Glossary of Terms, T - Z
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.
T
TACK
The property of a pressure sensitive label which causes it to adhere to
a surface instantly with a minimum of pressure and contact time. It is the
feeling of stickiness obtained when the surface of an adhesive is touched
or when a label is applied to a surface and quickly pulled away.
TACK RANGE
The time during which an adhesive remains sticky
Refer NS & LM.
TACKIFIER
An additive used to improve the stickiness or tack of an adhesive.
TACKINESS
The stickiness of the adhesive.
TAG LABEL
Labels on heavy paper or tag stock with die cut holes so labels can be folded
over a packaging material as in a header or hanger label.
TAGS
Any identification that is only partially affixed to the product. System tags:
converted through roll fed production equipment. Merchandise tags: converted
through narrow web roll fed production equipment.
TAMPER-EVIDENT LABEL
A pressure sensitive construction made of material which will partially destruct
when tampered with. Used on a variety of items including packages, library
books, bottles and important documents.
TAMPERPROOF
Destructible. A pressure sensitive material which can not be removed intact
from a substrate thus making reuse of the label impossible.
TAPE
A single faced, self wound, adhesive coated substrate wound on spools for consumer
use.
TAPPI
Technical Association of the Paper and Pulp Industry. USA
TARNISHPROOF LABEL
Refers to a pressure sensitive label being free of substances that will discolour
or blemish copper or silver.
TEAR STRENGTH
Force required to tear a specimen under standardised conditions, with an instrument
designed to measure the force required, by simulating usage conditions under
which tearing might be accomplished
Refer NS & LM.
TEAR TAB
An additional area of face stock attached by the release liner to a pressure
sensitive label produced in single form to facilitate removal of the release
liner.
TEDLAR
Du Pont’s trademark for bi-axially oriented polyvinyl fluoride. One of
the most durable, chemical resistant, protective films.
TEETH PER INCH - (TPI)
Denotes the number of cuts per inch in a perforation blade
Refer Die Manufacturers
for TPI availability.
TELESCOPING
Transverse slipping of successive winds of a roll of material so that the edge
is conical rather than flat.
TENSILE STRENGTH
The force parallel to the plane of the specimen required to break a given width
and length of stock under specified conditions
Refer NS & LM.
TENSION
The mechanical control of unwinding or rewinding paper, film, foil and other
roll materials. The stress caused by a force operating to extend, stretch
or pull apart. Not that paper can, if the machine tension is not controlled
correctly, grow in length.
TENSION RELEASE
Loss of tension within a roll of material, usually occurs when there is an
actual shrinkage of the adhesive. Once this happens, register control is not
possible and the roll must be rewound to re-establish tension.
THERIMAGE
A method of container decoration that utilises pressure and heat to transfer
the image from a carrier to the surface of a container.
THERMAL
Refers to the use of heat in any process. Ie. Hot foil stamping. Thermal transfer
etc.
THERMAL PROOF
A computer generated colour proof utilising coarse screens, etc., to simulate
a finished design. Not useable as artwork
Refer NS.
THERMAL TRANSFER PAPER
A face paper or pressure sensitive paper specifically designed to accept heat
activated ink from the ribbon of a thermal transfer printer. A simple test
to discover whether paper is thermal transfer or not, is to hold a flame close
to the paper surface - if it blackens or discolours - it is thermal paper
Refer LM.
THERMOGRAPHIC
A printing method utilising heat to achieve an image.
THERMOGRAPHIC PAPER - See THERMAL TRANSFER PAPER
THERMOSET
The property of an adhesive normally fluid to set or become rigid and non-meltable
when heated.
THICKNESS
The distance from one surface of either tape, label or adhesive to the other,
usually expressed in mils, microns or thousandths of an inch. This is normally
measured under slight pressure with a special gauge
Refer NS & LM.
THIXOTROPIC
Describes materials which exhibit thixotropy.
THIXOTROPY
The ability of gel like liquids to ‘thin out’ when under shear forces
or when agitated.
THREAD
In a press or coating machine, the routing of a web between the various rollers
or other parts of the machine - ‘thread up’ or ‘web up’
are two other terms commonly used.
TIE
A term used to denote the uncut portion of the perforation.
TIE COAT
One layer of a coating used to improve the adhesion of ink or other coatings
to follow. Also called ‘Primer’ and ‘Barrier Coat’.
TIGHT RELEASE
The level of adhesion between the release liner and the adhesive on a pressure
sensitive material, when the liner is difficult to remove
Refer NS &
LM.
TINTS
Even tone areas (strengths) of a solid colour.
TLMI
Tag & Label Manufacturers Institute. North American organisation of Label
Printers similar to LATMA Australia Ltd.
TOLERANCE
A specified range that products must fall within
Refer NS & LM & IM
& O.
TOOLING
Usually refers to die cutters, butt cutters, etc., used to cut out the labels.
Mostly used to refer to all tooling necessary to produce the finished product;
blocks and die cutters.
TOOTH COUNT
Refers to the actual number of teeth there are on the gear which is attached
to the dies and printing cylinders. Each tooth count refers to a separate
and actual repeat length. Ie. 96 teeth at 1/8" = 12" repeat.
TOP LAMINATION - See OVERLAMINATING
TOPCOAT
A surface treatment or coating on a material which enhances ink receptivity.
Also refers to protective coating.
TORSION
Stress caused by twisting a material.
TOXICITY
The degree or intensity of virulence of a substrate judged to be injurious
to living tissue; poisonous.
TPI - See TEETH PER INCH - See GEAR CHART at back of Glossary.
TRACKING
The manner in which a web travels through rotary equipment.
TRACTOR FEED - See PIN FEED
TRANSFER ADHESIVE SANDWICH
Pressure sensitive adhesive coated between two release liners with a release
differential, so that the release liners can be peeled away successively,
in order that the adhesive alone can be applied to a substrate
Refer NS &
LM.
TRANSFER ROLLER
Plain or engraved roller rotating in contact with another plain roller or doctor
blade transferring variable amounts of ink in a flexographic inking system.
TRANSFER TAPE
A pressure sensitive adhesive, unsupported, applied to a two-sided differentially
release coated liner
Refer NS & LM.
TRANSLUCENCY
Ability to transmit diffused light without being fully transparent
Refer NS.
TRANSLUCENT
Transmitting light in a diffuse manner so that objects beyond cannot
be clearly distinguished; partially transparent
Refer NS & LM.
Special Note: Translucent and transparent are names often confused for similar
but different outcomes.
TRANSPARENCY
Colour or monochrome photographic positive on a transparent base (film). Also
that property of a material which transmits light rays so that objects can
be clearly seen through it
Refer NS & LM.
TRANSPARENT
Transmitting light without appreciable scattering so that objects beyond are
clearly distinguishable
Refer NS & LM.
TRANSPARENT LABEL
A pressure sensitive label whose face material, adhesive and protective coatings,
transmit light so that objects can be seen through it. Also called ‘No
label look’
Refer NS & LM.
TRANSVERSE DIRECTION
The direction of a labelstock from left to right, from side to side, as opposed
to the web direction; cross direction
Refer LM.
TRAPPING
The overlapping of various colours in a design to prevent their separating
and not touching as a result of registration variables during printing. The
condition of printing ink on ink, making sure the first down ink is dry when
the next one is printed over it to properly hide the first colour down. This
can also be achieved by printing each successive colour after Ultra Violet
curing, and in the case of oil based inks, each colour with a decreased viscosity.
TRIM
The normal edge waste from a master roll of labelstock. A term used to describe
an action on the press ‘trim’ the paper, ‘trim’ the edge.
TRIM MARKS - See CROP MARKS
In printing, marks placed on the copy, and sometimes printed, to indicate the
edge of the label where it will be cut.
TUNNEL - (Drying)
The compartment through which a web passes for drying after printing.
TUNNELLING
A condition caused by incomplete bonding of laminates, characterised by release
of longitudinal portions of the substrate and deformation of these portions
to form tunnel-like structures.
TURN BAR - See TURNING BARS
TURNING BARS
An arrangement of stationery bars on a press, which guide the web in such a
manner that it is turned front to back, and will be printed on the reverse
side by the printing units located subsequent to the turn(ing) bars. Often
used to produce sheet labels where the liner is printed with instructions
or tradenames, then the labelstock is turned right side up so that the labelstock
surface can receive the die cut.
TYVEK
Du Pont’s trademark for spun bonded polyolefin material frequently used
as a face material where very high tensile strength is required. Often used
for snow ski tickets.
U
UL
Underwriters’ Laboratories. USA.
ULTIMATE ADHESION
The maximum adhesion possible from a pressure sensitive adhesive
Refer LM.
ULTIMATE STRENGTH
The maximum stress a material is capable of withstanding under specified load
or tension
Refer NS & LM.
ULTRA VIOLET - ULTRAVIOLET - UV
Zone of visible radiation(s) beyond the violet end of the spectrum of visible
radiations. Since UV wave lengths are shorter than the visible, their photons
have more energy, enough to initiate some chemical reactions. Radiation from
a source such as a high pressure mercury vapour lamp made of quartz, emits
UV light in the 315 to 400 nanometre range (just below visible light). This
light is used to trigger a chemical reaction in the ink on a press, and causes
the ink to cure. Curing time is usually 1/40th of 1 second
Refer IM.
UNBLEACHED
A term applied to paper or pulp which has not been treated with bleaching agents.
UNDER CURE
Degree of cure less than optimum. May be evidenced by tackiness, softness,
off-colour or inferior physical properties of a coating.
UNDERCUT ANVIL - Also STEPPED ANVIL
Die station base roller that has had the ‘bearer’ area diameter reduced
in order to allow the blades of a rotary die to cut deeper than was originally
intended.
UNDERCUT PLATE CYLINDER - See PLATE CYLINDER
UNDER-RUN
Production or delivery of labels which falls short of the quantity specified
by the client order
Refer NS.
UNWIND
Mandrel and brake device from which a roll of labelstock is unwound and fed
into a web press.
UNWIND ADHESION
The force required to unwind self wound laminating film from a roll under prescribed
conditions.
UPC SYMBOLS - See BAR CODES
UV - See ULTRA VIOLET
The part of the spectrum wherein the wavelength of light is shorter than that
of visible light.
UV CURING
A system which uses ultra violet rays to affect a curing process.
UV INHIBITOR
A chemical additive that increases resistance to degradation caused by UV light.
UV INK
Solvent-less, 100% solids ink that is cured by ultra violet radiation and then
becomes chemically inert
Refer IM.
UV RESISTANCE
The ability of any material to withstand extended exposure to sunlight without
degradation, hardening or excessive discolouration.
UV STABILISER
Any chemical compound which, when mixed with a thermoplastic resin, selectively
absorbs UV rays.
UV VARNISH
Lacquer or varnish usually applied over printed web used as a protective layer
that is cured by exposure to a high intensity UV light source
Refer IM.
V
VARNISH
A thin, clear coating of mixtures of natural and synthetic resins and drying
oils applied to a printed web for protection or appearance. In ink making,
it can be part of the ink’s vehicle or carrier
Refer IM.
VEHICLE
In printing inks, the fluid component which serves as the dispersant for the
pigment and gives the ink flow (carrier)
Refer IM.
VIGNETTE
An illustration in which the background fades gradually until it blends into
the unprinted area.
VINYL
Synthetic plastic product which can be made in film, sheet or other forms.
Vinyls can be manufactured in rigid or flexible constructions. Generally more
flexible and formable than polyesters. Also known as PVC or polyvinyl chloride.
A tough durable plastic film having excellent resistance to oils, chemicals
and many solvents. It has excellent abrasion resistance. It can also be coloured.
Its high stretch is due to the addition of a plasticiser.
VISCOMETER
An instrument for measuring the viscosity or resistance to flow
Refer IM.
VISCOSITY
Resistance to flow. It is related to the properties of tack and yield value;
the flow rate
Refer IM.
VOID
An area of a coated film which does not have a coating. An adhesive skip; adhesive
void.
VULCANISING
Cross linking an adhesive substance by the application of heat and catalysts.
W
WAND SCANNER - See LIGHT PEN
WARM COLOUR
A colour that appears to be on the reddish side.
WASHUP
The step in press make-ready of cleaning the ink rollers, plates and ink fountains
of a printing press.
WASTE - See MATRIX
WATER SOLUBLE ADHESIVE
A pressure sensitive adhesive in which all components are water soluble
Refer
LM.
WATERBORNE ADHESIVE
A dispersion of fine particles in another liquid. Many pressure sensitive adhesives
are waterborne or emulsion adhesives
Refer LM.
WEATHERABILITY
Ability of a pressure sensitive label to withstand the effects of outdoor weathering,
including time
Refer NS & LM.
WEATHEROMETER
A testing machine designed for evaluating the ability of a pressure sensitive
label to withstand various simulated weather conditions
Refer NS & LM.
WEAVING
A poorly wound roll of labels (or other material) in which the individual layers
of the labels are not in proper alignment with the other layers.
WEB
The paper, foil, film or other flexible material, from a roll, as it moves
through the machine in the process of being formed or in the process of being
converted or printed etc.
WEB DIRECTION - See MACHINE DIRECTION
WEB GUIDE
A device which keeps the web travelling straight and true through the press.
WEB PRESS
A press which prints from rolls (or webs) of materials such as pressure sensitive.
WEB TENSION
The amount of pull or tension applied in the direction of travel of a web of
paper through a web press. Poor control of web tension will result in register
problems, ‘growing’ paper, fan-folding difficulties and sheeting
problems.
WET STRENGTH
The tensile strength of paper when it is wetted after manufacture.
WETTING
The relative ability of a liquid adhesive to display interfacial affinity for
an adherend and to flow uniformly over the adherend surface.
WETTING AGENT
A preparation usually added to aqueous solutions to facilitate their spreading
or increase their ability to evenly wet or penetrate a surface.
WHIP - See BOUNCE (Roller)
WHICKING
Tendency of a liquid to ‘travel’ through paper
Refers to absorption
of moisture into paper through the raw edge.
WIRE SIDE
That side of a paper which has come into contact with the wire of the paper
machine during the process of manufacture.
WRAP-AROUND LABEL
Label that extends completely around a bottle, can or other product, and as
well as adhering to the product, it tips onto itself to completely seal (overlaps).
WRINKLES
Small creases or folds in a smooth surface.
X
XENERGY
Term used to describe a radiation curing process for silicone coatings.
XEROGRAPHY
A method of printing in which negatively charged ink powder is attracted to
a positively charged metal plate or cylinder, from which it is transferred
to the printing surface by electrostatic attraction.
XEROX
Trade name for machine that first employed the Xerography method of printing.
Y
YELLOWING
A change manifested by a gradual colour change in the original appearance of
a pressure sensitive face material, characterised by the development of yellowish
and brownish hues.
YIELD
Number of square meters of film or paper per kilo.
Z
ZAHN CUP
A device for measuring viscosity
Refer IM.
ZIG ZAG FOLD - See FAN FOLD - CONTINUOUS LABELS
ZIG ZAG FOLDING - See FAN FOLD - CONTINUOUS LABELS
ZONE RELEASE COATING (LINER)
Term refers to a liner and face stock which are permanently bonded with only
the label portion capable of being removed from the liner
Refer LM.
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