Indie publishing: part two

It's time for the second installment of our indie publishing series!

Printing terminology isn't unique to indie publishers and, in fact, it can confuse any publisher. So, let's take a look at some of the lingo that comes up in the process of printing a book. (Check out http://www.printindustry.com/printing-terms.html for more definitions.)

• Web press: A press that prints from rolls of paper and then cuts it into sheets of paper.
• Sheetfed press: A press that prints sheets of paper, as compared to a web press.
• Offset printing: A printing technique that transfers ink from a plate to a blanket to paper instead of directly from plate to paper.
  
• Spine: Back or binding edge of a publication.
  
• Perfect binding: To bind sheets that have been ground at the spine and are held to the cover by glue. Also called adhesive bind, cut-back bind, glue bind, paper bind, patent bind, perfecting bind, soft bind and soft cover.
  
• Saddle stitch binding: To bind by stapling sheets together where they fold at the spine, as compared to side stitch. Also called pamphlet stitch, saddle wire and stitch bind.
• Spiral binding: To bind using a spiral of continuous wire or plastic looped through holes. Also called coil bind.
• Signature: A printed sheet folded at least once, possibly many times, to become part of a book, magazine or other publication.
• Specifications: A complete and precise written description of features of a printing job such as type size and leading, paper grade and quantity, printing or binding method. Abbreviated specs.
• Trim size: The size of the printed material in its finished stage (e.g., the finished trim size is 5 1\2" x 8 1\2").
• Bleed: Printing that extends to the edge of a sheet or page after trimming.
• Die cut: To cut irregular shapes in paper or paperboard using a die (a device for cutting, scoring, stamping, embossing and debossing).
• Digital proofs: Page proofs produced through electronic memory transferred onto paper via laser or ink-jet.
• Ghosting: (1) Phenomenon of a faint image appearing on a printed sheet where it was not intended to appear. Chemical ghosting refers to the transfer of the faint image from the front of one sheet to the back of another sheet. Mechanical ghosting refers to the faint image appearing as a repeat of an image on the same side of the sheet. (2) Phenomenon of printed image appearing too light because of ink starvation.
• PPI: Pages per inch. The number of pages contained in a one-inch stack of paper.
  
• Lay-flat binding: Method of perfect binding that allows a publication to lie fully open. (Also known as Lay-flat perfect binding.)

The Internet is great for deciphering some of this jargon, but a good printer rep is invaluable in helping you determine what's best for your printed book and pocketbook. Thank you to the wonderful printers that help Maupin House do what we do!