Fine Print Knowledge Center
The online guide to print and design.
- FAQ
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Frequently Asked Questions
A listing of the most commonly received queries on a website to which users may refer to in order to check if their question has already been asked and to hopefully answered.
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- Fast Colors
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Colors that hold their density and resist fading when exposed to light, acids, alkalies and other stimulus.
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- Fast Film
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Film that requires relatively little light to record an image.
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- Fast-Drying Ink
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- Fastback Binding System
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Powis Parkeris unique thermal binding system that allows you to make tape bound, perfect-bound and hard cover books one at a time in an office environment.
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- Fastening
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- FASTforward
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A USPS-licensed automated system that updates addresses by identifying names and addresses for which current change-of-address orders are on file. A piece updated with FASTforward can be delivered directly to the new address rather than forwarded from the old address.
FASTforward systems interface with USPS-approved automation systems such as multilane optical character readers (MLOCRs) and remote video encoding (RVE) operations. FASTforward is available in two applications.
The Mailing List Correction application updates computerized name and address mailing lists before mail piece creation. The MLOCR/RVE application provides an “on-piece” address correction during mail processing before deposit into the mail stream.
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- Fat Face
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Type that is quite varied in its use of very thin and very wide strokes.
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- Fax
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Facsimile
From Latin “fac simile”, “make similar”, i.e. “make a copy” – or telefacsimile) is a telecommunications technology used to transfer copies (facsimiles) of documents, especially using affordable devices operating over the telephone network.
A fax machine is essentially an image scanner, a modem, and a computer printer combined into a highly specialized package.
The scanner converts the content of a physical document into a digital image, the modem sends the image data over a phone line, and the printer at the other end makes a duplicate of the original document.
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- FBB
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Folding Box Board
Multi-layer board, often mineral-coated, with an outer layer of sulphate (kraft) pulp and middle layer of mechanical pulp (groundwood, pressure groundwood or TMP; in top grades CTMP pulp may also be applied); used primarily for consumer cartons for packaging of dry and moist foods, cigarettes and other consumer products; also used in the graphic industry for catalogue covers, postcards and folders, etc.
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- FCB
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- FDDI
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Fiber Distributed Data Interface.
A standard for sending digital data over fiber optic media on local area networks and offering a network speed of 100Mbps.
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- FDF
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- FDL
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Forms Description Language
A keyword oriented language that describes the appearance of forms including lines, boxes, text, etc.
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- FDL
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Frame Decision Lists
A file format used in publishing workflow that enables a more efficient and automated process for trapping procedures on new work and a memory capable of storing templates of previous work for future use.
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- Feather Edge
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1. An edge on carbon paper that is uncoated tissue. On forms, this edge will extend beyond the bottom edge of the form parts and can be used for extraction purposes.
2. Also referred to as the deckle edge on paper.
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- Feathering
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1. When ink spreads as it soaks into the paper, causing the image to lose its sharpness.
2. Vertically justifing a column by adding a small amount of leading to the text.
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- Featherweight
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Refers to extreme lightness in regard to bulk. Lightweight book and writing papers, also used for airmail paper.
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- Features
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These can be heights of the letter groups, stems or rounds of a group, and serifs.
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- Feed Rollers
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On a printing press, the rubber wheels that move the sheets of paper from the feed pile to the grippers.
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- Feed Slots
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Round or rectangular holes or slits put in pressure sensitive label stock to maintain the register of pressure sensitive labels while they are being printed or imprinted.
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- Feeder
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The section of a printing press that separates the sheets and feeds them into position for printing.
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- Feeding Unit
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Component of a printing press that moves paper into the register unit.
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- Feel
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An individual’’s interpretation of a paper’’s finish and stiffness.
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- Feet-Per-Minute
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FPM
This term refers usually to the speed of a papermaking machine in terms of how many feet per minute the forming web of paper traverses the length of the machine.
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- Felt
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Woven, endless belt made of wool, cotton or synthetic materials used to transport the paper web on the paper machine, during manufacture.
Felts act as a conveyor while at the same time removing water from paper as it progresses through the paper machine.
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- Felt Finish
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A soft texture on uncoated paper that is created during the papermaking process with either a felt covered roller or with a rubber roller with a felt pattern that creates the finish.
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- Felt Side
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The top side of the paper as it is formed on the wire as it goes through the paper machine. It is the side recommended for the best printing results.
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- FEP
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the Federation of European Publishers
The representative body for publishers in Europe, based in Brussels.
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- Ferro-Gallic Ink
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A very durable ink that consists of gallic acid, iron sulfate and in some cases a binder (gum arabic) and that has been known for several centuries. The ink was used for documents of all kinds until the advent of chemical dyes in the recent past.
When first applied, pure ferro-gallic ink has a pale color; only when exposed to atmospheric oxygen does it form a distinctly black pigment. It is insoluble in water and thus very difficult to remove.
After extended periods of time, ferro-gallic ink decomposes paper and parchment, causing what is known as ink corrosion.
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