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.
  • Cullet
    Waste or broken glass suitable as an addition to a raw batch.
  • Cure
    (1) To convert a wet coating to its maximum dry film state; (2) The resolving of coating material into a useable state by heat, chemical action, or firing; refer to curing.
  • Cure meter
    Instrument used to determine the curing characteristics of cross linking polymers, can also be used to measure setting time for resin.
  • Cure rate index (CRI)
    A measurement rate at specific wavelengths and power level, usually measured in centimeters per minute/feet per minute.
  • Cure time
    The time/temperature combination required to bring organic decoration to the desired level of hardness, caustic, and chemical resistance.
  • Curing
    (1) A drying process usually requiring elevated temperature of film that cannot be dried by oxidation; (2) In textile decoration, the application of heat to set the emulsion of pigment dye into the textile fibers; (3) A two (or more) part chemical reaction that, when completed, resembles a dried appearance such as photopolymerization of UV curable coatings.
  • Curing agent
    An additive that promotes the curing of an ink or coating; a catalyst reactive agent that is added to a resin to cause polymerization.
  • Curing oven
    A chamber where drying and/or some change of a freshly printed ink surface takes place during the drying process, to improve adhesion, solidify the film or otherwise convert film characteristics by means other than by solvent evaporation.
  • Curing unit
    A UV curing reactor that houses a UV energy emitter used for the polymerization of ultraviolet curable inks, coatings, and adhesives.
  • Curl
    (1) The tendency of a sheet material by itself or in laminate to bend or partly wrap around the axis of one of its directions. (Uneven moisture absorption throughout the thickness is the usual cause, and conversely, removal of moisture by heat application can cause curling); (2) Deformation of a paper sheet tending to form into a roll or cylinder, the roll effect appearing across the grain direction.
  • Curtain coater
    A coating machine which spreads an even thickness of low viscosity liquid (clear or adhesive) across a flat sheet or surface.
  • Curved screen
    Special screen mounted on flexible frame that can be mounted in a curved configuration, used to print rounded surfaces or objects.
  • Custom printing
    In textile printing, the type of work where the garment is furnished by the screen printer and not the customer.
  • Cusum chart
    A diagram that depicts cumulative deviation from a target.
  • Cut
    (1) To dilute or thin an ink, lacquer, or varnish with one or more solvents or clear base; (2) The shearing of stock with a knife blade; (3) Photoengraving.
  • Cut pieces
    Pieces of fabric shaped by cutting to be sewn into a garment to form back, front, yoke, sleeves, cuffs, etc.
  • Cutaway
    A backing or facing that must be cut away from the fabric to remove it from the embroidery.
  • Cut-off ink level
    The top surface of a printed ink film as it sits on the upper surface of the stencil mesh after the squeegee passes in the print stroke, but before the screen mesh is lifted from contact with the substrate.
  • Cutout
    A halftone image where the background area has been removed to produce a silhouette.
  • Cutter and creaser
    A fully automatic press that slices and scores light weight paperboard.
  • Cutter dust
    Small particles of paper fiber chipped off during cutting and trimming operations.
  • Cutting tolerance
    The allowable variation in exactness of cut dimensions. (These vary by the overall size and type of the final product. Die cutting tolerances are typically plus or minus 0.4 mm -1/64 inch).
  • CWA
    Acceptable acronym for Clean Water Act (US) (Formerly referred to as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act).
  • CWT (centum weight) (hundred weight)
    The specific cost of one hundred pounds of a particular stock.
  • Cyan (C) (process blue)
    Blue green color, complementary to red and one of the three primary subtractive pigment colors, the other two being yellow and magenta. (Cyan reflects blue and green light, while absorbing red).