Melbourne Museum of Printing | Our Glossary of Printing and Typography |
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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 | ||||||||||
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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 | ||
Persons wishing to use these are asked to contact the author at Melbourne Museum of Printing.
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