Glossary of Terms, T - Z

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

T

TACK

The property of a pressure sensitive label which causes it to adhere to a surface instantly with a minimum of pressure and contact time. It is the feeling of stickiness obtained when the surface of an adhesive is touched or when a label is applied to a surface and quickly pulled away.

TACK RANGE

The time during which an adhesive remains sticky

Refer NS & LM.

TACKIFIER

An additive used to improve the stickiness or tack of an adhesive.

TACKINESS

The stickiness of the adhesive.

TAG LABEL

Labels on heavy paper or tag stock with die cut holes so labels can be folded over a packaging material as in a header or hanger label.

TAGS

Any identification that is only partially affixed to the product. System tags: converted through roll fed production equipment. Merchandise tags: converted through narrow web roll fed production equipment.

TAMPER-EVIDENT LABEL

A pressure sensitive construction made of material which will partially destruct when tampered with. Used on a variety of items including packages, library books, bottles and important documents.

TAMPERPROOF

Destructible. A pressure sensitive material which can not be removed intact from a substrate thus making reuse of the label impossible.

TAPE

A single faced, self wound, adhesive coated substrate wound on spools for consumer use.

TAPPI

Technical Association of the Paper and Pulp Industry. USA

TARNISHPROOF LABEL

Refers to a pressure sensitive label being free of substances that will discolour or blemish copper or silver.

TEAR STRENGTH

Force required to tear a specimen under standardised conditions, with an instrument designed to measure the force required, by simulating usage conditions under which tearing might be accomplished

Refer NS & LM.

TEAR TAB

An additional area of face stock attached by the release liner to a pressure sensitive label produced in single form to facilitate removal of the release liner.

TEDLAR

Du Pont’s trademark for bi-axially oriented polyvinyl fluoride. One of the most durable, chemical resistant, protective films.

TEETH PER INCH - (TPI)

Denotes the number of cuts per inch in a perforation blade

Refer Die Manufacturers for TPI availability.

TELESCOPING

Transverse slipping of successive winds of a roll of material so that the edge is conical rather than flat.

TENSILE STRENGTH

The force parallel to the plane of the specimen required to break a given width and length of stock under specified conditions

Refer NS & LM.

TENSION

The mechanical control of unwinding or rewinding paper, film, foil and other roll materials. The stress caused by a force operating to extend, stretch or pull apart. Not that paper can, if the machine tension is not controlled correctly, grow in length.

TENSION RELEASE

Loss of tension within a roll of material, usually occurs when there is an actual shrinkage of the adhesive. Once this happens, register control is not possible and the roll must be rewound to re-establish tension.

THERIMAGE

A method of container decoration that utilises pressure and heat to transfer the image from a carrier to the surface of a container.

THERMAL

Refers to the use of heat in any process. Ie. Hot foil stamping. Thermal transfer etc.

THERMAL PROOF

A computer generated colour proof utilising coarse screens, etc., to simulate a finished design. Not useable as artwork

Refer NS.

THERMAL TRANSFER PAPER

A face paper or pressure sensitive paper specifically designed to accept heat activated ink from the ribbon of a thermal transfer printer. A simple test to discover whether paper is thermal transfer or not, is to hold a flame close to the paper surface - if it blackens or discolours - it is thermal paper

Refer LM.

THERMOGRAPHIC

A printing method utilising heat to achieve an image.

THERMOGRAPHIC PAPER - See THERMAL TRANSFER PAPER

THERMOSET

The property of an adhesive normally fluid to set or become rigid and non-meltable when heated.

THICKNESS

The distance from one surface of either tape, label or adhesive to the other, usually expressed in mils, microns or thousandths of an inch. This is normally measured under slight pressure with a special gauge

Refer NS & LM.

THIXOTROPIC

Describes materials which exhibit thixotropy.

THIXOTROPY

The ability of gel like liquids to ‘thin out’ when under shear forces or when agitated.

THREAD

In a press or coating machine, the routing of a web between the various rollers or other parts of the machine - ‘thread up’ or ‘web up’ are two other terms commonly used.

TIE

A term used to denote the uncut portion of the perforation.

TIE COAT

One layer of a coating used to improve the adhesion of ink or other coatings to follow. Also called ‘Primer’ and ‘Barrier Coat’.

TIGHT RELEASE

The level of adhesion between the release liner and the adhesive on a pressure sensitive material, when the liner is difficult to remove

Refer NS & LM.

TINTS

Even tone areas (strengths) of a solid colour.

TLMI

Tag & Label Manufacturers Institute. North American organisation of Label Printers similar to LATMA Australia Ltd.

TOLERANCE

A specified range that products must fall within

Refer NS & LM & IM & O.

TOOLING

Usually refers to die cutters, butt cutters, etc., used to cut out the labels. Mostly used to refer to all tooling necessary to produce the finished product; blocks and die cutters.

TOOTH COUNT

Refers to the actual number of teeth there are on the gear which is attached to the dies and printing cylinders. Each tooth count refers to a separate and actual repeat length. Ie. 96 teeth at 1/8" = 12" repeat.

TOP LAMINATION - See OVERLAMINATING

TOPCOAT

A surface treatment or coating on a material which enhances ink receptivity. Also refers to protective coating.

TORSION

Stress caused by twisting a material.

TOXICITY

The degree or intensity of virulence of a substrate judged to be injurious to living tissue; poisonous.

TPI - See TEETH PER INCH - See GEAR CHART at back of Glossary.

TRACKING

The manner in which a web travels through rotary equipment.

TRACTOR FEED - See PIN FEED

TRANSFER ADHESIVE SANDWICH

Pressure sensitive adhesive coated between two release liners with a release differential, so that the release liners can be peeled away successively, in order that the adhesive alone can be applied to a substrate

Refer NS & LM.

TRANSFER ROLLER

Plain or engraved roller rotating in contact with another plain roller or doctor blade transferring variable amounts of ink in a flexographic inking system.

TRANSFER TAPE

A pressure sensitive adhesive, unsupported, applied to a two-sided differentially release coated liner

Refer NS & LM.

TRANSLUCENCY

Ability to transmit diffused light without being fully transparent

Refer NS.

TRANSLUCENT

Transmitting light in a diffuse manner so that objects beyond cannot be clearly distinguished; partially transparent

Refer NS & LM.

Special Note: Translucent and transparent are names often confused for similar but different outcomes.

TRANSPARENCY

Colour or monochrome photographic positive on a transparent base (film). Also that property of a material which transmits light rays so that objects can be clearly seen through it

Refer NS & LM.

TRANSPARENT

Transmitting light without appreciable scattering so that objects beyond are clearly distinguishable

Refer NS & LM.

TRANSPARENT LABEL

A pressure sensitive label whose face material, adhesive and protective coatings, transmit light so that objects can be seen through it. Also called ‘No label look’

Refer NS & LM.

TRANSVERSE DIRECTION

The direction of a labelstock from left to right, from side to side, as opposed to the web direction; cross direction

Refer LM.

TRAPPING

The overlapping of various colours in a design to prevent their separating and not touching as a result of registration variables during printing. The condition of printing ink on ink, making sure the first down ink is dry when the next one is printed over it to properly hide the first colour down. This can also be achieved by printing each successive colour after Ultra Violet curing, and in the case of oil based inks, each colour with a decreased viscosity.

TRIM

The normal edge waste from a master roll of labelstock. A term used to describe an action on the press ‘trim’ the paper, ‘trim’ the edge.

TRIM MARKS - See CROP MARKS

In printing, marks placed on the copy, and sometimes printed, to indicate the edge of the label where it will be cut.

TUNNEL - (Drying)

The compartment through which a web passes for drying after printing.

TUNNELLING

A condition caused by incomplete bonding of laminates, characterised by release of longitudinal portions of the substrate and deformation of these portions to form tunnel-like structures.

TURN BAR - See TURNING BARS

TURNING BARS

An arrangement of stationery bars on a press, which guide the web in such a manner that it is turned front to back, and will be printed on the reverse side by the printing units located subsequent to the turn(ing) bars. Often used to produce sheet labels where the liner is printed with instructions or tradenames, then the labelstock is turned right side up so that the labelstock surface can receive the die cut.

TYVEK

Du Pont’s trademark for spun bonded polyolefin material frequently used as a face material where very high tensile strength is required. Often used for snow ski tickets.

U

UL

Underwriters’ Laboratories. USA.

ULTIMATE ADHESION

The maximum adhesion possible from a pressure sensitive adhesive

Refer LM.

ULTIMATE STRENGTH

The maximum stress a material is capable of withstanding under specified load or tension

Refer NS & LM.

ULTRA VIOLET - ULTRAVIOLET - UV

Zone of visible radiation(s) beyond the violet end of the spectrum of visible radiations. Since UV wave lengths are shorter than the visible, their photons have more energy, enough to initiate some chemical reactions. Radiation from a source such as a high pressure mercury vapour lamp made of quartz, emits UV light in the 315 to 400 nanometre range (just below visible light). This light is used to trigger a chemical reaction in the ink on a press, and causes the ink to cure. Curing time is usually 1/40th of 1 second

Refer IM.

UNBLEACHED

A term applied to paper or pulp which has not been treated with bleaching agents.

UNDER CURE

Degree of cure less than optimum. May be evidenced by tackiness, softness, off-colour or inferior physical properties of a coating.

UNDERCUT ANVIL - Also STEPPED ANVIL

Die station base roller that has had the ‘bearer’ area diameter reduced in order to allow the blades of a rotary die to cut deeper than was originally intended.

UNDERCUT PLATE CYLINDER - See PLATE CYLINDER

UNDER-RUN

Production or delivery of labels which falls short of the quantity specified by the client order

Refer NS.

UNWIND

Mandrel and brake device from which a roll of labelstock is unwound and fed into a web press.

UNWIND ADHESION

The force required to unwind self wound laminating film from a roll under prescribed conditions.

UPC SYMBOLS - See BAR CODES

UV - See ULTRA VIOLET

The part of the spectrum wherein the wavelength of light is shorter than that of visible light.

UV CURING

A system which uses ultra violet rays to affect a curing process.

UV INHIBITOR

A chemical additive that increases resistance to degradation caused by UV light.

UV INK

Solvent-less, 100% solids ink that is cured by ultra violet radiation and then becomes chemically inert

Refer IM.

UV RESISTANCE

The ability of any material to withstand extended exposure to sunlight without degradation, hardening or excessive discolouration.

UV STABILISER

Any chemical compound which, when mixed with a thermoplastic resin, selectively absorbs UV rays.

UV VARNISH

Lacquer or varnish usually applied over printed web used as a protective layer that is cured by exposure to a high intensity UV light source

Refer IM.

V

VARNISH

A thin, clear coating of mixtures of natural and synthetic resins and drying oils applied to a printed web for protection or appearance. In ink making, it can be part of the ink’s vehicle or carrier

Refer IM.

VEHICLE

In printing inks, the fluid component which serves as the dispersant for the pigment and gives the ink flow (carrier)

Refer IM.

VIGNETTE

An illustration in which the background fades gradually until it blends into the unprinted area.

VINYL

Synthetic plastic product which can be made in film, sheet or other forms. Vinyls can be manufactured in rigid or flexible constructions. Generally more flexible and formable than polyesters. Also known as PVC or polyvinyl chloride. A tough durable plastic film having excellent resistance to oils, chemicals and many solvents. It has excellent abrasion resistance. It can also be coloured. Its high stretch is due to the addition of a plasticiser.

VISCOMETER

An instrument for measuring the viscosity or resistance to flow

Refer IM.

VISCOSITY

Resistance to flow. It is related to the properties of tack and yield value; the flow rate

Refer IM.

VOID

An area of a coated film which does not have a coating. An adhesive skip; adhesive void.

VULCANISING

Cross linking an adhesive substance by the application of heat and catalysts.

W

WAND SCANNER - See LIGHT PEN

WARM COLOUR

A colour that appears to be on the reddish side.

WASHUP

The step in press make-ready of cleaning the ink rollers, plates and ink fountains of a printing press.

WASTE - See MATRIX

WATER SOLUBLE ADHESIVE

A pressure sensitive adhesive in which all components are water soluble

Refer LM.

WATERBORNE ADHESIVE

A dispersion of fine particles in another liquid. Many pressure sensitive adhesives are waterborne or emulsion adhesives

Refer LM.

WEATHERABILITY

Ability of a pressure sensitive label to withstand the effects of outdoor weathering, including time

Refer NS & LM.

WEATHEROMETER

A testing machine designed for evaluating the ability of a pressure sensitive label to withstand various simulated weather conditions

Refer NS & LM.

WEAVING

A poorly wound roll of labels (or other material) in which the individual layers of the labels are not in proper alignment with the other layers.

WEB

The paper, foil, film or other flexible material, from a roll, as it moves through the machine in the process of being formed or in the process of being converted or printed etc.

WEB DIRECTION - See MACHINE DIRECTION

WEB GUIDE

A device which keeps the web travelling straight and true through the press.

WEB PRESS

A press which prints from rolls (or webs) of materials such as pressure sensitive.

WEB TENSION

The amount of pull or tension applied in the direction of travel of a web of paper through a web press. Poor control of web tension will result in register problems, ‘growing’ paper, fan-folding difficulties and sheeting problems.

WET STRENGTH

The tensile strength of paper when it is wetted after manufacture.

WETTING

The relative ability of a liquid adhesive to display interfacial affinity for an adherend and to flow uniformly over the adherend surface.

WETTING AGENT

A preparation usually added to aqueous solutions to facilitate their spreading or increase their ability to evenly wet or penetrate a surface.

WHIP - See BOUNCE (Roller)

WHICKING

Tendency of a liquid to ‘travel’ through paper

Refers to absorption of moisture into paper through the raw edge.

WIRE SIDE

That side of a paper which has come into contact with the wire of the paper machine during the process of manufacture.

WRAP-AROUND LABEL

Label that extends completely around a bottle, can or other product, and as well as adhering to the product, it tips onto itself to completely seal (overlaps).

WRINKLES

Small creases or folds in a smooth surface.

X

XENERGY

Term used to describe a radiation curing process for silicone coatings.

XEROGRAPHY

A method of printing in which negatively charged ink powder is attracted to a positively charged metal plate or cylinder, from which it is transferred to the printing surface by electrostatic attraction.

XEROX

Trade name for machine that first employed the Xerography method of printing.

Y

YELLOWING

A change manifested by a gradual colour change in the original appearance of a pressure sensitive face material, characterised by the development of yellowish and brownish hues.

YIELD

Number of square meters of film or paper per kilo.

Z

ZAHN CUP

A device for measuring viscosity

Refer IM.

ZIG ZAG FOLD - See FAN FOLD - CONTINUOUS LABELS

ZIG ZAG FOLDING - See FAN FOLD - CONTINUOUS LABELS

ZONE RELEASE COATING (LINER)

Term refers to a liner and face stock which are permanently bonded with only the label portion capable of being removed from the liner

Refer LM.