Cc

c
abbreviation for centi, cubic, candle.

c*
abbreviation for chromaticity difference.

C1S
abbreviation for coated one side.

C2S
abbreviation for coated two sides.

C-stage
the final stage in the reaction of thermosetting resin where the material is relatively insoluble and infusible; thermosetting resin in a fully cured state

CA
acroynm for cellulose acetate.

CAB.
acroynm for cellulose acetate butyrate.

CAD (Computer Aided Design)
software used to produce designs and drawings for architectural, engineering and scientific applications.

cabinet oven
a device for thermal treatment by convection, mounted on a floor stand, usually used for testing in the lab, or for very low production of small parts.

cache
a temporary storage area for information which locates itself between the hard disk and the RAM by employing intuitive logic. It also speeds up the access time of the data.

cadmium red
an inorganic red pigment composed of cadmium sulfide and cadmium selenide that is resistant to light, heat, and soap.

cadmium yellow
an inorganic yellow pigment composed of cadmium sulfide and lighter shades of zinc sulfide that is resistant to light, heat, and soap.

calcine
to heat a ceramic batch material to a temperature below the melting or fusion point causing loss of moisture, reduction, or oxidation.

calender
(1) a configuration of heated rollers used for flattening one or both sides of synthetic screen printing mesh; (2) to prepare sheets of material by pressure between two or more counter rotating rolls; (3) a set of cast iron rollers with highly polished surfaces situated at the dry end of a paper making machine.

calendered fabric
screen mesh that has been flattened on one or both sides by passing it through heated rollers.

calendered film
a film with a very glossy surface obtained by passing the film between polished rollers under pressure, and sometimes under elevated temperature conditions.

calendered finished (calendered): any paper with a surface glazed by means of steel or cast iron rollers with hardened surfaces.

calendering
(1) a finishing process that flattens one or both sides of a screen mesh reducing mesh thickness and opening size; (2) a way of manufacturing plastic sheets by first converting the resins into a dough like mass then passing it between heated pressure rollers to form a sheet with a glossy or textured surface; (3) a method of producing a very high gloss surface on paper stock by passing the sheet between a series of pressure rollers; (4) a finishing process for fabric creating high luster, glazing, embossing, and moiré.

calender winkle
crease in paper web produced as the web passes through the calender rolls.

calibration
to determine, check, or rectify the graduations of any instrument giving quantitative measurements.

calibration bar
a strip of tones attached to a negative, proof, or print used to check print quality.

calibration curve
a graphic representation of the calibration record.

calibration cycle
calibration in ascending and descending directions.

calibration log
a record documenting when an instrument was calibrated and who performed the calibration procedure. (Other items that may be documented are temperature, relative humidity, and any other specific items of data beneficial in troubleshooting an instrument malfunction).

calibration standard
a reference material of a known or fixed value used to calibrate an instrument such as a calibration standard that can be traced to the US National Institue of Standards and Technology(NIST).

caliper
(1) the thickness of a substrate material usually expressed in mils or points, both being terms expressing thousandths of an inch. (0.050 is expressed as 50 point usually for paper stocks; or 50 mils when plastics are designated by thickness); (2) an instrument used to measure a substrate.

calorie
(1) the quantity of heat necessary at normal atmospheric pressure to raise the temperature of one gram of water one degree centigrade; (2) a standard unit measure of heat, equal to 4.1840 joules; a thermal unit.

calorific value
the amount of heat measured in calories or Btu’s released by combustion of a unit quantity of fuel.

camera
a device for taking photographs, generally composed of a lightproof enclosure having an aperature with a shuttered lens through which the image of an object is focused and recorded on a photosensitive film or plate.

camera angle
the angle defined by the position of the subject matter in relation to the camera lens; viewpoint.

camera back
the paper/film-holding section of a process camera, used for holding photosensitive material to the filmback.

camera digital
photographic system using a charged-coupled device to transform visual information into pixels that are assigned binary codes, so they can be manipulated, compressed, stored, or transmitted as electronic files.

camera exposure
the subjecting of light rays reflected or transmitted by a subject being photographed, under controlled conditions of time and intensity, of a photosensitive film for the purpose of producing a latent image thereon.

camera lens
an arrangement of circular concave or convex pieces of glass that control incoming light rays by focusing them on a ground glass or photosensitive film.

camera mount
the trace or base where the camera is fixed or secured to eliminate vibration.

camera process
a camera designed to create a halftone image or color separations for photomechanical reproduction.

camera-ready art
(1) all printing elements prepared to be photographed; (2) an original design, completely finished as it is to appear in the reproduction.

cancellation proof
the final print in a fine art edition.

candela
a unit of measure indicting the amount of intensity developed by an artifical light.

candela per square meter
unit used to define luminous intesity of a light source

canopy easel
for simultaneously setting up a display card and supporting a canopy.

can top easel
an easel for display cards that are to be placed on top of round metal cans.

CAP
acroynm for cellulose acetate propionate.

capability analysis
study of the ability of a process to meet established requirements.

capability performance index (Cp)
a measure of the relationship between the allowable process spread (part tolerance) and the actual process spread (natural balance).

capability performance, lower (CPL)
a measure of the relationship between the performance of a process and the lower specification limit.

capability performance, upper (CPU)
a measure of the relationship between the performance of a process and the upper specification limit.

capacitance
the property of conductors and dielectrics to allow storage of an electrical charge when voltage is applied.

capacitor
an electrical circuit element consisting of two metallic plates separated by a dielectric or insulating material such as glass, ceramic, mica, or other non-conducting material used to store an electrical charge temporarily.

capillary action
the movement of a liquid with or against the law of gravity, into a very small opening, usually tubular in shape, or as in a surface of closely matted very fine fibers. (Liquid penetration and flow rate in porous surfaces is dependent on pressure, surface tension, and radius of the opening, among other factors).

capillary film
a presensitized, uniformly coated stencil film that is adhered to a water wet screen mesh under slight pressure through capillary action.

cap printing (bottle caps)
refer to bottle cap printer.

cap printing machine (textiles)
a specifically engineered device for printing onto the rounded surfaces of a cap using a flat or flexible curved screen.

capture
acquiring information, such as an image, with a scanner or digital-camera device.

carbon adsorption
ability of treated carbon to attract and retain on its surface structure toxic vapors, such as from organic solvents.

carbon arc
a light source of high actinic value, contains two carbon rods spaced slightly apart at the tips through which passes an electric current that bridges the gap between the tips, the resulting arc emits light extremely high in actinic value. (Note:Carbon arc lamps were once used for exposing photo stencil films and emulsions, but they have been largely replaced by other types of exposure units.)

carbon arc lamp
refer to carbon arc.

carbon black
an intensely black, finely divided pigment obtained by burning natural gas or petroleum oil with a restricted air supply used for formulatting black ink; aso refer to channel black.

carbon dust
fine granules of carbon residue resulting from the oxidation of the carbon rods while arcing in a carbon arc light unit.

carbon entrapment
darkening of applied color labeling enamel and/or development of spongy structure due to sintering of a glass enamel before the vehicle is completely oxidized.

carbon/graphite ink
a specially prepared suspension of carbon black used when the conductivity of a metal base system is not required, often printed over silver circuitry to reduce silver migration.

carbonized mesh
monofilament screen mesh with threads that have been treated with carbon or have carbon cores to prevent the buildup of static electricity through friction.

carbon rods
cylindrical rods made of carbon granules bound together into a solid form for use in carbon arc lamp.

carbon tissue
a dyed or pigmented gelatin-based photographic material coated onto a paper support that is exposed, developed, and adhered to the screen printing mesh forming a stencil.

carbon tissue process
the technique involved in making a screen printing stencil of carbon tissue film by exposure of the sensitized sheet and subsequent development and adhesion to the screen printing mesh.

carborundum
an abrasive solution of silicon carbide, the finer grade of which is used to abrade the surface of monofilament mesh.

carcinogen
any substance that has the ability to cause cancer in a living organism.

cardboard
layers of paper laminated into sheets of varying thickness, generally 0.006 inch (0.15 mm) or greater.

carding
(1) the removal of foreign matter, short fibers, seed, and tangles from cotton before it is spun; (2) process of cleaning ink off the screen mesh after a print run.

caret mark
a symbol (_) indicating where an omission in the copy should be inserted.

carnival glass
an iridescent decoration produced by applying metallic salt over a glass body.

carousel
a multicolor screen printing device that typically has multiple platens that rotate around a central shaft.

carriage
A scanner's imaging head that moves down a page to capture an image. Also called optical-imaging element, optical-imaging head.

carrier
refer to backing sheet.

carrier frame
device on the press that supports the printing screen frame during the press operation.

car-sign board
a special grade of cardboard with a waste paper middle and liners of chemical wood pulp and/or shavings used chiefly for transit advertising posters.

car topper
a display that can be attached to the top of a car or truck either permanently or temporarily for either show room or street use.

CAS
Computer-Aided Sign-Making. Refers to sign-related software and computer-driven, sign-making equipment.

casein
a protein substance usually obtained from milk used to make sizings, adhesives, and as a binder for aqueous pigment dispersion.

cast (plastic sheeting)
(1) application of liquid plastic resins onto a moving belt or precipitating into a chemical bath to form a sheet; (2) an item shaped in a mold while in fluid or plastic state.

cast coated paper
heavy clay coated paper dried under pressure against a polished cylinder to produce a highly glossy finish.

cast film
plastic sheeting formed by spreading a molten mixture on a carrier sheet or web, baking at high temperatures to remove solvents, and fusing the material into a sheet.

cast vinyl
(1) vinyl sheeting manufactured by coating the liquid compound onto a substrate, usually a polished chrome plated sheet, where it remains until it sets to form the plastic sheet; (2) compounds such as vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate or similar esters, formed or molded into specified shapes,and sheets.

casting
the act of pouring slip into a mold; process of filling a plaster, metal, or sand mold to create an object.

catalyst
a substance that alters, initiates, or accelerates the velocity of a reaction between two or more substances without changing its chemical composition.

catalyzed system
chemical compound, ink, or coating that contains a catalyst.

cationic cure
occurs when an energized molecule reacts with cationically sensitive monomers to initiate polymerization.

cause-and-effect diagram
a fishbone diagram used to determine the root cause of a problem, uses a graphic description of various process elements in order to analyze potential sources of process variation.

caustic
a chemical that can burn, eat away or destroy tissue.

CCD (Charged Coupled Device)
light-detection device used in many popular scanners, digital cameras, and video cameras that generates electrical current in direct proportion to how much light strikes areas of the sensor.

CCD array
an arrangement of CCD sensors mounted in close proximity that allows for the simultaneous capturing of many pixels with one exposure.

CE mark
indicates product meets European Union for Standardization product safety testing requirements.

ceiling limit
a definite upper boundry, beyond which concentrations, such as of air contaminants, should not be permitted to exceed.

cell
a small etched depression in a gravure cylinder that carries the ink.

cellosolve
trade name for ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, a relatively slow drying solvent used as a retarder.

cellosolve acetate
an acetate solvent used to test for full cure of plastisol ink. is

cellulose
a natural high polymeric carbohydrate derived from plant cell walls such as cotton, jute, and hemp.

cellulose acetate (CA)
a thermoplastic resin manufactured by the action of acetic acid and acetic anhydride on purified cellulose obtained from cotton linters.

cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB)
a thermoplastic resin manufactured by the action of a mixture of acetic and butyric acids and their anhydrates on pyrified cellulose.

cellulose nitrate (CN)
a thermoplastic resin manufactured by the nitration of cotton linters with mixtures of nitric and sulfuric acids. (The first flexible transparent film base).

cellulose acetate propionate (CAP)
a thermoplastic resin manufactured by reacting cellulose with propionic acid and propionic anhydride.

cellulosics
thermoplastic resins manufactured by chemical modification of cellulose.

Celsius
formerly known as Centigrade, a thermal scale for measuring heat and/or cold temperature, more widely used than the Fahrenheit scale in scientific and other laboratory work with a freezing point of zero.

cement exposing method
an exposing technique involving the temporary securing of the film positive or hand made positive to the photoscreen film with rubber cement prior to exposure.

CEN
abbreviation for European Committee for Standardization.

centi
a prefix utilized in the metric system of measurement that denotes 10 to the negative 2 power (10^-2) or 0.01, abreviated c.

Centigrade
refer to Celsius.

centigram
a unit of weight in the metric system that is equal to 1/100 of a gram; abbreviated cg.

centimeter
a unit of measure in the metric system of measurement equivalent to 1/100 of a meter or 0.3927 inch; abbreviated is cm.

centimeter, cubic
refer to cubic centimeter.

centimeter, square
refer to square centimeter.

centipoise
a unit of measure of viscosity equal to one hundredth (0.01) of a poise, the viscosity of water at 20° C.

centistoke
a unit of measure of kinematic viscosity.

central line
a line on a control chart that depicts the average or median value of the terms plotted.

centrifugal force
a force exerted on an object moving in a circular path which is directed away from the center of rotation.

centripetal force
a force exerted on an object moving in a circular path which is directed inward toward the center of rotation.

CEPS (Color Electronic Prepress)
a high-end digital publishing system specifically designed for color correction and image assembly.

ceramic
technology concerned with the manufacture of products from inorganic, non-metallic substances, and materials that are subjected to a high temperature during manufacture or use.

ceramic coating
an inorganic, essentially non-metallic, coating suitable for use at or above red heat.

ceramic enamel
a vitreous coating that is fused at elevated temperature to a ceramic or glass substrate.

ceramic ink
an ink containing ceramic pigments and flux that is applied to ceramic substrate.

ceramic substrate
wafers, chips, or other forms such as steatite compositions used for printed electronic circuitry.

CERCLA
acroynm for Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (US).

cermet
derived from "ceramic" and "metal"; (1) a material composed of processed ceramic particles bonded with metal and used for high temperature applications; (2) a film, or coating, screen printed with formulations of conductive and insulating materials onto a ceramic substrate.

cerment run summary
a data sheet bearing all technical specifications, instructions, etc., including that developed in targeting and production runs in thick film circuit production, that identifies each specific job; a guide sheet of specs and values of a thick film circuit.

certificate
a written statement stating an organization’s procedures or material complies with a set of standards or requirements.

certificate of compliance (C of C)
a certificate generated by a quality control department confirming that a product or material meets a certain standard or requirement.

certification
the verification that specific training or testing has been performed and that required proficiencies or parameter values have been attained.

certification mark
a mark used by a person other than the owner of the mark, certifying origin, quality, material or other characteristics. Example: ILGWU (International Ladies Garment Workers Union) label.

CFM
abbreviation for cubic feet per minute.

CFR
acroynm for the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations that is maintained by the National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.USA.

cg
abbreviation fore centigram.

CGM (Computer Graphics Metafile)
a vector-based standard for graphics files that allows images to be transferred between applications.

chain dot
refer to elliptical dot.

chain marks
impression caused by support systems used to convey a substrate through the heat cycle.

chain stitch
a stitch formed by a hook that acts as a needle and one thread that is fed from the bottom side of the fabric.

chair easel (single wing easel)
a display easel with a single fold-out support section that can be locked at a 90 degree angle to the back of a display card.

chalking
a screen printed ink where the pigment is not properly bound to the substrate and can be easily rubbed off in the form of a powder, common with exposure to the elements.

channel
a component of a digital image that carries the data for a color component or a mask.

channel black
carbon black produced by impinging a natural gas flame against a metal surface.

channel connector
a display part used for connecting two attached planes.

channel rubber
small rubber channel to insulate the wire mesh from the metal frame of an electrically heated or hot printing screen.

channel support
a display part for attaching landscaped part of a display in a forward position.

character
a single letter, symbol or numerical designation.

characteristic curve
a photographic term, referring to a graph of relative response on the part of photographic materials to varying amounts of light.

character generation
constructing typographic images electronically as a series of dots, lines, or pixels on a CTR (cathode ray tube) screen.

chase
(1) a frame with a means of mesh attachment designed to hold tensioned screen mesh, usually made of tubular or channel aluminum, but can also be made from steel and wood; (2) a rectangular metal frame where cutting dies, type, or other design element is locked up for printing or finishing.

chatter
a phenomenon that can occur while sharpening a squeegee resulting in a jagged edge due to improper grinding procedures.

check, checking
refer to crazing.

checking
fine hairline cracks in a dried coating film which begin at the surface and progress downward.

checkout rack
a display fixture that is placed near or at the checkout area in a supermarket.

chessy
under cured, used in evaluating the degree of cure in a plastisol ink film.

chemical fixation
a hazardous waste treatment process involving reactions between certain chemicals, resulting in solids which encapsulate, immobilize, or otherwise tie up components in the waste, thus minimizing the leaching of hazardous components and rendering the waste nonhazardous or more suitable for disposal.

chemical glass
a chemically durable glass suitable for making laboratory apparatus.

chemical lubricant
plasticizers and waxes of monomeric or polymeric structure that lubricate between micro-molecules in plastics and increase flexibility.

chemical milling (chemical machining): a process of producing very small precise shape in metal that is usually too fragile to withstand machine shaping. (A resist is printed on the metal foil in the design desired and the excess, unprotected metal is then etched away).

chemical microscopy
method employed to identify material components, analyzing defects caused by dyes and finishes, determining the size and distribution of particles in paper, plastics, coatings, powders, resins and starches, and to obtain asbestos filament counts.

chemical name
the standard name used for a substance.

chemical resistance
the resistance of an ink film or imprint to deteriorating from exposure to or immersion in chemicals of specified type under specified conditions.

chemical vapor drying
the hardening and setting of the surface of a printed ink film with a gaseous mixture of elements instead of heat.

chemistry
generic use referring to chemicals used in a darkroom.

chill mark
a wrinkled surface condition on glassware resulting from uneven cooling in the forming process.

china
a dense porous white opaque glazed or unglazed vitrerous ceramic whiteware.

china clay
natural white inorganic mineral pigment used in paper coatings and as an ink extender.

china wood oil
refer to tung oil.

chipboard
an inexpensive single ply paperboard manufactured from mixed waste papers to a low density, used whenever durability or appearance are not important factors.

chips (wafers)
(1) factory formed substrate on which electronic circuits are printed, usually a formulation including alumina, with high heat resistance; (2) a fingernail-sized chip of silicon that carries circuitry.

chlorinated solvent
a family of solvents made up of carbon, hydrogen and chlorine, or carbon and chlorine. (Chlorinated solvents have high solvent strength for oils and fats not ordinarily dissolved by the esters, ketones, or alcohols).

choke
a process whereby an image is made smaller in size without changing its shape or position.

chroma
(1) intensity or strength of a color, the degree of brightness or brilliance; (2) the extent that a color is diluted by white light; (3) its saturation or degree of departure from black and white; (4) hue or color information.

Chromalin™
A color proofing system by DuPont.

chromatic
perceived as having hue; not white, gray, or black.

chromatic attributes
those attributes associated with the spectral distribution of light.

chromaticity
a color specification that is indicated by dominant wavelength and purity.

chrominance
The portions of a signal that are dedicated to describing the hue and saturation. Used in measuring the difference between two colors of equal brightness.

chromatone
a photographic color print process.

chrome green
an opaque green pigment that is fairly light resistant, made by mixing freshly precipitated iron blue and chrome yellow.

chrome yellow
a light resistant opaque yellow pigment composed essentially of lead chromate.

chromic acid treatment
an acid bath treatment for polyolefins (polypropylene, polyethylene), in preparation for coating, bonding, or printing.

chromium
in photosensitive process, a blue-white metallic element compound which is used as a bleaching or hardening agent.

chromium tanning
the changing by action of actinic light, of polyvinyl alcohol films, coatings, or emulsions containing potassium bichromate or ammonium bichromate that results in the PVA becoming insoluble in water.

chronic
a toxic effect that results from exposure to a toxic material over a long period of time.

chronic effect
refers to the adverse health effects that develop over a long period of time or upon repeated/prolonged exposure to a hazardous material.

chuck
a holding jig or fixture for three-dimensional ware, used to position the object to be decorated.

CIE — Commission International de l’Eclairange
a set of color standards based on mathematical modeling of human vision and light, CIE color spaces are used for the communication of color independent of a specific device.

CIE chromaticity coordinates (Trichomatic Coefficients or Trilinear Coordinates):
the ratios of each of the tristimulus values of a color to the sum of the tristimulus values. (In the CIE systems they are designated by x, y, and z).

CIE chromaticity diagram
two-dimensional graph of the chromaticity coordinates, x as the abscissa and y as the ordinate, which shows the spectrum locus (chromaticity coordinates of monochromatic light 380 to 700nm).

CIE L*a*b*
scale adopted by the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) to serve as a worldwide standard for color measurement.

CIE LAB (L*a*b*)
a color model to approximate human vision consisting of three variables: L* for luminosity, a* for one color axis, and b* for the other color axis; the most widely used and recognized color matching system for describing colors with numbers.

CIE luminosity function
a plot of the relative magnitude of the visual response as a function of wavelength from 389 to 780 nm adopted by CIE in 1924.

CIE LUV (CIE L*u*v*)
color space in which values L*,u* and v* are plotted at right angles to one another to form a three dimensional coordinate system with equal distances in the space approximately represent equal color differences.

CIE standard illuminants
known spectral data established by CIE for four different types of light sources.

CIE standard observer
a hypothetical observer having the tristimulus color mixture data recommended in 1931 by the CIE to a 2º viewing angle. (If not specified the 2º standard observer should be used. If field of view is larger than 4º the 10º standard observer adopted in 1964 should be used).

CIE tristimulas values
the amount of the three reference or matching stimuli required to give a match with the color stimulus considered in a given trichromatic system.

circle cutter
a compass fitted with a sharp blade for cutting perfect circles.

circuit
(1) electronic path between two or more points; (2) number of conductors, interconnected for the purpose of carrying an electric current.

circuit pattern
the configuration of components, their interconnecting printed wiring, as printed to form an electronic circuit, or as designated by an electronics engineer.

circular screen
a circular halftone screen which may be rotated to allow multiple screen angle selection without having to reposition copy.

cissing
a defect where a wet ink or varnish recedes from small areas of the surface leaving either no coating or an attenuated one.

citric acid
an organic acid used in testing the acid resistance of ceramic colors.

clamshell press
(1) a heat transfer machine/die cutting machine with two platens, one directly over the over and hinged together on one side to open and close like a clam’s shell; (2) a flatbed screen printing press designed with the screen carriage hinged to the printing table at one end.

clarifier
(1) an additive that increases the transparency of an ink or other material; (2) a settling tank where solids are mechanically removed from process waste water.

clarity
the characteristic of a transparent material such that distinct images may be observed through it.

clay coated board
display board with excellent print acceptance and brilliant white color manufactured in a variety of thickness, coated on one or both sides with an earthy material to improve the quality of the printing surface.

cleanroom
an enclosed area where airborne particles, temperature, relative humidity and pressure are controlled to specified requirements.

clear coat
transparent protective coating applied over a screen printed image to ensure maximum durability.

clear frit
a frit that remains essentially transparent when processed into a porcelain enamel.

clear glaze
a transparent colorless ceramic glaze.

clear ink coat
a colorless printable compound of varnish or transparent material.

clear vinyl
vinyl plastic formulated so that the resulting sheet or film is transparent.

clearance
the smallest distance separating conductive parts at a specified setting on a membrane switch.

clearing
a process of removing fog from the film negative or positive during development.

clearing agent
a chemical that neutralizes hypo in film or paper processing, thereby reducing washing time and producing a more stable image.

cleat
a strip of wood or metal used to strengthen a sign, display, or other construction.

cliche
a photoengraved pad printing plate made of steel or plastic.

clip
a display part used for attaching small items to the back of a display.

clipping
the grouping (usually unwanted) of all tones or colors above or below a certain value into one composite tone.

clip art
previously developed designs and graphics used in composing artwork, copyright free and/or purchased for a fee.

clogging
(1) premature drying of ink in the screen mesh that blocks portions of the stencil; (2) a restriction of the passage of a material through application equipment.

cloning
retouching function on a color imaging system used to remove image defects by replacing pixels in the defective area with duplicate pixels from adjacent non-defective areas.

closeness of control
total variation from a desired set point; also referred to as as amplitude of deviation.

close tolerance printing
screen printing with extreme precision in relation to dimensions and/or placement of design elements, as in electronic circuits.

CLUT (Color Look-Up Table)
a color-management software reference file that maintains the proper calibration of devices, such as monitors, printers and scanners. (See also, LUT.)

cm
abbreviation for centimeter.

cm²
abbreviation for square centimeter.

cm³
abbreviation for cubic centimeter.

CMC
abbreviation for the Society of Dyes and Colourists in Great Britain.

CMS
acronym for Color Management System.

CMY (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow)
The three subtractive primary colors used in color negative printing, and some output devices, to produce a full gamut of color.

CMYK
acronym for cyan, magenta, yellow, black.

CN
acronym for cellulose nitrate.

coagulation
the transition of a coating material from colloid to the solid state through precipitation.

coalescence
the joining or unifying of liquid films or adhesives.

Coalition of Northern Governors (US)
proposed and enacted regulations adopted by many states that limits lead, mercury, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium to 100ppm total in packaging materials and printing inks.

coarse mesh
screen printing mesh with low mesh count and large openings or apertures between the woven threads or strands.

coated cloth
fabric which has been back coated with rubber or plastic to impart moisture resistance and longer wear.

coated lens
a camera lens that has been coated with an ultra-thin film, usually bluish in color to minimize glare or flare from extraneous lights not a color correction method.

coated paper
paper with a very thin clay coating on one or both sides of the sheet (C1S/C2S) with a finish ranging from eggshell to glossy.

coated screen
a printing screen with direct emulsion applied to the mesh prior to exposing.

coater
refer to scoop coater.

coating
(1) an unbroken clear film applied to a substrate in layers to protect and seal it or to make it glossy; (2) a screen printed material, pigmented or clear; applied to a substrate and forming a continuous film.

coating mottle
a small variation in gloss that can be detected on a coated, calendered sheet by viewing the sheet at an angle to check for specular reflection from the surface.

coating pigments
mineral materials used for coating paper stock such as clay, (the most common), talc, calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide.

coating screen
a printing screen designed to print a solid layer of clear varnish or ink over a large predetermined area, usually used for applying color to backgrounds of displays or similar uses.

coating weight
the mass of an applied coating per square unit of surface area sometimes referred to as mass weight.

cobalt drier
a liquid material containing chemically combined cobalt, used to accelerate oxidation and polymerization of an ink film, promotes drying.

cobb test
a method used to measure the water absorption of seized paper by determining the weight of water absorbed through one surface under pressure.

cobwebbing
fine filaments or strings resembling cobwebs that project at random from the edge of the ink or coating on the substrate.

cockle
(1) an irregular lump in a fabric thread; (2) a desirable paper finish in cotton fiber sheets produced by air drying paper with contolled tension..

cockling
an undesirable effect in paper identified by the uneven, rippled appearance of the paper surface caused by improper drying.

coefficient of thermal expansion - linear
(1) the fractional part of its length that a material elongates when raised one degree Celsius in temperature; (2) fractional change in length or volume of a material divided by the change in temperature.

C of C
acroynm for certificate of compliance.

cohesion
(1) mutual attraction of elements that bind the particles of an ink or varnish film together; (2) the ability of an adhesive to resist splitting; (3) the forces holding a single substance together.

cohesive failure
the rupture of an adhesive bond such that the separation appears to be within the adhesive.

cohesive strength (cohesion)(internal bond): the internal strength of an ink or adhesive, due to the mutual attraction force between like molecules.

cold-cathode lamp
a low pressure UV germicidal lamp, refer to germicidal lamp.

cold color
(1) an organic enamel for glass decorating that is baked at a low temperature, usually under 260 degrees C (500 degrees F); (2) a bluish or greenish hue.

cold cracking
deterioration of a plastic from cold temperatures causing stiffness and even brittleness, breaking or shattering under stress as temperature is lowered.

cold curing
the process of curing at normal atmospheric temperature.

cold end
packing end of a lehr or intake end of conveyor dryer where heat is used to aid drying.

cold flow (ooze): the viscous flow of a pressure sensitive adhesive under pressure or other stress, at room temperature; also refer to creep.

cold peel
procrss where the release paper of a plastisol transfer is not removed until the heat of application has dissipated.

cold setting ink
solid ink that is melted and applied as a liquid through a heated printing screen,solidifying again on contact with the substrate that is not heated.

cold weather adhesive
an adhesive formulated to be usable at 0 degrees C (32 degrees F) or other specified low temperature.

collapsible channel
a display part that forms a channel for setting up but collapses flat for shipping.

collapsible shadow box
a shadow box with top, bottom, and collapsible apron.

collate
the gathering of printed sheets into an organized sequence.

collective mark
a distinctive mark or symbol identifying an association, fraternal society, or membership in a trade union such as SGIA, SME, ASI, and AFL/CIO.

collodion film paper
a backing paper coated with a water soluble film used in ceramic decal production, where screen printing is done on the surface of the collodion film.

collodion process
a method of photography where a glass plate is coated with salted (iodized) negative collodion and sensitized by immursion in an acidified silver nitrate solution and exposed in a moist condition.

colloid
water-soluble, non-crystalline substances such as gelatin, glue, or albumen, of very fine granule size, used as vehicles in photomechanical sensitizers in screen printing and made light-sensitive by the addition of a bichromate.

colloid mill
a machine used for the dispersion of pigments that produces intense shearing stress in the liquid to which the solid pigments have been added, used in ink manufacturing.

collotype
a printing process in which a glass plate with a gelatin surface carries the image to be produced.

color
(1) a visual sensation produced in the brain when the eye views various wavelengths of light; (2) the appearance of objects or light sources described in terms of individual’s perception of them, involving hue, lightness, and saturation for objects, and hue, brightness, and saturation for light sources.

color attribute
three dimensional characteristics of the appearance or an object; one dimension defines the lightness, the other two together define chromaticity.

color balance
(1) correct combination of cyan, magenta, and yellow needed to reproduce an original without unwanted color variation; (2) the specific combination of cyan, magenta, and yellow needed to produce a neutral gray in the color separation process.

color bar
a measurement device printed in the trim area consisting of test targets to measure print attributes such as dot gain, density, slur, doubling, contrast, and trapping.

color blend
refer to blends, split fountain.

color burn out
an objectionable change in the color of a printing ink which may occur either in bulk or after application to the substrate that is caused by a chemical reaction between certain components in the ink formula or by the generation of heat in a pile of freshly printed material during drying.

color cards (color charts)
a reference sheet or folder exhibiting a range of colors from which selection of ink, paper, films or other commodities may be selected in the desired hue.

color calibration
a system of software and/or hardware that adjusts and coordinates colors between two or more digital devices. Color calibration systems commonly compare device color profiles and translate one color model into a device-independent language.

color compression
shrinking the color gamut of the original to the color gamut a device will represent.

color correction
(1) a photographic, electronic, or manual procedure used to compensate for the deficiencies in process inks and color separations; (2) any change in color requested by the customer; (3) adjustment in color reproduction to compensate for color variations.

color curve
a graphic mechanism for displaying color measurements and for making color changes to an image. User adjustments to the angle and slope of the curve implement color changes to one or all of an image’s color channels.

color density
the opacity, purity, or brillance of a color.

color difference
the magnitude and character of the difference between two object colors viewed under specified conditions.

color dimension
hue, value, and intensity.

color fastness (color permanence)(color stability)
(1) the property of a screen printed or digital imprint to retain its color under normal storage or age conditions and to resist color change when exposed to light, heat, or other environmental influences; (2) ability of a dyed fabric to resist fading due to washing, exposure to sunlight, or other environmental conditions.

color fidelity
the degree to which the printed piece matches the original art.

color filters
refer to filter, color.

color gamut
any color medium representing its own range of colors including that which is applied to film, a monitor, printed images, and the human eye.

color harmonies
the blending of hues, shades and tints to produce a pleasing effect.

color Hi-Fi
a special high fidelity color reproduction process based on the Küppers model that uses seven basic colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, orange, green, violet, and black instead of four to expand the color gamut of printing, separations are generated using stochastic screening technology to prevent moiré.

Color Key®
a registered trademark of the 3M Company for an overlay color proofing system that allows the checking of registration and tint screen combinations in process color reproductions prior to actual press proofs.

Color Management System (CMS)
a combination of software and hardware devices to produce accurate color results throughout a digital imaging system.

color match
condition resulting when no significant difference in hue, saturation, and lightness can be detected between two color samples when examined under specified illumination and viewing conditions.

color matching functions
relative amounts of three additive primaries required to match each wavelength of light. The term is generally used to refer to the CIE Standard Observer color matching functions.

color model
a color measurement scale or system that numerically specifies the perceived attributes of color.

color OK sheets
the printed colors that have been approved for ink/color-matching.

color overlay
transparent film overlay usually made of acetate, which are superimposed over each other to represent each color in a reproduction.

color oxide
material used to impart color to a glass enamel.

color profile
also called device profile. This term refers to the relationship between the color models of the system devices.

color proofs
(1) first prints pulled before the production run to check selection, placement,and register of all colors in the composition to be printed, used to determine need for final correction or acceptance of print quality; (2) a representation of how the final printed composition will appear.

color retention
the property of a color to resist fading or other deterioration on exposure to light.

color saturation
color strength. A measure of color purity, or dilution by a neutral.

color separation
(1) separating the areas of a piece to be printed into its component spot and process ink colors; (2) a process using red, green, and blue filters to divide the colors of a multicolored original into the process colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black; (3) a photographic technique involving photographing original continuous tone colored art through a series of filters, each to provide negatives representing the colors used in rendering the original.

color sequence
the order in which colors are printed onto a substrate.

color space
a three-dimensional geometric representation of the colors that can be seen and/or generated using a certain color model.

color specification
tristimulus values, chromaticity coordinates, luminance value, or other color scale values used to designate a color numerically in a specific color system.

color standard
a printed ink sample, proof, or press sheet to which another similar material is compared.

color strength
in printing ink, the concentration of coloring pigment per unit of weight or volume.

color swatch
any piece of paper or cloth, printed or unprinted used for color matching or measurement of color.

color system
a concept that relates colors for description or reproduction. Models in imaging include CIE, PMS and Photo YCC, among others.

color temperature
(1) a measure of the energy distribution over the visible spectral range of a light source with a continuous spectrum, expressed in degrees Kelvin (K); the temperature at which an object emits its specific wavelength of light in degrees Kelvin (K); (2) manufacturer’s method of indicating the color of a light source in degrees Kelvin (K) (2700K yellow/white, 4100K white, 5500K blue/white).

color toner
an ink formulation intermixed with another formulation to control the appearance of the final imprint. (Toner colors are not intended for printing alone as compounded), also refer to tinter.

color transparency
(1) a full color photograph on transparent film; (2) full color manually drawn design rendered in transparent colors to permit light transmission through the film and color layers, can be used in displays by back lighting, or as a photographic subject by transmitted, rather than reflected light; (3) a transparent film screen printed with translucent inks.

color trapping
refer to trapping of ink.

color variation
(1) a changes in a color that occur in density of color during printing; (2) changes in the density of color caused by variations in the amount of ink accepted by the substrate or by the amount of ink delivered to the substrate.

color volume
the ink-holding capacity of all the mesh openings in one square meter of stretched screen mesh.

color wheel
the visible spectrum’s continuum of colors arranged into a circle, where complementary colors such as red and green are located directly across from each other.

colors, primary
the three basic colors, properly selected and mixed, produce any hue. (The three primary light (spectral) colors are red, green, and blue; the three primary ink colors are cyan, magenta, and yellow).

colorant
a substance used to create colors, dyes, pigments, toners, waxes, and phosphors.

colorimeter
a device for measuring color values; an optical measurement instrument that responds to color in a manner similar to the human eye by filtering reflected light into its dominate regions of red, green, and blue.

colorimetric purity
the ratio of the luminosity of the spectrum color to the luminosity of the mixture of illuminate and spectrum color that matches the color of the specimen viewed by the illuminate alone.

combination stencil
refer to direct/indirect photoscreen stencil.

combing
the process for removing short fibers and impurities from fabric that has been carded, generates a softer hand or feel.

combining
contacting different negatives such as a line shot and halftone shot to the same sheet of film in proper position and register.

combustible liquid
a liquid having a flash point at or above 37.8 degrees C (100 degrees F), but below 93.3 degrees C (200 degrees F).

combustion
rapid oxidation or burning.

combustion chamber
enclosure where fuel is burned to provide heat; (2) part of a furnace or kiln.

combustion product
matter resulting from combustion such as flue gases, ash, and water vapor.

commercial register
in process color reproduction, an allowable misregister, not more than one row of dots.

common cause
a source of variation that effects all the individual values of the output of a process.

compatibility
the ability of ink, film, substrate, and/or solvents to function together in harmony.

complementary colors
reference to the Munsell color wheel, any color directly opposite from a selected color is complementary to the chosen color, including tints and tones. (Complementary colors neutralize or accentuate each other, diminishing or enhancing the attention value of the print).

complement
two colors that, when combined create neutral gray.

compliance colors (non-toxic colors): inks that conform to US governmental regulations by not containing any of the banned heavy metal salts.

compliance date
the date that a business is required to meet applicable pollution control requirements (US).

component
an ingredient in a formulation; a part of the whole.

composing stick
a hand tool where foundry type is assembled and justified.

composite
(1) an art layout where all color separations are shown in one piece of copy, usually black and white; (2) a homogeneous material created by the synthetic assembly of two or more materials to obtain specific characteristics and properties.

compound
(1) a combination of elements in a stable molecular arrangement; (2) to mix pure vinyl with plasticizers, stabilizers, lubricants, colorants, or other ingredients before it can be properly processed.

comprehensive art
refer to art work, comprehensive.

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA):
a US federal program enacted and designed to cleanup identified environmentally damaged sites, commonly referred to as the Superfund Program.

compression
the process of removing irrelevant information and reducing unneeded space from a file in order to make the file smaller. Compression can cause losses and distortion, depending on the method.

compression molding
plastic molding process where the molding material is liquefied in the mold, shaped, and cured under pressure before being ejected, typically used with thermoset plastics.

compressive strength
the maximum ability of a solid material to withstand a compressive load; resistance to crushing or shattering.

Computer Aided Design (CAD) or Graphics (CAG)
system used to generate and reproduce full-color designs, artwork, photographs, etc., through use of a computer, plotter, printer, keyboard, etc.

computer graphics
the interactive production and layout of graphic material, text and images, by means of computer keyboard, light pen, digitizer, mouse, and other hardware/software integration.

conc
abbreviation for concentrated.

concentrated solution
a solution containing a large amount of solute in proportion to the solvent; refer to dilute solution.

concentration
the amount by percentage of a solute contained in a given amount of solution.

condensation resin
any of the alkyd, phenol-aldehyde, or urea formaldahyde resins.

condenser
refer to capacitor.

condenser enlarger
a type of enlarger using undiffused light to produce high contrast and high definition images.

conditional match
a color match that depends on present values of illumination and observation.

conditioning
the process of subjecting materials to specific temperature and humidity conditions for a stipulated period of time.

conduction
the transfer of energy through a material by passing it from molecule to molecule.

conductive ink
an ink for the screen printing of electronic circuits that contains materials that permitting electric current flow through a printed line or pattern.

conductivity
the quality or power to conduct or transmit electrical current.

conductor
an element or substance that has many free electrons permitting a free flow of electric energy within its mass.

conductor width
the width of a trace or line when printed on the substrate.

cone, seger
a three-sided pyrometric cone made from clay and chemicals and designed to bend at a specfied temperature, used for determining firing temperatures in a kiln.

confluence of ink
the flowing together of the tiny segments of ink deposited through a screen printing stencil into a solid, unbroken line.

conformability
the ability of a material to yield to the contours of a surface that is other than smooth and flat.

conformal coating
insulating coating applied to printed circuit board wiring assemblies that covers all of the components and provides protection against moisture, dust, and dirt.

conjunctivitis
a very painful condition of the eye or conjunctive - the inner lining of the eyelid - caused by harsh light exposure to a UV light source or the sun.

consecutive numbering
the identification of screen printed items by applying number in correct counting order.

consistency
(1) the relative stiffness (body) of an ink or coating; (2) describes the apparent viscosity of an ink or varnish when shearing forces of varying degrees are applied to it in various ways.

conspicuity
A highly reflective film, rendered in bright safety colors to enhance appearace under highway conditions.

const
abbreviation for constant.

constant viscosity
a property of certain liquids, the ratio of shear stress over shear rate being constant.

contact
a physical meeting of two continuous surfaces without trapping of air in between.

contact angle
an angle formed between two substances, as determined by their surface tensions, when in contact.

contact bounce
an intermittent opening and closing of a switch after actuation.

contact film
a blue sensitive continuous tone film with a relatively high maximum density, excellent resolution, and a special antihalation backing that allows exposure through its base without loss of quality.

contact print
a photographic print made from either a negative or a positive in contact with sensitized paper, film, or printing plate, producing same-size reproduction.

contact printing
(1) textile screen printing accomplished by printing with the screen in contact with the substrate across its entire surface; (2) photographically exposing a light sensitive material through a film negative or positive held in contact with the surface by vacuum or mechanical pressure.

contact resistance
the resistance through a membrane switch as measured between two terminals that complete a circuit.

contact resistance variation (CRS)
in electronics a condition caused by variance pressure of the wiper contact in variable resistance components.

contact screen
a photographic screen with dots of varying density that is placed in direct contact with a photographic film, used to produce halftone positives or negatives for making screen printing plates.

contact table
a table with a pressure or vacuum arrangement between two fixed surfaces, both of which are normally transparent, and usually with a light source opposite one surface for exposing purposes, into which two or more sheet materials can be made to come into positive contact for handling or processing by exposing.

container board
a paper board of good tensile strength and bending qualities, usually light weight.

container printing
the act of direct screen printing of cylinders or other three-dimensional objects of various shapes.

container printing machine
a screen printing press capable of printing on cylindrical or other three-dimensional part.

continuity
an uninterrupted circuit or trace line on an electronic product.

continuous dryer
a drying system where the ware, part, or object to be dried passes throuhg the dryer in a continuous and uninterrupted motion.

continuous film
that complete film formed when a coating dries, fuses, oxidizes, or reacts to its final point after being applied to a surface.

continuous tone
an image with gradient tones that has not been screened with tone gradations between the lightest highlight and the darkest shadows.

contract printing
(1) a type of textile screen printing where the customer provides the garments or piece goods to be printed; (2) a contractual arrangement where press or shop time is reserved for a specific customer.

contrast
the degree of tonal gradation between highlight and shadow areas in an original, reproduction, or negative.

contrast grade
a zero to five rating scale for photographic paper. (Zero has the lowest contrast and five the highest contrast level).

contrast ratio
(1) a measure of the opacity of a paper, ranging from 100% in a totally opaque stock to just a few percent in transparent stock such as tracing paper; (2) ratio of the reflectance of a dry ink or coating film, over a black substrate of 5% or less reflectance, to the reflectance of the same material applied in an identical manner over a substrate of 80% reflectance.

control chart
a graphic representation of a characteristic of a process showing plotted values of some statistic gathered from a characteristic graph,includes a central line, and one or two statistically derived control limits.

control limit
the maximum allowable variation of a process characteristic due alone to common cause.

convection drying
the drying of screen printed items by the movement of currents of uneven temperatures.

convection oven
a heat chamber where air of elevated temperature is introduced and drying takes place under circulated heat conditions.

conventional ink
a color mixed composition with vehicle for liquid application to a substrate for aesthetic results, exceptions those containing frits or fluorescent pigments, or special purpose inks such as solder resists, conductive inks, and other designed for functional results.

conversion
in computer imaging to change an RGB file to a CMYK or vice versa; to convert one file format to another.

conversion coating
a coating process that is applied to paper or board after maufacturing such as coated paper.

converter
company or individual that finishes fabric to buyer’s specifications.

conveyor dryer
an ink drying system which incorporates a drying chamber with a belt conveyor.

cool colors
blues, grays and greens, not suggesting warmth, but cool places, such as water, ice, and sky.

cooling zone
that portion of a drying system where dried products are cooled before being removing from the system.

copolymer
(1) mixture produced from a combination of two or more different monomers; also refer to polymer; (2) a graphic overlay film composed of polyester and polycarbonate polymers.

copy area
(1) the portion of a printing screen containing the image to be printed; (2) the area of a sign or display that carries the message.

copy board (copy holder)
a frame that holds original copy while it is being photographed on a camera or digitally scanned.

copy camera
refer to process camera.

copy distortion
extending, condensing, slanting, outlining or otherwise changing the original copy to fit space or mood.

copy modification
the elongation, slanting, outlining, expanding, condensing, or otherwise changing a piece of original copy to fit a design, pattern, or mood.

copyright ©
a person's exclusive right to reproduce, publish, or sell his or her original work of authorship; a legal document that protects published or unpublished works that are fixed in a tangible medium of expression from reproduction, extends for the life of the creator of the work plus fifty years after his or her death.

cord
a deflect of a glossy inclusion differing in composition from the surrounding glass; (2) the rope like material used with cord-and-groove screen frames.

cord-and-groove
method used for making screens where a rope like material is forced down into a dado cut in a wooden frame, securing the mesh to the frame; no longer used in the industry.

core
(1) the center tube of varying diameter on which paper and other substrates are wound; (2) a honeycombed or similar construction used in laminating display boards, corrugated board, etc.

corner box
a simple gauge for maintaining register while mounting thin sheets to heavy stock or any similar operation.

corner hook
a clamp or clip device for connecting parallel display parts.

corner softening
the process of reducing the high tension area in the corners of the screen mesh to evening out the tension across the entire screen prior to tensioning by adjusting the corners with small controlled adjustments.

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.

cotton fiber content paper
refer to rag content.

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).

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.

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.

Cp
abbreviation for capability performance.

CPI
an abbreviation for characters per inch.

CPL
acronym for characters per line or capability performance, lower.

CPSC.
acronym for Consumer Product Safety Commission (US).

CPU
acronym for capability performance, upper.

CQI
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
(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.

creaseability
the ability to be creased or folded without the appearance of cracks, sharp lines or bending failure.

crease
(1) a straight line fold; (2) a dent in wire cloth mesh.

crease score
refer to scoring.

creep
(1) the lateral movement (cold flow) of an applied pressure sensitive label due to low cohesive strength; (2) the spontaneous spreading of liquid on a surface beyond the area for which it was intended; (3) deformation or dimensional change with time of a plastic under load resulting from prolonged application of stress below the elastic limit.

creeping
the tendency of an insufficiently stretched screen mesh to move in the direction of the squeegee travel during the print stroke.

cresol
an isomeric phenol used to improve indirect stencil adhesion by attacking the nylon mesh causing it to be tacky and swollen. (Used very seldom as it weakens the mesh and has been found to be toxic).

CRI
abbreviation for cure rate index.

crimp
(1) to fold and fasten a joint under pressure; (2) a wavy fiber or yarn structure in a fabric.

crinkle
a textural effect on enamel surface having the appearance of fine wrinkles or ridges.

crizzle
an imperfection of many fine surface fractures in the surface of the fired ink; (2) an imperfection of fine surface cracks in a glass article.

crock
a measure of resistance to deterioration of an imprint on fabric by rubbing or abrasion.

crocking
the rubbing-off (wet or dry) of surface color, occurs when a dye or pigment is not adequately fixed in the substrate.

Cromalin
DuPont trade name for integral color proof.

crop
to opaque, mask, or trim part of an image to fit a designated area.

crop marks
sometimes referred to as tick marks, small marks placed in the margin, denoting the live area or areas of an image to be reproduced.

cropping
(1) indicates what portion of the image is to be included in the final reproduction; (2) trimming unwanted areas of a photographic film or print.

cross direction
the position across the grain or at a right angle to the machine direction.

cross hatch test
a test method used to determine how well an ink adheres to a substrate, refer to ASTM D3359 Ink Adhesion Test (US).

cross laminated
lamination made with layers of material applied at right angles over previously applied layers.

crossline screen
refer to levy screen.

cross linking
(1) a long chain, joining of molecules to form a change in the physical structure and properties of a material; (2) connecting crosswise in parallel chains the atoms or atomical groups in a complex molecule; (3) a chemical bridge formed between molecular chains to enhance internal film bond to a substrate.

cross-over
an intersection of conductors insulated by a dielectric material.

cross web
direction at an angle of 90 degrees to the grain or machine direction of a web of flexible material.

CRS
acroynm for contact resistance variation.

crystal base
a water clear additive for use in modifying viscosity of transparent screen printing ink in halftone screen printing.

crystal glass
a colorless highly transparent low transition temperature glass.

crystal ice
a crushed and sized flux or frit used in glass and ceramic decorating.

crystalline glaze
a glaze containing microscopic crystals.

crystallization
ink that fails to adhere over a previously printed and dried ink.

CSA
acroynm for the Canadian Standards Association.

CTE
acronym for coefficient of thermal expansion.

cu
abbreviation for cubic.

cubic centimeter
a measurement unit of volume in the metric system that is equal to the volume of a cube whose length, width and breadth each measure a centimeter, abbreviation is cm³.

cubic foot
a unit of volume that is equal to the volume of a cube whose length, width and breadth each measure a foot, abbreviation is ft³.

cubic inch
a unit of volume that is equal to the volume of a cube whose length, width and breadth each measure an inch, abbreviation is in³.

cubic meter
a unit of volume in the metric system of measurement that is equal to the volume of a cube whose length, width and breadth each measure a meter, abbreviation is m³.

cubic yard
a unit of volume that is equal to the volume of a cube whose length, width and breadth each measure a yard, abbreviation is yd³.

cullet
waste or broken glass suitable as an addition to a raw batch.

cure
(1) to convert a wet coating to its maximum dry film state; (2) the resolving of coating material into a useable state by heat, chemical action, or firing; refer to curing.

cure meter
instrument used to determine the curing characteristics of cross linking polymers, can also be used to measure setting time for resin.

cure rate index
a measurement rate at specific wavelengths and power level, usually measured in centimeters per minute/feet per minute.

cure time
the time/temperature combination required to bring organic decoration to the desired level of hardness, caustic, and chemical resistance.

curing
(1) a drying process usually requiring elevated temperature of film that cannot be dried by oxidation; (2) in textile decoration, the application of heat to set the emulsion of pigment dye into the textile fibers; (3) a two (or more) part chemical reaction that, when completed, resembles a dried appearance such as photopolymerization of UV curable coatings.

curing agent
an additive that promotes the curing of an ink or coating; a catalyst reactive agent that is added to a resin to cause polymerization.

curing oven
a chamber where drying and/or some change of a freshly printed ink surface takes place during the drying process, to improve adhesion, solidify the film or otherwise convert film characteristics by means other than by solvent evaporation.

curing unit
a UV curing reactor that houses a UV energy emitter used for the polymerization of ultraviolet curable inks, coatings, and adhesives.

curl
(1) the tendency of a sheet material by itself or in laminate to bend or partly wrap around the axis of one of its directions. (Uneven moisture absorption throughout the thickness is the usual cause, and conversely, removal of moisture by heat application can cause curling); (2) deformation of a paper sheet tending to form into a roll or cylinder, the roll effect appearing across the grain direction.

current, alternating (AC)
electric current that periodically reverses the direction of electron flow.

current, direct (DC)
electric current where the electrons flow in one direction.

curtain coater
a coating machine which spreads an even thickness of low viscosity liquid (clear or adhesive) across a flat sheet or surface.

curved screen
special screen mounted on flexible frame that can be mounted in a curved configuration, used to print rounded surfaces or objects.

custom printing
in textile printing, the type of work where the garment is furnished by the screen printer and not the customer.

cusum chart
a diagram that depicts cumulative deviation from a target.

cut
(1) to dilute or thin an ink, lacquer, or varnish with one or more solvents or clear base; (2) the shearing of stock with a knife blade; (3) photoengraving.

cut flock
refer to flock.

cut-off ink level
the top surface of a printed ink film as it sits on the upper surface of the stencil mesh after the squeegee passes in the print stroke, but before the screen mesh is lifted from contact with the substrate.

cutout
a halftone image where the background area has been removed to produce a silhouette.

cut pieces
pieces of fabric shaped by cutting to be sewn into a garment to form back, front, yoke, sleeves, cuffs, etc.

cut score
refer to scoring.

cutaway
a backing or facing that must be cut away from the fabric to remove it from the embroidery.

cutter
refer to guillotine.

cutter and creaser
a fully automatic press that slices and scores light weight paperboard.

cutter dust
small particles of paper fiber chipped off during cutting and triming operations.

cutting tolerance
the allowable variation in exactness of cut dimensions. (These vary by the overall size and type of the final product. Die cutting tolerances are typically plus or minus 0.4 mm -1/64 inch).

CWA
acroynm for Clean Water Act (US) (Formerly referred to as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act).

CWT
hundred weight; the specific cost of one hundred pounds of a particular stock.

cyan
blue green color, complementary to red and one of the three primary subtractive pigment colors, the other two being yellow and magenta. (Cyan reflects blue and green light, while absorbing red).

cyan printer
in process color reporoduction, the prepress materials used to produce the cyan image. (The letter C is used to designate this color).

cyanoacrylate
a single part frame adhesive that uses an activator spray or tape to accelerate cure similar to super glue.

cycle
the complete repeating sequence of an operation in process or part of process such as the mechanical action of a screen printing press required to complete one print sequence.

cycle time
the time it takes for a imaging press to complete one print cycle.

cyclec
hydrocarbon chemical structure composed mainly of naohthenes and terpenes.

cyclohexanone
a cyclic ketone derived from cyclohexanol used as a solvent for lacquers especially nitrocellulose or polyvinyl chloride.

cylinder press
(1) a screen printing press constructed where the substrate is printed on the crown of a rotating drum; (2) a press used for die cutting.

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