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.
  • Bulking value
    The solid volume of a unit weight of material expressed in gallons per pound; of a pigment, it is expressed in gallons per 100 lbs.
  • Buried printing
    (1) Pigment pattern, and or copy applied to the underside (second side) of transparent stock prior to application of adhesive coat; (2) A laminate construction where a clear or transparent sheet is affixed over a printed marking to improve appearance and/or durability, also refer to embedment.
  • Burn
    The exposing of a photosensitized material with any light source high in ultraviolet radiation.
  • Burn off temperature
    The temperature at which organic media is removed from applied colors, or the temperature at which the unwanted portion of a glass article is melted for removal.
  • Burn rate
    Speed that a plastic will burn.
  • Burning-in
    Additional light exposure given to part of the image projected on an enlarger easel to make that area of the print darker, after the basic exposure, while holding back the light from the rest of the image.
  • Burnish gold
    Precious metal containing 18 to 24% gold metal combined with flux based on organic metal compounds.
  • Burnish silver
    Precious metal preparation containing only silver.
  • Burnisher
    A blunt, smooth-surfaced instrument used to apply rub-down and dry-transfer images.
  • Burn-off
    Removal of organic media from applied colors in a kiln.
  • Burr
    Sharp protrusion caused by rough edges.
  • Bursting strength
    The pressure required to rupture paper or fabric in an instrument such as a Mullen tester or Scott ball burst machine under specified conditions, expressed in pounds per square inch.
  • Bursting strength tester (mullen tester)
    Instrument used to measure the point that a paper, foil, film, textile, plastic or other material submits to bursting; also called Mullen tester.
  • Butt
    The joining together of two pieces of film or two different printed colors, without overlapping.
  • Butt cut label
    Labels separated by a single knife-cut to the release liner.
  • Butt register
    Artwork, which registers or butts one color next to another without a gap or trap between them.
  • Button test
    A test designed to determine relative fusibility of frit or powder.
  • Butyl acetate
    Solvent used as a constituent of lacquers because of its low rate of evaporation.
  • Butyl alcohol
    A solvent high in strength for most natural gums, widely used in the formulation of nitrocellulose lacquers and synthetic resin inks and coatings.
  • Butyl cellosolve
    Trade name for ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, a high boiling point, high flash point, slow evaporating glycol ether solvent, sometimes used in lacquer inks or coatings based on vinyl, nitrocellulose and the like.
  • Butyrate
    Common name for a tough cellulose acetate thermoplastic widely used for signs, and displays.
  • By-product
    A chemical substance produced during the manufacture, processing, use, or disposal of another substance or mixture.
  • Byte (B)
    A unit used to measure the capacity of a computer (eight bits equal one byte); the representation of a character.