Glossary

The PRINTING United Alliance Glossary serves as an excellent industry terminology resource. It is the language by which we all communicate. Without it, universal understanding would be impossible.

To keep our constituents well informed about changes to the increasingly complex industry terminology, PRINTING United Alliance has developed this glossary of terms. Definitions are for general reference only. Usage may vary between companies, individuals, or national and country customs. The information presented is as accurate as the authors and editors can ascertain and PRINTING United Alliance assumes no responsibility for the use of information presented herein.
  • Pattern coated
    Refers to width and spacing arrangement of strips or designs of adhesive printed lengthwise, crosswise, or in predetermined designs on decal pressure sensitive stock during its manufacture.
  • Pattern plating
    The electroplating of specified areas, as in a printed circuit, by screen printing a plating resist over those areas not to be plated.
  • PCE
    Acceptable acronym for pyrometric cone equivalent.
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  • Peacock blue
    A fugitive, clean, green-shade blue pigment widely used in screen printing inks.
  • Peak firing temperature
    The maximum temperature at which firing of cermet or glass inks can be accomplished without deterioration or destruction of the imprint.
  • Pearlescence
    A "pearl-like" appearance produced by adding powdered titanium dioxide and mica as colorants to screen printing ink.
  • Pebble stitch
    A garment with an irregular or rough surface texture.
  • Pebbling
    A finishing process that gives paper a grainy, ripple surface.
  • Peel adhesion
    A measure of the force required to remove a material from a test panel at a specified angle and speed after the material was applied to the panel under specific conditions.
  • Peeling
    A defect caused by detachment of a printed film from the substrate, or detachment of all or portions of a stencil film from the mesh of a printing screen.
  • Pellon
    Trademarked product, refer to proofing squares.
  • Pendulum motor
    A display motor that has an oscillating or swinging motion.
  • Penetrate
    A wetting agent that increases ink penetration into a substrate.
  • Penetration
    The surface absorption of an applied ink or coating by a substrate with a porous surface.
  • Pennant
    A piece of plastic or cloth that is pointed at the bottom and is usually hung from its top.
  • Per mill
    Per thousand.
  • Percent dot area
    The black area on film exposed and processed, expressed on a scale of 0-100. (A 90 percent dot area in a halftone positive would be equivalent to a 10 percent dot area in the corresponding negative.)
  • Percent grayness
    Densitometric relative measure of achromatic density in a color as compared to the major filter density.
  • Percent open area
    The relationship between that part of a screen mesh that is blocked by threads, and that part that is open, or between threads; refer to aperture percentage.
  • Percutaneous
    The ability of a chemical to be absorbed through the skin.
  • Perfect cut
    An overlay that is prepared by cutting the film portion exactly against the edge of the trapping color.
  • Perfecting press
    An offset press that prints both sides of a sheet of paper simultaneously.
  • Perfector
    A printing press that prints both sides of the sheet with one pass through the machine.
  • Perforated nickel screen
    An electroformed rotary screen with good stability and flexibility characteristics.