B

This dictionary covers graphic design, prepress and print terminology.
Stan Schwartz supplied most of the terms of this online glossary.

A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z

B

- Abbreviation for Blue, one of the three primary additive colors.
- Abbreviation for Bytes or Bits (usually an lower case B means bits but not everybody respects this convention)

back lining

The fixing of a material, either paper or cloth, to the back of a book before it is bound.

back margin

A term referring to the margin which lies closest to the back of the book.

back step collation

The collation of book signatures according to reference marks which are printed on the back fold of each section.

back to back

Print applied to both sides of a sheet of paper.

backbone

The back of a case bound book connecting the front and back covers, also called the spine.

background

That portion of a photograph or line art drawing that appears furthest from the eye; the surface upon which the main image is superimposed.

backing up

- Printing the reverse side of a printed sheet.
- Making a duplicate of data as a precaution against losing the original files.

backlight

The illumination of a subject or object (e.g. a picture or poster) from behind.

backslant

An effect in typography in which the letters slant to the left instead of to the right as in italics.

backslash

backstep marks

Marks printed on signatures that indicate where the final fold will occur. When gathering and initial folding is completed, these marks appear as a stepped sequence.

back up

- An extra copy of computer work that is kept on separate disks , tape or CDs for safety’s sake in case anything happens to the original data
- The printing of the reverse side of a press sheet.

bad break

Starting a page or column of type with a widow or at the end of a hyphenated word

baking

- A term given to the procedure of drying coatings onto papers.
- A term given to the procedure of heating printing plates in an oven to increase the run length that can be printed with them.

balance

A term used to describe the aesthetic or harmony of elements, whether they are photos, art or copy, within a layout or design.

balloon

In an illustration, any line which encircles copy or dialogue.

banding

The undesirable effect of waves or bands of the same colour on a digital graphic.

bandwidth

The capacity of a data connection expressed by the amount of data that can be conducted by it per second

bang

An exclamation mark! Like this one! and these!!!!!

bank paper

A thin uncoated stock used for making carbon copies.

banker’s flap envelope

The wallet flap has more rounded flap edges, also called a wallet flap

banner

The primary headline of a periodical, which appears on the cover of a magazine or the first page of a newsletter. It usually spanning the entire width of the page and contains the name of the publication and serial information (date, volume, number,..).

bar

bar code

A pattern of vertical lines of varying thickness that identify a product, conforming to the Universal Product Code (UPC).

barrier coat

A coating that is applied onto the non-printing side of paper to add to the opacity of that paper.

baryta paper

A coated stock (barium sulfate compound) used for text impressions on typesetting machines.

base

Metal below the shoulder of a piece of type; the metal or wood block used for mounting letter press printing plates to make them type high

baseline

In typesetting, an imaginary line on which the bottom of letters rest.The descenders, such as the tail on y and g, fall below the baseline

BASIC

Abbreviation for Beginners All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code: a programming language. It has nothing to do with prepress but brings back fond memories.

basis weight

Weight in pounds of 500 sheets of paper cut to a given standard size

Baskerville, John

English writing master, stonecutter, letter designer, typefounder and printer (1706-1775) who worked alongside William Caslon. He is one of the people who transformed English printing and type founding. Of course there is a font named after him.

bas relief

In art, an image that is pressed or engraved into the surface of the work. The opposite effect is called intaglio.

basis weight

Basis or basic weight refers to the weight, in pounds, of a ream (500 sheets) of paper cut to a given standard size for that particular paper grade.

Bass

The original codename used by Apple for the TrueType font technology. Later they changed it to RoyalT. According to an insider, its derivation was down to the fact that a bass (fish) is scale-able.

bastard copy

In typesetting, any text for which the type specifications vary from those that are typically used, such as the use of an unusual point size or typeface.

Bau haus

German design school which influenced many type designers and graphic artists.

beam splitter

An optical device to redirect a beam of light in two or more directions. A color scannner splits the input light into red, green and blue light beams and directs each to a PMT. The output beam splitter separates the light into as many as ten beams, one to each modulator

bearing base life

Minimum calculated bearing life under proper load

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