Glossary of Printing and Graphic Arts Terms
U, V, W
Uncoated Paper
Paper that has not been coated with clay. Also called offset paper.
Undercolor Addition
Technique of making color separations that increases the amount of cyan, magenta or yellow ink in shadow areas. Abbreviated UCA.
Undercolor Removal
Technique of making color separations such that the amount of cyan, magenta and yellow ink is reduced in midtone and shadow areas while the amount of black is increased. Abbreviated UCR.
Universal Copyright Convention (UCC)
A system to protect unique work from reproducing without knowledge from the originator. To qualify, one must register their work and publish a (c) indicating registration.
Unsharp Masking
Technique of adjusting dot size to make a halftone or separation appear sharper (in better focus) than the original photo or the first proof. Also called edge enhancement and peaking.
Up
Term to indicate multiple copies of one image printed in one impression on a single sheet. "Two up" or "three up" means printing the identical piece twice or three times on each sheet.
UV Coating
Liquid applied to a printed sheet, then bonded and cured with ultraviolet light.
Paper that has not been coated with clay. Also called offset paper.
Undercolor Addition
Technique of making color separations that increases the amount of cyan, magenta or yellow ink in shadow areas. Abbreviated UCA.
Undercolor Removal
Technique of making color separations such that the amount of cyan, magenta and yellow ink is reduced in midtone and shadow areas while the amount of black is increased. Abbreviated UCR.
Universal Copyright Convention (UCC)
A system to protect unique work from reproducing without knowledge from the originator. To qualify, one must register their work and publish a (c) indicating registration.
Unsharp Masking
Technique of adjusting dot size to make a halftone or separation appear sharper (in better focus) than the original photo or the first proof. Also called edge enhancement and peaking.
Up
Term to indicate multiple copies of one image printed in one impression on a single sheet. "Two up" or "three up" means printing the identical piece twice or three times on each sheet.
UV Coating
Liquid applied to a printed sheet, then bonded and cured with ultraviolet light.
V
Value
The shade (darkness) or tint (lightness) of a color. Also called brightness, lightness, shade and tone.
Varnish
Liquid applied as a coating for protection and appearance.
Vellum Finish
Somewhat rough, toothy finish.
Velox
Brand name for high-contrast photographic paper.
Viewing Booth
Small area or room that is set up for proper viewing of transparencies, color separations or press sheets. Also called color booth. See also Standard Viewing Conditions.
Vignette
Decorative design or illustration fade to white.
Vignette Halftone
Halftone whose background gradually and smoothly fades away. Also called degrade.
Virgin Paper
Paper made exclusively of pulp from trees or cotton, as compared to recycled paper.
VOC
Abbreviation for volatile organic compounds, petroleum substances used as the vehicles for many printing inks.
Value
The shade (darkness) or tint (lightness) of a color. Also called brightness, lightness, shade and tone.
Varnish
Liquid applied as a coating for protection and appearance.
Vellum Finish
Somewhat rough, toothy finish.
Velox
Brand name for high-contrast photographic paper.
Viewing Booth
Small area or room that is set up for proper viewing of transparencies, color separations or press sheets. Also called color booth. See also Standard Viewing Conditions.
Vignette
Decorative design or illustration fade to white.
Vignette Halftone
Halftone whose background gradually and smoothly fades away. Also called degrade.
Virgin Paper
Paper made exclusively of pulp from trees or cotton, as compared to recycled paper.
VOC
Abbreviation for volatile organic compounds, petroleum substances used as the vehicles for many printing inks.
W
Wash Up
To clean ink and fountain solutions from rollers, fountains, screens, and other press components.
Waste
Unusable paper or paper damage during normal makeready, printing or binding operations, as compared to spoilage.
Watermark
Translucent logo in paper created during manufacturing by slight embossing from a dandy roll while paper is still approximately 90 percent water.
Web Break
Split of the paper as it travels through a web press, causing operators to rethread the press.
Web Gain
Unacceptable stretching of paper as it passes through the press.
Web Press
Press that prints from rolls of paper, usually cutting it into sheets after printing. Also called reel-fed press. Web presses come in many sizes, the most common being mini, half, three quarter (also called 8-pages) and full (also called 16-pages).
Wet Trap
To print ink or varnish over wet ink, as compared to dry trap.
Window
(1) In a printed product, a die-cut hole revealing an image on the sheet behind it. (2) On a mechanical, an area that has been marked for placement of a piece of artwork.
Wire Side
Side of the paper that rests against The Fourdrinier wire during papermaking, as compared to felt side.
With the Grain
Parallel to the grain direction of the paper being used, as compared to against the grain. See also Grain Direction.
Woodfree Paper
Made with chemical pulp only. Paper usually classified as calendered or supercalendered.
Working Film
Intermediate film that will be copied to make final film after all corrections are made. Also called buildups.
Wove
Paper manufactured without visible wire marks, usually a fine textured paper.
Wrong Reading
An image that is backwards when compared to the original. Also called flopped and reverse reading.
Wash Up
To clean ink and fountain solutions from rollers, fountains, screens, and other press components.
Waste
Unusable paper or paper damage during normal makeready, printing or binding operations, as compared to spoilage.
Watermark
Translucent logo in paper created during manufacturing by slight embossing from a dandy roll while paper is still approximately 90 percent water.
Web Break
Split of the paper as it travels through a web press, causing operators to rethread the press.
Web Gain
Unacceptable stretching of paper as it passes through the press.
Web Press
Press that prints from rolls of paper, usually cutting it into sheets after printing. Also called reel-fed press. Web presses come in many sizes, the most common being mini, half, three quarter (also called 8-pages) and full (also called 16-pages).
Wet Trap
To print ink or varnish over wet ink, as compared to dry trap.
Window
(1) In a printed product, a die-cut hole revealing an image on the sheet behind it. (2) On a mechanical, an area that has been marked for placement of a piece of artwork.
Wire Side
Side of the paper that rests against The Fourdrinier wire during papermaking, as compared to felt side.
With the Grain
Parallel to the grain direction of the paper being used, as compared to against the grain. See also Grain Direction.
Woodfree Paper
Made with chemical pulp only. Paper usually classified as calendered or supercalendered.
Working Film
Intermediate film that will be copied to make final film after all corrections are made. Also called buildups.
Wove
Paper manufactured without visible wire marks, usually a fine textured paper.
Wrong Reading
An image that is backwards when compared to the original. Also called flopped and reverse reading.