Face:

An abbreviation for typeface referring to a family in a given style.

Facsimile Transmission:

The process of converting graphic images into electronic signals.

Fanfold:

1. The method of folding forms produced from reels of paper. Forms are usually folded at the depth of the print cylinder they are produced at.

2. Continuous stationery, typically used for computer printouts and invoices. Generally it has holes running down both sides allow the use of pin or tractor feeds.

Fax Modem:

A type of modem that can send (and, in most cases, receive) faxes in addition to transferring data files. Unlike regular fax machines, fax modems can't send printed documents -only electronic files.

Feeding:

Presses can be either sheet red i.e. where the paper is fed into the machine in separate sheets, or web fed, where the paper is fed from a reel. The appropriate application depends on quantity requirements since web is always faster, but may not be economic for smaller quantities.

Felt:

Woven textile, originally wool but now usually synthetic, used to carry the web while moisture is pressed from it. While on the paper machine, the felt acts as a support for the paper web. Felts, if they are rough, can impart a felt finish to the paper.

Felt Side:

The topside of the paper web, which comes in contact with the papermaking felt.

Fibre Source:

Types and locations of fibrous raw materials.

File:

A collection of information on a disk, usually a document or a program, that is stored together and called by one name. Mac files usually consist of a resource fork and a data fork.

File Conversion:

When a document arrives that was created in another application that can't be read by your application, you may need to perform a file conversion. See Conversion.

File Format:

The structure in which the data for a particular document is stored (e.g. ASCII, RTF, PICT, TIFF, etc.). Most applications can save documents in one or more standard formats as well as in their native format.

File Server:

On a network, the file server is the computer responsible for storing and retrieving the files used by all the computers connected to the network.

File Templates:

A file that has been laid out to as a guide and includes specifics relative to a certain job or output device.

File Type:

The four-letter code that identifies the nature of a file to the Macintosh Finder. All applications have their file APPL; text files have the code TEXT; and many graphics are PICT.

Filler/Loading:

Additive in the base sheet, generally calcium carbonate, china clay and titanium.

Film:

Loose term used to describe the film of the original which is made during the reproduction process. Where a job is to be printed by the four colour process these are separated into 4 sheets Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and black. The image on all film is black on a clear background in the case of positives, and vice versa in the case of negatives. Films used for full colour work are usually positive while spot colour work is usually negative.

Film Copy:

The image reproduced on film which is to be transferred to a printing plate for offset printing. Five colour print featuring a special colour over and above the four colour process

Film Laminating:

Different types of laminates are available in both Matt and Gloss. Ensure that printing inks are suited to this process, e.g. low wax and stable pigments.

Film Rip:

See Rip Film.

Filter:

A piece of software that an application uses for file-format conversion or special effects. PageMaker, for example, has a filter that lets it import Microsoft Word files, while Photoshop has dozens of filters for effects such as image blurring. Filters can be part of the main applications or external programs called 'plug-ins'.

Final Scans:

The scanned images that will be used in the final job.

Finish:

The final processes applied to a paper, determining its textural quality and printability.

Flat:

An assembly of negatives taped to masking materials for plate-making.

Flat Copy:

Positive originals such as colour prints or photographs, oil paintings, water colours, pastel and crayon drawings. Large and inflexible illustrations may have to be photographed before reproduction and specialist advice should be sought.

Flat Wire Stitching:

To stitch with wire through the side of gathered work at the binding edge.

Flecked, Flocked and Fibered:

Terms commonly used to describe decorative fibre additives to text and cover papers. Coloured cotton and/or rayon fibres are added to the paper stock to create the look of hand-made paper. Other additives include jute fibres, and coloured bits of paper stock. For a listing of Spicers fibre-added papers consult the stock comparator.

Flexibility:

The property of a material, which will permit its being bent or twisted without breaking, the state of being non-rigid.

Flexography (Flexo):

A process where the printing surface is a raised rubber or plastic plate. It is an economical process used primarily in the packaging industry, often for long runs. An economical printing method, mostly done on web-fed equipment, in which a rubber roll, partially immersed in an ink fountain, transfers ink to a fine-screened steel roller carrying the design to be printed, which in turn deposits a thin layer of ink on the printing plate. The print pattern is raised and the non-print area is lower. The ink is applied to the raised area of the rubber plate, and then transfered to the material to be printed in the desired pattern. Flexographic printing produces remarkably sharp reproductions of multicolour work, including lettering in small type sizes.

Flood:

To cover a printed page with ink, varnish, or plastic coating.

Flop:

To reproduce a photograph or illustration so that its image faces opposite from the original. The reverse side of an image.

Floppy Disk:

A removable storage device for moving small amounts of data. A removable disk usually 3.5 inches in diameter, encased in a hard plastic case. This disk stores around 1.4 MB of information.

Foil:

A metallic or pigmented coating on plastic sheets or rolls used in foil stamping and foil embossing.

Foil Blocking:

Metallic finish or other embossed finishes applied by specialist equipment.

Foil Emboss:

Foil stamping & embossing an image on paper with a die.

Foil Stamping:

A letterpress printing method using thin metallic or pigmented film and a die.

Fold Depth:

The depth at which forms are folded.

Fold Out:

A folded insertion in the text when opened extends beyond the normal page sizes. Also called a throw out.

Folio:

The page number on a text page.

Fonts:

A set of alphabetical characters or symbols, each with its own design produced by a specific company. Usually fonts are created in families that include fonts with different attributes, such as bold or italic these fonts are called stylised fonts. Today, font and typeface are often used interchangeably.

Font Family:

A group of typefaces that are designed to work together. A typical family has four members: regular, bold, italic and bold italic.

Foredge:

The outer edge of a book opposite the spine.

Form:

One side of a press sheet.

Format:

The size of the article to be produced and its layout. It is more economic to specify standard sizes for all designs, e.g.A3, A4, A5, (see A size in paper) or variations of theses, e.g. A4 folded to one third (into three). There is
also a decision to be made about the method of folding. e.g. concertina, gate fold (with two creases, both outside pages folded inwards), or with extra fold out page. Number of pages will affect print and finishing costs and methods of binding (see finishing) may have to be considered.

Formation:

What the paper looks like when held up to the light. Paper is made from fibres; when they are uniformly distributed solid ink coverage will go down smoothly. Poor formation may lead to print mottle.

Four-colour Process Printing:

Technique of printing that uses process colours - cyan, magenta, yellow and black - to simulate full colour images. The colours of the original are first separated by a photographic or electronic process (see reproduction, plate making and proofing). Use a magnifying glass or a photographic loupe to examine the lighter areas of the cover and you will see the individual halftone dots that make up a four-colour image.

Frame:

A border placed around an object or a page, usually created by a drawing or illustration package.

French Fold:

A sheet which has been printed on one side only and then folded with two right angle folds to form a four page uncut section.

French Sewing:

A number of gathered and collated sections sewn together, usually without tapes, on one continuous thread to form a sewn book.

Friction Feed:

Platen which guides single sheets of paper through a printer.

Frontispiece:

An illustration on the page facing the title page of the book.

Full Hard Foil:

Foil fully work-hardened by rolling.

F.W.A. -Fluorescent Whitening Agent:

Genuine Felt Finish -A finish applied to paper by means of marking felts while the paper web is still very wet. These felts impart their distinctive textures by gently rearranging the paper fibres. This creates a soft, resilient, textured surface suitable for printing and relief operations.