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.
  • Status T
    A card of carefully calibrated white, black, and color patches used to check spectral (color) response of wideband reflection densitometer.
  • Steady flow
    A continuous movement; one that does not vary significantly with time.
  • Steam-distilled turpentine
    A solvent produced by extracting the resin from fallen pines and stumps using a solvent.
  • Steatite
    A ceramic product similar to porcelain produced by pressing or extruding a mixture of talc, special clay, flux, and a binder under pressure, air drying the product, then fusing the ingredients at a temperature of about 1316°C (2400°F) in a continuous tunnel lehr.
  • Steel rule
    Ribbon-like metal that is formed into a desired shape to make dies for die cutting.
  • Steel rule die
    A cutting device consisting of steel knives mounted in laser-cut grooves or formed in metal at 0.937 inches high and assembled on a die board 0.75 to 0.875 thick; a cutting die made by shaping ribbons of steel to desired contours.
  • Stencil
    The component of a printing screen that controls the contour of the design to be printed.
  • Stencil design area
    That portion of a screen printing stencil that includes only the predetermined design to be printed.
  • Stencil knife
    A tool for cutting screen printing stencil film.
  • Stencil medium
    Any film, emulsion, or sheet material of any kind from which a screen printing stencil can be made.
  • Stencil silk
    A mesh made from multifilament strands of silk for making printing screen; no longer used in the industry.
  • Stencil thickness
    The actual thickness of the stencil portion of a printing screen measured in mils.
  • Stencil volume
    The total volume of a single imprint segment represented by the width of aperture times length times total depth of fabric and stencil.
  • Step and repeat
    A technique of repeating a single image in accurately arranged and spaced increments, to obtain multiple copies of the same design on a single sheet.
  • Step exposure
    The progressive exposure of a piece of sensitized material by using a number of uniform increments of time to determine the correct exposure time under that given set of conditions; also refer to step test.
  • Step test
    A multiple exposure to determine correct exposure time for film or photographic emulsion.
  • Step-wedge
    A scale of density steps increasing from transparent or white to opaque or black; also refer to gray scale.
  • Sticky-back
    A double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape.
  • Stiffener flange
    A protruding rim, edge, or collar; (made by scoring near the edge of display part that must be bent at an angle to the face of the display to increase stability).
  • Stiffness
    (1) The measure or degree of resistance to bending stress of a sheet material; (2) High viscosity in ink formulation.
  • Stilt (jax)
    A small tripod stand for holding ware during firing; also called a jax.
  • Stippled finish
    A pebbly textured enamel applied by a stippler brush or sponge.
  • Stochastic
    A random placement dot strategy to render images.
  • Stochastic screening
    A technique to produce dot patterns that are randomly distributed; to separate an image into very fine, randomly placed microdots, rather than a grid of geometrically aligned halftone cells.
  • Stock
    Paper or other material to be printed; also refer to media, substrate.