Glossary of Terms, D - F
NS = Refer relevant National Standard.
LM = Refer Labelstock Manufacturers specification sheets.
IM = Refer Ink Manufacturers specification sheets.
O = Other manufacturers specification sheets - Die or cutter,
plates, etc.
D
DARK REACTION
Ultra Violet (UV) inks usually turn solid at the bottom of the can when the
shelf of the material has expired. It is called this because it occurs in
the absence of light, oxygen, and normal ink bodying agents
Refer IM.
DEBOSSED
An indent or cut in design or lettering of a surface.
DECKLE
The straps (deckle ruler) on the wet end of a paper machine which prevents
the fibres from overflowing the sides and which determines the width of the
web of paper which can be run on any given machine.
DECORATIVE SHEET
A laminated plastic sheet used for decorative purposes in which the colour
and/or surface pattern is an integral part of the sheet.
DEFOAMER
A substance or mixture of substance which when added to foaming solutions causes
small bubbles to collect into large bubbles which then rise to the surface
and break (burst).
DELAMINATION
The separation of a material into layers in a direction approximately parallel
to the surface. The partial or complete separation of the layers of a laminate
Refer NS.
DENSITOMETER
Instrument that measures reflected or transmitted light. A reflection densitometer
is used as a control instrument to check uniformity and consistency of colour
print
Refer NS for test procedure.
DEPTH OF FIELD
The range between the maximum and minimum distance from which a symbol can
be read.
DESTATICISATION
Treating plastic materials to minimise their accumulation of static electricity.
DESTRUCTIBLE LABEL - See TAMPER-PROOF LABEL
DETACKIFICATION
The destroying of the tack or stickiness of a pressure sensitive adhesive.
DIAMOND SCREENING - See STOCHASTIC
DIE
Any of various tools or devices used for imparting or cutting a desired shape,
form or finish to or from any material. A device in converting machinery used
for cutting only the face material of a pressure sensitive laminate or for
punching out shapes from the entire laminate or any other material.
DIE ADAPTOR
A device used to modify a die station of one type of press so that it will
accommodate dies originally designed to be used on different presses.
DIE BLADES
Sharpened, thin steel blades used in flat or rotary dies. Also refers to blades
on machine engraved or EDM (Electronic Discharge Machining) manufactured rotary
dies.
DIE CUT
To cut labels with a die. The line of severance between a pressure sensitive
label and its matrix or adjoining labels made by the cutting edge of a die.
A term used to describe a label formed by die-cutting.
DIE CUT LABEL
Pressure sensitive labels mounted on a release liner from which the matrix
has been die cut and removed
Refer NS & O.
DIE CUTTING
The process of using dies or sharp steel rules to cut any shape for labels
Refer NS & O.
DIE HOLD-DOWN ASSEMBLY
A steel block incorporating bearings which apply pressure to the bearer surface
of a rotary die cutter through pressure screws. Can be calibrated.
DIE LIFE
Meterage expected from a new die or that expected following a re-sharpening
of a die. Estimates of life of a die depend on machine, labelstock, adhesive
and operator handling. Estimates of meterage vary significantly. Some companies
charge re-sharpening or a new die whenever a repeat order is produced.
DIE LINES
A hand drawn or computer generated layout of the die cut shape or shapes on
a clear or matt finish acetate or mylar. Used for layout.
DIE STAIN
Used to check die cutting accuracy. Usually done with diluted ink applied to
the die cut surface of the backing or liner material. The ink seeps into any
fractures of the silicone coated surface thereby exhibiting the problem areas
Refer NS.
DIELECTRIC
Dielectric values refer specifically to the insulating value of a material;
a non-conductor of electric current.
DIELECTRIC PAPER
A dense, well formed, chemically pure paper used as an insulating material
in electrical equipment to prevent the flow of electrical charges.
DIELECTRIC STRENGTH
The voltage which a material will withstand without allowing passage of the
current through it.
DIFFERENTIAL RELEASE
A release liner with release coatings on both sides. One side has easy release
while the opposite side is tighter such that the adhesive stays with the tighter
side during winding and other subsequent converting.
DILUENT
A liquid used to thin ink
Refer IM.
DIMENSIONAL STABILITY
That property of a material which enables it to resist length, width, or thickness
changes under varying conditions of heat, cold, moisture and other influences;
ability to hold size, consistency of dimensions.
DIRECT THERMAL
Printing method utilising heat impinged upon a specially coated substrate so
the heat turns the surface selectively black. A simple test to establish whether
a substrate is direct thermal image or not, is to light a match and hold it
near the substrate, close enough to discolour but not burn. A light bulb should
produce the same effect.
DISCOLOURATION
Any change from the original colour, or an unintended inconsistence of colour.
DISCRETE CODE
A bar code or symbol where the spaces between characters (inter-character gap)
are not part of the code.
DISHING - See TELESCOPING
DISPENSER
A device that feeds pressure sensitive labels, either manually or automatically,
presenting them ready for application by hand or mechanical means. It can
serve as a package for the labels as well (dispenser boxes).
DISPENSING EDGE
A relatively sharp edge around which the liner (backing material) is pulled
in order to dispense a pressure sensitive label from that backing.
DISPERSION
A uniform distribution of solid particles in a vehicle.
DISTORTED
Intentionally compensating for shrinkage, stretch, etc. of a flexographic printing
plate.
DISTORTION COPY
Copy which is intentionally distorted in preparation, in order to compensate
for the effects of dimensional changes due to subsequent processing. Flexographic
rubber plates require such allowances to compensate for shrinkage, etc.
DOCTOR BLADE
A thin flexible blade mounted parallel to and adjustable against the surface
of an engraved anilox roller for the purpose of scraping off excess ink or
coatings.
DOCTOR ROLL (ROLLER)
The fountain or metering roller in a flexographic press which doctors off the
excess ink or coating from the engraved anilox roller.
DOT
The individual element of halftones. All the dots in a halftone plate have
equal density and spacing, but to create the photographic reproduction effect
(in colour or black on white) the dot count will vary in area.
DOT ETCHING
Chemically reducing halftone dots to control the amount of colour to be printed.
Dot etching negatives increases colour; dot etching positives reduces colour.
DOT GAIN or SPREAD - Also See DOT GROWTH
A printing characteristic in which dots print larger on the paper than they
are on the films, causing darker tones or colours.
DOT GROWTH
The increase in size of a dot from the film to the printed sheet. Dot gain
consists of two (2) parts; physical dot gain and optical dot gain due to the
physics of light absorption and reflection.
DOT MATRIX
A printing machine (Dot matrix printer) that is controlled by a computer or
other such equipment, that produces an image by firing a series of pins or
hammers (9 or 24 pin), against a ribbon and then onto paper usually backed
by a hard rubber roller or similar hard surface.
DOUBLE COATED
A pressure sensitive product consisting of a carrier material with similar
or dissimilar adhesives applied to the two (2) surfaces and wound with a silicone
release paper (liner).
DOWNTIME
Any non-productive time caused by equipment malfunction, roll (paper) changes,
plate or die problems, etc. Non-productive time. Maintenance time. Employee
absence.
DRAW-DOWN - See MEYER ROD
A method of determining colour shade by drawing down a small amount of ink
with a meyer rod.
DRIER
In ink making, it is any substance added to ink to hasten drying. Salts of
certain metals that hasten the drying action of oils when added to coatings
or sealers. The metallic salts most commonly used are those of lead, manganese
and cobalt. Also part of the printing press through which the web travels
in order to receive heat etc. to effectively dry (force) the ink or coating.
Also spelled ‘dryer’. Does not include Ultra Violet Curing as this
is a catalytic reaction
Refer IM.
DRIERS - As DRIER
DRIVING SIDE
That side of a flexographic press on which the main gear train(s) are located.
Also gear side; opposite of operator side. Back of machine.
DROP-OUT
To knock out colour from behind another colour so that the first colour will
not effect the appearance of the second colour.
DRY EDGE - See SELVEDGE
The edge of paper or film where there is no adhesive, This makes for easy removal
of the release liner. Sometimes called Selvedge.
DRY LAP - See PATTERN COATED
DRYER - See DRIER
DRYERS - See DRIER
DRYING TUNNEL
A tunnel fitted with heaters (usually infra-red or hot air blowers) constructed
to allow the printed web to pass through and speed up the drying process with
water based, alcohol and oil based inks.
DRY SEAL ADHESIVE
One which is non-blocking except to itself. Two adherends may be pre-coated,
dried, then bonded at any time using only nominal pressure.
DWELL
Refers to the length of time pressure is applied to a pressure sensitive label
during production. The time that a hot-stamp, embossing head, or thermal die
remains in contact with the surface of a pressure sensitive material. Also
that time a pressure sensitive material remains on a surface before testing
the adhesion or removability
Refer NS for test procedure.
DYES
Synthetic or natural organic chemicals that are soluble in most common solvents,
characterised by good transparency, high tinctorial strength, and low specific
gravity.
DYE TESTS - See DIE STAIN
DYNE LEVEL
Dyne is the measurement of surface tension or energy. The level is the actual
reading of the critical surface tension. Low dyne levels indicate a low surface
energy which can contribute to poor ink adhesion
Refer NS.
E
EAN
European Article Numbering system. This is the international standard bar code
for retail food packages.
EDGE CURL - See CURL
EDGE GUIDE - See WEB GUIDE
EDGE LIFT
The edge of a label rising from the labelled surface. This condition occurs
most frequently on small diameter curved surfaces. Resistance to edge lift
is dependent on the bond strength of the adhesive and the flexibility of the
facestock.
EDM DIE
Die produced using electronic discharge machining. Dies made with this process
will last longer than standard dies
Refer O.
EDP
Electronic Data Processing
Refers to web format, fanfolded and sprocket punched
pressure sensitive labels, usually blank, for use on pin-feed dot matrix computer
printing equipment. Term is not used for A4 sheets, even though they may be
used in conjunction with computers.
ELASTIC MEMORY
A tendency of some materials to attempt to return to their original length
after being elongated.
ELECTRONIC PRE-PRESS
CAD - Computer Assisted Designing of new labels from conceptual through to
the separated, stepped films required for plate making.
ELECTROSTATIC PRINTING
A method of printing in which the ink is affixed to the web by electrostatic
methods.
ELEMENT
A single binary position in a character, also dimensionally, the narrowest
width in a character-bar or space.
ELLIPTICAL DOT
Elongated dots which improve gradation of tones particularly in middle tones
and vignettes.
ELMENDORF TEST
A standard test for determining the tearing strength of paper
Refer NS.
ELONGATION
The distance a material will stretch lengthwise before breaking, expressed
as a percentage of original length. Elongation is not necessarily an indication
of conformability
Refer NS.
EMBOSSING
Impressing surface with dies to produce a relief image or texture. Often utilising
a set of matched male and female dies to get the desired effect. Can also
be combined with hot foil stamping in one (1) action.
EMULSIFICATION
The process of dispersing one liquid in another when the two liquids normally
do not mix.
EMULSIFYING AGENT
Substance used to produce an emulsion of two liquids which do not naturally
mix.
EMULSION
A type of mixture wherein two or more immiscible (unmixable) materials are
held together in a homogeneous mixture by the action of a third agent. The
term ‘emulsifying agent’ is applied to the material which is added
to hold the emulsion together.
EMULSION SIDE
The side of the photographic film coated with the silver halide emulsion.
ENCAPSULATED INK
Ink encapsulated with a coating giving a free flowing dry system which can
be activated by heat or pressure (NCR - No Carbon Required as opposed to Carbon
Paper).
ENCAPSULATION
The process of encapsulating or trapping a substance (ie. Fragrance) within
a coating so that it can be applied like an ink on a printing press.
ENCODED AREA
The total lineal dimension consumed by all characters of a code pattern including
start/stop codes and other relevant data.
ENGRAVED ROLLER - See ANILOX ROLLER
Rollers available with various surface finishes such as chrome or ceramic.
These transfer rollers have mechanical or laser engraved cells.
ENGRAVING
A general term normally applied to any pattern which has been cut into or incised
into a surface by hand, mechanical or etching process.
ENGRAVINGS
Old style zinc printing plates.
ENHANCED SPECTRUM
Ultra Violet energy is normally generated by vaporising mercury in a medium
pressure quartz tube which emits a spectrum with specific energy level peaks.
Changing the material in the lamp from mercury to another element produces
a different (enhanced) spectrum with additional peaks or shifted energy peaks.
EPA
Environmental Protection Agency.
EVAPORATION
The changing from the liquid to the gaseous or vapour state as when the solvent
or water leaves the printed ink film.
EXOTHERMIC
A reaction which produces heat as a by product of the reaction process.
EXPOSE
To subject (a sensitive film, plate, etc.) to the action of a light source.
EXTENDERS
Any material added to an ink to reduce its colour strength and/or viscosity.
EYEMARK
A small rectangular printed area usually located near the edge of a web or
design, to activate an automatic electronic position regulator for controlling
register of the printed design with subsequent equipment or operations.
F
FACE-CUT LABEL
Any pressure sensitive label where the face material is cut to the liner. A
die-cut label product from which the matrix has not been removed.
FACE MATERIAL
Any paper, filmic, fabric, laminate or foil material suitable for converting
into pressure sensitive labelstock. In the finished construction this web
is bonded to the adhesive layer and becomes the functional part of the construction
Refer NS.
FACE SLIT
A slit in the face material of a pressure sensitive product to facilitate removal
from the backing.
FACE SPLIT - See FACE SLIT
FACE STOCK - See FACE MATERIAL
FADEOMETER
Instrument used to measure the fade resistant properties of inks and other
pigmented coatings
Refer NS for test procedure.
FADING
A gradual decrease in the brilliance of colour. The term is often applied to
the change in colour produced by exposure to light and the elements.
FAHRENHEIT
The imperial scale of temperature where ‘32’ represents the freezing
point of water and ‘212’ represents the boiling point of water.
Formula for conversion to Celsius: 5/9 X C X (F
- 32)
FANFOLD - See CONTINUOUS LABELS
FASTNESS
That property of a paper or dye-stuff which renders its resistant to change
in colour. Depending upon its use, a paper should be fast to light, alkali
and acid.
FATIGUE
A condition of stress created by repeated flexing or impact force upon the
adhesive-adhered interface.
FEATHERING
A defect which is characterised by ragged, coarse edges, or undesirable irregular
edges around a print.
FEED SLOTS - Also see SPROCKET PUNCHED
Round or rectangular holes or slits put in pressure sensitive labelstock to
maintain register of pressure sensitive labels while they are being printed
or imprinted. Usually refers to the feeding mechanism of sprocket punching
for dot matrix printers, pin wheel machines, car park machines, automatic
computer stencil cutting machines and the like. Other names are: Index Holes,
Index Punch, Pin Feed, Line Hole Punch and Marginal Punching.
FESTOON
Material take-up system usually used with a butt splicer in order to continue
feeding a press while the splice is being made on stationary material.
FILL-IN
Generally used to refer to the open portions of small type and half tones filled
in by ink to cause blotches.
FILLING IN
Refers to the filling in of small reverse areas or copy of a printed design.
FILM
A dark material (usually acetate) coated one side with an emulsion that is
light sensitive. When exposed to light, an image is transferred to the film
and then it is developed in chemicals to produce a negative.
A transparent material used for face stock for pressure sensitive labels. Often
used in applications requiring maximum durability as it seals the printed
surface. Applied during the run on a label press.
FILM MASTER
A photographic film representation of a specific symbol from which a printing
plate is produced.
FILM POSITIVE
A positive contact print on a film base material.
FILMS
Face and liner material manufactured from synthetic high molecular weight polymers.
FINAT
European organisation of Label Printers similar to LATMA.
FINENESS OF GRIND
The degree of grinding or dispersion of a pigment in a printing ink or vehicle.
Extent to which particle size has been reduced to its ultimate by grinding
technique.
FINENESS OF GRIND GAUGE
Instrument consisting of a flat block with two (2) calibrated gradient slots
from 0 to 0.001 inch on which ink is drawn down with a steel blade. Undispersed
pigment or other particles in ink show streaks starting at their particle
size
Refer NS for test procedure.
FINISH
To finalise (bring) the clients request to its proper conclusion. The surface
property of a material determined by its texture and gloss. Also an important
physical property of paper. It describes surface contour and characteristics
measurable by smoothness, gloss, absorbability and print quality. Finish of
paper can be aesthetic or functional
Refer relevant National Standard and
Labelstock manufacturers’ data sheet.
FINISHING
Usually refers to the last work done to a clients request prior to shipping,
ie. rewinding, inspection and packing, etc.
FISH EYES
Round or eye-shaped deformations in a coating (adhesive, release, protective,
etc.); craters.
FLAG
A marker, usually strips of coloured paper or board, inserted into rolls of
pressure sensitive materials and extending from an edge to designate a deviation
from the standard (normal), such as a splice, defect or specification change.
A warning to the slitter or press operator handling the material during the
next operation in the converting process, usually indicating an area that
is to be inspected closely. On the run, a flag can be inserted into a fan-fold,
stack of sheeted labels or rolls.
FLAGGING
Usually refers to the ‘lifting’ of a pressure sensitive label from
the surface to which it has been applied. This condition most often occurs
when the label has been applied around a curved (tight) surface or where the
adhesive has been nullified by mishandling.
FLAME RESISTANT PAPER
A paper which has been treated with chemicals which enable it to resist flame.
While not actually fireproof, it will not support combustion, will char but
not carry a flame.
FLAMMABLE
Capable of being ignited.
FLASH POINT
The temperature at which a flammable liquid will flash when ignited by a small
flame passed over the surface.
FLAT PACK - See FANFOLD
A continuous web folded at a cross perforation at regular intervals.
FLEX
Another term for deflection of rollers or cylinders in a press. Also, bending
qualities of characteristics of any material, including printing substrates.
FLEXIBILITY
A property of face materials, measured under specified conditions, that indicates
how readily they will conform to curved surfaces
Refer relevant National
Standard.
FLEXIBLE PRINTED CIRCUIT
A printed circuit or conductive pattern, on or between insulating layers, which
remains flexible after processing.
FLEXIBLE DIE - See MAGNETIC DIE
FLEXING
Condition that can occur on a die when the circumference is less than the width
of the cross-blades. Causes the centre of the cross-blades to fail to cut
properly and consistently.
FLEXLIGHT
Union Carbide’s trademark for photopolymer plate material.
FLEXOGRAPHIC PRINTING
Formerly called ANILINE printing. A method of rotary printing that employs
flexible, raised relief image plates and rapid drying inks or coatings. Flexography
uses either; Ultra Violet, water based, or alcohol based inks, or a combination
of all three.
FLEXOGRAPHY
Relief printing process using a simple inking system and fluid inks.
FLOCK
A commercial fuzz or lint consisting of fine strands or filaments from textile
fibres, animal hair, synthetic resins, etc. It is applied to an adhesive coated
surface to produce a decorative effect with a felt-like feel and appearance.
FLOOD COAT
The method of coating of an entire surface with an ink, adhesive, coating,
etc.
FLOW OUT
The capacity of an ink or adhesive to spread, filling in the hills and valleys
on the surface of the printed or non-printed substrate.
FLUORESCENT PAPER - Also known as RADIANTs or FLUROs
A paper that is coated with a fluorescent pigment which not only reflects a
visible wave length, but is activated by most of the remaining absorbed light
to re-emit it as colour of a longer wave length which results in reinforcement
of the reflected colour
Refer LM.
FLORESCENT PIGMENTS
By absorbing unwanted wave lengths of light and converting them into light
of desired wave lengths, these colours seem to possess an actual glow of their
own
Refer LM.
FLUOROCARBON FILMS
A film with very high and low temperature limits, excellent electrical characteristics,
and a very slippery, non-sticking surface.
FLYING SPLICE
A splice or joining of two (2) webs accomplished while the web is in motion.
FOAMING - FROTHING
A property of a liquid related to a surface tension.
FOB
Free on Board. Shipping term used to indicate that a price quoted includes
loading on a railroad car, truck, aircraft or ship at a designated point,
but no further transportation costs are included. Also, does not usually include
insurance.
FOCAL DISTANCE - See ULTRA VIOLET INKS.
Ultra violet light energy, like visible light, can be collected and focused
by an elliptical reflector. The focal distance is the distance from the lamp
centre to the substrate, whereas maximum energy is concentrated at that distance
which gives the narrowest band of focused light. When focused correctly, UV
inks will be cured in 1/40th of a second at approximately 30 meters per minute
with a 200 watt per inch medium pressure mercury vapour lamp. Speed of cure
can be either chemically enhanced or by adding more lamps, or lamps of higher
intensity, ie. 300 watts per inch
Refer IM
FOIL
A polyester film that carries a ‘dry’ pigment that is transferred
to paper by heat and pressure. Commonly used in hot stamping processes, gold
and silver foils were actually finely beaten and drawn gold or silver strips
for stamping onto leather.
FOIL PAPER LAMINATE
A foil (usually coloured aluminium), laminated to a sheet of paper used as
a face stock. The foil is usually top coated (tie coated), to improve ink
receptivity. A very thin metal sheet that can be used as face stock material
in label production.
FOIL STAMPING
The application of heat and pressure to a stamping foil to activate the foil
and transfer it to the substrate.
FONT
In typesetting (composition), the complete assortment of type of one size and
face, including numerals, capitals, lower-case, diphthongs, edit marks and
punctuation.
FORMAT
The size, style, layout, margins, etc., of a label. To format a computer floppy
disk - prepares a disk to receive computer generated information.
FOUNTAIN
A pan or trough on a flexographic press which contains the ink and in which
the fountain roller revolves.
FOUR COLOUR PROCESS
Printing with three of the primary colours plus black. Yellow, magenta and
cyan colour inks are printed with black, using screens to create all the other
colours of the spectrum.
FREEZER ADHESIVE
Adhesives that will function at temperatures below the freezing point. They
are usually removable (repositional) at room (ambient) temperatures
Refer
LM Specification Sheets.
FTA - and AFTA
American and International Flexographic Technical Association.
Australian Flexographic Technical Association.
FUGITIVE COLOURS
Those colours which are not fast to light.
FUGITIVE INKS
Inks specially manufactured to be used as a substitute for carbon paper between
paper layers.
FUSE
To join two surfaces by heating them
to their melting or softening point.
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