Bleed: After paper has been printed, the inks may run over the trim marks of the paper. This is known as ‘bleeding.’
Color Separation: The process of separating colors into their basic elements.
Crop Marks: Lines put onto the pages to show where the document or print will be trimmed.
Dithering: The process of averaging between pixels of different colors. This results in a smoother, blended transition between the edge of two areas rather than a jagged or ‘stair-step’ appearance. Also a method used on ink jet printers where colors are produced by mixing colored dots in a randomized pattern.
Half tones: Halftones are patterns and gradients, usually made up of tiny black dots, which simulate different shades of gray. They’re also known as Screen tone, Gray tone, Acetone, etc. When the human eye looks at it, it mixes together the dots to give off the desired shade of gray.
Jog: To shuffle a stack of finished pages to align them for final trimming or binding.
Kerning: In typography, this is the process of adjusting the visual spacing between characters, usually to achieve a more aesthetically pleasing result.
Leading: Space between lines of type. The distance in points between one baseline and the next.
Overlay: When ink of one color is printed on top of ink of another color.
Register/registration: The arrangement of two or more printed images in exact alignment with each other.
Register marks: Any crossmarks or other symbols used on a press sheet to assure proper registration.
Scoring: To crease paper with a metal rule or scoring tool for the purpose of making folding easier.
Vellum: A finish of paper that is somewhat bulky and is slightly rough.
Widow: A single word or two left at the end of a paragraph, or a part of a sentence ending a paragraph, which loops over to the next page and stands alone. Also, the last sentence of a paragraph, which contains only one or two short words.