or illustration Cursive A type that imitates handwriting, such as Bernhard Cursive. Cut-in head. Heading set into text, either partly or entirely Cut line Short description or explanation adjacent to an illustration or photograph, other than a title or heading. Usually used in reference to newspapers. Also see Legend and Caption Cut-off rule Printed line used to separate advertisements from news items or other elements. Also called advertising rule Cyan The blue primary colour used in four-colour process printing Go To Index

D

Dagger Single (t) and double (*) reference marks Debossed Depressed (recessed) design, the opposite of embossed (raised) Decide edge Untrimmed feathery edges of paper, available on some grades of paper and cover stock Delete Proofreader's mark meaning to eliminate designated item Descending letter Letter stroke that extends below baseline, such as p, y, j Diacritic Mark used to indicate accent or pronunciation Die-stamping Printing, often letterheads and business cards, from designs engraved into copper or steel plates Digital (digitized) typesetting Typesetting system where characters are translated into a collection of tiny dots or lines that can be stored in computer memory as binary codes. Image quality is determined by density of strokes or scan lines per inch as reproduced on cathode ray tube, prior to transfer to film or paper Dingbat Any small printer's ornament, such as a floret Display type General term for type set larger than surrounding text (usually 14-point or larger) as in headings or advertisements Double-truck Two facing pages, designed as a single unit. Also called spread Down style Style of headline with only the first word and proper nouns capitalized Drop cap Another term for initial cap Drop-out Section of mechanicals or art, such as background areas or guide lines, often designed so they will not print Dropped-out type Type reversed into a background, e.g., white letters with a black background Dummy Preliminary layout prepared to show position of illustrations and text as they will appear in the final reproduction. Also, set of blank pages, perhaps of a booklet, made up to show size, shape, and specific paper stock Duotone A two-colour halftone made from a one-colour photograph Dupe A duplicate negative. Also duplicate proof, slide, or other item Duplex paper Paper having different colour or finish on each side Go To Index

E

Elite Standard typewriter type having 12 characters per inch Ellipsis Three periods (. . .) used to indicate an omission of words or a pause Em A unit of measurement that is as wide and as tall as the typeface being set. In 12-point type, the em is 12 points wide and 12 points high Em space A fixed amount of white space equal to one em. Also called em quad Embossed finish Papers having raised surfaces, often to simulate linen, wood, or leather finish, for example Embossing Special process to create raised image on the surface of the paper. See Blind embossing En Unit of measurement that is one-half the width of an em Expanded or extended type A typeface whose characters are wider than usual, often a wider version of a regular face Extract A quotation typographically set off from main body of text. Also called block quote. Sometimes referred to as pull-quote Go To Index

F

Face Originally the printing surface of metal type, now another term for typeface Family See Type family Felt side The smoother, or top, side of a sheet of paper Fixed spacing Uniform word spacing throughout a block of type F/L Flush left Flag 1. Newspaper masthead, containing staff information. 2. Note attached to manuscript page with editor's queries to author Flat The assembled film negatives or positives, ready for offset plate making. Also, an adjective describing an item lacking in contrast, such as a photograph Flop To reverse negative, giving mirror-image reversal of photograph or other item Floret Flower- or leaf-shaped type ornament Flush left or right Typeset lines that align vertically, either left or right, and are uneven on the other end Flush paragraph Paragraph having no indentation. Folio. Page number Follow copy Instruction to set type exactly as it appears in the copy, in every detail Font Complete assortment of type of one face and one size, including upper and lowercase letters, punctuation, numerals Footnote Reference or explanatory material placed at bottom of type page, usually preceded by reference mark keyed to same reference mark in text Foreword Introductory statement by author or other person Format The size, shape, form, proportions, margins, and overall design of a printed item Foundry type Type cast in complete fonts in a foundry using more durable type metal, as contrasted with individual, hot-type characters cast on a Monotype Four-colour press A press that prints four wet colours in a single pass F/L Flush right Free-standing insert Printed material inserted into a magazine or newspaper that is not attached Front matter All material preceding the main text of a book Full measure Type set to fill full line length, flush at both ends Go To Index

G

Galley proof Proof of typeset material before being made up into pages Gothic Style of plain typeface usually having just one weight of line. Example: News Gothic. Also, sometimes used to refer to black-letter typefaces. The term is confusing because it's used for two different type styles Grain The direction in which most paper fibbers lie, corresponding to the direction the fibbers point when still wet on a paper machine Gravure Printing process using etched plates with intaglio (sunken or depressed) printing images. Provides excellent colour reproduction; expensive Grease pencil A pencil with a wax like base. Markings can be easily removed with tissue. Used to mark photographs, etc. Also called china marker Greeking Nonsense text used to simulate actual text placement and size during planning stages Grid Series of lines in non reproducible blue ink printed on paste-up board indicating placement of text and illustrations. The grid dictates such considerations as column width and margins Gutter Inner margins between type and binding Go To Index

H

Hairline Term for very fine or delicate line, the finest printer's rule Hairline register Register within one-half row of dots; in general, very close register Half title See Bastard title Halftone Continuous-tone art (a photograph, for example) converted into dots of various sizes for reproduction H &J Hyphenate and justify Computer function that creates type with even edges on both the left and right Hanging figures See Old-style figures Hanging indentation First line of paragraph set full length and all following lines indented Hanging punctuation Punctuation set in margins, outside of justified line length, so that text aligns optically Hanging quote Opening quote mark placed in left margin beyond justified line length Hard copy Printed copy of text stored in computer memory. Often used as a permanent visual record. Also, typewritten material sent to composing house for typesetting Head or heading Display line usually set in a larger size or different typeface than text, summarizing text below and used to draw attention Headline Title or caption of a newspaper article, usually set in display type Head margin White space above first type line appearing on page Holding line See Key line Hot metal or type Type set by using molten metal to form either individual letters (Monotype) or a complete line of letters (Linotype, Ludlow). Becoming outdated as phototypesetting gains popularity House style Rules governing punctuation, spelling, spacing, etc., set up by publisher to insure consistent usage Hung initial Initial letter set in left-hand margin, in whole or in part. Hyphenate and justify. See H & J Go To Index

I

Imposition Positioning of pages during printing so that after printing and folding pages are in consecutive order. See Signature Indent Placing space before or after words in type line (example, paragraph indent) Index Alphabetized listing of names, places, and subjects included in a printed work, giving the page number on which each item is mentioned Inferior character Small character placed below baseline, as in a chemical formula: H2O. Also, subscript Initial cap The first text letter set larger than remaining text and either plain or decorated. Used for emphasis or design. Also called drop cap Inline A type letter with a white line, such as Goudy Handtooled. Insert An item, usually printed, placed in a publication, either bound, tipped in, or free standing. Also, additional material added to a manuscript. Italic Slanted letters, as distinct from roman letters, used for emphasis and other purposes. Often abbreviated as ital. Go To Index

J

Jump head Headline over news story continued from a preceding page Justify Set type so that all lines are the same length creating even edges on both the left and right. Compare Ragged left, Ragged right Go To Index

K

Kerning Subtracting space between certain combinations of type characters to tighten fit and improve appearance. Done on case-by-case basis according to need. Compare Minusing Key To use letters or symbols to code copy to a layout. Similar methods are used to indicate text insertions, etc. Key line 1. Outline on mechanical to indicate shape and position of artwork or photographs. Also called holding lines. 2. Entire mechanical. 3. Process of pasting up elements on mechanical Go To Index

L

Lacquer A clear coating (gloss or dull) applied to a printed sheet to enhance image, or for protection Laid paper Paper showing a pattern of parallel lines to simulate the pattern created by screens in handmade paper Unlined paper is referred to as wove paper Layout The plan or design of a proposed printed piece showing how all elements will be arranged Leaders Series of dots, dashes, or periods used to "lead" the eye across the page from one type column to another. See Open leaders Leading (ledding) The distance between type lines, measured in points from the baseline of one line of type to the baseline of the next line. Also, Line spacing Leaf As bound in a book, a single sheet of paper, each side of which is a page. Leaflet. A single sheet, sometimes folded, but not bound Legend Words under illustration, briefly describing it. Also, see Cut line, Caption Legibility Related to speed with which each letter or word can be recognized Letterpress Printing from raised blocks or type. Ink is spread on the raised surface and paper is pressed against it to form the image Letterset A dry offset printing process using a relief plate similar to that used in letterpress and requiring no dampening system Letter spacing The space between letters; can be increased or decreased to achieve special effects. Usually used to refer to the addition of space between letters Ligature Two or more typeface characters connected to form a single unit, as in ff Line art or line drawing Illustration, such as pen and ink drawing, suitable for reproduction without using a halftone Line length or measure Length of a type line, given in picas. Line spacing. See leading Lining figures Figures that align at the bottom, unlike old-style figures, which have ascenders and descenders Linotype A hot metal typesetting system that sets one line at a time Lithography Printing from a flat surface, where the image area is receptive to ink and the rest of the surface is not Logotype Also called logo. The name, symbol, or trademark of a company or publication as a single design unit Lowercase (lc) Small letters as distinguished from capitals; so termed because they were stored in the lower of the two wooden type cases used by hand compositors. Anciently, minuscule Ludlow A hot-metal typesetting machine used mainly for hand setting lines of display type and headlines Go To Index

M

Magenta In four-colour process, one of the primaries; red. Majuscule. Capital letter Make ready Work done to prepare press and printing plates or forms prior to running, such as setting paper feeder, grippers, side guide, filling and adjusting ink fountains, etc. Makeup In letterpress, arrangement of all elements-type, space, and illustrations-into final form for reproduction Margin White space on all four sides of a printed page Markup Placing all appropriate instructions on copy and layout to insure proper typesetting. Also "Spec"-ing Masthead Listing in newspaper, magazine, or other publication of information about staff, operation, date and volume number, address, etc. Also called flag Mane finish Coated paper having dull finish, without gloss or luster Matte print Photoprint with dull finish Measure Length of a type line, given in picas Mechanical An assemblage or pasteup on art board of all elements needed to create printed item. Photographed to create printing plate Minuscule Small or lowercase letter Minusing Decreasing space between type characters. Also called squeezing and tracking. Done throughout text rather than on case-by-case basis. Compare Kerning Modern roman Typefaces designed near end of 18th century, distinguished from old-style roman by greater regularity of shapes, more precise curves, vertical weight stress, and delicate hairlines and serifs. One example is Bodoni Montage Photographs or other items randomly arranged to create pleasing design. Elements used can be cut to various shapes, angled, overlapped, or variously treated Mottled Spotty or uneven appearance of inked surface, most easily seen in solid areas Ms. Abbreviation for manuscript Plural is mss Mutt or mutton quad Substitute term for em space, to avoid confusion with en space when spoken Go To Index

N

Nameplate Type treatment of the newspaper or newsletter name, usually displayed at the top of page one. Also called banner Negative Film containing reverse image; dark areas appear light and light, dark Newsprint Paper used mostly for printing newspapers Nonrepro blue A light blue colour that is not picked up by the reproductive camera. Used to mark corrections on mechanicals Nut quad Substitute term for en space, to avoid confusion with spoken word em Go To Index

O

Oblong binding Bound on the shorter side Offset Short for offset lithography. Printing process in which inked image is first transferred (offset) from a plate cylinder to a blanket cylinder, then from the blanket to paper. See also Lithography Old English A black-letter typeface based on 13th-century German writing styles Old-style Type style developed in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Bold strokes of uniform thickness and rounded or sloping serfs. Caslon is one example Old-style figures Numerals with ascenders and descenders. Also called hanging figures. Compare Lining figures Opacity Paper property that minimizes the "show-through" of printed image either from back side or next sheet Opaque ink Ink that conceals colour over which it is printed Open box A box around type or other material formed by rules on top and bottom only rather than all four sides Open leaders Sometimes called dot leaders because widely spaced periods are placed in a line to lead the eye across the page Open spacing Wide spacing, as between lines of display type Ornament A small type decoration such as a floret or dingbat Orphan See Widow Overlay Clear plastic covering over mechanical holding additional material, usually in register Overprinting Printing over an area already printed. Overset. Type set but not used Go To Index

P

Page proof Proof of completed type page Pagination Numbering of pages in consecutive order. In computerized typesetting, automatic page make-up Pamphlet An unbound printed folder or brochure Paragraph mark An editing mark (¶) used to indicate the beginning of a new paragraph. Really the cap letter P, reversed. Paragraphs sometimes are indicated like this: New paragraph begins here Paste-up Process of arranging type and illustrations on art board in preparation for printing. Also used to refer to mechanicals PE Printer's error. Used by proofreaders to designate a mistake made in typesetting Perfect binding A method of binding, without stitching or sewing, in which the pages are held together by a flexible adhesive Photogravure See Gravure Photostat Brand name for photocopying process. Also used generically to refer to any economically reproduced photographs or line art, often enlarged or reduced, and often used for layouts and dummies, cropped, to show size and position. Commonly referred to as stats Phototypesetting or photocomposition A method of setting type photographically Pica 1. A unit of measure used in typesetting. Approximately 1/6th of an inch. Compare Point. 2. Typewriter type providing ten characters per inch Pi character Special typeface character such as accent mark not usually included in a standard type font, but available when required to be inserted by compositor Point Unit of type measurement One point is approximately equal to 1/72nd of an inch. Twelve points equal one pica Point size See Type size Positive Film with light and dark values the same as original. See Negative. Pre-press proof. Proof, such as salt print, created by a variety of prepress means, thus saving money and time Press proof Proof made on press prior to production run Press type Alphabets on a clear plastic sheet in a wide range of typefaces, plus rules, borders and ornaments, etc., which can be transferred by rubbing. Also called transfer or rub-down type Process colours Inks used in process printing to create the full range of colours. In four-colour printing they are yellow, magenta (red), cyan (blue), and black Process printing Printing where two or more colours of ink are used to create intermediate colours. Filters are used to separate colour illustrations into the primary colours, then during printing one colour of transparent ink is printed on top of another to re-create the effect of full colour. See Process colours Progressive proof Commonly termed "prog." Proof of colour process work showing each colour in sequence. Example: Proof of yellow plate, proof of magenta plate, then proof of yellow overprinted with magenta, etc. Proof Trial sheet of printed material (prepared a number of ways) for comparison against original and on which corrections are made Proofreader Person who checks typeset galleys against manuscript for mistakes Proofreader's mark Graphic instruction made by proofreader to indicate typesetter's errors Proportional spacing Each letter has its own width, i.e., larger for letters such as M or w; smaller for characters such as I or 1 Pull-quote Words "pulled" from text and displayed as quotation Go To Index

Q

Quad Space in typeset copy. Originally, metal pieces used to create space in hot type. Can also be used as a direction: quad (space) right, quad (space) left. etc. Go To Index

R

Rag content Indication of good paper quality. Twenty-five percent is common for business stationery Ragged center Type set with each line centered. Ragged left Type set with the right margin even and the left margin uneven. Ragged right Type set with the left margin even and the right margin uneven. Raised initial Initial letter projecting above first line of text type. Also called stick-up or stand-up initial. Readability Relative ease with which a printed page can be read. Recto. Right-hand, odd-numbered pages in book. Page one is always a right hand page. Opposite to verso. Reference mark Mark used to indicate footnotes, such as asterisk or dagger. Register. Placing one image in exact alignment with another during printing. Often done so that the two images form one when printed. Register marks Crosses or other marks placed on mechanicals, art, overlays, and plates to insure proper positioning. Relief printing Another term for letterpress. So called because printing surface is raised above non-printing areas, forming a relief Reproduction proof A type proof that is camera ready. Also referred to as repro or repro proof Reversal illustration Achieved by flopping negative so image will face left rather than right, or vice versa. Reversed type See Dropped-out type. Revised proof Proof taken after corrections are made. Also called second proof River An irregular pattern of white space running through several successive lines of text. Considered undesirable. RL Ragged left. Roman numeral Numeral from an ancient Roman counting system based on the characters I, V, X, L, C, D, and M. Roman type 1. Type that is upright, as opposed to italic. 2. Type based on ancient Roman lettering. Features upright letters, variable width elements, and letter strokes ending in serfs. Rotogravure See Gravure. Rough Preliminary layout or sketch meant to give general effect. RR Ragged right. Rubber cement Used to affix material to mechanicals. See Wax and Spray Mount. Rule Line used for borders, boxes, and many other purposes, varying in design and thickness, usually specified in points. Rule box Type or other material enclosed on all four sides by a rule. See Open box. Run-around Type lines set to fit around illustration or other element of the design. Also called contour or wrap-around. Run-in head Heading set into first text line, usually set in larger size, bold, italic, or otherwise displayed. Running head A headline or title repeated on each page, usually at the top, sometimes includes folio. Go To Index

S

Saddle stitch (wire) To bind a booklet or pamphlet by inserting wire stitches through the middle fold of the sheets. Salt prints Common term for all prepress proofs made by exposing negatives against sensitized paper. See Vandyke, Blue. Sans serif Letterforms without serfs and usually having a single thickness of line. Scaling Determining the proper size of an image to be reduced or enlarged to fit given area. Scanner Electronic device used to produce colour and tone-corrected colour separations. Screen A pattern of dots or lines used to reproduce continuous tone illustrations such as photographs or to create an illusion of tone. Screens are measured in numbers of lines per inch; in general, the larger number of lines per inch, the better the reproduction quality. Screened print A print containing a halftone screen. See Velox. Script. Typefaces based on handwritten letters. Example: Commercial Script. Second proof, or galley Proof taken after corrections are made. Serif. Ending strokes of characters; short cross lines at the ends of main strokes. Set-in initial Large initial letter indented into text. Also termed cut-in initial. Set-off Ink from one printed sheet rubbing off, marking the next sheet. Also called offsetting. Shadowmark Economical substitute for watermark. Applied to paper after manufacture; can be in fixed position on stationery. Show-through Printing on the reverse side of sheet that can be seen through the sheet under normal viewing conditions. Side head A heading set to one side of the type page or column. A heading cut into the outer margin of text, wholly or partially, is termed a cut-in side heading. Side wire (stitch) To wire or stitch the sheets or signatures of a book or pamphlet on the side, close to the backbone. Compare Saddle stitch. Signature. A sheet on which several pages have been printed. After it has been folded, contents appear in correct sequence. Signatures commonly contain 12, 16, 32, or 64 pages. Silhouette An illustration with all background removed. Sink The first line of text is lower on the page than standard, as on chapter openings. Slash mark A diagonal mark (I) used to separate alternatives, as in and/or; to represent the wordper, as in miles/hour; and to indicate the ends of verse lines printed continuously. Also called virgule. Slug A strip of metal used for spacing letterpress material, usually 6-, 12-, 18-, or 24-points in thickness. Also, a heading used to identify an article or department in a magazine. Small caps Smaller capital letters provided with many fonts. The size of the x-height, they usually are used in combination with the regular capitals. Solid 1. Large inked area. 2. Type set without extra leading. Space out Inserting space between words or letters to make line fill predetermined length. Spec Short for type specifications. Plural form sometimes written as spex. Also used as verb meaning to mark copy for typesetting, indicating size, typeface, etc. Spine The part of the binding that connects the two covers. Also called backbone. Spiral binding Method of binding in which a continuous piece of wire or plastic ‘in spiral form is inserted through holes punched along the binding edge. Spray Mount Brand of spray adhesive commonly used in preparing mechanicals. Often used generically to indicate any brand of spray adhesive. Squeeze. Set text with less than normal spacing between characters. Also see Minusing, Tracking. Stand-up initial Initial letter inserted only in first line of text. Also stick-up capital. Stapling Insertion of wire staples for binding. See Side wire and Saddle stitch. Stat See Photostat. Stem The main upright stroke of a letter. Stet Term used by copyeditors and proofreaders meaning “Let the original stand.” Stock Paper or other material to receive printed image. Stock art Another term for clip art. Strike-on composition Prepared by direct impression, such as a typewriter. Stripping Positioning negatives or positives in preparation for making offset printing plate. Subhead Secondary headline or title. Subscript Undersized characters (3) placed below baseline, usually for reference purposes. Also called Inferior characters. Sunken initial An initial letter indented into text so that its top aligns with top of ascending letters of first type line. Superior character Undersized character (3) placed at top of type line, often for footnote reference. Also called superscript. Swash letter Italic capital letter with flourishes finished with some fonts as alternate characters. Swatch book Book containing sample sheets of paper stock showing choices of weights, sizes, and finishes. Go To Index

T

Tabloid Small size newspaper, about half the size of standard newspaper. Sometimes called tab. Text The main body matter of a page or book, usually under 14-point, as distinguished from headings, titles, etc. Text paper Used for much commercial printing; usually supplied in 25” x 38” size, featuring a wide variety of colours and surfaces. Thin space Any space thinner than a 3-to-the-em space. Usually 1/4 or 1/5 of an em space. Thumbnail sketches Small sketches made by graphic artist to show varied approaches to a layout or design. Tint A light shade of colour, usually achieved by screening. Tip-in An illustration or other item pasted by hand, often at upper edge only, onto a book page. Tissue layout Rough layout on tissue prepared before typesetting to show how design project will be handled. Often done as preliminary step to preparing comprehensive. Tissue overlay Thin, translucent paper covering mechanicals both for protection and to carry printing instructions. Title page Page in the front of a book listing the book title, author, and publisher. TOC Abbreviation for Table of Contents. TR. See Transpose. Tracking Text type composed with different degrees of letter spacing. Also see Minusing, Squeezing, and Kerning. Transfer type See Press type. Transparency Used to refer to a photographic slide. Transparent ink Printing ink that does not conceal the colour over which it is printed. Process inks are transparent, thus permitting them to blend with other colours. Transpose To exchange the position of a letter, word, or item with another Indicated on proofs with tr or the proofing symbol Trim marks Marks placed on the mechanical to indicate the edge of the page; a guide for final cutting. Trim size The size of the finished item after the paper has been trimmed. Typeface A particular style of type design including the full range of characters, in all sizes. Type family All the variations of a specific typeface design, such as italic, bold, extra bold, condensed, etc. Type high The height of letterpress type. In U.s. .918 inch. Type size The size of type, measured in points. Originally, the point size referred to the piece of metal the type image was on, not to the size of the typeface itself. Now used as an approximate indication of the size of the typeface itself. For example, a 10-point typeface is ordinarily cast (in metal) on a 10point body. While all 10-point typefaces are roughly the same size, there often is variation between faces. Also referred to as point size. (see page 45.) Typewriter type Typeface that imitates letters produced on a typewriter. Typo. Typographical error. Typography The art and technique of working with type elements, regardless of the process used to create them. Go To Index

U

U&LC Abbreviation for capitals (uppercase) and lowercase letters. Uncial Typeface having the special characteristics of handwritten letters, based on early Latin manuscripts. Example: Unciàla. Uppercase Capital letters, originally stored in the upper of the two cases from which a compositor set type by hand. Go To Index

V

Vandyke proof Proofs brown in colour; also called brownlines. Varnish A gloss or dull coating applied to printed sheet (or spot sections) to protect and improve appearance. Often applied on press. Vellum finish A toothy finish on paper, relatively absorbent to provide fast ink penetration. Velox print A photographic paper print made from screen negative. Two-sidedness Paper having difference in appearance and printability between its top (felt) and wire sides. Verso Left-hand page, always even number, as opposed to recto, or right-hand page. Virgule See Slash mark. Visual signal Author’s term for anything associated with a printed page that visually imparts a message to the reader. Visual spacing Adding or subtracting white space between type characters (or other elements), based on visual judgment. Go To Index

W

Watermark A design created during paper manufacture that is visible when held up to light. Paper having a custom watermark can be obtained for uses such as personal stationery. See Shadow mark. Wax Melted wax used to mount materials on art board when preparing mechanicals. Special rubber cement and spray adhesive are also used. Web press. Press which prints from rolls of paper. Weight The degree of darkness—from black to gray—projected by a page or column of text type. Also called colour. Wf See Wrong font. White print Positive duplicate of printer’s negatives made on plastic sheet. Widow 1. A line of type (usually the last line of a paragraph) that is markedly shorter than full measure, usually two words or less. 2. A short line of type that falls at the top of a column or page. Also called orphan. Usually considered undesirable. Wire side On paper, produced by being next to wire during manufacture. The opposite from felt (top) side. With the grain Printing on or folding paper so work is parallel to the grain. Wood type. Type made from wood, usually of large size, often used for posters, signs, etc. Measured in multiples of picas, designated as lines; i.e., 4-line (48-point), 10-line (120-point). Word spacing The amount of white space between words, normally 1/3 of an em for text, en space for capitals. Wove paper Paper having uniform unlined surface and soft smooth finish. Compare Laid paper. Wrap-around type Type lines adjusted to fit around a picture or other irregular-shaped graphic element. Wrong font Letter or character set in the wrong size or face in typeset material, marked “wf’ by proofreader. Go To Index

X

X Used in type specifications to indicate extra, as in Bodoni X Bold. X-Acto Brand of small, sharp knife commonly used in paste-up. Often used generically to indicate any such knife. X-height Height of the body of lowercase letters, not counting ascenders and descenders. Go To Index

Y

Y YYYY Go To Index

Z

Z ZZZZ Go To Index