Alphabetic Glossary, page 6, N-Q

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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CHARACTERS, TYPEFACES

LAYOUT, PREPRESS, TYPOGRAPHY

TYPECASTING, MEASUREMENTS

MACHINE TYPESETTING, HOT/COLD

LETTERPRESS COMP, STEREOTYPES

WORKFLOW, PROOFREADING, IMAGES

PRINTING: LETTERPRESS, LITHO

FINISHING: CUT, NUMBER, BIND

ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THESE DEFINITIONS INCLUDE:
usu = usually	cf = compare with	eg = for example	typic = typically


NOUN, COUNTABLE	negative	IMAGES, HALFTONES
colour film or print with reversed colour renditions, eg blues appear as yellow

NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE	negative leading	COLD TYPE COMPOSITION
where instead of adding space between lines, interline spacing is reduced

NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE	newsprint	PAPER SPECIFICATIONS
lower quality, absorbent paper, from mechanical pulp

NOUN, COUNTABLE	nick	TYPE CASTING
groove in one (usu front) surface of type body: some founders made multiple nicks

NOUN, COUNTABLE	nick purpose	TYPE CASTING
the nick and wire stop newly-cast sort lifting in mould when matrix is lifted off

NOUN, COUNTABLE	nick tongue	TYPE CASTING
in later moulds a rectangular tongue replaces wire making square nick

NOUN, COUNTABLE	nick wire	TYPE CASTING
in some type moulds the nick is formed by a wire inset into the mould halves

NOUN, COUNTABLE	nick, partial	TYPE CASTING
the nick may not go across the whole body width, esp larger sizes

NOUN, COUNTABLE	nick, tooled	TYPE CASTING
some typefaces had one or more of their multiple nicks added after casting

NOUN, COUNTABLE	nicks, multiple	TYPE CASTING
many typefounders provided nick patterns to help comp identify similar faces

VERB	nip	FINISHING & BOOKBINDING
squeeze newly bound book to ensure flatness: nipping press

NOUN, COUNTABLE	nipping press	FINISHING & BOOKBINDING
bookbinder's screw press to hold book(s) flat

NOUN, COUNTABLE	nonbreaking space	CHARACTERS
space character which is treated as letter for word-break purposes

NOUN, COUNTABLE	nonpareil [nomprul]	LETTERPRESS COMPOSING
strip of 6pt lead or reglet: drop some nonpareils between those lines

NOUN, COUNTABLE	normal wedge	MONOTYPE COMPOSITION CASTER
steel wedge giving mould blade the correct opening for a particular set-size and pattern of units

NOUN, COUNTABLE	normal wedge number	MONOTYPE COMPOSITION CASTER
includes the stopbar code required by the Unit Arrangement, plus the set-size, eg s554-13pt

NOUN, COUNTABLE	numberer (hand)	NUMBERING MACHINES & ATTACHMTS
hand-held numbering machine with inbuilt inking device, usu adjustable for repeat numbering

EQUIVALENT TERM	numbering box	NUMBERING MACHINES & ATTACHMTS
colloquial term for numbering machine

NOUN, COUNTABLE	numbering machine	NUMBERING MACHINES & ATTACHMTS
set of numbered wheels, type-high: change automatically after each impression

NOUN, COUNTABLE	nut	LETTERPRESS COMPOSING
guard word for 'en', to distinguish from 'em'.

ADJECTIVE	oblique . . . . . 1	TYPE FACE DESIGNS
slanted version of face, like italic but without changes from the roman

VERB	oblique . . . . . 2	TYPE FACE DESIGNS
modify a face by slanting it. Obliqued faces may be generated on the fly

ABBREVIATION	OCR	TYPE FACE DESIGNS
optical character recognition

EQUIVALENT TERM	offset	PRINTING, ANY PROCESS
common term for offset photolithography, today's common printing process - see LITHO theme page

NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE	offset letterpress	PRINTING, ANY PROCESS
also called letterset - printing from a right-reading relief plate (or unusually, type) to blanket

NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE	offset lithography	LITHOGRAPHY INCL OFFSET
offset printing from a lithographic stone or plate - the plate prints first onto the blanket

NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE	offset printing	PRINTING, ANY PROCESS
process where the image moves from type or plate to paper via an intermediate surface (blanket)

NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE	old style	TYPE FACE DESIGNS
faces having angled stress and tapered serifs

NOUN, COUNTABLE	old style figures	CHARACTERS
figures varying in height: 1,2,0 are x-height; 6,8 ascend; 3,4,5, 7,9 descend

NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE	onion skin	PAPER SPECIFICATIONS
very lightweight translucent paper, traditionally for airmail documents

NOUN, COUNTABLE	open quote mark	CHARACTERS
(in English) the turned comma, like a small figure 6

NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE	optical char. recog	TYPE FACE DESIGNS
faces designed in the 1960's for computerised reading with simple scan software

NOUN, COUNTABLE	orphan	LAYOUT AND DESIGN
a solitary first line of para at the bottom of a column or page, with rest of para carried over

ADJECTIVE	outline	TYPE FACE DESIGNS
face that is largely 'hollow': just the outline of each character

VERB	overprint	PRINTING, ANY PROCESS
add new image (usu text) to already printed item: may be variable information or correction

VERB	overstrike	CHARACTERS
produce non-standard character or effect by printing a character over another

BRAND NAME	Ozalid	PRE PRESS, COMPUTER LAYOUT
brand of diazo process often used for making proofs of line art and text

NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE	pagination	LAYOUT AND DESIGN
putting of matter into pages: placing of numbers on pages

BRAND NAME	Pantone	COLOUR WORK, PRINTING INKS
a widely used colour matching system

NOUN, COUNTABLE	paper plate	LITHOGRAPHY INCL OFFSET
offset printing plate made from paper: see: Silvermaster, OE-1, direct image

NOUN, COUNTABLE	paragraph symbol	CHARACTERS
reference mark, a stylised, reversed P; also used as proofreader's mark

NOUN, COUNTABLE	parallel fold	FINISHING & BOOKBINDING
where a sheet is folded with two or more folds in the same direction

VERB	paste up . . . . . 1	PRE PRESS, COMPUTER LAYOUT
adhere to a layout or mounting board by paste, glue or usu adhesive wax

NOUN, COUNTABLE	paste up . . . . . 2	PRE PRESS, COMPUTER LAYOUT
artwork prepared from type, illustrations, etc, pasted/adhered to layout sheet

EQUIVALENT TERM	paste up . . . . . 3	PRE PRESS, COMPUTER LAYOUT
in some colonies called a mechanical: includes overlays where needed

VERB	perfect bind	FINISHING & BOOKBINDING
trim/grind off spine-edge and glue the pages into their cover

NOUN, COUNTABLE	perfector	PRINTING, ANY PROCESS
two-unit press which prints both sides of the sheet

NOUN, COUNTABLE	perforating rule	CUTTING & CREASING
rule with sharp top segmented to perforate board or paper: usu in Cutting Forme

NOUN, COUNTABLE	photoengraving	IMAGES, HALFTONES
engraving made by etching into metal where light exposure has not hardened plate

NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE	photogravure	PRINTING, ANY PROCESS
where the gravure image is etched to cylinder photographically

NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE	phototypesetting	COLD TYPE COMPOSITION
image of characters formed on sensitive film or paper by light beams

EQUIVALENT TERM	pi	LETTERPRESS COMPOSING
cute term, using the Greek letter pi to represent the word pie - see Printer's Pie

NOUN, COUNTABLE	pi character . . . 1	CHARACTERS
character not included in a fount: it must be accessed by special means

NOUN, COUNTABLE	pi character . . . 2	COLD TYPE COMPOSITION
character not on the normal keyboard: accessible by codes or alt layouts

NOUN, COUNTABLE	pi matrix	LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER
matrix that runs in the pi channel: does not run in a magazine channel

NOUN, COUNTABLE	pica . . . . . . . 1	TYPE MEASUREMENTS
traditional typesize name, later taken as the standard 12 point measure

NOUN, COUNTABLE	pica . . . . . . . 2	TYPE MEASUREMENTS
defined (around 1890?) as 0.1660 inch: 6 picas = 0.996 inch

NOUN, COUNTABLE	pica . . . . . . . 3	COLD TYPE COMPOSITION
in some computers (1980's), pica became 1/6 inch thus 0.4 % more than historic

NOUN, COUNTABLE	pica . . . . . . . 4	TYPE MEASUREMENTS
European equivalent of pica is the Cicero (about 7% larger)

NOUN, COUNTABLE	pica . . . . . . . 5	LETTERPRESS COMPOSING
strip of 12pt lead or reglet: grab a few picas

VERB	picking	PRINTING, ANY PROCESS
ink too tacky, lifting fibres or coating from paper: fibres become hickeys

EQUIVALENT TERM	pie	LETTERPRESS COMPOSING
see printer's pie, pi

VERB	pied	LETTERPRESS COMPOSING
if you pie a job, the type is spilt or disarranged

NOUN, COUNTABLE	pigment	COLOUR WORK, PRINTING INKS
finely ground solid material: gives colour and opacity to ink

NOUN, COUNTABLE	pin perforator	CUTTING & CREASING
forces a row of pins through a few sheets at a time. Usu treadle operated.

NOUN, COUNTABLE	planer	LETTERPRESS COMPOSING
flat wooden block: placed on type during lockup and tapped with mallet

NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE	planographic printng	PRINTING, ANY PROCESS
producing image from a flat surface, where image area is chemically different. Usu lithographic.

NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE	plaster matrix	STEREOTYPING, RUBBER STAMPS
the plaster-cast matrix process places no pressure on the type and produces a grainless stereo

ABBREVIATION	PMS (colour numbers)	COLOUR WORK, PRINTING INKS
Pantone Matching System: now named Pantone Colors

NOUN, COUNTABLE	point . . . . . . 1	TYPE MEASUREMENTS
fundamental unit for type body sizes: the point is defined as 1/12 pica

NOUN, COUNTABLE	point . . . . . . 2	TYPE MEASUREMENTS
Anglo-American point is 0.013833 inch (1/12 of 0.1660) or 0.351 mm

NOUN, COUNTABLE	point . . . . . . 3	TYPE MEASUREMENTS
some computers use pica = 1/6 inch: their point has become 0.013889 inch

NOUN, COUNTABLE	point . . . . . . 4	TYPE MEASUREMENTS
points are also used for spacing and rules: 3pt leads; 1pt rule face on 2pt body

NOUN, COUNTABLE	point . . . . . . 5	TYPE MEASUREMENTS
European point (or Didot) is 1/12 of a Cicero (about 0.0148 inch)

NOUN, COUNTABLE	point . . . . . . 6	TYPE MEASUREMENTS
in practical terms, 36pt is half an inch, and so on: no easy conversion to metric

NOUN, COUNTABLE	point size	TYPE MEASUREMENTS
size of type body: typeface designed for that body size

ADVERB	pointwise	TYPE MEASUREMENTS
in the vertical axis of a piece of type: the bowl measures 3.6 pts, pointwise

ADJECTIVE	portrait	LAYOUT AND DESIGN
type block or image having height greater than width

NOUN, COUNTABLE	positive . . . . . 1	PRE PRESS, COMPUTER LAYOUT
film or print with image-bearing area in black, non-image white or clear

NOUN, COUNTABLE	positive . . . . . 2	IMAGES, HALFTONES
colour film or print with correct (non reversed) colour renditions

BRAND NAME	PostScript	PRE PRESS, COMPUTER LAYOUT
Adobe Systems' widely accepted system for defining and outputting text and images

NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE	prepress	PRE PRESS, COMPUTER LAYOUT
converting ideas and images into negatives and plates for printing

NOUN, COUNTABLE	press check	WORKFLOW
final check when job is already on the press: examining first printed sheets

NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE	preview mode	COLD TYPE COMPOSITION
for non-WYSIWYG typesetters, a way of seeing page as it will print

NOUN, COUNTABLE	printer spread	LAYOUT AND DESIGN
pages laid out in the way they will appear on the printing plate - cf reader spread

NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE	printer's pie	LETTERPRESS COMPOSING
the mess of types formed when quantity of type is spilt or dropped: a pied job

NOUN, COUNTABLE	printmaking	PRINTMAKING (FINE ART)
use of elementary forms of printing (etching, litho, letterpress, woodcuts) for artist-made prints

NOUN, COUNTABLE	process camera	PRE PRESS, COMPUTER LAYOUT
large camera to make full-size negative from artwork:may enlarge or reduce

EQUIVALENT TERM	process engraving	IMAGES, HALFTONES
same as photoengraving

NOUN, COUNTABLE	progressive proofs	COLOUR WORK, PRINTING INKS
series of proofs showing each colour printed over previous colours and singly

NOUN, COUNTABLE	proof	WORKFLOW
a copy of a work in progress, usually for checking and correcting

ABBREVIATION	proofer	PRINTING, ANY PROCESS
proofing press

NOUN, COUNTABLE	proofing press	PRINTING, ANY PROCESS
a press designed for proofing: usu simplified, perhaps hand inked or hand fed

NOUN, COUNTABLE	proofreader	PROOF READING & CORRECTING
once called corrector of the press and a greatly prized skill, now devalued but still important

NOUN, COUNTABLE	proofreaders' marks	PROOF READING & CORRECTING
standardised set of marks used on proof sheet to indicate corrections needed

VERB	proofreading	PROOF READING & CORRECTING
reading a proof copy beside the original copy to detect errors in content or style

NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE	proportional spacing	TYPE FACE DESIGNS
set-sizes (body widths) varying to suit characters: most printing types conform to this

NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE	pulp	PAPER MAKING
raw material for paper making: mainly fibres from wood, paper and rags

NOUN, COUNTABLE	pump stop	LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER
stop-block under pump lever which moves away to allow casting only when vyce jaws detect full line

NOUN, COUNTABLE	punch	MATRICES FOR TYPECASTING
an original character carved into tip of steel rod and hardened

NOUN, COUNTABLE	punch bar	MONOTYPE COMPOSITION CASTER
33 cross bars actuated by keybar pips: each bar operates one ribbon punch

NOUN, COUNTABLE	punch proof	MATRICES FOR TYPECASTING
as each punch progressed, the letter-cutter would proof it to ensure its fidelity to design

NOUN, COUNTABLE	quad . . . . . . . 1	LETTERPRESS COMPOSING
spacing material within the line but wider than word spaces: em quad, 3-em quad

VERB	quad . . . . . . . 2	LETTERPRESS COMPOSING
use quads to quickly fill out blank portion of a line: quad the line [out]

NOUN, COUNTABLE	quad caps case	LETTERPRESS COMPOSING
upper case with four sets of divisions. One use is for founts withfour face sizes eg Mono Spartan

NOUN, COUNTABLE	quadder	LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER
attachment which can set mats to left right or centre without use of quad mats

NOUN, COUNTABLE	quadding stick	LUDLOW TYPOGRAPH SYSTEM
stick with slide to quickly infill space at RH end of line

EQUIVALENT TERM	quadrat	LETTERPRESS COMPOSING
the original term for quad before the abbreviation became the normal term

VERB	quarter bind	FINISHING & BOOKBINDING
staple front and back covers onto book and cover spine with wide adhesive cloth

NOUN, COUNTABLE	quire	PAPER SPECIFICATIONS
quantity of paper: 1/20 of a ream so normally 25 sheets

NOUN, COUNTABLE	quoin	LETTERPRESS COMPOSING
wedge or wedging device for locking type, spacing, etc into chase for printing

NOUN, COUNTABLE	quoin, mechanical	LETTERPRESS COMPOSING
expanding device of metal with wedges, cams, screws, etc

NOUN, COUNTABLE	quoins, pair of	LETTERPRESS COMPOSING
pair of wooden wedges or cast iron wedges, tightened by knocking together with a shooting stick

Persons wishing to use these are asked to contact the author at Melbourne Museum of Printing.

Comments and suggestions about terms and definitions will be very welcome.

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