Glossary

The PRINTING United Alliance Glossary serves as an excellent industry terminology resource. It is the language by which we all communicate. Without it, universal understanding would be impossible.

To keep our constituents well informed about changes to the increasingly complex industry terminology, PRINTING United Alliance has developed this glossary of terms. Definitions are for general reference only. Usage may vary between companies, individuals, or national and country customs. The information presented is as accurate as the authors and editors can ascertain and PRINTING United Alliance assumes no responsibility for the use of information presented herein.
  • Corona discharge
    An electrical, plastic treating method whereby the atmosphere (corona) around the substrate is ionized, encouraging oxidation and reducing surface tension to improve ink adhesion.
  • Correlated noise
    A recognizable pattern of change in an image file; an increase in the brightness of the pixels.
  • Corrosive material
    (1) A chemical liquid or solid that causes visible damage or irreversible change in human skin tissue at the site of contact after an exposure period of 4 hours or less; (2) A liquid where its corrosion rate exceeds 0.250 inch per year on steel (SAE1020) at a test temperature of 54 degrees C (130 degrees F).
  • Corrugated board
    A laminate made from flat sheets with fluted, ridged, or grooved center core.
  • Co-solvent
    One of two or more solvents in a mixture that combine to dissolve a solid.
  • Cotton
    A unicellular, natural vegetable fiber obtained from seed pod of cotton plant.
  • Counter display
    A specially designed cardboard advertising piece that is displayed at a primary counter or checkout location.
  • Counterbalanced squeegee
    A squeegee with a weight similar to the weight of the squeegee, placed on the opposite side of a pivot, to absorb all or part of the actual weight of the squeegee, reducing operator fatigue.
  • Coupling agent
    Chemical or material that promotes improved adhesion between fiber and matrix resin in a reinforced composite such as an epoxy-glass laminate or other resin fiber laminate.
  • Course
    Horizontal lines or threads in woven material.
  • Covalent bond
    A bond where one or pairs of electrons are equally shared between two atoms producing a stable electron configuration and a very stable molecule. (The strongest of all molecular bonds).
  • Cover paper
    Large category of papers so named because they primarily serve the function of covering and protecting other printed matter.
  • Cover sheet
    A clear transparent overlay used to protect artwork from damage during handling.
  • Coverage (mileage) (spreading power)
    The amount of area a given volume of ink will cover when applied to a given substrate.
  • Covered recess joint
    A construction frequently used in V-shaped displays.
  • Covering power
    (1) The ability of an ink to hide the substrate and produce a uniform opaque surface; (2) The maximum ability of a lens to form a sharp focused image.
  • CPI
    Acceptable abbreviation for characters per inch.
  • CPSC
    Acceptable acronym for Consumer Product Safety Commission (US).
  • CQI
    Acceptable acronym for continuous quality improvement.
  • Cracking
    A breakdown in which cracks penetrate at least one coat of an ink layer and which may be expected to result ultimately in complete failure.
  • Crackle
    An intentional effect that is given to ware to heighten its age and give a particular design similar to broken or cracked glass.
  • Crank
    A refractory piece contoured to the shape of the back of a bisc plate to aid in keeping the piece flat during firing.
  • Cratering
    Small undesirable depressions (pinholes) in a dried ink film that can be deep enough to expose the substrate.
  • Crawling
    (1) A condition that occurs when a glaze becomes extremely viscous in the molten stage causing the glaze to collect in heaps; (2) Cohesive effect of ink into drops after printing onto a surface that the ink does not completely wet; (3) The pulling away of a coating from its original dimension, see creep.
  • Crazing (checking) (check)
    (1) A cracking that occurs in a fired glaze; (2) A random pattern of minute intersecting cracks in plastic or glass article; (3) Very fine hairline cracks in a dried coating or screen printed film.