Industry Terms

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Vacuum Frame A device that holds with a vacuum, the copy that is to be shot on the camera.
Van Dyke Print A final proof made from a negative prior to the platemaking function.
Variable Imaging A printing process where the information, such as name, addresses, personalized messages and illustrations, can change from sheet to sheet as it is running through the press or printer. The press and software being used to drive the imaging must both be capable of variable imaging for this to work.
Varnish A thin, liquid protective coating, either matte or glossy, that is applied to the product. It adds protection and enhances the appearance of the product. It can be applied as an all over coating or it can be applied as a spot coating.
Vector A line segment specified by its start and end point.
Vector Graphics Graphics and pictures represented by lines and curves rather than using dot or pixels as use on bitmapped or raster images.
Vehicle The material in printing ink which carries the pigment and other materials; also binds the pigment to the paper.
Vellum Finish An absorbent, fine grain finish.
Vellum Paper An uncoated sheet of paper with a finish called vellum.
VeloBinding A method of binding which uses a plastic strip containing spikes that are inserted into holes punched into the pages to be bound. A punch machine, specially designed for this purpose, punches a series of holes on the front side of the pages for the spikes to extend through and protrude out the other side of the hole. A second plastic strip is then mated with the protuding spikes on the back side of the pages and is then inserted into a binding machine which seals the binding by melting the plastic and trimming off the excess spike lengths. Once bound, the pages become secure and cannot be removed or added without damaging the book.
Velox A black and white print of a halftone.
Velvet Paper Paper with a smooth finish resembling velvet.
Verso The left-hand page of a book.
Vertical Perf Perforation that runs down the depth of the sheet, and is perpendicular to the lines of text.
V-fold A V-fold has one fold which creates two panels.
Video Display Terminal (VDT) A terminal with a screen and keyboard that is connected to a computer.
Vignette Color manipulating effects in which all or a portion of an image fades gradually away until it blends into the non-imaged area. Sometimes used to refer to a graduated background tone. Colors can be vignetted into each other.
Vinyl A film that is highly durable and resistant to chemicals and moisture. It is high in conformability Excellent for outdoor use. ]
Virgin Paper Paper manufactured from new pulp or cotton. Does not contain any recycled material.
Viscosity Thickness or thinness of a fluid as measured by its resistance to flow. Ink viscosity is adjusted to maintain a proper flow through the ink train of a press and on to the paper.
Visible Infared Ink Infrared visible inks are available in readable and disappearing ink. When printed they can look the same but when viewed under infrared light, one will be readable and one will disappear.
Visible Security Fibers Visible fibers are added to the paper when it is manufactured. They are placed randomly on the paper, on both the front and back side. They can be different colors, densities and lengths. The fibers can be easily seen without the use of any special equipment.
Visible Spectrum The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visible to the human eye. Humans can only detect red, green and blue. All colors visible to the human eye are a combination of these colors.