Fine Print

Fine Print Knowledge Center

The online guide to print and design.

Introduction
A Brief History of Printing
PrePress
Planning and Strategy
Design Tips
Color Management
File Submission
Proofing
Materials and Stocks
Inks
Platemaking
Types of Printing
Offset Lithography
Digital Printing
Screen Printing
Gravure
Thermography
Flexography
Letterpress
Large Format
Specialty Printing
3D Printing
Promotional
Security Printing
Green Printing
Types of Finishes
Coatings
Binding
Folding
Scoring
Die Cutting
Embossing
Foil Stamping
Perforations
Intensity

The extreme strength, degree or amount of ink.

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Interactive

Any type of media that allows the user to influence and react to it.

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Interface

Noun: the connection between two applications or hardware devices, which facilitates data exchange. An interface can include hardware, software and can take place using similar or different categories of data. Verb: to make an appropriate physical connection between two pieces of hardware so that the equipment can communicate or work together effectively.

This can be the plug or cable that links the PC to the modem, or software that connects text with tables, or even the keyboard, which acts as an interface between computer and user.

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Interim Statement

A circulation statement of a publisher made quarterly to the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC). An interim statement can be made at any time but is usually issued when there is a major change to publications; such as two periodicals merging.

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Interlace

Storing partial data from a single graphic image in multiple sequences. The purpose of interlacing is to have a partial image initially appear on screen rather than having to wait for the image to appear in its entirety. With interlacing, equally spaced sets of lines from the original image are stored together, and these sets appear one on top of the other in sequence.

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Interleaved Barcode

A bar code in which characters are paired using bars to represent the first character and spaces to represent the second.

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Interleaves (Slip Sheets)

Paper inserted between sheets as they come off the printing press to prevent transfer of wet ink from one to the other. Also, accessory sheets between parts in a form.

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Interline freight

Freight moving from origin to destination over the Freight lines of two or more transportation carriers.

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Intermediate Cut

A stage in the postpress process, in which the signatures are divided into parts and a strip of material is cut out. This step is necessary with bled-off printed areas or images.

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Internal Drum Exposure

A process by which the media to be exposed is drawn completely into a drum and fixed by a vacuum. The format is defined by the size of the drum and the writing head on the exposing laser which is centered on a spindle located in the drum. This laser exposes by constantly rotating and traversing the film or plate line by line.

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International Council of Museums

ICOM

The International Council of Museums is an international organization of museums and museum professionals which is committed to the conservation, continuation and communication to society of the world’s natural and cultural heritage, present and future, tangible and intangible.

Created in 1946, ICOM is a non-governmental organization maintaining formal relations with and having a consultative status with UNESCO.

As a non-profit organization, ICOM is financed primarily by membership fees and supported by various governmental and other bodies.

It carries out part of UNESCO’s programme for museums.

Based in Paris, France, the ICOM Headquarters houses both the ICOM Secretariat and the UNESCO-ICOM Museum Information Centre.

ICOM provides the policy basis for the operation of the .museum (“dot-museum”) top-level domain.

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International Edition

Usually refers to textbooks. These books are lower-priced editions of the original, and have a statement on the cover that they are only for sale in certain countries. The content of the international edition of a textbook is typically identical to that of the U.S. edition, but they sometimes have less expensive covers or binding, are printed on less expensive paper and/or in black and white instead of in color.

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International Publishers Association

An organisation representing the publishing industry worldwide.

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International Standard Serials Number

ISSN

The ISSN is a code used on catalogues, databases or commercial transactions each time serial publications are involved.

In order to fulfil its goal in an efficient way, the ISSN, as any standardized international code, must be universally used.

It is thus available for all partners concerned, at each stage of the information chain.

ISSN

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Internegative.

Negative made from a transparency for the purpose of making photographic prints.

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Internet

The collection of networks that communicate via TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) throughout the world. Also called the Net.

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Internet Access Provider

IAP

A business or organization that provides to consumers access to the Internet and related services.

In the past, most ISPs were run by the phone companies.

Now, ISPs can be started by just about any individual or group with sufficient money and expertise.

In addition to Internet access via various technologies such as dial-up and DSL, they may provide a combination of services including Internet transit, domain name registration and hosting, web hosting, and colocation.

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Internet Architecture Board

IAB

The committee charged with oversight of the technical and engineering development of the Internet by the Internet Society (ISOC).

It oversees a number of Task Forces, of which the most important are the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and the Internet Research Task Force (IRTF).

The body which eventually became the IAB was originally formed by the United States Department of Defense’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency under the name Internet Configuration Control Board in 1979; it eventually became the Internet Advisory Board in September, 1984, and then the Internet Activities Board in May, 1986 (the name was changed, while keeping the same acronym). It finally became the Internet Architecture Board, under ISOC, in January, 1992, as part of the Internet’s transition from a U.S.-government entity to an international, public entity.

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Internet Service Provider

ISP

A business or organization that provides to consumers access to the Internet and related services.

In the past, most ISPs were run by the phone companies.

Now, ISPs can be started by just about any individual or group with sufficient money and expertise.

In addition to Internet access via various technologies such as dial-up and DSL, they may provide a combination of services including Internet transit, domain name registration and hosting, web hosting, and colocation.

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Interpolation

A mathematical process to determine intermediate values within regularly structured series of numbers. Various methods are used for this purpose, depending on the nature of the series. In image editing, pixels can be interpolated in order to increase the resolution beyond the physical capacity of an input device.

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Interpress

Xerox Corporation’s page description language which was the first such product to be implemented. At present the language still has to be adopted commercially by a third party.

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Interpreter

A device usually referred to as an RIP that converts page description into a raster or vector output format. Other functions include assisting in printer to computer communications and driver and print management functions. The interpreter enables all input and output functions that are necessary for output on the printer.

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Interspersed Aspect Ratio

A basic requirement of certified photofinishers and certified photofinishing equipment; specifies the three system print formats – C, H and P – that users select during picture-taking must be available at photofinishing.

See also Aspect Ratio, “C”-format, “H”-format and “P”-format.

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Interstitial

An interstitial is a web advertisement that appears in a separate browser window, other than the target web page.

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Invoice

A detailed list of goods shipped or services rendered, with an account of all costs; an itemized bill.

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Inxwell

Revolutionary technology created and patented by Mohawk Paper Mills. Exclusive chemical technology produces text and cover papers with the classic uncoated feel, but with the added advantages of superior ink holdout, lower dot gain, and significantly increased opacity. Inxwell papers are available in the Mohawk Options and Navajo products, and are ideal for both offset and digital printing.

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Ionizers

Tool used to eliminate static. Neutralizes static charges by the use of blowing ionized air over the charged surface. Static charge is responsible for the attraction of contaminants (dust, dirt).

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IP Address

Internet Protocol Address

A unique address that devices use in order to identify and communicate with each other on a computer network utilizing the Internet Protocol standard (IP) in simpler terms, a computer address.

Any participating network device-including routers, computers, time-servers, printers, Internet fax machines, and some telephones can have their own unique address. Also, many people can find personal information through IP addresses.

An IP address can also be thought of as the equivalent of a street address or a phone number (compare: VoIP (voice over (the) internet protocol)) for a computer or other network device on the Internet.

Just as each street address and phone number uniquely identifies a building or telephone, an IP address can uniquely identify a specific computer or other network device on a network.

IP addresses are managed and created by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority.

IANA generally allocates super-blocks to Regional Internet Registries, who in turn allocate smaller blocks to Internet service providers and enterprises.

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IQ Paper

A kind of sticker used to identify products and manufactured by X-ident GmbH of Düren. The labels are made of paper or plastic foil and, depending on the type, contain a transponder from the Philips® I-code series or the Tag-It series from Texas Instruments. The size of the labels varies from between 5.5 by 10.5 centimeters to 10 by 15 centimeters. The stickers are available on rolls and can be printed using a special printer, which can also apply data for their application.

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IR Coating

Liquid laminate coating bonded and cured with infrared light.

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