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Common Terms - B
Backing Up paper that's alkaline and won't deteriorate over time. Archival papers must meet national standards for permanence: they must be acid-free and alkaline with a pH of 7.5 to 8.5; include 2% calcium carbonate as an alkaline reserve; and not contain any ground wood or unbleached wood fiber. The expected life of archival paper is more than 100 years. see also acid-free, alkaline papermaking, permanence, pH.
Basic Size the customary sheet size used to establish the
basis weight of a ream (500 sheets) of a given grade of paper.
Standard basic sizes vary by paper grade. For example, the basic
size of book paper is 25"x38", while the basic size of cover stock
is 20"x26". see also basis weight, weight.
Basis Weight the weight, in pounds, of a ream (500 sheets) of paper cut to a given standard (basic size). Each major paper grade, like cover, bond, or offset, has its own basic sheet size, which determines its basis weight. For example, the basic size of book paper is 25"x38" for 500 sheets; therefore, 500 sheets of 70lb. offset book paper in 25"x38" will actually weigh 70 pounds. see also basic size, ream weight, weight.
Binding fastening papers together for easy reading, transport, and protection. Papers may be bound together with a variety of materials, like wire, thread, glue, and plastic combs. types of binding see also finishing, folding, imposition, scoring, signature.
Blade-coating a method of coating paper and paperboard using a flexible blade to control the amount of coating applied to the paper. The coating is made of pigments, additives, and adhesives. Blade-coating can take place either on the papermaking machine or on an off-machine coater. While paper may be coated on one side (C1S) or both sides (C2S), blade-coated paper are usually calendared. This helps create a compressed sheet with a glossy surface, reduced bulk, and enhanced printed properties. see also bulk, calendering, clay, coated paper.
Blanket see impression cylinder, offset.
Bleaching a chemical treatment used to whiten and purify pulp. Bleached pulp is known for being strong and durable. see also celemtal chlorine free (ECF), OD100 precess, papermaking, pulp.p
Bleach Filtrate Recycling (BFR) process Champion's groundbreaking new patented process that recycles precess wastes from the bleach plant instead of discharging them to the waste water treatment facility. This technology uses Champion's 0D100 bleaching process, and is being demonstrated at Champion's Canton, North Carolina mill. see also elemental chlorine free (ECF), OD100 process.
Bleed an image or printed color that runs off the trimmed edge of a page. Bleeding one or more edges of a printed page generally increases both the amount of paper needed and the overall production cost of a printed job. Bleeds are created by trimming the page after printing.
Blind Embossing stamping raised letters or images into paper using pressure and a die, but without using foil or ink to add color to the raised areas. Braille is an example of blind embossing. see also elemental chlorine free (ECF), OD100 process.
Blueline A printer's proof, actually blue on white paper. All AAs and corrections should have been made prior to seeing a blueline.
BMP A computer graphics format "Bitmap IBM format" not generally used in professional printing.
Bond Paper a type of office reprographic paper, widely used for letterheads and business forms. Bond papers are characterized by strength, durability, and performance during electronic printing. They are manufactured with a basic size of 17"x22". see also basic size, electronic printing, office reprographic paper, xerography.
Bonding Strength the internal strength of a paper; the ability of the fibers within a paper to hold to one another. Bonding strength measures the ability of the paper to hold together on the printing press. Good bonding strength prevents fibers from coming loose ("picking"). see also picking, pick out, sizing.
Book Paper a type of offset paper with a basic size of 25"x38". The primary applications for these products are book publishing, commercial printing, direct mail, technical documents, and manuals. see also basic size, offset papers, text papers.
Brightness the reflectivity of pulp, paper, or paperboard under test conditions, using a specially calibrated measuring instrument. If paper lacks brightness it will absorb too much light, so little will reflect back through the ink. see also fluorescent dye, refractiviness, whiteness.
Bristol Paper solid or laminated heavyweight paper made to a caliper thickness of .006" or higher. Bristols are generally used for tags, covers, and file folders and have a basic size of 24.5"x30.5". see also basic size, cover paper, tag paper.
Bulk the thickness of a stack of paper, technically measured as the thickness of a specified number of sheets under a specified pressure. For example, using the measurement of an inch, it may take less that 100 bulky bristol sheets to make an inch- deep pile. On the other hand, it might take hundreds of sheets to make an inch of a lower-bulk text paper. Where thickness or the illusion of substance is a desired effect, bulk is a key factor. see also caliper, thickness.
Burn To expose photo sensitive media to light. i.e. Burning a negative or Burning a printing plate. Also, to doge and "burn" a photo print (makes the image darker in an area that is burned, ads detail to lightly exposed areas)