This dictionary covers graphic design, prepress and print terminology
Click a letter to see more layout, printing and binding terms of this 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–0-9–.
E-13B font
E13B is a font that is optimized for magnetic ink character recognition (MIRC), a technique used in the banking industry for processing cheques.
EBCDIC
Abbreviation for Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code – IBM-developed character set used in its mainframes and mini-computers. The competing standard, ASCII, dominates the personal computer market.
edge enhancement
A scanner process that increases the apparent edge sharpness of the reproduction images by intensifying the difference between the light and dark side of the image edge or the point where different colors meet.
edge staining
A finishing method whereby the edges of the pages of a book or catalog are colored to mark different sections.
eggshell finish
The finish of paper surface that resembles an eggshell achieved by omitting the calender process.
ELHO
Abbreviation for ELementary and High schOol textbook publishing
elite
The designation of a standard typewriter type measuring 12 characters per inch
ellipsoid
An oval image shape similar to an ellipse.
elliptical dot
An elongated, or oval halftone dot that is used in the midtones and vignette areas to minimize the midtone jump in dot gain at the point where dots are large enough to connect.
em
A measure of space that is equal to the square of the type body – the larger the type size the larger em space. An em space is sometimes specified as the amount of the indent of the first line of type in a paragraph. Em is so-called because, in early fonts, the letter M was usually cast on a square body, such as 10 points high and 10 points wide.
em dash
A dash, one em long, that is used to separate parenthetical phrases within a sentence or to indicate missing words.
em space
A fixed space equal to the width of the type size being used
embedding
In prepress embedding is the process of including data such as fonts or graphics in a file. For example images can be embedded in an InDesign layout file and fonts can be embedded in a PDF file.
embossing
In finishing a strong letterpress impression of an image on the back of a sheet of paper. The image is raised.
emulsion
The photosensitive coating on a substrate that reacts to light.
enamel
A term that describes a glossy coating on paper.
en dash
A dash that is half the width of an em dash.
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).
endsheet
Attaching the final sheet of a signature of a book to the binding.
English finish
A grade of uncoated book paper with a smooth uniform surface.
engraving
A printing process whereby images such as copy or art are etched onto a plate. When ink is applied, these etched areas act as small wells to hold the ink; paper is forced against this die and the ink is lifted out of the etched areas creating raised images on the paper.
en space
A fixed space equal to one-half of the width of the type size being used
EOC
Abbreviation for End Of Chapter
EOM
Abbreviation for End Of Message
EPS
Abbreviation for Encapsulated PostScript, a file format used for artwork, images or even complete pages. This site has a page dedicated to the EPS file format.
EPS5
Refers to a file in the DCS file format
EPSF
Abbreviation for Encapsulated PostScript File. You can read more about this file format on this page.
EPUB
Abbreviation for electronic publication, a file format for publishing books and other types of content in a reflowable fashion. This means that the content can adapt itself to fit the available screen space. An EPUB file can be viewed on a 3.5″ cell phone as well as a 10″ tablet or the 22″ monitor of a desktop computer. An EPUB publication consists of a single file that has the file extension .epub. More information on this file format can be found on this page.
equal sign
error diffusion
The slight change of adjoining pixels to average pixel values. This smooths an area and eliminates the graininess of a digital image.
ESC
Abbreviation for ESCape.
escapement
the side-by-side placement of type characters to form a line.
Escher
Maurits Escher (1898-1972) was a Dutch graphic artist, most recognized for spatial illusions, impossible buildings, repeating geometric patterns (tessellations), and his incredible techniques in woodcutting and lithography. I like his work a lot so his appearance in this dictionary is just an excuse to show one of his magnificent creations.
Escher-Grad
The Montreal, Quebec Canada-based developer and manufacturer of large format precision imaging systems for the electronics and graphic arts industries.
ESQ
Abbreviation for Enhanced Screen Quality: Monotype’s term for its TrueType fonts that have been very carefully hinted.
estimate
The form used by the printer to calculate the project for the print buyer. This form contains the basic parameters of the project including size, quantity, colors, bleeds, photos etc.
estimator
One who computes or approximates the cost of work to be done on which quotation may be based.
ETAOIN SHRDLU
Text that would from time to time accidentally appear in publications back in the days when Linotype machines were used for composition. When an operator made a typo, he would use all the keys of the first two vertical columns on the left side of the keyboard to indicate that this line of text was incorrect. Occasionally such incorrect slugs of text would still wind up on the printing plate. The letters on the keyboard were arranged by letter frequency, which happens to be ‘etaoinshrdlu’ for the English language. In other languages, the same type of mistake was ‘esait nrulo’ (French), ‘enis ratulo’ (German), ‘eaosr niltu’ (Spanish) or ‘aeion lrtsu’ (Italian).
etching
The process of producing an image on a plate by the use of acid.
even smalls
The use of smaller-sized capitals at the beginning of a sentence without the use of larger-sized caps.
exception dictionary
In page composition, a resident list of words that cannot be hyphenated correctly using the available hyphenation algorithm. A user-defined exception dictionary contains words that a user wants to hyphenate differently than the hyphen points suggested by the algorithm.
exclamation mark
expanded type
Type with a width greater than normal, producing a rectangular effect.
expansion board
A plug-in circuit board used to expand the functions of a computer.
expansion bus
Electronic plugs or connectors inside the computer where expansion boards can be added
expert font
An additional font designed to accompany a standard font, providing a range of characters not included in the standard character map like ligatures, small capitals, old-style figures, etc. Expert fonts are just about useless without their companion standard fonts.
export
To output data in a format that can be read by another software application.
exposure
The stage of the photographic process where the image is produced on the light-sensitive coating.
exposure level
The quantity of light that is allowed to act on a sensitized material, such as film, paper, or plate, or an electronic sensor, such as CCD
exposure
The amount and duration of illumination striking a sensitized material, such as film, paper, or plate, or an electronic sensor such as a CCD.
extended
In typesetting, fonts that have broadened character, widths, but no increase in height. Extended is the opposite of compressed. Sometimes referred to as expanded.
extended type
A wider version of a regular typeface
extender
A white pigment added to a colored pigment to reduce its intensity and improve its working qualities.
extension
A small utility for the Macintosh operating system, that gives the operating system new capabilities. Applications like InDesign, Photoshop, and Acrobat support a similar kind of tools which are called either extensions or plug-ins.
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