Laid:

A linear pattern, which is applied by a dandy roll while the paper is still very wet, to mimic the effect of some hand­made papers. The laid dandy roll is comprised of wires that run parallel to the roll's axis (laid lines), and chain lines, which connect the laid lines and run in the grain direction. Usually used for high quality stationery.

Laminate:

A thin transparent plastic coating applied to paper or board to provide protection and give it a glossy or matte finish. It is also used to increase protection against wear and tear.

LAN:

Local Area Network.

Landscape:

Work in which the width used is greater than the height. Also used to indicate the orientation of tables or illustrations which are printed 'sideways'.

Laser: Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.

Directed beam of coherent, polarized light usable for extremely intense imaging at high speeds. Laser beams are used in imagesetting and digital scanning.

Laser Paper:

Very smooth, low-moisture papers manufactured in cut sizes for laser printers and office duplicating equipment. Low moisture prevents paper curling from high heat in laser printers. Note: If your job is designed to run through a laser printer, you should specify laser-compatible offset inks.

Laser Printer:

A desktop printer, which uses a laser, beam to create an image on a photoconductive drum. Dry toner is attracted to the charged area and is fused to paper with heat and/or pressure.

Laser Proofs:

The typeset copy for the customer to read and correct before being incorporated into the artwork. See also author's corrections.

Laser Sheets:

Forms to be printed with data from laser printers. The type of laser printer, hot or cold fuse, may influence the paper and inks used.

Layflat:

See Eurobind.

Layout:

A rendering of a proposed printed piece, indicating positions for headings, copy, art and borders. May also indicate colour treatments.

Leading:

Pronounced Ledding. The spacing out of typesetting by increasing the space between lines

Leaf:

A sheet of a book containing two pages, being one on each side.

Leave Edge:

The opposite end of a sheet of paper to the 'gripper' edge, sometimes called trailing edge.

LED -Light Emitting Diode:

An alternative page printer technology, which draws the image on a light sensitive drum using LEDs rather than a laser beam.

Letterpress:

The oldest printing process, in which the print surface is higher than the non-printing surface and the paper touches only the area to be printed. It is a relief printing process in which a raised image is inked to produce an impression; the impression is then transferred placing paper against image and applying pressure. The universal method in the past, letterpress printing is now limited to certain specialist applications.

Letter Spacing:

The addition of space between the letters of words to increase the line-length to a required width or to improve the appearance of a line.

Light-Sensitive Coating:

The coating of an offset film which comprises the black image and is located on the underside of the right-reading carrier. The metal plate used for offset printing is covered with a light-sensitive coating which allows the image to be transferred from the film. See Emulsion.

Line Art:

Line drawing/work. An original consisting of only one tonal value, usually 100% black; it may be text, a technical drawing, a floor plan, a schematic drawing, or an illustration. Opposite: Continuous-tone originals

Line Copy:

High contrast copy not requiring a halftone.

Line Gluing:

A line of glue that follows the length of the form.

Line Print:

Solid black line artwork which does not require half-tone reproduction.

Line-Screen Frequency:

When you print a photographic-type greyscale or coloured image, you can choose (if you use the right software) the lines per inch setting. This measure refers specifically to halftones or tint screens

Linen Finish:

One of the many textured effects that is produced by embossing a web of paper with a patterned steel roll. Embossing takes place off the machine as a separate operation.

Lines Per Inch (LPI):

Measure of screen ruling expressing how many lines of halftone dots are contained in one inch. The higher the lines per inch (line screen) of a publication, the greater the sharpness of the images. Compare the photographs in a newspaper (generally around 85 lines per inch) with the photographs of a magazine (about 150 lines per inch). It is possible to run out an image with a high resolution (dpi) and a low line screen (lpi).

Lining:

A strip of 'multi' glued down the back of the book after rounding and backing, and projecting round the sides to provide a hinge.

Lithography (Lithographic Printing):

A printing process based on the principle of the natural aversion of water to grease. The photographically prepared printing plate when being made is treated chemically so that the image will accept ink and reject water.

Loading:

The fillers used in the furnish of papers to increase opacity and smoothness.

Log On:

Establish a connection to a server or online service, usually by entering a user name (or identification number) and a password. Disconnecting is called logging off.

Look Through:

See opacity.

Loop Stitching:

Uses a staple with a loop to allow filing in a ring binder.

Loupe:

A magnifying glass used to review a printed image, plate

and position film.

LPI:

See Lines per Inch

LQ:

Letter Quality.