Ragged Left:

Type that is justified to the right margin and the line lengths vary on the left.

Ragged Right:

Type that is justified to the left margin and the line lengths vary on the right.

RAM -Random Access Memory:

A storage area in a computer used to store data while it is being processed.

Rasterising:

The process of converting the outlines of an object-orientated graphic or font into the bit map (a pattern of dots or pixels) required for display on a monitor or output on a printer. In printers, this step is usually handled by a RIP.

Ream:

1. 500 sheets of paper.

2. 432,000 square inches. The basic unit of measure on which product specifications is built and on which the manufacturing operates. The 432,000 square inch ream is basic in figuring percentage of multiple components of a structure. To determine the percentage of a component, one needs the yield (square inches per pound) of the components, then divide the 432,000 by the yield of each component to get the pounds for each component. Total all the pounds of all components for a total weight per ream. Divide the total pounds for one ream of your structure by the pounds of each component to get the pounds for each component.

Ream Wrapped:

An individually wrapped ream of paper.

Recto:

Right-hand page of an open book.

Recycled Paper:

Paper which meets minimum reclaimed content standards established by federal, state and municipal governments, and the paper industry. Fibre content usually consists of post-consumer and pre-consumer reclaimed fibre plus virgin pulp. The Federal Executive Order calls for a 20% postconsumer fibre minimum for uncoated papers, and a 10% postconsumer fibre minimum for coated papers.

Reel Stock:

Paper held on the reel at the mill or merchant

Reflective Copy:

Copy that is not transparent. For example, photographs.

Register:

To place printing properly with regard to the edges of paper and other printing on the same sheet. Items out of register seem to be out of place, skewed or blurry.

Register Marks:

Cross-hair lines or marks on film, plates, and paper that guide strippers, platemakers, pressmen, and bindery personnel in processing a print order from start to finish.

Registration:

The alignment of adjacent colour areas in a printed reproduction. Registration must be perfect from the creation and imposition of the films all the way to printing if the final printed piece is to be successful.

Removable Hard Drive:

A method of moving data from one computer to another. There are several types including removable cartridges, hard drives, and MO drives, etc. where the actual drive or cartridge can be removed from one computer and taken to another.

Reproduction:

The process by which artwork (see design and artwork) and/or originals (see photography and illustrations) are prepared for transferring onto a printing surface

Resolution:

1. The ability of a reproduction to show the details of the original as well as possible. Resolution is tied to the distance from which it is to be viewed. Posters, which are to be read at several meters distance, do not require a resolution (in this case screen ruling) as high as halftone photographs in a magazine.

2. Numerical meaning: Resolution is measured in the number of picture elements per measured unit. In the case of a video screen, the resolution is either measured in pixels per inch, or, by stating the total area of the screen and the number of pixels in the horizontal and vertical directions. The resolution of an output device (printer, imagesetter, phototypesetter) is measured in dots per inch. Halftone frequency (screen ruling) is defined in terms of lines of halftone dots per inch (lines per inch.)

Retouching:

The process by which faults in transparencies and films are corrected

Reverse Printing:

1. Printing an image on the back of a transparent material so that when viewed from the front the image is correct.

2. Laying down a printed background on an opaque surface, leaving certain design areas open.

Reverse out, knock out:

Type or other image defined by printing the background rather than the image itself, allowing the underlying colour of paper or previously printed ink to show in the shape of the image.

RGB:

Red, green and blue, the colour model that computers and the peripherals use. These include, monitors and scanners, etc. Colour is created using additive primary colours red, green and blue.

Right reading / wrong reading:

When type can be read, the page is said to be right reading. When the type reads backwards, the page is said to be wrong reading. This specification is used in conjunction with the original of the film emulsion to provide the appropriate materials for different plate-making requirements; e.g. right reading emulsion down is the same as wrong reading emulsion up.

Rigidity:

Rigidity is the force required to bend a strip of paper or board through a known angle.

Raster Image Processor (RIP):

The hardware engine which calculates the bit-mapped image of text and graphics from a series of instructions. It may, or may not, understand a page description language but the end result should, if the device has been properly designed, be the same. Typical RIPs which aren't PDL-based include the Tall trees JLaser, the LaserMaster and AST's TurboLaser controller. A basic page printer comes with a controller and not a RIP which goes some way to explaining the lack of control.

Rip Film:

A method of making printing negatives from PostScript files created by desktop publishing.

Roll Fold:

A method of folding a sheet of paper all the same way, but not concertina.

Rotogravure:

A gravure press which receives paper from a reel as opposed to sheets. See also gravure.

Rough:

A basic illustration showing how a project will look.

Rounding:

The shaping of a book so that a convex form is given to the back and a concave form to the 'foredge'.

Router:

A device that allows a network layer interconnection between multiple Local Area Networks.