Fine Print Knowledge Center
The online guide to print and design.
- Gluing-Off
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The process of applying glue to the spine of a book to be casebound, after sewing and smashing, and before trimming.
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- Glulam, Laminated Timber
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Product which is laminated by gluing two or more timber pieces together
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- Glyph
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A symbol carved in stone; in typography a letter with more than one variant in an alphabet, such as “s” in German as well as Greek.
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- Glyph
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An image in a font file. For comparison a lowercase ‘a’ is a character. In the latest font file technologies (OpenType and AAT) there can be several glyphs that are a lowercase ‘a’ in a font file.
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- Glyph Index
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In digital font files glyphs are assigned numbers starting at zero. The numbers are used by tables and instructions to access the glyphs.
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- Glyphic
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- Glyptotype
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A form of electrotype process where a copy is obtained from an engraved plate by creating a raised surface suitable for letter-press printing.
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- Gnawed
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Refers to the condition of a book; chewed-on edges or corners of a book.
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- GNU/Linux
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Refers to any Unix-like computer operating system which uses the Linux kernel.
It is one of the most prominent examples of open source development and free software as well as user generated software; its underlying source code is available for anyone to use, modify, and redistribute freely.
Initially developed and used primarily by individual enthusiasts on personal computers, Linux has since gained the support of corporations such as IBM, Sun Microsystems, Hewlett-Packard, and Novell, Inc., and has risen to prominence as an operating system for servers; eight of the ten most reliable internet hosting companies now run Linux on their web servers.
Linux has been more widely ported to different computing platforms than any other operating system.
It is used in devices ranging from supercomputers to mobile phones, and is gaining popularity in the personal computer market.
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- Goffering
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A process for shaping the surface of paper into a pattern, usually with fine grooves.
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- Golden Ratio
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The rule devised to give proportions of height to width when laying out text and illustrations to produce the most optically pleasing result.
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- Goldenrod Paper
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A flat sheet of yellow or orange opaque masking material used to assemble and position negatives for exposing plates. The material is used to prevent light from exposing the non-image areas of a printing plate or film. Also called masking sheets.
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- Gopher
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A system used, before the World Wide Web, to organize and display files on an Internet server. It was developed at the University of Minnesota as a text-based Internet browsing service uses a simple user interface.
The content is presented as a hierarchially structured list. With the development and aceptance of the Web, the Gopher has been largely replace by Web sites.
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- Gothic
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A sans serif type that is very common and plain in appearance.
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- Goto
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A statement that tells the computer to move to an instruction other than the next one, and continue execution of the program from there.
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- Gouge
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Refers to the condition of a book; an unintentional nick or hole in the cover of a book, or on its spine.
Or in bookbinding, a single-line finishing tool that is used to create either blind or gold decoration on the covers but not on the spine of a book.
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- Gradated Screen
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A smooth transition between black and white, one color and another, or color and the lack of it.
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- Gradation
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A smooth transition of shades between black and white, between one color and another, or between one color and white. Also called a gradient.
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- Grade
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The quality of paper as determined by the ingredients of the stock such as wood or cotton fiber and the method of manufacturing. All papers fit into a group or type of paper which is its grade.
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- Gradient
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A gradual changing of screen densities which creates a blending from light to dark, or dark to light.
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- Graduated Screen Tint
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Screen tint that changes densities gradually and smoothly, not in distinct steps. Also called degrade, gradient, ramped screen and vignette.
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- Grain
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1. In a negative, print, or transparency, the visual appearance or texture created by the silver particles on the film. Frequently considered undesirable and apparent when an original is enlarged too much.
2. In paper, the direction in which the fibers line up during the manufacturing process. It is easier to fold, bend, or tear the paper along the same direction of the fibers. Cut sheet laser printers generally use long grain paper in which the grain runs parallel to the long side of the paper, resulting in better performance through the laser printer.
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- Grain Direction
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As the paper web is carried forward on the machine, the majority of fibers orient themselves in the machine direction.
When the web of paper is sheeted, the sheets will be grain long (fibers that follow the long side of the sheet) or grain short (they follow he short side).
Grain direction should be considered during the design process for best results during printing, folding, and converting.
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- Grain Long
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When the fibers in paper run parallel to the long dimension of the paper. For 8 1/2” x 11”, long grain would mean the grain runs the 11” direction. Also referred to as long grain.
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- Grain Short
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When the fibers in paper run perpendicular to the long dimension of the paper. For 8 1/2” x 11”, grain short would mean the grain runs the 8 1/2” direction. Also referred to as short grain.
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- Grained paper
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A paper embossed to resemble various textures, such as leather, alligator, wood, etc.
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- Graininess
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The sand-like or granular appearance of a negative, print, or slide. Graininess becomes more pronounced with faster film and the degree of enlargement.
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- Grainy
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The way a halftone or photograph appears when it has been enlarged too much. The pattern of crystals in the emulsion can be seen in the enlargement and gives it a grainy look.
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- Gram
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Unit of weight in the metric system; the weight of one cubic centimeter of water at standard conditions. 28.35 grams equal one ounce.
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- Grammage
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The basis weight of paper based on weight in grams per square meter of paper, abbreviated g/m2 or gsm.
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