Saddle Stitching:

A method of binding where the folded pages are stitched through the spine from the outside, using wire staples. Usually limited to 64-page size.

Sans-Serif:

A typeface without serifs. Sans-serif typefaces include Helvetica, Futura, Gill etc.

Saturation:

The extent to which one or two of the three RGB primary colours predominate a colour. As quantities of RGB equalise, colour becomes desaturated towards grey or white.

Scale:

To identify the percentage by which images should be enlarged or reduced.

Scamp:

A very basic pencil outline showing the layout of the project.

Scan:

When you have an image outside the computer, like a photograph or a drawing on paper, and you want to use it inside your computer; you need to scan the image using a scanner.

Scanner:

A device employed in the reproduction process which is used to electronically create colour separation for four­colour printing from a colour original. A scanner can digitize all kinds of originals: Line drawings, halftones or duples halftones based on black and white or colour originals. Flatbed scanners are used in electronic image processing (EIP) drum scanners in traditional reproduction technology.

Scanning:

Line by line analysis of an image using impulses of a beam of light to record the data.

Scanned Images:

Printed images that have been digitised. Once digitised, they can be used in most computer applications.

Score:

To partially cut with a rule into heavy paper or board to break the grain and so enable it to fold more readily.

Screen Angles:

Frequently a desktop publishers nightmare. The angles at which halftone, duo tones, tri tones, and colour separation printing films are placed to make them look right and avoid undesirable moire patterns.

Screen Font:

Another name for bitmapped fonts. Screen fonts are required for the on-screen display of PostScript fonts. With TrueType fonts, they're often supplied to speed up the screen display of common type sizes. They allow the computer to represent the look of a font on a computer screen. You cannot print a screen font without a printer font.

Screen Frequency:

The number of rows or lines of dots in a halftone image within a given distance, normally stated in Lines per Inch or Lines per Centimetre.

Screen Printing (Silk Screen):

A process where the paper passes under a screen (formerly made of silk but now of nylon, metal, etc.) in which the unprinted areas have been blanked off. The ink is forced through the screen on to the paper. Remarkably fine detail can be reproduced by this simple method. Screen printing is used for short run and specialist jobs which require large areas of quality ink coverage.

Screen Ruling:

A measure of the fineness of a halftone screen, expressed in the number of lines of halftone dots per inch or centimeter, commonly shortened to lines per inch or centimeter. This must not be confused with the resolution of a video screen or printer, which is specified in pixels or dots per inch.

Screen Tint:

An area consisting of halftone dots. The screen tint may be single-coloured, multicoloured or graduated. It may be printed in one ink layer (spot colour) or with several superimposed layers (cyan, magenta, yellow). See Synthetic Colour; Multi-Colour Printing and Benday.

SCSI:

Stands for Small Computer System Interface. An industry standard interface enabling connections between computers and peripherals.

Seal Strength:

Measurement of force required to break or destroy a heat seal formed by any of the heat sealing sheets.

Security Paper:

Paper-incorporating special features (dyes, watermarks etc) for use on cheques.

See Through/Look Through:

See opacity.

Self Colour:

See Special Colour.

Self Cover:

Publication made entirely from the same paper so that cover is printed simultaneously with inside pages.

Separation:

Films representing the levels of cyan, magenta, yellow and black colours contained in original colour artwork.

SerialPort:

A computer Interface that enables a computer to send or receive single bits of information, one after another.

Serif:

A line crossing the main strokes of a character. Serifs lead the eye across a line of type. Serif typefaces include Bodoni, Garamond, Times, etc.

Server:

A computer on a network that makes file, print or communications services to other network stations.

Set Off:

Also called off set. Transferring or smearing of ink from freshly printed press sheets to another surface. Printers often add a varnish or aqueous coating in line to avoid set off of printed sheets in bindery operations.

Sew:

To fasten the sections of a book together by passing thread through the centerfold of each section in such a way as to secure the pages within that section, and to join it to the next section.

Shadow:

The darkest areas in a photograph or halftone.

Sheet Fed:

See Feeding

Sheet Fed Press:

Press that uses pre-cut sheets of paper, rather than rolls.

Sheeting:

The cutting of a large master roll into sheets.

Shortrun:

A production run of fewer copies than the amount specified.

Showthrough:

Printing on one side of the paper that can be seen when looking at the other side.

Side Guide:

The mechanical register unit on a printing press that positions a sheet from the side.

Side Stitch:

To bind by stapling through sheets along one edge.

Signature:

A sheet of printed pages which when folded become a part of a book or publication.

Signature Mark:

A consecutive number or letter which is printed at the foot of the first page of a section to enable a binder to check the position and completeness of the sections.

Silhouette Halftone:

A term used for an outline halftone.

Silk:

A slight sheen finish

Singer Sewing:

Thread sewn down the centerfold of a signature in single section books. It can also be used for the passing of a line of thread through the side of a section or sections.

Single Colour:

Print in a single colour, usually black

Single Part:

Form made up of a single sheet of paper. Paper weight will be dictated by application of form and or type of printer being used.

SIT:

When you see this at the end of a file name, it means the file has been compressed so it doesn't take up as much space on the disk. Most SIT files must be uncompressed before the information can be accessed. The StuffIt utility in which the information was compressed is usually needed to uncompress the file.

Six Colour:

As five colour but with two special colours

Size:

The material used to bind the fibres used in paper making with the loading to provide greater resistance to ink and strength in the sheet

Skid:

A pallet used for a pile of cut sheets.

Skip Perf:

A perforation that runs only part of the way across a form.

Slip:

See C.O.F

Slitting:

Cutting printed sheets or webs into two or more sections by means of cutting wheels on a press or folder.

Smoothness:

The surface quality of a sheet of paper, related to the flatness of the sheet. Smoothness affects ink and toner receptivity. Smoothness is measured by the Sheffield scale. A higher value typically indicates a rougher sheet. For example, coated paper may have a smoothness of 10-30, whereas vellum offset may have a rating from 200­250

Snap-out Forms:

A business form with a controlled glue-line stub.

Soft Temper Foil:

Foil completely softened by thermal annealing treatment.

Solid:

Any area of the sheet that has received a 100% ink
coverage.

Solid Ink:

Solid ink blocks melted prior to printing eg. Tektronix
Phaser.

Special Colour:

An additional colour, not four colour process can be the 5th or 6th colour etc in four colour process.

Specifications:

The complete and precise descriptions of paper, binding, quantity and other features of a printing job.

Spine:

The binding edge of a signature or publication.

Spiral Binding:

To bind using a wire or plastic spiral looped through holes in a stack of paper.

Split Fountain:

1. A technique of printing more than one ink at a time from a single printing unit.

2. Putting more than one ink achieve special colour affects.

Spoilage:

1. Planned paper waste for all printing operations.

2. Paper wasted during make-ready, printing operations.

Spooling:

The process of off-loading files from the workstation to the RIP/server. The benefit is that the workstation is quickly released so that the operator can return to other tasks.

Spot Colour:

1. Colours specified in PMS inks other than the four standard process colours.

2. Term for the use of a small amount of second colour in a job single colour usually used or 5th, 6th, etc in 4 colours.

Spot Gluing:

Glue that is applied in 'spots' down or across the form.

Spot Varnishing:

The application of varnish gloss or mat a small part or parts of a page.

Sprocket Hole (Line Hole):

Holes through which the teeth of printer tractor wheel locate to push or pull form along.

Sprocket Perforation (Linear Perforation):

Vertical perforation, usually set 12.5 mm in from outer edge, that allows sprocket margin to be torn off. Can be standard or micro perforated according to paper weight or number of parts.

Square Back:

A binding which has been collated, trimmed and sewn, but not rounded and backed. Also called 'Flat Back'.

Squared Up:

Photographs or illustrations which are to be reproduced 'square' (or oblong) rather than cut out

S/S (Same Size):

An instruction to reproduce to the same size as the original.

Stabbing:

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

Stamping:

Term for foil stamping.

Standard Perforations:

Usually 4-6 teeth to the inch for cross perfs and x-x for down perfs.

Stat:

Term for inexpensive print of line copy or halftone.

Step-and-Repeat:

A procedure for placing the same image on plates in multiple places.

Step Index:

A style of index in which the divisions are cut into the edge of the book in steps. Also known as 'cut in' index.

Stet:

A proof reader's mark meaning let the corrected copy stand as it was originally.

Stochastic Screening:

A process that produces halftones on the final film or plate with the dots randomly placed rather than regularly arranged.

Stock:

The material to be printed.

Stop Perf:

A perforation that runs only part of the way down a form.

Stretch:

A paper's tendency to stretch when fibres absorb moisture is a problem. The printer usually prefers the grain to run parallel to the longer edge of the sheet so that any stretching which occurs during printing is even.

Stripping:

The assemblage of film for platemaking. Stripping involves correcting flaws in film, assembling pieces of film into forms, and ensuring that the film and forms register correctly.

Substance Weight:

A term of basis weight when referring to bond papers.

Substrate:

Any surface on which printing is done.

Subtractive Primary Colours:

Cyan, magenta and yellow are the subtractive colours primaries created by the removal or absorption of red, green and blue from white light.

Super Calendered (SC):

Paper which has been passed between rolls at heavy pressure to achieve a smooth finish without the addition of coating.

Supplier:

A good supplier will provide their customer with superior customer service and excellent quality, when the customer requires product.

Surface pH:

Surface pH is the degree of an acidity/alkalinity of the material's surface. The pH scale ranges from 1 -14, 1-6.9 being acid, 7.1 -14 being alkali, and 7 being neutral.

Surface Sizing:

Paper that has a starch or chemical additive to make the paper resistant to water and improve ink hold out.

Swatch:

A colour sample.