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.
  • Breaking load
    The degree to which a material resists rupture by tension, measured in pounds, under specified conditions.
  • Bridging
    The ability of a direct emulsion stencil material to fill the area (bridge the gap) between screen threads and to retain solidity after exposure and washout.
  • Bright copper
    Bright gold fluxed to fire out with a reddish copper color on glass or ceramic ware.
  • Bright enamel
    Paper that has a glossy hard surface on one side or both sides.
  • Bright glaze
    A colorless or colored ceramic glaze with a high gloss.
  • Bright gold
    A metallo-organic compound of gold dissolved in a suitable solvent system for producing a bright gold surface when fired.
  • Bright lemon gold
    A bright gold with a bright yellow hue when fired; formulated with gold and silver alloys.
  • Bright red gold
    Bright gold with red hue when fired.
  • Brightmeter
    An instrument used to measure TAPPI (Technical Association of Pulp and Paper Industry) brightness, and the fluorescent component of brightness in paper, adding optical brighteners increases the brightness of a paper.
  • Brightness
    (1) Degree of reflectivity of a sheet of paper or similar substrate for blue light measured under standardized conditions by reflectometer calibrated for the wavelength of 457nm. (2) The overall intensity of the image. The lower the brightness value, the darker the image; the higher the value, the lighter the image will be. (3) Dimension of color that is referred to in an achromatic scale, ranging from black to white; also called lightness or luminous reflectance or transmittance (q.v.).
  • Brightness range
    The difference in lighting brilliance between the brightest bright and the darkest dark of an original scene or transparency.
  • Brilliance
    Apparent color strength; the combined effect of brightness, strength, and/or purity of color tone.
  • Bristol board
    A fine kind of pasteboard smooth, and sometimes glazed on the surface, solid or laminated heavyweight paper having a thickness of 6 ml or greater (0.006 inch). (The name is derived from the original rag board made in Bristol, England).
  • Bristol glaze
    A raw glaze containing zinc oxide often used in terra cotta.
  • British Thermal Unit (Btu)
    A measure of generated heat; the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit at or near its point of maximum density.
  • Brittleness
    An undesirable characteristic of a material or ink film that causes it to break or otherwise fail when bent or creased.
  • Broadcloth
    A plain weave fabric of cotton or poly-cotton blends with a slight ridge effect in one direction.
  • Broken end
    A defect in woven mesh due to a break in a warp thread.
  • Bronze
    An appearance characteristic of some printed films where the apparent color of the print depends upon the angle of view and illumination, giving the appearance of metal.
  • Bronze paper
    A paper board coated with a composition consisting of a finely divided metallic powder and a binder such as pyroxylin.
  • Bronze powder
    A metallic pigment added to printing inks consisting mainly of copper alloys in very fine flakes.
  • Bronze screen
    A printing screen made of fine, phosphor bronze wire mesh, used mainly for printing wallpaper.
  • Bronzing (bronze dusting)
    Printing with a tacky size or adhesive and then dusting with finely powdered metal particles to give the appearance of metallic printing, usually applied using a special bronzing machine.
  • Bronzing adhesive
    A varnish-like clear material or coating on which dry metallic bronze powder is applied.
  • Bronzing liquid
    A wet liquid application of bronze powders to a substrate.