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PRINTING EXPLAINED
Our Glossary of Printing and Typography
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Glossary Theme

Alphabetic Glossary, page 3, DEF


SUGGESTION: HOW TO EXPLORE THIS GLOSSARY
IF YOU KNOW THE NAME OF A TERM, GO TO THE ALPHABETIC PAGE
eg to find PICA choose the Alphabetic Page N-Q. You will find several meanings of this word, and that it is mostly used in TYPE MEASUREMENTS.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE OTHER TERMS ABOUT TYPE MEASUREMENTS
look in the Thematic Glossary about Typecasting and Type Measurements
CHOOSE
ANOTHER
ALPHABETIC
PAGE:
A,B
C
DEF
G-K
L,M
N-Q
R,S
T-Z
CHOOSE A THEMATIC PAGE:
CHARACTERS, TYPEFACES
LAYOUT, PREPRESS, TYPOGRAPHY
TYPECASTING, MEASUREMENTS
MACHINE TYPESETTING, HOT/COLD
LETTERPRESS COMP, STEREOTYPES
WORKFLOW, PROOFREADING, IMAGES
PRINTING: LETTERPRESS, LITHO
FINISHING: CUT, NUMBER, BIND

ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THESE DEFINITIONS INCLUDE:
usu = usually cf = compare with eg = for example typic = typically

NOUN, COUNTABLE dagger CHARACTERS
reference mark in the shape of a dagger

NOUN, COUNTABLE dash LANGUAGE AND USAGE
punctuation to separate ideas: normally uses the EM RULE character

NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE dash style LAYOUT AND DESIGN
do you require spaces before and after a dash: if so what kind of spaces?

VERB deboss EMBELLISHING
precise term for embossing in which paper is pressed below its surface

NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE delivery (channel) LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER
channel which guides composed line from assembling elevator to first elevator

NOUN, COUNTABLE descender CHARACTER PARTS AND STROKES
part of lowercase letters that descends below the baseline

NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE descender depth TYPE MEASUREMENTS
depth from baseline to the lowest point of the descenders

NOUN, COUNTABLE diacritic CHARACTERS
a more exact term for an accent, a mark above or below or through a letter to change its value

NOUN, COUNTABLE diaeresis CHARACTERS
diacritic over vowel, indicating separation from adjoining vowel: two dots, like the umlaut mark

ADJECTIVE diazo PRE PRESS, COMPUTER LAYOUT
document copy process using a sensitised paper processed with ammonia solution

NOUN, COUNTABLE die TYPE CASTING
alternative name for matrix

VERB die cutting CUTTING & CREASING
general term for the process of cutting, perforating and creasing using a cutting forme or die

NOUN, COUNTABLE die, copperplate PRINTING, ANY PROCESS
engraved plate or block in copper or steel for intaglio printing. Once common for fine stationery.

NOUN, COUNTABLE diecase MONOTYPE COMPOSITION CASTER
common term for matrix case

NOUN, COUNTABLE dingbat CHARACTERS
star, dot, flower, or other mark outside a fount: may be used for separation

NOUN, COUNTABLE diphthong . . . . 1 LANGUAGE AND USAGE
two vowels together, pronounced by sliding, common in English. eg: hay, buy, go, few, cow, boy

NOUN, COUNTABLE diphthong . . . . 2 CHARACTERS
two vowels joined together in one character: AE and OE are not ligatures.

NOUN, COUNTABLE direct image plate LITHOGRAPHY INCL OFFSET
litho plate, usu paper, imaged directly in typewriter or with handdrawn images

NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE display type LAYOUT AND DESIGN
larger type used for headings: to catch the eye: commonly 18 to 72 pt

ABBREVIATION diss LETTERPRESS COMPOSING
distribute

ABBREVIATION disser LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER
abbrev for distributor

NOUN, COUNTABLE disser drive screws LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER
three long screw drives propel mats along disser bar. Two at top, one to steady bottom edge of mats

NOUN, COUNTABLE disser stop unit LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER
the gears driving the three screws are finely balanced and stop if any of them is jammed

VERB distribute LETTERPRESS COMPOSING
replace material after use into correct storage places, esp handset

NOUN, COUNTABLE distributor LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER
equipment at top of magazine which ensures that each matrix after use returns to correct channel

NOUN, COUNTABLE distributor bar LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER
steel bar, extending across top of magazine, with grooves to match teeth on each matrix

NOUN, COUNTABLE distributor box LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER
device which separates the matrices incoming to be dissed, and lifts each onto the disser bar

NOUN, COUNTABLE double caps case LETTERPRESS COMPOSING
this is the typical upper case, with divisions for two capital alphabets, perhaps one is small caps

NOUN, COUNTABLE double close quote CHARACTERS
to match the double open quote: a separate character with twin marks on one body

NOUN, COUNTABLE double dagger CHARACTERS
reference mark like a dagger with handles at both ends

NOUN, COUNTABLE double open quote CHARACTERS
a nice touch in some founts: a separate character with the two marks on one body

ADJECTIVE double storey CHARACTER PARTS AND STROKES
l/case a or g which have the closed tail or curved finial. opp: simple a or g

ABBREVIATION DPI PRE PRESS, COMPUTER LAYOUT
dots per inch: resolution spec for computerised output

NOUN, COUNTABLE drive MATRICES FOR TYPECASTING
depth of the cavity in a matrix: equates to the height of the face over the shoulder of the body

NOUN, COUNTABLE drop cap LAYOUT AND DESIGN
initial capital that extends through two or three lines

NOUN, COUNTABLE drop folio LAYOUT AND DESIGN
in book with folios at top, where on some pages the folio is moved to the bottom

NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE dry transfer type COLD TYPE COMPOSITION
founts in dyestuff, on release paper: transfer to paper by rubbing: eg Letraset

NOUN, COUNTABLE dummy LAYOUT AND DESIGN
mock-up of a final printed product

NOUN, COUNTABLE dummy box NUMBERING MACHINES & ATTACHMTS
wooden block same size as number box to fill in for box while job is stored

NOUN, COUNTABLE dustproof cabinet LETTERPRESS COMPOSING
type cabinet providing almost no gap between cases. Dustproof cases have no "lip" for pulling

NOUN, COUNTABLE dustproof type case LETTERPRESS COMPOSING
type case to suit dustproof cabinet. Have no lip, so needing pull handles

NOUN, COUNTABLE dusty type case LETTERPRESS COMPOSING
type case with pulling lip, requiring a substantial gap between cases. "Dusty": reverse nickname

NOUN, COUNTABLE dye COLOUR WORK, PRINTING INKS
strongly coloured soluble material: provides the colour in transparent inks

ADJECTIVE egyptian TYPE FACE DESIGNS
type style with square (slab) serifs and almost uniform strokes. eg Rockwell, Karnak, Memphis

NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE ejection rubber CUTTING & CREASING
spongy material glued between cutting rules to ensure separation of paper from die

NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE ejector LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER
blade cam-driven into mould cavity to force the newly-cast slug out thru trimmer

NOUN, COUNTABLE ellipsis [pl ..pses] LANGUAGE AND USAGE
punctuation consisting of three dots: normally full stops, spaced out with fixed thin spaces

NOUN, COUNTABLE em (absolute) TYPE MEASUREMENTS
a pica em (12 points), used as a unit of measure (line length)

NOUN, COUNTABLE em (relative) TYPE MEASUREMENTS
a unit, setwise, equal to current body size. [from the letter M]

NOUN, COUNTABLE em dash CHARACTERS
common name for em rule: the normal dash used for punctuation

NOUN, COUNTABLE em leader CHARACTERS
leader character (usu dots) of one em width: "a 6-dot em leader"

NOUN, COUNTABLE em quad LETTERPRESS COMPOSING
(in handset type) space piece of square proportions. Also 2-em, 3-em quads

NOUN, COUNTABLE em rule CHARACTERS
horiz rule (normally in centre of body) one (relative) em long: used as dash or for longer lines

NOUN, COUNTABLE em space CHARACTERS
space (between words, as an indent) equal to a relative em (current body size)

VERB emboss EMBELLISHING
make relief image in paper by using a recessed die and counterdie

NOUN, COUNTABLE en WORKFLOW
unit for counting typesetting effort: keystroke. eg payment per 1000 ens.

NOUN, COUNTABLE en (relative) TYPE MEASUREMENTS
half an em: also en space, en quad, en rule, en leader

EQUIVALENT TERM end matter LAYOUT AND DESIGN
same as back matter

NOUN, COUNTABLE end papers FINISHING & BOOKBINDING
leaves, sometimes decorated or marbled, which hold the book into its cover

NOUN, COUNTABLE engraved matrix MATRICES FOR TYPECASTING
matrix engraved rather than punched. Used for one-off designs. Difficult to obtain polished face.

NOUN, COUNTABLE engraved punch MATRICES FOR TYPECASTING
most mats in C20 struck from punches machine-engraved rather than hand-cut. No more counter-punches

NOUN, COUNTABLE engraving IMAGES, HALFTONES
relief image produced by removing material from flat surface by hand or process

EQUIVALENT TERM expanded type TYPE FACE DESIGNS
same as extended type

NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE extended type TYPE FACE DESIGNS
typeface with wider body in relation to its height (opp: condensed)

EQUIVALENT TERM face TYPE FACE DESIGNS
typeface - either the design or the physical surface

NOUN, COUNTABLE family TYPE FACE DESIGNS
a number of related typefaces: eg a Roman and its Italic, its Bold, its condensed

NOUN, COUNTABLE feet TYPE CASTING
the bottom end of a sort: separated by the groove: if no groove, smooth-foot type

NOUN, COUNTABLE finial CHARACTER PARTS AND STROKES
decoration or flourish at the end of a stroke, like teardrop or hook

NOUN, COUNTABLE finished size FINISHING & BOOKBINDING
size of printed product after all operations

VERB finishing FINISHING & BOOKBINDING
post-printing operations: embellish, trim, fold, collate, bind etc

NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE first elevator LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER
moves composed line from delivery down to vyce and later up to transfer

NOUN, COUNTABLE flat PRE PRESS, COMPUTER LAYOUT
[US] negatives, attached to paper carrier, ready for platemaking

NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE flexography process PRINTING, ANY PROCESS
printing from flexible (rubber) plates, often onto non-porous material, eg plastic bags

NOUN, COUNTABLE floating accent LETTERPRESS COMPOSING
accent cast separately and set above the appropriate letter

NOUN, COUNTABLE floating rule LAYOUT AND DESIGN
rule which approaches other rules without touching or joining

NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE flong STEREOTYPING, RUBBER STAMPS
thick paper-like material, either dry or moist, pressed over type to make a stereotype matrix

NOUN, COUNTABLE flourish CHARACTER PARTS AND STROKES
stroke added to character for style rather than meaning

ADVERB flush left (right) LAYOUT AND DESIGN
typesetting where each line extends to the left (right) margin but not the other

EQUIVALENT TERM foil stamping EMBELLISHING
alternative term for hot foil printing : often used when foiling is added to other printing

NOUN, COUNTABLE fold marks LAYOUT AND DESIGN
lines on printed sheet showing where to fold it

NOUN, COUNTABLE folio LAYOUT AND DESIGN
folio number, a posh term for page number

EQUIVALENT TERM font TYPOGRAPHY - GENERALITIES
[US] an unfortunate misspelling of fount which came to be pronounced that way

NOUN, COUNTABLE footer LAYOUT AND DESIGN
information printed at the bottom of each page (also running foot)

ADJECTIVE for position only PRE PRESS, COMPUTER LAYOUT
photos or art at lower definition for placement, to be replaced before printing

NOUN, COUNTABLE forme punch CUTTING & CREASING
tubular punch included in cutting forme, making small circular hole in paper

NOUN, COUNTABLE forme [US form] LETTERPRESS COMPOSING
matter (type or blocks) assembled into chase ready for printing

EQUIVALENT TERM foundry TYPE CASTING
see typefoundry

NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE foundry type LETTERPRESS COMPOSING
handset type of a quality made in a traditional typefoundry

NOUN, COUNTABLE fount . . . . . . 1 LETTERPRESS COMPOSING
set of types (or mats) complete with all normal characters (one face and size)

NOUN, COUNTABLE fount . . . . . . 2 COLD TYPE COMPOSITION
set of characters of one typeface (often serving all sizes)

NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE four colour process COLOUR WORK, PRINTING INKS
full colour printing using three coloured inks plus black

ABBREVIATION FPO PRE PRESS, COMPUTER LAYOUT
for position only

NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE front matter LAYOUT AND DESIGN
material such as title page & contents, that comes before the main text

NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE full measure LAYOUT AND DESIGN
matter set flush to both margins of chosen line measure: "set to full measure"

ADVERB full out LAYOUT AND DESIGN
matter set, or justified, with both margins flush to the measure: "set the text full out"

NOUN, COUNTABLE full point PROOF READING & CORRECTING
typesetter/proofreader term for full stop

NOUN, COUNTABLE full stop [US period LANGUAGE AND USAGE
the dot which ends a sentence or denotes an abbreviation. Period [US]

NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE furnish PAPER MAKING
the mixture put into papermaking process: pulp plus filler, size, other additives

NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE furniture LETTERPRESS COMPOSING
strips of larger spacing (wood, lead, light metal, bakelite)

NOUN, COUNTABLE furniture rack LETTERPRESS COMPOSING
to accommodate 5 or 10 each of 2,3,4,5,6,8,10 by 20 to 60 picas typically


The definitions and formats in this work Copyright © E. Michael Isaachsen 2000.

Persons wishing to use these are asked to contact the author at Melbourne Museum of Printing.

Comments and suggestions about terms and definitions will be very welcome.

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