Printing, Display & Output

Hard Proof

A physical test print made to verify colour and tone before committing to a final print run.

HDR Display

A screen capable of much higher peak brightness and contrast than conventional displays, showing a wider range of tones.

cd/m²

Printing, Display & Output

Ink Limit

The maximum total quantity of ink permitted in any one area, set to prevent flooding and bleeding.

Total ink % = sum of channels %

Printing, Display & Output

Ink Set

The complete group of ink colours a printer uses, including additional greys and extended-gamut colours beyond basic CMYK.

count

Printing, Display & Output

Inkjet Printing

Printing by spraying microscopic droplets of ink onto paper, the dominant method for photographic and fine-art output.

dpi

Printing, Display & Output

Laser Exposure Print

A chromogenic print exposed by red, green and blue lasers or LEDs scanning across photographic paper under digital control.

ppi

Printing, Display & Output

LPI

Lines per inch: the frequency of the halftone screen used in commercial printing.

ppi ≈ 2 × lpi lpi

Printing, Display & Output

Lustre Surface

A semi-gloss paper finish with a fine texture, offering much of gloss's density with reduced reflection.

Printing, Display & Output

Mat Board

A card window placed over a print inside a frame, separating it from the glazing and providing visual space.

mm

Printing, Display & Output

Matte Paper

Paper with a non-reflective surface that scatters light diffusely, giving a soft appearance free of glare.

Printing, Display & Output

Mounting

Attaching a print to a rigid backing so it stays flat and can be handled or framed.

Printing, Display & Output

Nozzle Check

A test pattern printed to confirm that every ink channel is firing correctly.

Printing, Display & Output

Offset Lithography

The dominant commercial printing process, in which ink is transferred from a plate to a rubber blanket and then to paper.

lpi

Printing, Display & Output

Optical Brightening Agents

Fluorescent additives in paper that absorb ultraviolet light and re-emit it as blue, making the sheet look whiter.

Printing, Display & Output

Paper Profile

An ICC profile describing how a specific combination of printer, ink and paper reproduces colour.

Printing, Display & Output

Paper Weight

The mass of a paper per unit area, used as a rough indication of its substance and rigidity.

g/m²

Printing, Display & Output

Photo Black and Matte Black

Two distinct black inks formulated for glossy and matte papers respectively, only one of which can be active at a time on many printers.

Printing, Display & Output

Photobook

A bound sequence of photographs designed to be read as a whole rather than viewed as individual prints.

pages

Printing, Display & Output

Pigment Ink

Ink in which the colourant is solid particles suspended in a carrier, sitting on the paper surface rather than dissolving into it.

Printing, Display & Output

PPI

Pixels per inch: the number of image pixels mapped to each inch of output.

ppi = pixels / inches ppi

Printing, Display & Output

Print Bleed

Image area extending beyond the intended trim line, so that no unprinted edge appears after cutting.

mm

Printing, Display & Output

Print Crop Ratio

The proportional relationship between a print's dimensions, which rarely matches a camera's native aspect ratio.

ratio

Printing, Display & Output

Print Head Alignment

A calibration routine that corrects for mechanical offsets in how the print head lays down ink in each direction.

Printing, Display & Output

Print Permanence

The expected life of a print before visible fading or colour shift, under stated display conditions.

years