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This dictionary covers design, prepress and printing topics.
It was created with the help of Stan Schwartz.
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
packing
Paper used as underlay on the impression cylinder of a letterpress, or under the plate or blanket on the offset presses. Used to build up the desired pressure for best impression.
page description language
A language that can describe an entire page or a document containing multiple pages. The description includes all the text and graphics that appear on the page(s). A page description language defines page elements independently of a particular operating system, printer or viewing application. The page’s appearance is consistent regardless of the specific printer or viewer used. PostScript is by far the most popular page description language for electronic publishing. A complete section of this site is dedicated to it. XPS, PDF and PCL are other examples of page description languages.
page geometry
The description of the position and shapes of each elements in a composed page.
page makeup software
The category of desktop software that is used to create composed pages of text and graphics.
PageMaker
A software program used for page makeup, originally published by Aldus corporation, now part of Adobe’s product range. PageMaker is available for Macintosh and Windows.
pagination
Numbering of pages in consecutive order.
paint program
Software, sometimes referred to as painting software, that creates black and white or color digital images with bitmap graphics.
PAL
Abbreviation for Phase Alternating Line, a TV broadcasting standard used in Europe (625 lines per frame and 25 frames per second). The USA uses NTSC.
palette
In a graphics file, these are the colors that make up a picture or drawing. In a computer program, it is an on-screen display containing the set of colors or patterns that are available.
panchromatic
Refers to a film that is sensitive to all colors of light. Orthochromatic film is sensitive to only two colors of light.
panorama plate
A newspaper plate that contains 2 pages. These plates are sometimes used when there is an image that crosses over from one page to another. Such a plate is called a “double-truck” in the States.
panther
Code name for Mac OS X 10.3
pantograph
Security background, technique used to create patterns that are difficult or impossible to reproduce. One technique that is used consist of an overall screen pattern of one tone value but two different screen rulings. The secret message "VOID" is generally filled with a tint of about 15%, approximately 65 lpi. The entire background of the document is filled with the same 15%, but in a 150 line screen. Often a secondary pattern such as a coarse mezzotint is added to both the text and background to obscure the artwork from the casual observer.
parallax
The type and amount of operator error caused by the difference between the observer position and the instrument optical axis.
parallel processing
The capability of a computer to simultaneously perform multiple computations.
parameter
A variable that is used to define the limits of any given area or system.
parenthesis
These are left and right parenthesis:
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