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.
  • Kilogram (kg)
    The standard for unit of mass and weight in the metric system; equivalent to 1000 grams (2.2046 pounds).
  • Kilogram-meter
    A unit of energy or work equivalent to the amount of energy needed to raise one kilogram one meter and is equal to 7.2334 foot-pounds.
  • Kilometer (km)
    A metric unit of length equal to 1,000 meters or 0.621 miles.
  • Kilovolt (kV) (kv)
    (1) A unit of electromotive force equal to 1000 volts; (2) A standard measure for the relationship between the intensity of an electromagnetic field and the distance between the electrodes generating the field used in electrostatic flocking.
  • Kilovolts per centimeter (kv/cm)
    A standard measure for the relationship between the intensity of an electromagnetic field and the distance between the electrodes generating the field used in electrostatic flocking.
  • Kilowatt (kW)
    A metric unit of power equal to one thousand watts or 1.34 horsepower.
  • Kilowatt hour (kWh)
    A metric unit of work or heat equivalent to the total energy developed by a power of one kilowatt working one hour.
  • Kink
    Any unintended crease.
  • Kiosk
    A small point of purchase display, fixture, structure, cart placed in the center of an aisle or merchandise area.
  • Kiss cutting (face cutting)
    The die cutting of a face material of a laminated substrate without cutting the support material.
  • Km/h
    Metric symbol for kilometers per hour.
  • Knife bevel
    Angle of the vertical cutting edge of a blade.
  • Knife coating
    A coating process for paper where a doctor blade, knife, or straight edge is used to spread and control the amount and thickness of a coating.
  • Knife cut film
    A lacquer or similar film temporarily affixed to a clear support sheet, where designs or images are cut either mechanically or manually with a sharp knife.
  • Knife cut positive
    A design or image cut into masking film that is usable in the same way as a film positive made by camera for making a screen printing photostencil.
  • Knit shrinkage gauge
    Instrument used for measuring the ability of preshrunk to return to original size under tension.
  • Knitting
    A series of interconnecting loops of yarn formed by independent needles of a circularly rotating machine. (The fineness of the knit affects shrinkage, strength, and luster of the finished garment).
  • Knockout
    A technique of preparing a color separation to produce a transparent area on a film that appears as white on a black or dark colored background.
  • Knot
    An imperfection or lump in glass.
  • Knuckles
    Part of a woven screen mesh where the threads intersect and overlap.
  • Knurl
    A protuberance such as a raised edge of a polyester backing sheet on capillary/indirect films, which is a by-product of polyester extrusion.
  • Kraft board
    A paper board made of sulfate pulp that has particularly good strength and bending qualities.
  • Kraft gummed tape
    A brown paper tape with a water-soluble adhesive.
  • Kraft pulp
    A brown unbleached sulfate pulp made largely of pine by used in coarser papers such as brown wrapping paper, container board, and bag papers.
  • Krinkle wash
    A dyeing process that gives garments a frosted look by using a distressing method.