Glossary of Terms, D - F

NS = Refer relevant National Standard.
LM = Refer Labelstock Manufacturers specification sheets.
IM = Refer Ink Manufacturers specification sheets.
O = Other manufacturers specification sheets - Die or cutter, plates, etc.

D

DARK REACTION

Ultra Violet (UV) inks usually turn solid at the bottom of the can when the shelf of the material has expired. It is called this because it occurs in the absence of light, oxygen, and normal ink bodying agents

Refer IM.

DEBOSSED

An indent or cut in design or lettering of a surface.

DECKLE

The straps (deckle ruler) on the wet end of a paper machine which prevents the fibres from overflowing the sides and which determines the width of the web of paper which can be run on any given machine.

DECORATIVE SHEET

A laminated plastic sheet used for decorative purposes in which the colour and/or surface pattern is an integral part of the sheet.

DEFOAMER

A substance or mixture of substance which when added to foaming solutions causes small bubbles to collect into large bubbles which then rise to the surface and break (burst).

DELAMINATION

The separation of a material into layers in a direction approximately parallel to the surface. The partial or complete separation of the layers of a laminate

Refer NS.

DENSITOMETER

Instrument that measures reflected or transmitted light. A reflection densitometer is used as a control instrument to check uniformity and consistency of colour print

Refer NS for test procedure.

DEPTH OF FIELD

The range between the maximum and minimum distance from which a symbol can be read.

DESTATICISATION

Treating plastic materials to minimise their accumulation of static electricity.

DESTRUCTIBLE LABEL - See TAMPER-PROOF LABEL

DETACKIFICATION

The destroying of the tack or stickiness of a pressure sensitive adhesive.

DIAMOND SCREENING - See STOCHASTIC

DIE

Any of various tools or devices used for imparting or cutting a desired shape, form or finish to or from any material. A device in converting machinery used for cutting only the face material of a pressure sensitive laminate or for punching out shapes from the entire laminate or any other material.

DIE ADAPTOR

A device used to modify a die station of one type of press so that it will accommodate dies originally designed to be used on different presses.

DIE BLADES

Sharpened, thin steel blades used in flat or rotary dies. Also refers to blades on machine engraved or EDM (Electronic Discharge Machining) manufactured rotary dies.

DIE CUT

To cut labels with a die. The line of severance between a pressure sensitive label and its matrix or adjoining labels made by the cutting edge of a die. A term used to describe a label formed by die-cutting.

DIE CUT LABEL

Pressure sensitive labels mounted on a release liner from which the matrix has been die cut and removed

Refer NS & O.

DIE CUTTING

The process of using dies or sharp steel rules to cut any shape for labels

Refer NS & O.

DIE HOLD-DOWN ASSEMBLY

A steel block incorporating bearings which apply pressure to the bearer surface of a rotary die cutter through pressure screws. Can be calibrated.

DIE LIFE

Meterage expected from a new die or that expected following a re-sharpening of a die. Estimates of life of a die depend on machine, labelstock, adhesive and operator handling. Estimates of meterage vary significantly. Some companies charge re-sharpening or a new die whenever a repeat order is produced.

DIE LINES

A hand drawn or computer generated layout of the die cut shape or shapes on a clear or matt finish acetate or mylar. Used for layout.

DIE STAIN

Used to check die cutting accuracy. Usually done with diluted ink applied to the die cut surface of the backing or liner material. The ink seeps into any fractures of the silicone coated surface thereby exhibiting the problem areas

Refer NS.

DIELECTRIC

Dielectric values refer specifically to the insulating value of a material; a non-conductor of electric current.

DIELECTRIC PAPER

A dense, well formed, chemically pure paper used as an insulating material in electrical equipment to prevent the flow of electrical charges.

DIELECTRIC STRENGTH

The voltage which a material will withstand without allowing passage of the current through it.

DIFFERENTIAL RELEASE

A release liner with release coatings on both sides. One side has easy release while the opposite side is tighter such that the adhesive stays with the tighter side during winding and other subsequent converting.

DILUENT

A liquid used to thin ink

Refer IM.

DIMENSIONAL STABILITY

That property of a material which enables it to resist length, width, or thickness changes under varying conditions of heat, cold, moisture and other influences; ability to hold size, consistency of dimensions.

DIRECT THERMAL

Printing method utilising heat impinged upon a specially coated substrate so the heat turns the surface selectively black. A simple test to establish whether a substrate is direct thermal image or not, is to light a match and hold it near the substrate, close enough to discolour but not burn. A light bulb should produce the same effect.

DISCOLOURATION

Any change from the original colour, or an unintended inconsistence of colour.

DISCRETE CODE

A bar code or symbol where the spaces between characters (inter-character gap) are not part of the code.

DISHING - See TELESCOPING

DISPENSER

A device that feeds pressure sensitive labels, either manually or automatically, presenting them ready for application by hand or mechanical means. It can serve as a package for the labels as well (dispenser boxes).

DISPENSING EDGE

A relatively sharp edge around which the liner (backing material) is pulled in order to dispense a pressure sensitive label from that backing.

DISPERSION

A uniform distribution of solid particles in a vehicle.

DISTORTED

Intentionally compensating for shrinkage, stretch, etc. of a flexographic printing plate.

DISTORTION COPY

Copy which is intentionally distorted in preparation, in order to compensate for the effects of dimensional changes due to subsequent processing. Flexographic rubber plates require such allowances to compensate for shrinkage, etc.

DOCTOR BLADE

A thin flexible blade mounted parallel to and adjustable against the surface of an engraved anilox roller for the purpose of scraping off excess ink or coatings.

DOCTOR ROLL (ROLLER)

The fountain or metering roller in a flexographic press which doctors off the excess ink or coating from the engraved anilox roller.

DOT

The individual element of halftones. All the dots in a halftone plate have equal density and spacing, but to create the photographic reproduction effect (in colour or black on white) the dot count will vary in area.

DOT ETCHING

Chemically reducing halftone dots to control the amount of colour to be printed. Dot etching negatives increases colour; dot etching positives reduces colour.

DOT GAIN or SPREAD - Also See DOT GROWTH

A printing characteristic in which dots print larger on the paper than they are on the films, causing darker tones or colours.

DOT GROWTH

The increase in size of a dot from the film to the printed sheet. Dot gain consists of two (2) parts; physical dot gain and optical dot gain due to the physics of light absorption and reflection.

DOT MATRIX

A printing machine (Dot matrix printer) that is controlled by a computer or other such equipment, that produces an image by firing a series of pins or hammers (9 or 24 pin), against a ribbon and then onto paper usually backed by a hard rubber roller or similar hard surface.

DOUBLE COATED

A pressure sensitive product consisting of a carrier material with similar or dissimilar adhesives applied to the two (2) surfaces and wound with a silicone release paper (liner).

DOWNTIME

Any non-productive time caused by equipment malfunction, roll (paper) changes, plate or die problems, etc. Non-productive time. Maintenance time. Employee absence.

DRAW-DOWN - See MEYER ROD

A method of determining colour shade by drawing down a small amount of ink with a meyer rod.

DRIER

In ink making, it is any substance added to ink to hasten drying. Salts of certain metals that hasten the drying action of oils when added to coatings or sealers. The metallic salts most commonly used are those of lead, manganese and cobalt. Also part of the printing press through which the web travels in order to receive heat etc. to effectively dry (force) the ink or coating. Also spelled ‘dryer’. Does not include Ultra Violet Curing as this is a catalytic reaction

Refer IM.

DRIERS - As DRIER

DRIVING SIDE

That side of a flexographic press on which the main gear train(s) are located. Also gear side; opposite of operator side. Back of machine.

DROP-OUT

To knock out colour from behind another colour so that the first colour will not effect the appearance of the second colour.

DRY EDGE - See SELVEDGE

The edge of paper or film where there is no adhesive, This makes for easy removal of the release liner. Sometimes called Selvedge.

DRY LAP - See PATTERN COATED

DRYER - See DRIER

DRYERS - See DRIER

DRYING TUNNEL

A tunnel fitted with heaters (usually infra-red or hot air blowers) constructed to allow the printed web to pass through and speed up the drying process with water based, alcohol and oil based inks.

DRY SEAL ADHESIVE

One which is non-blocking except to itself. Two adherends may be pre-coated, dried, then bonded at any time using only nominal pressure.

DWELL

Refers to the length of time pressure is applied to a pressure sensitive label during production. The time that a hot-stamp, embossing head, or thermal die remains in contact with the surface of a pressure sensitive material. Also that time a pressure sensitive material remains on a surface before testing the adhesion or removability

Refer NS for test procedure.

DYES

Synthetic or natural organic chemicals that are soluble in most common solvents, characterised by good transparency, high tinctorial strength, and low specific gravity.

DYE TESTS - See DIE STAIN

DYNE LEVEL

Dyne is the measurement of surface tension or energy. The level is the actual reading of the critical surface tension. Low dyne levels indicate a low surface energy which can contribute to poor ink adhesion

Refer NS.

E

EAN

European Article Numbering system. This is the international standard bar code for retail food packages.

EDGE CURL - See CURL

EDGE GUIDE - See WEB GUIDE

EDGE LIFT

The edge of a label rising from the labelled surface. This condition occurs most frequently on small diameter curved surfaces. Resistance to edge lift is dependent on the bond strength of the adhesive and the flexibility of the facestock.

EDM DIE

Die produced using electronic discharge machining. Dies made with this process will last longer than standard dies

Refer O.

EDP

Electronic Data Processing

Refers to web format, fanfolded and sprocket punched pressure sensitive labels, usually blank, for use on pin-feed dot matrix computer printing equipment. Term is not used for A4 sheets, even though they may be used in conjunction with computers.

ELASTIC MEMORY

A tendency of some materials to attempt to return to their original length after being elongated.

ELECTRONIC PRE-PRESS

CAD - Computer Assisted Designing of new labels from conceptual through to the separated, stepped films required for plate making.

ELECTROSTATIC PRINTING

A method of printing in which the ink is affixed to the web by electrostatic methods.

ELEMENT

A single binary position in a character, also dimensionally, the narrowest width in a character-bar or space.

ELLIPTICAL DOT

Elongated dots which improve gradation of tones particularly in middle tones and vignettes.

ELMENDORF TEST

A standard test for determining the tearing strength of paper

Refer NS.

ELONGATION

The distance a material will stretch lengthwise before breaking, expressed as a percentage of original length. Elongation is not necessarily an indication of conformability

Refer NS.

EMBOSSING

Impressing surface with dies to produce a relief image or texture. Often utilising a set of matched male and female dies to get the desired effect. Can also be combined with hot foil stamping in one (1) action.

EMULSIFICATION

The process of dispersing one liquid in another when the two liquids normally do not mix.

EMULSIFYING AGENT

Substance used to produce an emulsion of two liquids which do not naturally mix.

EMULSION

A type of mixture wherein two or more immiscible (unmixable) materials are held together in a homogeneous mixture by the action of a third agent. The term ‘emulsifying agent’ is applied to the material which is added to hold the emulsion together.

EMULSION SIDE

The side of the photographic film coated with the silver halide emulsion.

ENCAPSULATED INK

Ink encapsulated with a coating giving a free flowing dry system which can be activated by heat or pressure (NCR - No Carbon Required as opposed to Carbon Paper).

ENCAPSULATION

The process of encapsulating or trapping a substance (ie. Fragrance) within a coating so that it can be applied like an ink on a printing press.

ENCODED AREA

The total lineal dimension consumed by all characters of a code pattern including start/stop codes and other relevant data.

ENGRAVED ROLLER - See ANILOX ROLLER

Rollers available with various surface finishes such as chrome or ceramic. These transfer rollers have mechanical or laser engraved cells.

ENGRAVING

A general term normally applied to any pattern which has been cut into or incised into a surface by hand, mechanical or etching process.

ENGRAVINGS

Old style zinc printing plates.

ENHANCED SPECTRUM

Ultra Violet energy is normally generated by vaporising mercury in a medium pressure quartz tube which emits a spectrum with specific energy level peaks. Changing the material in the lamp from mercury to another element produces a different (enhanced) spectrum with additional peaks or shifted energy peaks.

EPA

Environmental Protection Agency.

EVAPORATION

The changing from the liquid to the gaseous or vapour state as when the solvent or water leaves the printed ink film.

EXOTHERMIC

A reaction which produces heat as a by product of the reaction process.

EXPOSE

To subject (a sensitive film, plate, etc.) to the action of a light source.

EXTENDERS

Any material added to an ink to reduce its colour strength and/or viscosity.

EYEMARK

A small rectangular printed area usually located near the edge of a web or design, to activate an automatic electronic position regulator for controlling register of the printed design with subsequent equipment or operations.

F

FACE-CUT LABEL

Any pressure sensitive label where the face material is cut to the liner. A die-cut label product from which the matrix has not been removed.

FACE MATERIAL

Any paper, filmic, fabric, laminate or foil material suitable for converting into pressure sensitive labelstock. In the finished construction this web is bonded to the adhesive layer and becomes the functional part of the construction

Refer NS.

FACE SLIT

A slit in the face material of a pressure sensitive product to facilitate removal from the backing.

FACE SPLIT - See FACE SLIT

FACE STOCK - See FACE MATERIAL

FADEOMETER

Instrument used to measure the fade resistant properties of inks and other pigmented coatings

Refer NS for test procedure.

FADING

A gradual decrease in the brilliance of colour. The term is often applied to the change in colour produced by exposure to light and the elements.

FAHRENHEIT

The imperial scale of temperature where ‘32’ represents the freezing point of water and ‘212’ represents the boiling point of water.

Formula for conversion to Celsius: 5/9 X C X (F - 32)

FANFOLD - See CONTINUOUS LABELS

FASTNESS

That property of a paper or dye-stuff which renders its resistant to change in colour. Depending upon its use, a paper should be fast to light, alkali and acid.

FATIGUE

A condition of stress created by repeated flexing or impact force upon the adhesive-adhered interface.

FEATHERING

A defect which is characterised by ragged, coarse edges, or undesirable irregular edges around a print.

FEED SLOTS - Also see SPROCKET PUNCHED

Round or rectangular holes or slits put in pressure sensitive labelstock to maintain register of pressure sensitive labels while they are being printed or imprinted. Usually refers to the feeding mechanism of sprocket punching for dot matrix printers, pin wheel machines, car park machines, automatic computer stencil cutting machines and the like. Other names are: Index Holes, Index Punch, Pin Feed, Line Hole Punch and Marginal Punching.

FESTOON

Material take-up system usually used with a butt splicer in order to continue feeding a press while the splice is being made on stationary material.

FILL-IN

Generally used to refer to the open portions of small type and half tones filled in by ink to cause blotches.

FILLING IN

Refers to the filling in of small reverse areas or copy of a printed design.

FILM

A dark material (usually acetate) coated one side with an emulsion that is light sensitive. When exposed to light, an image is transferred to the film and then it is developed in chemicals to produce a negative.

A transparent material used for face stock for pressure sensitive labels. Often used in applications requiring maximum durability as it seals the printed surface. Applied during the run on a label press.

FILM MASTER

A photographic film representation of a specific symbol from which a printing plate is produced.

FILM POSITIVE

A positive contact print on a film base material.

FILMS

Face and liner material manufactured from synthetic high molecular weight polymers.

FINAT

European organisation of Label Printers similar to LATMA.

FINENESS OF GRIND

The degree of grinding or dispersion of a pigment in a printing ink or vehicle. Extent to which particle size has been reduced to its ultimate by grinding technique.

FINENESS OF GRIND GAUGE

Instrument consisting of a flat block with two (2) calibrated gradient slots from 0 to 0.001 inch on which ink is drawn down with a steel blade. Undispersed pigment or other particles in ink show streaks starting at their particle size

Refer NS for test procedure.

FINISH

To finalise (bring) the clients request to its proper conclusion. The surface property of a material determined by its texture and gloss. Also an important physical property of paper. It describes surface contour and characteristics measurable by smoothness, gloss, absorbability and print quality. Finish of paper can be aesthetic or functional

Refer relevant National Standard and Labelstock manufacturers’ data sheet.

FINISHING

Usually refers to the last work done to a clients request prior to shipping, ie. rewinding, inspection and packing, etc.

FISH EYES

Round or eye-shaped deformations in a coating (adhesive, release, protective, etc.); craters.

FLAG

A marker, usually strips of coloured paper or board, inserted into rolls of pressure sensitive materials and extending from an edge to designate a deviation from the standard (normal), such as a splice, defect or specification change. A warning to the slitter or press operator handling the material during the next operation in the converting process, usually indicating an area that is to be inspected closely. On the run, a flag can be inserted into a fan-fold, stack of sheeted labels or rolls.

FLAGGING

Usually refers to the ‘lifting’ of a pressure sensitive label from the surface to which it has been applied. This condition most often occurs when the label has been applied around a curved (tight) surface or where the adhesive has been nullified by mishandling.

FLAME RESISTANT PAPER

A paper which has been treated with chemicals which enable it to resist flame. While not actually fireproof, it will not support combustion, will char but not carry a flame.

FLAMMABLE

Capable of being ignited.

FLASH POINT

The temperature at which a flammable liquid will flash when ignited by a small flame passed over the surface.

FLAT PACK - See FANFOLD

A continuous web folded at a cross perforation at regular intervals.

FLEX

Another term for deflection of rollers or cylinders in a press. Also, bending qualities of characteristics of any material, including printing substrates.

FLEXIBILITY

A property of face materials, measured under specified conditions, that indicates how readily they will conform to curved surfaces

Refer relevant National Standard.

FLEXIBLE PRINTED CIRCUIT

A printed circuit or conductive pattern, on or between insulating layers, which remains flexible after processing.

FLEXIBLE DIE - See MAGNETIC DIE

FLEXING

Condition that can occur on a die when the circumference is less than the width of the cross-blades. Causes the centre of the cross-blades to fail to cut properly and consistently.

FLEXLIGHT

Union Carbide’s trademark for photopolymer plate material.

FLEXOGRAPHIC PRINTING

Formerly called ANILINE printing. A method of rotary printing that employs flexible, raised relief image plates and rapid drying inks or coatings. Flexography uses either; Ultra Violet, water based, or alcohol based inks, or a combination of all three.

FLEXOGRAPHY

Relief printing process using a simple inking system and fluid inks.

FLOCK

A commercial fuzz or lint consisting of fine strands or filaments from textile fibres, animal hair, synthetic resins, etc. It is applied to an adhesive coated surface to produce a decorative effect with a felt-like feel and appearance.

FLOOD COAT

The method of coating of an entire surface with an ink, adhesive, coating, etc.

FLOW OUT

The capacity of an ink or adhesive to spread, filling in the hills and valleys on the surface of the printed or non-printed substrate.

FLUORESCENT PAPER - Also known as RADIANTs or FLUROs

A paper that is coated with a fluorescent pigment which not only reflects a visible wave length, but is activated by most of the remaining absorbed light to re-emit it as colour of a longer wave length which results in reinforcement of the reflected colour

Refer LM.

FLORESCENT PIGMENTS

By absorbing unwanted wave lengths of light and converting them into light of desired wave lengths, these colours seem to possess an actual glow of their own

Refer LM.

FLUOROCARBON FILMS

A film with very high and low temperature limits, excellent electrical characteristics, and a very slippery, non-sticking surface.

FLYING SPLICE

A splice or joining of two (2) webs accomplished while the web is in motion.

FOAMING - FROTHING

A property of a liquid related to a surface tension.

FOB

Free on Board. Shipping term used to indicate that a price quoted includes loading on a railroad car, truck, aircraft or ship at a designated point, but no further transportation costs are included. Also, does not usually include insurance.

FOCAL DISTANCE - See ULTRA VIOLET INKS.

Ultra violet light energy, like visible light, can be collected and focused by an elliptical reflector. The focal distance is the distance from the lamp centre to the substrate, whereas maximum energy is concentrated at that distance which gives the narrowest band of focused light. When focused correctly, UV inks will be cured in 1/40th of a second at approximately 30 meters per minute with a 200 watt per inch medium pressure mercury vapour lamp. Speed of cure can be either chemically enhanced or by adding more lamps, or lamps of higher intensity, ie. 300 watts per inch

Refer IM

FOIL

A polyester film that carries a ‘dry’ pigment that is transferred to paper by heat and pressure. Commonly used in hot stamping processes, gold and silver foils were actually finely beaten and drawn gold or silver strips for stamping onto leather.

FOIL PAPER LAMINATE

A foil (usually coloured aluminium), laminated to a sheet of paper used as a face stock. The foil is usually top coated (tie coated), to improve ink receptivity. A very thin metal sheet that can be used as face stock material in label production.

FOIL STAMPING

The application of heat and pressure to a stamping foil to activate the foil and transfer it to the substrate.

FONT

In typesetting (composition), the complete assortment of type of one size and face, including numerals, capitals, lower-case, diphthongs, edit marks and punctuation.

FORMAT

The size, style, layout, margins, etc., of a label. To format a computer floppy disk - prepares a disk to receive computer generated information.

FOUNTAIN

A pan or trough on a flexographic press which contains the ink and in which the fountain roller revolves.

FOUR COLOUR PROCESS

Printing with three of the primary colours plus black. Yellow, magenta and cyan colour inks are printed with black, using screens to create all the other colours of the spectrum.

FREEZER ADHESIVE

Adhesives that will function at temperatures below the freezing point. They are usually removable (repositional) at room (ambient) temperatures

Refer LM Specification Sheets.

FTA - and AFTA

American and International Flexographic Technical Association.

Australian Flexographic Technical Association.

FUGITIVE COLOURS

Those colours which are not fast to light.

FUGITIVE INKS

Inks specially manufactured to be used as a substitute for carbon paper between paper layers.

FUSE

To join two surfaces by heating them to their melting or softening point.