Printing Glossary - Letter B

Back cylinder Pressure is It refers to the extent of the pressure that is put on to make sure that the image that is to be transferred to the press sheet is done correctly and smoothly. The pressure would usually come from the impression cylinder. It is equipment used for production or quality control. Calibration is essential for reliable results.

Backbone is popularly known as the spine. It simply refers to a bound book’s back. It is a standard concept in printing.

Backing up commonly denotes Refers to the process of having the reverse side of the paper being printed even in the situation where it has already been printed on the other side of the paper or sheet. It concerns the properties or grades of the paper stock. Selection affects stiffness, opacity, and printability.

Within the trade, bagasse refers to Refers to fiber or sugar cane which has been crushed. Its function is usually associated with the production of papers. It concerns the properties or grades of the paper stock.

Baggy roll refers to defect on the mill roll that is caused by a change in the web’s basis weight or the caliper. The result of this would be the presence of paper results that have been stretched. These stretched papers would usually lead to a complication in the production process. It is important to know that most of the mill rolls would be scrutinized for any areas that may appear to be baggy. It is usually done by hitting the areas with a baton or checking for any changes by listening to any noise. It concerns the properties or grades of the paper stock. Selection affects stiffness, opacity, and printability.

Band means defined in three ways;. It can refer to straps that are metallic. These straps would be kept inside materials or cartons that are in papers with waterproof qualities. The purpose for this would be to make sure that the items inside the cartons are secure while they are being shipped. It can also refer to a paper (strip) that is either unprinted or printed. This piece of paper would be wrapped around sheets that are loose. They would be kept wrapped until they are bonded by a cover. This can also refer to the process of placing a paper band in a position where they would be around pieces that have been brought together or assembled other loose sheets. It concerns the properties or grades of the paper stock. Selection affects stiffness, opacity, and printability.

Barium Sulfate: substance that is used primarily for whites. It is used as an alternative to a reflecting diffuser that is at 100%. It is a standard concept in printing. Usage varies with process and material.

Baronial is envelope which usually takes the shape of a square. This envelope would normally be used giving announcements. It is a standard concept in printing. Usage varies with process and material.

Base is Refers to a paper that has already been manufactured but also has to undergo further processes. These processes could lead to the lamination of the paper, creating a duplex or Bristol cover in addition to the production of an embossed paper without the aid of the machine. It concerns the properties or grades of the paper stock. Selection affects stiffness, opacity, and printability.

Technically, base color describes Refers to a color that is first used on the sheet. Its function is to provide a background or foundation that enables subsequent colors to be printed on the sheet of paper. It concerns the properties or grades of the paper stock. Selection affects stiffness, opacity, and printability.

Base size: The normal size of the sheets that are used. It usually differs depending on the grade that is in use. It is a standard concept in printing. Usage varies with process and material.

Baseline refers to Refers to a line that is largely invisible. This line can mostly be found in typesetting situations. It is a standard concept in printing. Usage varies with process and material.

Basis Weight: Refers to the weight of the basic sized paper that is calculated in inches. The weight would be measured per ream. It is also measured in pounds. However, in some areas outside North America, the metric that is used to calculate the basis weight might be different. It concerns the properties or grades of the paper stock. Selection affects stiffness, opacity, and printability.

Beater is Refers to a machine that is similar to a blender. Its function is to crush pulp. It is also used to mix certain additives into the stock. It also has the ability to mix color. It concerns the properties or grades of the paper stock. Selection affects stiffness, opacity, and printability.

Beater-sized refers to Refers to the procedures involved in the addition of sizing materials into the beater. Most times, the procedures are aimed at mixing these sizing materials with pulp. It is a standard concept in printing. Usage varies with process and material.

Technically, bindery describes Refers to the folding, reduction and the piercing of a printed paper. In some context, it could also include the binding of the printed paper. It relates to book assembly and durability. It influences section alignment and page longevity.

Binding is There can be two meanings to this word;. It relates to book assembly and durability.

Binding Edge commonly denotes It can refer to a part of the book, usually, book edges that have been bound or bonded. It can also mean the sheets that have been attached to a single item. It is usually achieved through the use of adhesives, prongs, snaps and so much more. It can also be said to be the entire procedure involved such as piercing, the collection, and folding of the material into the final product. Refers to the edges of a book where the binding takes place. It relates to book assembly and durability. It influences section alignment and page longevity.

Black Printer can be defined as Refers to the black plate that is generally used to give more detail to the tones that are neutral. It is usually used in a printing process that is four-colored. It is equipment used for production or quality control.

In print practice, blank means This word can have two meanings;. It can be another word for shell. It can also be used to define or describe a group of paperboards that vary in terms of thickness (usually from 15 upwards to about 48). The Blanks can also be grouped into C25, C15 and so much more. You would usually find them in use in the creation of posters and signs. It concerns the properties or grades of the paper stock. Selection affects stiffness, opacity, and printability.

Blanket describes The word is usually used in relation to offset lithography. It refers to the fabric which clings to the blanket cylinder. This fabric is usually rubber-coated and its main function is to move the image that is been made to the paper from its original location (the plate). It concerns the properties or grades of the paper stock. Selection affects stiffness, opacity, and printability.

Blanket contamination is Refers to waste that has attached itself to the offset blanket. Because of this attachment, it would usually disrupt and cause the printing process to produce an inferior product. It is a method of producing printed images. Each process has distinct plate, ink, and substrate demands.

Blanket Creep: Refers to all changes or movements on the surface of the blanket. The part of the surface where movement occurs must have the likelihood of being touched by the printing plate. The same would also apply to the paper. It concerns the properties or grades of the paper stock. Selection affects stiffness, opacity, and printability.

Blanket Cylinder is Refers to the cylinder that is used in the printing press. The same cylinder where the blanket would most likely be set or positioned. It is equipment used for production or quality control. Calibration is essential for reliable results.

Blanket Pull commonly denotes Refers to the middle (tack) that can be found between the paper and the blanket. It concerns the properties or grades of the paper stock.

Technically, bleach describes Refers to a substance that is usually chemical or chlorine. It is usually used to add the whitening effects to the pulp. It is a standard concept in printing. Usage varies with process and material.

Bleaching commonly denotes Refers to using certain chemicals to treat the pulp fiber. The aim would usually be to refine, whiten or improve its purity. It is a standard concept in printing. Usage varies with process and material.

Bleed is This word can have two meaning;. When it is used in the context of printing, it may refer to running off of the printed images on the edges of the page. The movement of ink into undesignated areas. It affects drying, adhesion, and print appearance. Formulation choices influence drying time and rub resistance.

Technically, blind embossing describes Refers to a technique in which a design that is based on bas-relief is used without the aid of ink or foil. It affects drying, adhesion, and print appearance.

Blocking — Refers to printed sheets shearshim. It is usually frequent in piled ones that have the presence of wet ink. It affects drying, adhesion, and print appearance. Formulation choices influence drying time and rub resistance.

Blocking out can be defined as The removal of certain parts of the negatives. It is usually achieved by making the image opaque. It is a standard concept in printing.

Technically, blowup describes Refers to enlarging an image size. It is a standard concept in printing.

Blueprint is Refers to a form of photo-print. It plays the role of proof and shows how the final product would look when folded. It is a standard concept in printing. Usage varies with process and material.

Boldface refers to thicker type that is also quite heavier. It is sometimes known as the dark type and is fundamentally different from the thin light type. It is a standard concept in printing. Usage varies with process and material.

Bond paper can be defined as Refers to A paper that is made from a stronger and more durable material. These materials could include cotton, wood or a combination of both. It is mostly used in papers for business forms or in stationeries. It concerns the properties or grades of the paper stock. Selection affects stiffness, opacity, and printability.

Bonding strength — Refers to the resistance of paper fibers to tear or to the presence of pickings in the process of offset printing. It concerns the properties or grades of the paper stock.

Book paper describes term that is used generally when referring to some types of paper that would be well suited to the production of books. It concerns the properties or grades of the paper stock. Selection affects stiffness, opacity, and printability.

Booklet: Refers to a piece which has been printed. This piece would usually be bound together. It can also contain some pages. It is a standard concept in printing. Usage varies with process and material.

Technically, brightness describes Refers to the reflections that are made on a paper when analyzed with the aid of a calibrated light (usually blue light). It concerns the properties or grades of the paper stock.

Bristol is term that is used generally to refer to A paper that is thick with at least 6 points. The basis weight of such papers would usually be within 90 to 200 lbs. you would usually find these papers used for file folders and index cards. It concerns the properties or grades of the paper stock. Selection affects stiffness, opacity, and printability.

Bristol boards commonly denotes Refers to a heavy paper that is of the highest quality. This paper can sometimes be made made from the fibers of cotton. It is prepared by joining it together with a caliper. It concerns the properties or grades of the paper stock. Selection affects stiffness, opacity, and printability.

Broke describes Refers to A paper that is no longer desirable. They would usually find their way back to the beaters. It concerns the properties or grades of the paper stock.

Broken carton describes Refers to carton which has been opened and some items taken out. It is a standard concept in printing.

Bulk is Refers to the thickness of the sheet. Note that sheets with high-bulk would generally have fewer sheets than sheets with low-bulk. It is a metric used for setup or quality evaluation. Higher values do not always imply better quality; context matters.

Bulking dummy refers to Refers to sheets of paper that remains unprinted. They would usually take a signature size or number due to the folding of the paper. It is usually used to measure bulk. It relates to book assembly and durability. It influences section alignment and page longevity.

Technically, bursting strength describes The level of tension a paper can take before its ruptures. It concerns the properties or grades of the paper stock.

Butted Joint describes Refers to the coming together of webs of paper. They would usually be placed beside each other. The main aim to make a sheet that continues without the need to overlap. It concerns the properties or grades of the paper stock. Selection affects stiffness, opacity, and printability.