Rag Paper 

Paper containing a minimum of 25% rag or cotton fiber pulp.

Ragged left 

Type that is justified to the right margin and the line lengths vary on the left.

Ragged right 

Type that is justified to the left margin and the line lengths vary on the right.

Ragged 

Lines of type that don't start or end at the same position as the rest.

Type that is not justified on the right or left side.

Rainbow Fountain 

Technique of putting ink colors next to each other in the same ink fountain and oscillating the ink rollers to make the colors merge where they touch, producing a rainbow effect.

Rainbow ™

3M's digital, high resolution, thermal dye sublimation, desktop color proofing system.

Random Proof 

A color proof consisting of many images ganged on one substrate and randomly positioned with no relation to the final page imposition. This is a cost-effective way to verify the

Raster 

To convert mathematical and digital information into a series of dots by an imagesetter or recorder as digital data that will be used for output.

RC Paper 

The photosensitive resin-coated paper generally used to record the output of typesetters and imagesetters.

Reader's Spread 

Keylines of two facing pages in correct numerical order, e.g., pages 2 and 3.

Ream 

500 sheets of printing paper. Stacks and skids of paper often include slips of paper (ream markers) marking the division of the stack into reams.

Recto Page 

The right-hand or odd-numbered page of an open book or spread.

Recycled Paper 

New paper made entirely or in part from old paper.

Reflection Copy 

Any opaque color artwork submitted for reproduction such as photos, sketches or paintings.

Reflective Copy 

Any painting, artwork or photograph (not transparencies) that reflects light off its surface.

Register marks 

Cross-hair lines or marks on film, plates, and paper that guide strippers, platemakers, pressmen, and bindery personnel in processing a print order from start to finish.

Crosses or some other design that are pasted outside your keyline on the board. Everything done to the job through printing must have these marks to prevent the separations, film or plates from being misaligned or out of register.

Register 

The fitting of two or more printing images on the same paper in exact alignment with each other.

To position print in the proper position in relation to the edge of the sheet and to other printing on the same sheet.

Registration 

The correct positioning of one color over another during the printing process.

Relief Printing 

Printing method whose image carriers are surfaces with two levels having inked areas higher than non-inked areas. Types include block printing, flexography and letterpress.

Remote proofing 

Digital transmission of a proof to a remote office or customer location for output and evaluation at the remote site.

Repeatability 

The precision with which a device can position an image, usually measured in microns. For example, a capstan imagesetter has low repeatability compared with a drum imagesetter which is more accurate in its operation.

Replicate 

In the manufacturing of a CD-ROM, to mold the actual disc by injecting molten polycarbonate into the mold cavity (stamper), then quickly cool the plastic to harden it, a process which takes less than 15 seconds. After replication of the disc, art is printed onto the non-data side of the disc via silk-screen or offset printing.

Reprint 

An ad which is printed and then sent to a magazine for insertion. Also refers to a reprint of ads supplied by the publication before the publication is issued.

Resolution 

Measured in dots per inch (dpi), resolution measures the quality of output in typesetting. The greater the number of dots per inch, the smoother and less jagged the appearance of the typeface or the image.

Resolution 

Sharpness of an image. Also quantification of laser print quality using number of dots per inch.

Retouch 

To correct flaws in an image or make design changes.

Reverse 

The opposite of what you see. Printing the background of an image. For example; type your name on a piece of paper. The reverse of this would be a black piece of paper with a white name.

Type, graphic or illustration produced by printing ink around its outline, thus allowing the underlying color or paper to show through and form the image. The image "reverses out" of the ink color. Also called knock out or liftout.

RGB 

Red, green and blue. The additive primaries which are used in video monitors.

Right Reading 

Copy that reads correctly in the language in which it is written. Also describes a photo whose orientation looks like the original image.

Right-angle Fold 

A folding succession in which each succeeding fold is made at right angles to the preceding one.

Rip film 

A method of making printing negatives from PostScript files created by desktop publishing.

RIP 

Abbreviation for raster image processing, a hardware and/or software system that translates page description command into bitmaps for output to a laser printer or imagesetter.

Rosette Pattern 

The desirable minute circle of dots that is formed when two or more process color screens are overprinted at their appropriate angle, screen ruling and dot shape.

RRED 

Right reading, emulsion side down.

Rub Proof 

Ink that has reached its maximum dryness and does not mar with normal abrasion.

Rubylith 

A red acetate masking film used in stripping to make an opening.

Rule 

A straight line of any thickness or a line used as a graphic element to separate or organize copy.

Run Around 

Type that is made to fit around a picture of art.

Run of Paper (ROP) 

Printing full color in newspaper but using the same paper and press as the balance of the newspaper.

Saddle stitch 

Binding a booklet or magazine with staples in the seam where it folds.

Saddle-sewn 

A form of binding that stitches thread through the gutter fold of a publication.

Saddle-stitched 

A form of binding that uses staple-shaped wires through the gutter fold; also called saddle-wired.

Safelight 

A lamp for use in the darkroom that gives light of a color that will not affect the photographic material within a reasonable time. Different photographic materials require different safelight filters.

Sans Serif Type 

Any type style that does not have cross strokes on the ends of the letters.

Scale 

Calculate the amount a photo is to be reduced or enlarged.

The ability to reduce or enlarge an image. To avoid distortion, some programs can maintain the ratio between width and height when you scale the image.

Scanner 

Device used to make color separations, halftones, duo tones and tri tones. Also a device used to scan art, pictures or drawings in desktop publishing. Used to digitize an image.

Score 

To compress paper along a straight line so it folds more easily and accurately.

Scoring 

This process involves partially cutting through cardboard so it will fold more neatly.

Screen Angles 

Angles at which the halftone screens are placed with relation to one another to avoid undesirable moire pattern. The most common angles are black 45ø, magenta 75ø, yellow 90ø and cyan 105ø.

Frequently a desktop publishers nightmare. The angles at which halftone, duo tones, tri tones, and color separation printing films are placed to make them look right.

Screen Frequency 

The number of rows (lines) and columns of dots per inch or centimeter of a halftone screen.

Screen Printing 

A printing method often used for non-flat goods. This method is best equipped to print on items such as mugs and clothing. Also known as silk screening, this process forces ink through a screen, like a stencil pattern.

Method of printing by using a squeegee to force ink through an assembly of mesh fabric and a stencil.

Screen Ruling 

Sometimes confused with resolution, screen ruling is the number of printing dots per millimeter or per inch on the exposed film. The screen ruling is a critical factor in determining the resolution need. The finer the screen ruling, the higher the resolution needs to be, due to the amount of information required to generate the printing dots.

Screen Tint 

A halftone screen pattern of all the same size dots that creates an even tone.

Screen 

Plastic sheets that have cross-hatched lines. These screens are placed between the camera and the original photo or continuous tones to break the image into dots to create a halftone image.

Secondary Colors 

Colors created by combining two primary colarants of a color system. Example; red would be the secondary color produced with magenta and yellow. Also referred to as overprint colors.

Selective Binding 

Placing signatures or inserts in magazines and catalogs according to demographic or geographic guidelines.

Self Cover 

A cover made from the same paper as the inside text pages.

Serif Type 

Any type style that has cross strokes on the ends of the letters.

Serigraphics Printing 

Printing method whose image carriers are woven fabric, plastic or metal that allows ink to pass through some portions and blocks ink from passing through other portions. Types include screen and mimeograph.

Service Bureau 

A business that provides manipulation and output of digital files, usually to a PostScript imagesetter.

Set-off 

Ink from a printed sheet rubs off or marks the next sheet as it is being delivered. Also called offset.

Shadow 

The darkest areas of an image or photograph; represented as the largest dots in a halftone.

Sharpen 

Reducing the size in halftones or separations.

Sheetfed Press 

A printing press that uses sheets of paper, rather than a continuous paper roll or web.