Industry Terms

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Object-Oriented An approach in drawing and layout programs that deals with graphics as line and arc segments rather than individual dots.
Oblique Type Type that slants to the right. Used to bring attention to the message.
OCR Optical Character Recognition - The system that permits an optical scanner to translate printed text into a form that can be read by the computer. The file can then be edited using a word processor. There are two specially designed typefaces used for OCR applications; OCR-A and OCR-B.
OCR Paper Paper made specifically for use with optical character recognition equipment.
Odd Sizes Paper sizes that are not standard.
Off-Line Not connected to the central processing unit of a computer.
Off-machine Coating A coating put on paper after it has been made.
Off-Press Print Commonly, a proof generated before the production press run and before, or instead of, a press proof. An off-press proof can be produced photomechanically electrostatically or electronically.
Off-press Proof A color proof that represents the finished product but has not been printed on the press.
Offset Duplicator A small offset lithographic sheet fed press.
Offset Gravure Printing gravure by the offset principle. Generally done on a flexography press by converting the anilox roller to a gravure image cylinder and covering the plate cylinder with a solid rubber plate.
Offset Lithography A printing process whereby the ink is transferred from the plate to a rubber blanket, then to the paper. As opposed to letterpress where the image is directly printed on the paper.
Offset Paper Coated or uncoated paper specifically for offset printing.
Offset Printing The transfer of an inked image from a plate to a blanket cylinder, which in turn transfers the image to the printing material as it passes between the blanket and the impression cylinder and pressure is applied. Also referred to as offset lithography.
Offsetting The transfer of ink from one side of the printed sheet to the back side of the sheet on top of it due to the ink not properly drying before the sheets come in contact with each other. Technically referred to as set off.
Oleophilic Oil receptive
Oleophobic Oil repellent.
One Time Carbon A lightweight paper that has a carbon coating that is suitable for transfering an image only one time in a given area, opposed to a pencil carbon that will repeatedly transfer an image.
One-Up Only having one image of a complete item on a layout, negative or plate.
Onionskin A lightweight, cockle finish paper used for making copies of correspondence.
On-Line Equipment connected to the central processing unit of a computer.
On-Machine Coating Coating of the paper while it is on the paper machine.
Opacimeter A device used to determine the opacity of the paper or the level of "show through".
Opacity The allowance of an image to show through by light transmission.
Opaque The more opaque a sheet of paper is, the less transparent it is. High opacity in printing papers is a good characteristic as print from the other side of a printed leaf has less "show through".
Opaque Adhesive Adhesive used for blockout purposes. It is used to prevent show through when a label is used to cover up errors. The adhesive is generally permanent.
Opaque Ink An ink that does not allow light to pass through and has good covering properties; used to prevent paper or printing to show through.
Open end Envelope An envelope that opens on the short dimension.
Open Face Vacuum Frame A frame that uses suction to position film.
Open Side envelope An envelope that opens on the long dimension.
Open Side Envelope An envelope with an opening along its longest dimension.
OPI (Open Prepress Interface) An extension to PostScript that automatically exchanges low-resolution images with high-resolution images. A methodology used to minimize file size during page layout.
Optical Center A position on a printed page or cover of a book that the eye goes to first, approximately one-third down from the top.
Optical Character Reader An optical scanner that reads printed letters on a page and translates them into a form that the computer can understand. Often referred to as an OCR.
Optical Character Recognition (OCR) The system that permits an optical scanner to translate printed text into a form that can be read by the computer. The file can then be edited using a word processor. There are two specially designed typefaces used for OCR applications; OCR-A and OCR-B.
Optical Gain When halftone dots appear larger than their actual size due to printing on paper that has a rough surface. This will affect the quality of the printed image.
Optical Margin Alignment Type set so that the first line aligns with the left margin, then succeeding lines are indented a fixed distance from the left margin, also referred to as a hanging indent.
Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) A method of recognizing handwritten marks, which are read by specialized scanning equipment, and then converting them into a value that can be interpreted and translated into readable instructions. This allows for automating the processing of the information. Generally the forms have a timing mark or sensing mark printed on them that indicates to the scanner that a handwritten entry has been made in that location. Scoring results from student tests, pomotional check-offs and election ballots are a few of the standard types of documents using OMR. OMR is also used by some inserting equipment to insure that the correct pieces of a mailiing are inserted into each mailing package. Each individual piece has a printed mark which is read by the inserting equipment, telling it which pieces mail together.
Optical Resolution The resolution that is determined by the true or actual number of pixels a digital camera can capture both horizontally and vertically, without being interpolated, such as 1280 x 960.
Optical Scanner A device that can "read" an image and translate it to digital form so that it can be understood by a computer.
Optical Viewfinder A "through the lens" traditional means of viewing the subject matter to be photographed.
Optical Whitener A whitener added to paper to improve brightness.
Optically Variable Ink The color of optically variable ink changes when viewed from different angles.
Orientation The direction in which text is on a page with respect to the long and short sides of the page. Choices are printing portrait, where text is running parallel to the short side of the page, or landscape, where text is running parallel to the long side of the page.
Oriented Polypropylene (OPP) A high strength label which works well in roll-fed labeling equipment. It is environmentally friendly. OPP runs well over a wide range of temperatures and has good clarity, good printability and is moisture resistant. Its shrink capabilities are substantially lower than PVC and PETG.
Origin A starting position from which placement and orientation of text, images, and page segments are specified. The origin across a page would be relative to the zero position on the horizontal ruler, and the origin down a page would be relative to the zero position on the vertical ruler.
Original The material that is reproduce to be used in the printing process. Generally a photograph, artwork, product sample or artist's drawing.
Orphan The first line of a paragraph that ends up as the last line of a column or the last line of a paragraph that ends up as the first line of a column.
Orthochromatic Photographic surfaces insensitive to red but sensitive to ultraviolet, blue, green and yellow rays.
Orthocromatic Film Film that is not sensitive to red light but is sensitive to ultraviolet, blue, green and yellow light.
Out of Register When an image is not printing in the exact location that it is suppose to. When printing more than one color, if the colors do not line up properly, they are out of register.
Outer Envelope The mailing envelope that will hold all the mail pieces of a package.
Outline Font 1. A typeface that has characters that are defined by an outline of the edges rather than a solid character. 2. A font used by the printer in which each character is geometrically described, differing from bitmapped fonts that are viewed on a monitor and stored as patterns of dots. Outline fonts are scalable and can be output at any size.
Outline Halftone A halftone where the background has been removed from around the main subject.
Out-Of-Round Rolls An irregular shaped roll as a result of improper handling.
Output The data that has passed through the computer and is printed, or transferred to a magnetic device for further processing, or sent across telephone lines, etc.
Overexposure An image sensor which receives too much light and provides an image that is very light in appearance.
Overhang Cover When the cover of the book exceeds in size the text.
Over-Laminating A process, generally done in-line, where a clear film is applied to the printed product for protection purposes or to enhance the quality of the graphics.
Overlap When a label is wrapped around a container and the tail end of the label overlaps and adheres to the lead edge.
Overlay Proof A proof that uses overlays to show the different colors of the artwork being proofed.
Overlays A method of preparing a transparent sheet with rules or drawings that placed over other artwork or type to give a combined printed output.
Overpressure When too much pressure causes ink to fill in letters.
Overprint Coating A coating that is added to provide protection to the printing and surface of the product. It protects against sunlight, chemicals, moisture and abrasion. Also referred to as a protective coating.
Overprint Varnish A clear varnish printed over copy to increase the gloss or the abrasion resistance.
Overprinting Printing an image over an area that has already been printed. In printing color process colors, one process color is printed over another creating a secondary color, which is a combination of two primary colors.
Overrun When printing is in excess of the amount requested. A certain percentage of overrun is allowed, depending on the job, for which the customer is required to pay.
Overs Overruns, the quantity of items produced over the quantity that was originally ordered. Also referred to as any paper spoiled in the process of printing.
Overset Copy or text that cannot be set to fit within a specific sized area.
Oversewing A type of binding which will not allow a book to lie open flat. It uses a sewing technique which strengthens the bindings.