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.
  • Dry offset (letterset)
    A printing process that uses a blanket for transferring the image from plate to substrate, a relief plate, and no dampening system.
  • Dry rub resistance
    The resistance of the dry surface of a coated or uncoated paper or paper board to disruption of the surface when subjected to rubbing or scuffing.
  • Dry strength
    Strength of an adhesive joint, determined immediately after drying.
  • Dry transfer (lettering)
    Images that can be transferred to the artwork by rubbing them off the back of a transfer sheet.
  • Dry transfer photomechanical material
    A group of photomechanical aids that permit direct application of textures, patterns, symbols, and letters to another surface.
  • Dryer
    A conveyor or static oven used to hasten drying of a wet material by subjecting it to heat generated by gas or electricity, or circulated ambient air.
  • Dryfoot
    Ware with no glaze on the foot.
  • Drying
    The multistage conversion of a material from a wet, liquid, or semi-liquid state to a dry, solid state by removing or setting the liquid.
  • Drying in
    Premature drying or blocking of the stencil openings by ink in the mesh of the printing screen resulting in loss of detail in the printed image.
  • Drying oil
    Additive that has the property of hardening to a tough film by oxidation and polymerization.
  • Drying rack
    A series of metal or wooden shelves of open construction designed to separate and hold printed substrates in sheet form for drying at room temperature or similar device for drying screens.
  • Drying rate (drying time)
    The relative length of time required for a freshly deposited ink imprint to be changed from a wet to a tack-free state.
  • Drypoint positive
    Film positive made by scratching lines into sheet plastic and then filling them in with opaque ink.
  • Dual durometer
    (1) A squeegee with two different hardness face materials; (2) Silicone rubber keypad made by using a two shot process allowing for the use of material with two different hardness characteristics.
  • Dual-cure
    An emulsion made up of two light sensitive components that cross-link during exposure to light; also referred to as diazo-photopolymer.
  • Ductility
    Ability of a material to deform before fracturing.
  • Dull finish
    Any paper that is smooth, but lacks luster.
  • Dummy
    Mock-up or layout showing the position of illustrations, text, finishing, and other elements as they will appear in the final printed piece.
  • Dunting
    A cracking that occurs in fired ceramic bodies due to thermally induced stresses such as cooling faster than the ware can accommodate.
  • Duo mounter
    A machine where a sheet of cardboard is laminated to a paper sheet on one side and a liner sheet on the other.
  • Duograph
    A little used term for duotone.
  • Duotone
    A special effect technique that consists of making a two-color halftone reproduction from a single color original.
  • Duotone printing
    A process of printing two colors with halftone printing screens, placed at angles to diminish or eliminate a moiré effect caused by overlapping of dots in a given pattern or patterns.
  • Duplex decal
    A heavy backing paper laminated with a very high grade of tissue paper that is coated with a decal solution receptacle to a screen printed image.
  • Duplex decal paper
    A paper that consists of a thin tissue type paper that is adhered semi-permanently on a heavier base paper with adhesive coated on the tissue paper side used for larger decal production.