Media show through in solid areas of inkjet output arising from insufficient dot gain.
Bible Paper
Thin printing paper, maximum of 50 gm2, opaque. It is intended specially for use in deluxe productions; e.g. bibles, dictionaries and high quality publicity productions. Bible paper indicates a paper containing at least 25% rag.
Binder
Portion of the vehicle in an ink composition that, in combination with the pigments, forms a film.
Biofuels/Biomass
Fuels from renewable raw materials such as bark, black liquor, logging residues and effluent sludge.
Bit
A binary digit, the fundamental unit of digital information.
Bitmap
An array of pixel data that define a character or image. An image consisting of a grid of square dots: a raster.
Bleed
Migration of an ink component or dye into an area it is not wanted. Can also be the running of a pigment colour by action of the solvent.
Bleed
Unwanted colour mixing of adjacent colours, or major spread of single a single colour, due to lateral migration of colour carrier. Caused by using the wrong media or printer settings for the job.
Blistering
Small eruptions in a paper's coating, usually from paper being dried too quickly on high-speed web offset presses.
Blocking
An unwanted adhesion between layers of material placed in contact under moderate pressure and/or temperature in storage or use. Usually occurs when stacked prior to thorough drying.
Bloom
A milky veil which appears on the surface of prints under adhesive conditions of heat and humidity. It is usually the result of too rapid solvent evaporation which causes condensation of moisture on the surface.
Blue Angel
A German environmental label, which covers many products, including paper. It takes a "cradle to grave" approach, considering manufacture and disposal as well as product use. Paper must be 100% recycled with no heavy metals or hazardous chemicals. Blue Angel is popular in Germany but less common in the UK. For more information go to the Blue Angel website
BOD
Biological Oxygen Demand. A measure of the amount of oxygen consumed by micro-organisms in breaking down the organic matter in effluent. Given for a specific period, such as seven days (BOD7).
Bond Paper
A grade of writing or printing paper generally manufactured for letterheads or forms.
Brightness
The reflectance or brilliance of the paper when measured under a specially calibrated blue light.
Bulk
Paper thickness. Sometimes used as the number of pages per inch (PPI).
Burst
An irregular separation or rupture in the web, sometimes roughly parallel to the paper machine direction, but usually in the cross direction. This occurs with reels with very bad level, when the tightness of winding causes the paper to split in an isolated area.
Butyrate
Cellulose based thermoplastic.
Byte
Unit of measure of the computer's memory. One byte equals 8 bits.
