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Rosette The (acceptable) dot cluster formation that is created in four-colour
images.
RTP Short for ready to print. A file that has been ripped
Runnability Describes the ease with which paper moves through the printing press
or printer. A paper that performs well on the press (dust free, ideal
moisture content, no curves or waves, trimmed correctly, and trouble-
free feeding).
S/G Short for short grain.
Saddle stitch An automated method of binding where signatures are opened, straddled
across a metal right angle plate, and stapled using continuous wire.
Saturation The vividness or dullness of a hue. One of the three characteristics that
describe colour (along with hue and value). Also called chroma.
Scoring A way of folding paper using a long, blunt edged rule that presses firmly
down on a document, causing a crease in the paper. The paper is then
folded over the crease.
Screen The lined screen through which images are photographed to create
halftones. Shooting through the mesh of a screen breaks an image into
tiny dots.
Screen angles The angles at which the halftone screens are placed in relation to one
another to avoid undesirable Moiré patterns.
Screen frequency How close the lines are in a screen measured in lines per inch. The
closer the lines of the screen, the smaller the dots, the more dots per
inch, and the crisper the image. In offset printing, the less the paper
absorbs and spreads ink, the finer the screen that can be used.
Newspapers use screen frequencies of 55 to 85 lines per inch. Most trade
publications use 85 to 110 lines per inch. Coated paper can hold dots
from a 200 line screen. With waterless printing, the paper can hold dots
with even finer screen frequencies, however, it is difficult for the human
eye to discern the difference in resolution above 200 lines per inch.
Screening The breaking up of the contone image into a half-tone image for colour
printing. The finer the screen, the more dots per inch, the crisper the
image.
Scum Areas on prints that should remain unprinted which take on ink in an
offset press.
SEF Short for short edge feed.
Separations A colour page split into its component colours (for example, cyan,
magenta, yellow, black and each spot colour). Each separation is used to
reproduce a particular colour for printing.
Shadow The darkest areas in an image or photograph.
Sheet A loose leaf of paper, printed or plain
G - 11
glossary