useful information

Glossary - K

K (Kilobyte)

1024 bytes, a binary 1,000.

Keep standing

To hold type or plates ready for reprints.

Kenaf

A plant fiber sometimes used to produce paper.

Kerning

The adjustment of the lateral space between letters.

Kerning pairs

E.g. A and V, T and A, to obtain a more aesthetic appearance and improve legibility and readability. There is auto -kerning where the software arbitrarily decides on the kerning and optical kerning when an operator manually kerns the pair via the keyboard.

Key mark or trigger

A code bit(s) that tells the scanner if the code is in a position to be read; used with some fixed beam readers.

Keyline

An outline drawn or set on artwork showing the size and position of an illustration or halftone.

Kilobyte

1024 bytes, a binary 1,000.

Kiss cut

To die cut a label so that the backing sheet remains intact and the waste is removed - leaving the label on the backing sheet ready to be peeled off.

Kiss impression

Impression in which ink is put on paper by the lightest possible surface contact and not impressed into it. This technique is necessary when printing on coated papers.

Knife cut labels

See butt cut labels.

Knocking up

The adjustment on one or two sides of a block of paper to align them for cutting.

Kraft paper

A tough brown paper manufactured using kraft pulp, usually noted for its strength. In the kraft pulping process, fiber is separated from lignin by cooking wook chips with steam and pressure.