Face
Edge of a bound publication opposite the spine. Also called foredge. Also, an abbreviation for typeface referring to a family of a general style.

Fast Color Inks
Inks with colors that retain their density and resist fading as the product is used and washed.

Feeding Unit
Component of a printing press that moves paper into the register unit.

Fifth Color
Ink color used in addition to the four needed by four-color process.

Film Laminate
Thin sheet of plastic bonded to a printed product for protection or increased gloss.

Fine Screen
Screen with ruling of 150 lines per inch (80 lines per centimeter) or more.

Finish
(1) Surface characteristics of paper. (2) General term for trimming, folding, binding and all other post press operations.

Finished Size
Size of product after production is completed, as compared to flat size. Also called trimmed size.

Fit
Refers to ability of film to be registered during stripping and assembly. Good fit means that all images register to other film for the same job.

Fixed Costs
Costs that remain the same regardless of how many pieces are printed. Copyrighting, photography and design are fixed costs.

Flat Color
(1) Any color created by printing only one ink, as compared to a color created by printing four-color process. Also called block color and spot color. (2) color that seems weak or lifeless.

Flat Plan (Flats)
Diagram of the flats for a publication showing imposition and indicating colors.

Flat Size
Size of product after printing and trimming, but before folding, as compared to finished size.

Flexography
Method of printing on a web press using rubber or plastic plates with raised images. Also called aniline printing because flexographic inks originally used aniline dyes. Abbreviated flexo.

Flood
To print a sheet completely with an ink or varnish. flooding with ink is also called painting the sheet.

Flush Cover
Cover trimmed to the same size as inside pages, as compared to overhang cover. Also called cut flush

Flyleaf
Leaf, at the front and back of a casebound book that is the one side of the end paper not glued to the case.

Foil Emboss
To foil stamp and emboss an image. Also called heat stamp.

Foil Stamp
Method of printing that releases foil from its backing when stamped with the heated die. Also called block print, hot foil stamp and stamp.

Folder
A bindery machine dedicated to folding printed materials.

Fold Marks
With printed matter, markings indicating where a fold is to occur, usually located at the top edges.

Foldout
Gatefold sheet bound into a publication, often used for a map or chart. Also called gatefold and pullout.

Folio (page number)
The actual page number in a publication.

Form
Each side of a signature. Also spelled forme.

Format
Size, style, shape, layout or organization of a layout or printed product.

Form Roller(s)
Roller(s) that come in contact with the printing plate, bringing it ink or water.

Fountain
Trough or container, on a printing press, that holds fluids such as ink, varnish or water. Also called duct.

Fountain Solution
Mixture of water and chemicals that dampens a printing plate to prevent ink from adhering to the nonimage area. Also called dampener solution.

Four-color Process Printing
Technique of printing that uses black, magenta, cyan and yellow to simulate full-color images. Also called color process printing, full color printing and process printing.

Full-range Halftone
Halftone ranging from 0 percent coverage in its highlights to 100 percent coverage in its shadows.