galley
1. Unaltered phototypesetter output, usually single columns of type on photographic paper, serving as preliminary proofs.
2. Final image or typeset copy output directly to film or photographic paper.
3. Initially, a long, shallow tray for storing and proofing handset type.
gang
A grouping of forms arranged to print together with a single impression. Also known as gang printing, gang run, or gang up.
gatefold
A four page insert to a book that is larger than the existing page dimensions, having a fold at the outer edge that serves as a hinge, allowing two sheets to fold out from the center to the edge. Also known as a foldout.
gathering
Assembling all the signatures in order. See also: assembling; collate; inserting.
gigabyte
One thousand megabytes or one billion bytes of computer data.
gilding
The application of gold or metallic leaf to a book's trim edges.
glassine
An opaque smooth paper used primarily for candy wrappers and dust jackets. Formerly used in book production for the separation of text pages from graphic pages.
glazed
Paper with a surface sheen or polish applied during or after manufacture by calendering, drying, plating, or drying.
gloss
The "shininess" of a material as measured by the amount of light reflected from its surface. Alternative term: specular gloss.
ghosting
Also known as gloss ghosting. A condition occurring during sheetfed printing when inks containing drying oils are used in production. Vapors from drying ink on one side of a press sheet interact chemically with the dry ink densities printed on a sheet in contact or on the reverse side of the same sheet creating unintended faint images.
grain direction
The alignment of pulp fibers in the direction of web travel during the production of paper.
"Grain-long" is the grain direction paralleling the longer dimension of the sheet. "grain-short" paper has fibers paralleling the short dimension of the sheet.
In the production of bound materials, the grain direction of all papers used must run parallel to the backbone to prevent cracking and insure a durable spline.
grain-long
See grain direction.
grain-short
See grain direction.
gravure
A printing method that uses ink-filled depressions in a cylinder to deposit ink on a substrate, forming an image. The small depressions, known as "cells", are etched into the cylinder to form the image. Ink is flooded onto the cylinder and then removed by a blade scraping the cylinder surface. Only the ink in the etched depressions remains and is transferred to the substrate on contact. See also: rotogravure.
gray scale
1. Graduated neutral tones used in printing to reflect color differentiation.
2. A film strip used in combination with original photography to check focus, provide print contrast, time development, measure density ranges, balance color, etc. Also, gray wedge; neutral wedge, or step tablet or wedge.
gray wedge
See gray scale.
groundwood free
See: wood free.
gutter margin
The space between the text matter and fold edge next to it. Alternative terms: back margin, binding margin.