In our business, it is a necessity to know basic paper and printing terms. Use the glossary for a quick reference or browse it to refresh your knowledge.
Select from the general listing below:
edge bleed
Undesirable coloration at the edge of sheets caused by the action of the cutting knife; in carbonless papers, the image color development at the edges of the sheet or web from the same cutting action.
edge guide
Also web guide; a guide on web fed equipment to position it sideways for the operation. On sheet fed equipment, this is called a side guide.
electron beam
See radiation curing.
electrostatic assist
The use of an electrostatic or electrical charge to aid in the transfer of the ink, from the plate in printing (used in gravure printing, to assist in removing the ink from the gravure cells), and in electrostatic printing in the transfer of the toner from the photoreceptor to the paper surface.
electrostatic copier/printer
Also called xerography or electrophotography; see photoreceptor; a means by which an electrostatically charged photoreceptor surface is exposed to light to create non-image areas or a latent electrostatic image. The light source is generally a lens mechanism in copiers, and LASER light from a computer, providing variable information, in printers. The non-exposed area, which still has a static charge on the surface of the photoreceptor, defines the image. The remaining electrostatically charged areas attract a toner (which has an opposite charge), much like a magnet. An electrostatic charge (such as created by an electron beam) can also be applied directly to a desired image area of the plate, to create a latent image without the use of light. The toner defining the image is transferred to the paper, and is "set or fixed" to the paper surface either by heat (fuser section) or absorption of the fluid portion of a liquid toner into the paper.
Elmendorf
See tear test.
em
A printer's variable unit of measure, generally considered to be the width of the capital letter "M". Specifically is a square the size of the individual type. Most automatic line and type figures are 1/2 an em in size, or an en.
embossed
1) A textured finish imparted to paper by means of raised or depressed engravings on steel rolls, so as to leave a visible surface design on the paper. 2) A raised image or design in the paper surface created by using male and female dies; an unprinted design created in this manner is referred to as blind embossing.
embossing
1) The process for creating an embossed finish. Also, see reverse embossing. 2) The swelling of a printing press blanket due to its absorbing solvents from the ink; blanket embossing
emulsification
A condition in offset lithography that results from the mixing of excessive fountain solution (water based) and ink (oil based) on the press; generally a contamination of the ink by the fountain solution.
en
1/2 an em. See also <i>em</i>.
enamel
Originally designated a coated paper with a high gloss finished surface. Has come to signify any coated paper surface, regardless of gloss.
engraved printing/engraving
A form of recessed printing, as is gravure printing; where the image to be printed is etched or engraved below the non-image areas of the plate. The ink is applied to the plate and the non-image areas are then scraped or wiped clean. Gravure printing is another form of recessed printing, but the ink body and viscosity do differ. Engraved printing normally is accompanied by a slightly raised image area, and a slightly recessed area on the reverse side of the paper corresponding to the printed image.
EPA
An abbreviation for the "Environmental Protection Agency" and can be administered by one or more agencies on the national, state, or local level. Generally, these agencies are responsible for everything in the environment around us.
equivalent weights
Means of comparing the weights of papers which have different basic sizes and basis weights, strictly a mathematical calculation.
etch
In offset lithography, the acidified gum solution used to desensitize the non-image (non-printing) areas of the plate; the "etch" commonly refers to the concentrate used with water to prepare the "fountain solution"; also, the buffered acid solution added to the fountain solution. See also <i>fountain solution</i>.
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