Van dyke
A quality control "proof" print produced on photographic paper from a negative. This is done prior to creating the lithographic printing plate, and provides customers with a way to check color registration, layout, etc. prior to printing. See also: blueline; brownprint; silverprint.
variable printing
A process often used to create personalized letters or billing statements where standard text and images are combined with changeable data unique to each recipient (e.g., name, address, etc.). A form of mass customization that uses a standard template into which unique data is inserted on a page by page basis.
varnish
1. A solvent based resin coating applied to paper for appearance enhancement and durability.
2. A major ink ingredient.
vector file
A digital file containing a vector image. Other Term: spline. See vectors.
vectors
A mathematical equation using x-y coordinates to describe an image and its position on a page. The vector image is typically created with an illustration application on a personal computer. The file is then fed as a PostScript or other page descriptor language to a raster image processor that translates the information into a format appropriate for the imagesetter output device. See also: bitmap; imagesetter; line art; object-oriented; page description language; PostScript; raster; raster image processor.
vegetable parchment
A paper with a high wet strength and grease resistance.
vellum
A fine, smooth, off-white material used for printing. Originally produced from calfskin.
Velox
An Eastman Kodak tradename for a photographic paper used for contact printing from a halftone negative. A Velox print eliminates the need for subsequent stripping or screening.
verso
The opposite side (e.g., a page's back side, a book's back cover, etc.). See also: recto.
view file
A low resolution image displayed on a monitor or proof prior to creating the finished, high resolution print.
vignette
An image where a color gradually fades into the nonprinting areas. See also: degradee.
vignetted dots
Dots that gradually fade from edge to center.
virgin fiber
A material used to make paper that has not been recycled from previous paper or other materials.
visible spectrum
All colors visible to the unaided human eye. See spectrum; white light.
viscosity
A measure of a liquid's resistance to flowing. Used as a product specification for coatings, inks, glues, etc.