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.
  • Rough art (sketch)
    A sketch or drawing that shows relationship of design elements, in unfinished form.
  • Roughening
    A treatment for abrading the smooth surface of the strands of monofilament screen printing mesh, for better adhesion of a stencil film.
  • Round corner cutter
    A specialized device used for cutting rounded corners on square-edged substrates.
  • Royal
    A trade name for a paper size of 483 x 610 millimeters (19 x 24 inches).
  • Rpm
    Acceptable abbreviation for revolutions per minute.
  • Rubber
    An elastomer, sometimes used to manufacture squeegee blades.
  • Rubber cement
    A liquid adhesive composed of rubber dispersed in an organic solvent.
  • Rubber solvent
    A petroleum naphtha with an evaporation rate that is slower than textile spirits, but faster than lactol spirits used in rubber cement, rubber type adhesives, lacquers, intaglio and printing ink.
  • Rubbing brush
    A stiff bristled brush used in rubbing down decal and steel plate transfers for glass decorating.
  • Rubine
    An organic reddish pigment.
  • Rubine red
    Organic pigment with fair transparency, good bleed resistance, poor lightfastness, and poor alkali resistance.
  • Rubometer
    An instrument used for measuring the abrasion or scuff resistance of a print.
  • Rubylith
    A thin red or amber light safe masking film coated on a polyester backing; a trademark of the Ulano Corporation.
  • Rule
    (1) A line used to delineate, separate or emphasize copy; (2) a steel blade used in making a die for die cutting.
  • Rule 66
    The original US air quality control regulation enacted by Los Angeles County in California for the purpose of eliminating smog caused by petrochemical degradation of some organic solvents.
  • Runners
    Channels in a mold where the molten or liquid plastic flows into the mold to fill the cavity.
  • Running
    (1) The action of a thin viscosity ink spreading beyond the point where originally applied; (2) a condition of the color forming tear droplets during the firing cycle.
  • Running stitch (walking stitch)
    A stitch primarily used for welding, outlining, and quickly covering space between separate design elements in embroidery; also called walking stitch.
  • Run-off
    Any rainwater, leachate, or other liquid that drains over land from any part of a facility.
  • S/s
    Acceptable abbreviation for same side.
  • Saddle stitch (wire stitch)
    A common method of binding booklets where the folded pages are stitched through the spine from the outside.
  • Safety faucet
    A faucet equipped with build-in flame arrester and self-closing lid used for withdrawing flammable liquid from drums.
  • Sail boat easel
    An easel used in construction of a display involving a sail boat design.
  • Salt glaze
    A glaze produced by the reaction at elevated temperatures between a ceramic body surface and salt fumes produced in the kiln atmosphere.
  • Sample
    A small representative portion of a production run, product, or material.