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The Manager's Handbook to Printing.

Term GlossaryP

Pattern Varnish: Spot varnish applied to the printed surface in a desired pattern.

Peel: Force required to pull a label from a surface.

Permanent Adhesive: An adhesive characterized by having relatively high ultimate adhesion to a wide variety of surfaces.

Polyester: A strong film having good resistance to moisture, solvents, oils, etc. Usually transparent, although available with opaque and metalized finish. A clear complex ester formed by polymerization or condensation. Excellent strength, clarity and dimensionally stable.

Polyester Liner: A polyester film that is silicone release coated. It provides an excellent die-cutting surface and is also used on over laminating films to provide a smooth, glass-like surface of adhesive.

Polyester Metalized Film: A clear polyester film, vacuum metalized on one side to provide a metallic look.

Polyethylene: A tough, stretch plastic film having very good low temperature characteristics. Also used a great deal for producing semi-rigid recyclable bottles.

Polypropylene: (PP) Similar to polyethylene but stronger and having a higher temperature resistance. Various thermoplastic plastics are polymers of propylene; excellent clarity. They are also used in various thicknesses in the printing of labels as well as backing or liner materials.

Post Cure: The continuation of polymerization (curing) process within a UV ink or coating, after exposure to UV radiation has been terminated.

Pressure Sensitive Label Stock: The combination of face material pressure sensitive adhesive and release liner from which pressure sensitive labels are manufactured.

Primary Label: Label that acts as the main identification of a product. Often designed to attract attention and contains information to appeal to a buyer and is usually applied at the time of its manufacture.

Prime Label: A label used to identify and display a product, i.e., a major product panel.

Printability: The ability of a material to accept and hold a printed legend and especially to resist offset of the printing when rewound into a roll after printing. Also, a collective term used to describe the properties required of all components in the printing process.

Process Printing: Printing from a series of two or more halftone plates to produce intermediate colors and shades. In 4-color process, the colors are yellow, magenta, cyan and black.

Protective Coating: A coating that protects the printing and the surface of a pressure sensitive label from either abrasion, sunlight, chemicals (their fumes and dilute solutions) and moisture or a combination of these.