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.
  • Liquid crystals
    Thermochromic, micro-encapsulated materials that react to changes in temperature by changing color, and which may be added to screen printable clear coating.
  • Liquid frisket (maskoid)
    A water-soluble latex solution that becomes water-insoluble when dry, used in the preparation of resist stencils.
  • Lisle
    Generic name for two ply fabric.
  • Liter (L)
    Metric standard measure of capacity equal to the volume occupied by one kilogram of water at 4°C and at the standard atmosphere pressure of 700 millimeters; equal to 0.9463 US liquid quarts.
  • Litho film
    A high-contrast photographic film.
  • Lithographic paper (litho paper)
    Paper that has been coated at least on one side to make it suitable for lithographic printing.
  • Lithography (litho)
    A method of printing by the planographic process using a coated plate whose image areas attract ink and whose non-image areas repel ink.
  • Lithol red
    A relatively brilliant moderately lightfast organic red pigment with shades from orange to deep maroon, derived from a dystuff by treatment with metallic salts. (Lithol is a registered trademark of BSAF).
  • Lithol rubine
    A bluish red pigment used for process red (magenta) ink. (Lithol is a registered trademark of BSAF).
  • Livering
    An irreversible increase in the body of inks as a result of gelation or chemical reaction during storage; also refer to flocculation.
  • Load
    (1) The total force applied to a substrate in testing for compression resistance and tensile strength; (2) The electrical demand of a process expressed as power (watts), current (amps) or resistance (ohms).
  • Load capacity
    The maximum amount of weight (load) that a device, instrument, piece of equipment, etc., can support without causing excessive wear or damage to the device. (Load capacity can be specified in either a horizontal or vertical plane depending on the configuration of the specific device).
  • Lock
    A device used in display construction that is designed to attach two or more parts; to hold parts in position more or less rigidly; to secure an angle or position of one or more parts in set-up.
  • Lock stitch
    A tack down stitch formed by three or four consecutive stitches of at least a 10 point movement.
  • Loft
    The relative ability of fibers to return to their original dimensions after being compressed.
  • Logotype
    Name of a company or product in a design used as a trademark or identifier in advertising.
  • Long
    Describes ink that has good flow characteristics; also refer to length.
  • Long grain
    Paper made with the machine direction of the fibers in the longest dimension of the sheet.
  • Long ton
    A unit of weight equal to 2,240 pounds avoirdupois.
  • Long-wave infrared
    Wavelengths greater than 4 microns within the infrared spectrum.
  • Look-through
    The appearance of paper when viewed by transmitted light, disclosing the texture of the sheet.
  • Loom
    A machine for weaving mesh or fabric from two series of yarns or threads crossing at right angles.
  • Loop tack tester
    Instrument used to measure the tackiness of flexible pressure sensitive adhesives by determining the force required to break a bond formed when the adhesive is brought into contact with a test surface.
  • Looping
    An erratic stitch construction resulting in loops on the surface of the embroidery.
  • Loose register
    In the screen printing of multiple colors, occurs when the registration of one to the other is not considered critical or exact.