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.
  • Sampling
    The process of collecting statistical data or print samples from a production run for analysis.
  • Sampling rate
    The number of points of data, in pixels per inch, that are created by a scanner per linear distance; also refer to optical sampling rate.
  • Sand wash
    A chemical or mechanical process where dye is removed from a garment with the use of acid to create a speckled look.
  • Sandblast
    A process of decorating glass or wood by using an air driven abrasive.
  • Sandwich
    The combining of films in register and securing them together.
  • Sans serif
    Letters that do not have small spurs or extensions at the terminals, such as a Gothic typeface.
  • Saponification number
    The number of milligrams of potassium hydroxide required to saponify one gram of oil.
  • Saponin
    A glucoside capable of reducing surface tension and producing a soapy lather.
  • Satin etch
    (1) A very smooth surface with low or dull reflection properties; (2) A material that is applied to glass surface then fired or cured to simulate acid etching.
  • Satin stitch
    Closely placed stitches, similar to zig-zag except they alternate between straight and angular stitches of varying length and density.
  • Saturated solution
    A liquid containing the maximum amount of a substance that can be dissolved in the liquid at a certain temperature.
  • Saturation
    (1) Equals chroma; a measurement of the degree of pureness or movement away from gray; (2) The greatest degree of vapor that ambient air can hold at a certain temperature; (3) The greatest degree of concentration of a solute in a solution or solvent; (4) Referred to as chroma in Munsell System.
  • Sawtooth (stairsteps)
    A stairstep appearance on the edges of a screen print; the effect of stencil material that conforms to the threads of a screen printing mesh rather than the contours of the design on the film positive from which the stencil is produced. (Both insufficient bridging and filling-in of the meshes produces a notched effect where lines of the design cross the fabric mesh diagonally).
  • SBQ photopolymer
    An emulsion with salt sensitizer (SBQ) that is linked to the polyvinylacetate (PVA) during manufacture.
  • Scale
    (1) Printed range of values on a measurement instrument divided into either mathematical or logarithmic increments; (2) instrument for measuring by weight; also called a balance; (3) proportion between the dimensions of the original art and its reproduction size.
  • Scalloped lock
    A lock for connecting a hinged display member to a stationary part.
  • Scamp
    A sketch of a design showing the basic concept.
  • Scan
    The process of translating a image from artwork or transparency into digital information; the sequential examination or exposure of a character or image with a moving light beam.
  • Scan linearity
    The degree to which a plot of scanned reflectance or transmittance vs. absolute reflectance or transmittance is a straight line. Deviations in this plot either above or below a straight line represent tones that are recorded by the scanner as too light or too dark.
  • Scanner
    A hardware peripheral that illuminates, reads, and converts original information into digital data.
  • Scarf
    A joint formed by stripping or bolting two notched pieces together.
  • Scatter diagram
    An x-y chart that measures the relationship between two sets of variables.
  • Scattering
    The process by which light passing through a material is redirected in many directions.
  • Scattering coefficient
    Rate of increase of reflection over an ideally black backing, caused by the internal scatter of light in the surface of the paper that is not completely opaque.
  • Scavenging
    In the printing of solder paste through etched metal masks, this occurs where the flexible squeegee blade presses down into the open stencil cavity, with the result of scraping solder paste out of the stencil rather than depositing the desired thickness onto the substrate.