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.
  • Registration pin
    A spring loaded finger inside a chuck that locates the ramp or lug and stops rotation at the registration point.
  • Regression analysis
    Models the relationship between one or more independent variables and a dependent variable.
  • Regrind
    Excess or waste material in a thermoplastic molding process that can be reground and mixed with virgin raw material.
  • Reheology modifier
    Alters the flow characteristics of an ink.
  • Relative humidity (RH)
    The amount of water vapor present in the atmosphere expressed as a percentage of the maximum that could be present at the same temperature.
  • Relative mesh strength
    A calculation of a specific cross section area of the threads.
  • Relative sensitivity
    The degree that a photographic emulsion is affected by light.
  • Relative viscosity
    The ratio of the absolute viscosity of the solution to the absolute viscosity of the pure solvent.
  • Relaxation
    The release of tension within the stretched screen mesh after a given period of time.
  • Relaxation shrinkage (progressive shrinkage)
    The shrinkage that occurs during the first laundering of a garment, due to the relaxing of tensions applied during fabric manufacture.
  • Release
    (1) The act of freeing or separating a decal from its backing or release liner; (2) The force required to accomplish the separation.
  • Release agent (parting agent)
    A lubricant used to coat a mold cavity to prevent the molded part from sticking to the mold; also referred to as parting agent.
  • Release and adhesion tester
    Instrument used to measure adhesion values of pressure sensitive paper stock by recording the force required to strip away face material or label stock from the release liner at preset speed and angle.
  • Release coat
    The treated coating of the release liner that permits pressure sensitive label to release from the liner.
  • Release coat transfer
    A defect where the release coat adheres to pressure sensitive adhesive, detaching from the release liner during transfer.
  • Relief printing
    A printing process where the print image area is raised above the non-image area such as flexography and letterpress printing.
  • Remake
    (1) To make anew; (2) To repeat for a better end result.
  • Removability
    The force required or the condition under which a pressure sensitive decal can be removed from a substrate.
  • Removable adhesive
    An adhesive characterized by high cohesive strength and low ultimate adhesion strength.
  • Repeatability
    (1) Capacity for near-exact duplication of a former result; (2) continuous duplication of an image within a given tolerance.
  • Repellency
    The ability of a fabric to resist wetting and staining.
  • Replenisher
    A chemical solution that extends the life of a developer and/or fixer solution.
  • Reproduction
    The multiple, identical duplication of an original.
  • Reproduction copy
    Finished, camera ready art; also refer to camera ready art.
  • Reproductive toxins
    Chemical substances that affect reproductive ability including chromosome damage (mutation) and effects on fetuses (teratogenesis).