| Pad |
A
moulded silicone rubber profile used to transfer the image from
the plate to the component. Also called Tampon, Dolly (as in Parton),
rubber, sponge, ink transfer pad, silicone pad, bomb, t?t. |
| Page
Layout |
The
process and software that prepares artwork, text and other elements
to be collected and prepared for printing within a specific area. |
| Pagination |
Electronic
formatting of multiple pages in a file for output. |
| Paint |
Synonym
for ink. |
| Pantone® |
A
company producing numerous colour matching systems for print and
computer applications. The PMS® colour-matching system is commonly
used to represent 3,000 distinct colours through a numbering system. |
| PDF
(Portable Document Format) |
An
electronic document format from Adobe that allows the distribution
of digital files across any platform that can display a document
as originally designed and formatted without having the software
application or fonts on the viewing computer. |
| Permanent
Adhesive |
Any
adhesive that is difficult to remove after application without leaving
adhesive on the substrate. |
| Phase
Change Printer |
An
inkjet printer where the ink starts as a solid that is then heated
and liquefied, and the sprayed onto the substrate. |
| Phenolics |
Opaque
thermoset plastics that are resistant to solvents and water. |
| Phosphorescent |
Persistent
emission of light following exposure to and removal of incident
radiation. It glows when the light source is removed. |
| Photometer |
An
instrument for measuring luminous intensity, luminous flux, illumination,
or intensity. |
| Photopolymer |
Polymer
that is sensitive to U.V. light. Used in temporary etched plates.
Known then as Photopolymer Plates. Also one of the chemistries used
in stencil emulsions. I.e. SBQ Photopolymer |
| Picking |
Undesirable
voids in the print caused when a portion of the pre-printed image
sticks to the bottom of another print screen on that image. |
| Piezo-Electric |
An
inkjet printing technology that uses a material that moves to pump
the ink out when subject to an electric charge instead of heat to
drive micro droplets through the nozzle. |
| Pigment |
The
solid colouring matter in an ink. |
| Pinholing |
Holes
in the ink film due to localised inability to wet surface. (Reticulation
and Cissing). |
| Pixel
Depth |
The
smallest unit of data in a digital image. Together, the small discrete
elements constitute an image that can be seen on a monitor or printed
on a substrate. A pixel's code contains information relating to
colour and placement within the larger image. The number of bits
of tonal range capability assigned to the pixels in an image. For
example RGB 24 bit colour means a pixel depth of 24 bits, 8 bits
or 256 levels per colour. |
| Pixelisation |
Graininess
in an image that results when the pixels are too big. |
| Pixels
Per Inch (PPI) |
A
measure of the density of scanned information in an image. The finer
the optics of the scanner, the higher the scan resolution. |
| Plastic |
A
non-fibrous, synthetic material in sheet or moulded form capable
of being printed. |
| Plasticiser |
A
non-volatile substance incorporated in an ink or plastic to improve
the flexibility of the dried film. |
| Plate |
The
required image is etched onto the plate. Plates are normally either
hardened steel or photopolymer. Also called Etched Plate, Plate
Plate, Intaglio Plate, Printing Plate. |
| Plotter |
A
term applied to a peripheral unit that, through computer control,
prints data via the Cartesian (X/Y) co-ordinate system. |
| Point |
A
unit of measurement used in the graphic arts industry. There are
12 points to a Pica. One point equals approximately 1/72 inch. See
"Postscript Point." |
| Point
Of Purchase Display (P.O.P.) |
Sign
or display used in close proximity to the actual retail product
being sold. Also known |
| Polishing |
The
name of a defect which occurs (mainly with matt ink) when the gloss
of a print is increased by rubbing. |
| Polycarbonate |
A
thermoplastic that is heat and moisture resistant. Commonly used
for industrial components and also food containers and baby bottles. |
| Polyester |
A
thermoplastic most commonly used in the form of DuPont's Mylar.
Particularly in membrane switches and sensors. |
| Polyethylene |
A
thermoplastic commonly used in the packaging industry. It is strong,
lightweight and highly resistant to breakage. Requires pre-treatment
prior to printing as the surface energy is low. |
| Polymer |
A
substance, the molecules of which consist of one or more structural
units repeated any number of times; vinyl resins are examples of
true polymers. The name is also frequently applied to large molecules
produced by any chemical process, e.g. condensation, a reaction
in which the water is produced, alkyd resins are examples of these. |
| Polymerisation |
The
process of producing a polymer. |
| Polypropylene |
Claimed
to be the lightest commercially available thermoplastic. It has
a high rigidity and surface hardness. Commonly used in the manufacture
of housewares, luggage and bottle caps. Requires pre-treatment prior
to printing as the surface energy is low. |
| Polystyrene |
A
thermoplastic known for its rigidity, hardness, heat and dimensional
stability as well as ease of fabrication. |
| Portrait,
Portrait Mode |
The
orientation of an image that is taller than it is wide; a setting
controlling an output device to properly fit a computer document
to the print medium. Vertical. |
| Positionability |
Characteristic
of allowing a marking to be moved after initial contact by use of
a combination of a two-step adhesive system. A low-tack adhesive
is on the surface for moving a marking; then, under pressure, a
higher-tack adhesive is released to permanently set the marking. |
| Posterisation |
A
special effect created by using a limited number of grey levels
within an image. In computers it is created by setting a defined
number of gradient steps in a bitmapped image. |
| PostScript
Point |
A
slight revision to the "Point" measurement unit. A Postscript
point is exactly 1/72 of an inch. Most graphics software utilises
this refined value for a point. |
| PostScript® |
A
page description programming language created by Adobe. That is
a device-independent industry standard for outputting documents
and graphics. |
| Pot
Life (General) |
The
length of time during storage of an ink, emulsion, etc. once mixed
in a specific container under normal conditions without changing
chemically to a point where its usefulness is affected. |
| Pot
Life (Pad printing) |
The
period after mixing the two parts of a two-pack ink, during which
the ink remains usable. This also applies to single part ink and
is likely to be days rather than hours. |
| Pressmatch®,
Proofprint, Iris® |
The
proof accepted by the artist that is used as the standard for comparing
all subsequent prints. Some printers require a signed "proofprint"
before production printing can begin. |
| Process
Colour |
The
process colours (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black) are used in traditional
colour printing to reproduce a full colour range. |
| Proof
|
A
print used to evaluate the entire production process prior to printing. |
