RGB – Printing Terms Glossary

The color space of Red, Green as well as Blue. These are the primary colors of light that computers use to display images on your screen. In order to be printed on a printing press, an RGB computer file must be translated into the CMYK (the primary colors of pigment) color space.

Offset printing – Printing Terms Glossary

The printing method that is most commonly used, where the printed material does not receive the ink directly from a printing plate but from an intermediary blanket, which receives the ink from the plate and then transfers it to the paper.

Dampening – Printing Terms Glossary

A necessary part of the offset printing process whereby rollers distribute a solution to the plate, which covers the non-printing area of the plate, repelling ink in those fields. Some newer presses use a waterless ink technology, which does not use dampening.

 

Color bars – Printing Terms Glossary

A color trial strip that is printed on the waste part of a press sheet. It assists a press operator to monitor and assure the quality of the printed material relative to ink density, registration as well as dot gain. It can include a Star Target as well, which is designed to detect inking and press problems.