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.
  • Batch sample
    The collection of substances or products of the same category, configuration, or subgroup that are drawn from a batch and from which test samples are drawn.
  • Batch scan
    The process of scanning numerous pages that contain similar data.
  • Bath
    Any chemical solution used in photography; a common expression designating a solution of developing agents, fixing agents, and/or solutions that inhibit or stop chemical reaction, or other solutions used in photographic processes.
  • Baume scale
    Hydrometer scale that separately covers liquids with specific gravities greater and less than 1.
  • Bead
    An enlarged rounded edge of a tumbler or other glass article.
  • Beam easel
    An easel whereby a shelf on a display can be locked into position.
  • Beater
    A larger mixer used where pulp is combined with other ingredients in paper manufacturing.
  • Bed knife
    A stationary knife located in a sheeting machine.
  • Bellows
    A collapsible light-tight portion of some cameras that connect the lens to the camera back.
  • Belt conveyor
    A moving belt system for transporting prints from one processing stage to the next as from press to dryer, through dryer, from dryer to packing area, in almost any conceivable order. (Belt may be made of metal or synthetic mesh, heavy cloth, web straps, wires, etc.).
  • Belt mark (chain mark)
    A depression on the bottom of a glass article from metal link belt in lehr caused by slight overheating of either the conveyor belt or the glass article or by over-firing of the ware.
  • Belt printing
    A textile printing process that utilizes a continuous belt as a platen. (The substrate is adhered to the belt with an adhesive and is indexed from screen to screen by the rotation of the belt, generally uses water based inks that can be washed off of the belt by a washer.)
  • Belt speed
    The rate of travel, usually measured in inches or feet per minute, of the belt of any conveyor dryer system.
  • Bench can
    A wide mouth safety receptacle for wetting rags with solvent, generally by means of a spring-loaded, perforated pedestal and tray. (By depressing the tray, the liquid is pumped onto the rag in controlled amounts.)
  • Bench oven
    A small unit for bench mounting, for the heat treating of printed or other products in prototype quantities, usually found in laboratory or research departments. (There is no conveyor, so individual items must be placed within the convection heat chamber manually).
  • Benchmark
    A set of tests or standards to determine performance of an item or system.
  • Benday
    A method of adding a tone to an image by imposing a transparent sheet of patterns to obtain the various tones and shadings on the printed image, also refer to screen tint.
  • Bender
    A paperboard that can be creased, scored, or folded without breaking.
  • Bent glass
    Glass or glass article that has been formed by heating into a curved or other shape from a flat sheet.
  • Benzidine yellow
    A strong yellow toner used in many types of printing ink and dyes.
  • Benzol
    Another name for benzene; a clear, colorless, aromatic liquid, the simplest aromatic hydrocarbon extracted from coal tar C6H6.
  • Beveled glass
    Cold glass whose edges have been ground and polished to an angle other than 90 degrees.
  • Bevel-edged die
    A cutting die that has been tooled to produce a precise bevel to the image edge.
  • Beveling
    The process of edge finishing flat glass to produce an angle.
  • Bias
    A line at an angle to the threads of a mesh; applying the mesh at an angle to the frame in some fashion.