E13B Numbering:

Refers to magnetically encoded numbers as required by the banks on checks.

Edges:

The three cut sides of a book-block. Coloured edges (or only the top edge) sprayed or brushed with a colour pigment. Gilt edges embossed with gold leaf or gold substitute and burnished. Marbled edges decorated by dipping into colouring matter which is floated on a mucilaginous fluid. Sprinkled the spattering of book edges from a brush charged with liquid ink. This may also be done with an air brush.

Electronic Mask:

A mask, in a graphic sense, occurs when you cover up something you don't want to see or cover something up that you don't want to be affected by another action.

Electronic Pre-Press:

All computer-aided printing technologies: Typographic text entry, page layout, creation of illustrations and image processing (EIP), data compatibility and image interchange formats.

Electrophotography:

A printing or copying method which uses an electrical charge to create an image on a photoconductive surface. Toner is attracted to the charged area and then transferred and fused to paper.

Elmendorf Test:

Measurement of tearing resistance by means of a device that tears standard samples and records the required energy. Papers must be tested both along and across the grain and specimens should be conditioned at a certain temperature and humidity prior to testing.

Em Space:

A fixed amount of space equal to the point size of the typeface being used. In 12-point type, an em space is 12 points wide.

Email:

Short for electronic mail -mail sent or received directly on a computer. To send or receive email, you need a computer, a modem and an internet connection.

Embed:

Used to describe the process of including fonts, graphics, etc, in a PostScript print file.

Emboss:

Pressing an image into paper so that it will create a raised relief. Also created by stamping a paper sheet with a metal die.

Embossing:

A decorative finish or design achieved by damping the paper and passing it through engraved rollers. Material on which a pattern has been impressed by means of an engraved roller plate.

Embossed Paper:

Finish imparted to a web of paper in an embossing machine. Process is separate from the main papermaking process and involves running a web of paper between a steel embossing roll and a cardboard backing roll.

Emulsion:

Light-sensitive coating consisting of a dispersion of silver salt crystals (e.g. silver bromide) in a gelatine layer. The exposed crystals, which are the active ingredients in the photographic process, are blackened during developing, and reproduce the continuous tones of the object. High-contrast emulsions are used for the light-sensitive coatings of offset printing films and plates, restricting the reproduction to only two values, black and white.

Emulsion Sealing:

This is an overall process usually carried out on the last unit of the litho process. Emulsion sealers are used to enable the printed work to progress to other departments more quickly, thus minimising the problem of spray or ink rub. Always check that the sealer used is compatible with subsequent processes.

En Space:

Also called a nut space, a fixed amount of space equal to half an em space.

Encode:

This is where a file is changed from binary data to ASCII text. There are several encoding methods and most are used to allow files to be transferred across the Internet,

Encryption:

Scrambling the data in a file to prevent unauthorised access. Accessing the information requires a password.

End Papers:

A piece of plain, fancy or printed paper folded into four pages to the page size, sewn or passed to the first and last section to secure the book to the case or binding. Always use long grain paper.

EPC -Electronic Page Composition: 

A computer controlled method of converting original discs (see photography and illustrations) directly to film. Transparencies are fed from an electronic colour scanner into the system, which comprises very large computers. The text can be scanned in and the two are pulled together and assembled on screen where the job is adjusted for colour and positioned as necessary. Films/digital proofs/plates are then plotted out and processed.

EPS -Encapsulated PostScript:

It is the standard format for storing high-resolution PostScript illustrations. Unlike pure PostScript files, EPS files usually have two parts. The PostScript language description of the graphic, readable by the RIP processor on PostScript output devices, and a bitmapped PICT image used for on-screen display. A drawing saved in EPS format can be imported into other documents and scaled and cropped.

Ethernet:

A fast network system for local area networks. Developed by Xerox, and subsequently used by other companies, it carries data at approximately 10 megabytes per second. That is 40 times faster than local talk.

Eurobind:

A patented method of binding perfect bound books so they will open and lay flatter.

(Ex-) Merchant Stock:

Paper brought in a standard size and weight from a UK paper merchant

Export:

Information is typically exported from one application to use in another. Usually, information is exported by saving it in a file format that can be read by the other application you import the previously exported file into.

Extra Bright Foil:

Foil having a uniform extra bright specular finish.

Extra Hard:

Maximum hardness and tensile properties.