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Back Up - In printing; to print the second side of a sheet already printed on one side. In computers; to make a copy of your work on a separate disk in case something happens to the original.

Basic Size - 25"x 38" for book papers, 20"x 26" for cover papers, 22" x 28" or 22"x 35" for bristols.

Basis Weight - Weight in pounds of a ream (500 sheets) of paper cut to a given standard size for that grade; example:500 sheets of 17" x 22" 20 lb. bond paper weighs 20 pounds. In countries using ISO paper sizes the weight, in grams, of one square meter of paper.

Bearers - The flat surfaces or rings at the ends of press cylinders that come in contact with each other during printing and serve as a basis for determining packing thickness.

Beta Test - The second stage test version of a newly developed piece of hardware and/or software which is distributed free to a limited sampling of users so that they can subject it to daily use and report any problems to the manufacturer before release to the public.

Bezier Curves - Curved lines, defined by anchor points, used in software for drawing and type rendering.

Binderï¿½s Creep - The slight but cumulative extension of the edges of each inserted spread or signature beyond the edges of the one that encloses it in a saddle-stitch bind.

Binding - The fastening of the assembled sheets or signatures along one edge of a publication.

Bitmap - A series of individual dots or pixels that define graphics. Each dot or pixel in the image is recorded as either on or off.

Blanket - In offset printing, a rubber-surfaced fabric that is clamped around a cylinder. The image is transferred from the plate to the blanket, and from there, transferred to the paper.

Bleed - Printed image which extends beyond the trim edge of the sheet or page.

Blind Image - Image that is debossed, embossed or stamped, but not printed with ink or foil.

Blocking - Sticking together of printed sheets causing damage when the surfaces are separated.

Blueline - Prepress photographic proof made from stripped negatives where all colors show as shades of a single color on paper. Also called brownline, silverprint, Dylux.

Bond Paper - A grade of writing or printing paper where strength, durability and performance are essential requirements; used for letterheads, business forms, etc. The basic size is 17" x 22".

Book Paper - A general term for coated and uncoated paper. The basic size is 25" x 38".

Bottling - The process of skewing pages to compensate for paper thickness as it is folded. Primarily used on signatures designed for large web or large sheetfed presses.

Break for Color - In artwork and composition, to separate the parts to be printed in different colors.

Brightness - In paper, the reflectance or brilliance of the paper.

Bristol - Type of board paper used for post cards, business cards and other heavy-use products.

Bronzing - Printing with a sizing ink and then applying bronze powder while still wet to produce a metallic luster.

Bump - Ink applied from a fifth or higher plate in four-color process printing, usually to strengthen a specific color; also referred to as a touchplate.

Burn - Exposure of a plate to light through a negative to create an image for printing.

Burnish - The term used to describe the rubbing down and securing of copy to a keyline.

Burnthrough - Condition existing when enough light penetrates a masking sheet to expose the film or plate beneath the sheet. Masking sheeting should prevent light from penetrating to the film, but accumulated exposures (as in step-and-repeat exposures) sometimes sensitize the film, causing burnthrough.

Butt Register - Register where ink colors meet precisely without overlapping or allowing space between. Also called butt fit and kiss register.