In Print Shop Manager certain printing terms are used.  These terms pertain to the paper used for printing, the presses, bindery, prepress and all other components needed to price a job.  These terms are used in the explanations of how to use Print Shop Manager.  In order to insure that you understand how the terms are used and what they mean, you can refer to this list of terms and definitions.

The following Web Sites were used for definitions.  Almost all of the terms had consistent definitions within these sites.  The exceptions are noted in the list below with an asterisk '*'.

 

http://www.printindustry.com/printing-terms.html
http://www.printusa.com/printing_glossary.htm
http://doa.louisiana.gov/osp/agencycenter/docs/glossary_of_printing_terms.pdf
http://www.cpsolutions.biz/page.php?page=1006
http://www.briggsgraphics.com/Media/Terms.pdf

 

If a term was not defined in one the Web Sites above, the label (PSM) is placed beside the term.

 

Back up
Printing the second side of a sheet already printed on one side.

Bindery
The finishing department of a print shop or firm specializing in finishing printed products.

Copies (PSM)
The number of times an "Original" (Leaf) is to be printed or copied.  In the Booklets Template it means the number of books.  See Originals for one and two sided Originals.

Finished Size
The size of the final product.  Trim Size.  Page size, of multiple pages on a Run Size.  The size of the Original.

Flat
In lithography, the assembly of photographic negatives or positives on vinyl acetate for exposure in vacuum frame in contact with sensitized metal press plate. OR  An assembly of negatives taped to masking materials for plate making.
In PSM this term is used to refer to the image on the plate or the image being printed which contains one or more Finished Size pages on it.  It is a Run Size and contains one or more of the Finished Size pages.  It also defines the Master Sheet if several pages or images of a copy job are combined onto one sheet so they can later be cut down to finished size.  On the digital printer it also refers to the Master Image that will be printed onto the Run Size sheet and later cut down to Finished Size pages.

Form
Each side of a signature. Also spelled forme.

Impression
Putting an image on paper.

Leaf  
One sheet of paper in a publication. Each side of a leaf is one page.

Make Ready
The process of preparing a printing press before a new run, to establish register, ink density, consistent impression, and so on.

Master Sheet or Master Image (PSM)
See Flat

Nested
Signatures assembled inside one another in the proper sequence for binding, as compared to gathered. Also called inset.

Gathered
Signatures assembled next to each other in the proper sequence for binding, as compared to nested. Also called stacked.

Inner Form
Form (side of a press sheet) whose images all appear inside the folded signature, as compared to outer form.

Outer Form
Form (side of a press sheet) containing images for the first and last pages of the folded signature (its outside pages) as compared to inner form.

Overrun or overs (PSM)*
Copies printed in excess of the specified quantity. (Printing trade terms allow for + - 10 % to represent a completed order.)

Originals (PSM)
This is a term the customer might use as he hands you a copy, or describes a concept of what he wants the job to look like when he gets it back.  The original is like a "Leaf", it can have one or two sides.  If the "Original" has two sides to be printed, the Copy will have two sides.  The distinction between an Original with two sides and one with one side is whether or not Back Ink is used.  In the Copier template two sides is specified with a check box.  In the Digital Template two sides is specified by specifying Color or B/W on the back side.

 

Page
One side of a leaf in a publication.

Page Count
Total number of pages that a publication has including blanks and printed pages without numbers. Also called extent.

Prepress
Camera work, color separations, stripping, plate making and other prepress functions performed by the printer, separator or a service bureau prior to printing. Also called preparation or Pre-Press.

Post-Press
Any process or function that follows printing.  Includes binding pages, such as coil binding, cutting, trimming or any bulk mailing operations.

Printing Estimates
A printing estimate is based on planned, but not firm, specifications that shall subject to change and re-quote prior to submission to the printer.

Printing Quotes
A firm printing price based on final art or digital files, price good for 10 days, and shall be subject to review thereafter.

Quarto
Sheet folded twice, making pages one-fourth the size of the original sheet. A quarto makes an 8-page signature.

Ream
500 sheets of paper.

Run Size (PSM)
The size of the sheet that will have one or more pages printed onto it.  In Step and Repeat this is the target sheet for the multiple pages or images to be reproduced.

Signature (Most definition lists)
Printed sheet (or its flat) that consists of a number of pages of a book, placed so that they will fold and bind together as a section of a book. The printed sheet after folding.

Signature (PSM)
The term "Signature" can be used to refer to the Run Size sheet when several pages are placed on it.

Specifications
Complete and precise descriptions of paper, ink, binding, quantity and other features of a printing job.

Spoilage *
Paper that, due to mistakes or accidents, must be thrown away instead of delivered printed to the customer, as compared to waste.

Spoilage (another source)*
Planned paper waste for all printing operations.

Step and Repeat
Prepress technique of exposing an image in a precise, multiple pattern to create a flat or plate. Images are said to be stepped across the film or plate.

Stock
The material to be printed.

Stock Size (PSM)
The size of the stock as purchase or removed from stock, to be cut down to the Run Size.  If the Run Size is the same as the Stock Size, it is not cut down.

Tag
Grade of dense, strong paper used for products such as badges and file folders.

Up
Term to indicate multiple copies of one image printed in one impression on a single sheet. "Two up" or "three up" means printing the identical piece twice or three times on each sheet.

Washup
Removing printing ink from a press, washing the rollers and blanket. Certain ink colors require multiple wash-ups to avoid ink and chemical contamination.

Waste*
A term for planned spoilage.

Waste (another source)*
Unusable paper or paper damage during normal make-ready, printing or binding operations, as compared to spoilage.

Work and tumble
Printing one side of a sheet and turning it over from the gripper to the tail to print the second side using the same side guide and plate for the second side.

Work and turn
Printing one side of a sheet and turning it over from left to right using the same side guides and plate for the second side.

 

* Because of the inconsistent definitions for Waste and Spoilage in the industry and which term means planned and which term mean accidental, we will use the term Overrun, which does mean planned, to cover all extra printing whether planned or accidental.