useful information

Glossary - E

Edge Curl

The peeling back or lifting of the outer edge of a tape that has been applied in a curve.

Edge Lift

The tendency of the edge of a label to rise off the surface of the substrate. This condition occurs most frequently on small diameter curved surfaces. Resistance to edge life is dependent on the bond strength of the adhesive and the flexibility of the face stock.

EDP

Electronic Data Processing - Pressure sensitive labels, usually blank, for use on computer printing equipment. Webs are usually perforated, fan folded and hole-punched (“line holes”) for pinwheel feeding.

EGA (Enhanced Graphics Adapter)

A graphics standard for the PC which can be added or built into a system to give sharper characters and improved colour with the correct display device. Standard EGA resolution is 640 by 350 dots in any 16 out of 64 colours.

Egyptian

A term for a style of type faces having heavy slab serifs and almost uniform thickness of strokes.

Eight sheet

A poster measuring 60 x 80in (153 x 203cm) traditionally made up of eight individual sheets.

Electronic Data Processing

Data processing by electronic equipment. Pressure sensitive labels produced for imprinting on this equipment incorporate line hole punching and perforations.

Electronic Printing

A printing method that creates images using electrostatic charges, rather than by pressing ink onto a plate. Photocopiers and inkjet or laser printers use electronic printing.

Electronic Publishing

A generic term for the distribution of information, which is stored, transmitted and reproduced electronically. Teletext and Videotext are two examples of this technology in its purest form, i.e. no paper. Adobe PDF (Portable Document Format) is becoming the de facto standard. The Internet is a prime example of electronic publishing. Also books on CD ROM are considered Electronic publishing.

Electro-photography

A printing process that uses principles of electricity and electrically charged particles to create images. In photocopiers and laser printers, electric charges create the image on an electro-photographic surface that works as a printing plate. This surface is cleared after each image or copy is made, and is used over again for the next copy.

Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF)

The more common name for molecular chlorine free, and a bleaching that doesn’t use chlorine gas. Champion is a leader in ECF technology, using chlorine dioxide rather than elemental chlorine in the pulp and bleaching processes.

Ellipsis

Three dots that are a single character, not three periods. Will not break on a return. Option; on a Mac.

Elliptical dots

Elongated dots that improve the gradation of tones in middle tones and vignettes in halftone photography.

Em

In printing terms it is a square unit with edges equal in size to the chosen point size. It gets its name from the letter M that originally was as wide as the type size. Also 12 points of linear measurement.

E-Mail

Electronic Mail, between computers. A popular protocol for sending E-Mail is SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) and for receiving it POP3 (Post Office Protocol)

Emboss

A process by which a die is used for raising an area of paper to create letterforms, shapes and textures. The die can be made of magnesium, which is created from exposing light to the magnesium and leaving only the form of the artwork to be pressed into paper, or brass which is hand done, is more expensive but looks very good with bevelled edges and fine detail.

Embossed Finish

Paper with a raised or depressed surface resembling wood, cloth, leather or other pattern.

Embossing

A finishing process that impresses a raised image on the surface of the paper by a die striking from beneath the paper into a counter die above the paper.

Em-dash

A dash used in punctuation the length of one em. Used in place of a pair of commas to set off a non-essential comment in a sentence.

Em-space

A lateral space equal to the width of the lower case letter "m". Likewise, En space is the space of the lower case "n". Used in typography and typesetting.

Emulsion

The chemically treated side of photographic film. (The dull side not the shiny side.) Depending on the printing process involved, film will be requested usually as "right reading emulsion down".

Emulsion adhesive (Aqueous, Water Based)

A dispersion of fine particles or globules in another liquid. Many P.S. adhesives are emulsion systems.

Emulsion side

Side of photographic film coated with silver halide emulsion.

En

A unit of measurement that is half as wide as an em.

Enamel

A general term referring to coated paper that has a higher basis weight than coated publication (magazine) paper, but a lower basis weight and caliper than coated cover paper. An example of enamel is Champion Kromekote Enamel.

Encryption

To obscure a message in order to disguise its meaning.

End papers

The four page leaves at the front and end of a book that are pasted to the insides of the front and back covers (boards).

En-dash

A dash approximately half the width of an em dash. Used to indicate a range; e.g. 6­12 without spaces, and with spaces either side as a minus sign.

Engraving

A printing process using intaglio, or recessed plates. Made from steel or copper, engraving plates cost more than plates used in most other printing processes, such as lithography. Ink sits in the recessed wells of the plate while the printing press exerts force on the paper, pushing it into the wells and onto the ink. The pressure creates raised letters and images on the front of the page and indentations on the back. The raised lettering effect of engraving can be simulated using a less costly process, called thermography.

En-space

Space one-half the width of an em-quad.

Envelope

Paper that is folded and glued in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, for containing letter of other materials. Many printing jobs will end up in an envelope. The closer a finished piece is to an envelope size, the easier it will be to mail and the less chance it will be damaged by jostling around inside the envelope. An envelope maker can make just about any size envelope needed, but a custom envelope requires a custom die and carries a custom price.

EPS (EPSF)

Encapsulated Postscript File. A vector based, computer graphics file format developed by Adobe Systems. EPS is the preferred format for many computer illustrations, because of its efficient use of memory and fine colour control. The artwork description is "plotted" by the computer. Example: point "A" has a line that goes to point "B" then continues to point "C", and is filled with a colour. (Bitmapped artwork attributes a colour for every pixel on the computer screen and is not postscript).

Epson emulation

Epson and virtually all software packages developed the industry standard control codes for dot matrix printers and most dot matrix printers either follow or improve on these codes.

Erratum

Author's or printer’s error, discovered after the book has been printed.

Esparto

A long rough grass with soft, fine fibers. Grows in southern Spain and in North Africa - it makes an excellent long grain stable paper.

Estimating

To calculate the costs of a job.

Etch

To use acid to dissolve any non-printing portion of a printing plate.

Ethernet

The industry standard for networking computers using co-axial cables. Multiple computers and peripheral devices such as printers are connected to a hub with a number of ports.

Even pages

Those on the left side have even numbers.

Exception dictionary

In word processing or desktop publishing this is a store of pre-hyphenated words that do not conform to the usual rules contained in the hyphenation and justification program (H & J). Some programs, PageMaker for example, only use an exception dictionary.

Expanded type

A typeface with a slightly wider body giving a flatter, oblong appearance.

Exposure

Illumination of light-sensitive material or a measure of of time and intensity of illumination.

Exposure Temperature

The temperature that a labelled product is exposed to.

Express

A printer control language developed by OASYS.

Eyemark

A small rectangular printing area usually located near the edge of a web or design, to activate an automatic electronic position regulator for controlling register or the printed design with subsequent equipment or operations.