Commercial Color Offset Printing - a compendium of commercial printing terminology

Sponsored by Copy Cat Print Shops, color copies and digital printing shops based in Western Massachusetts.

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

Natural

A term to describe papers that have a color similar to that of wood; also called cream, off-white or ivory.

Negative

Film that contains the same images as the original print, except that all colors and shades are reversed. See also positive.

Nested

Signatures assembled inside one another in the proper sequence for binding, as compared to gathered. Also called inset.

Neutral Gray

Gray with no hue or cast.

Newsprint

A light, low-cost groundwood paper made especially for newspapers. See also groundwood.

Nominal Weight

When the basis weight of paper differs from the actual weight, the term nominal weight is used.