Laid Finish

Paper manufacturers produce a laid finish by means of running wet paper through a special roller which makes an impression in the paper similar to laid paper, which is a paper with a ribbed texture. The laid finish has translucent lines that run across the paper horizontally, against the grain. Laid ... Read More

Laser Printing

Laser printing is one of two common methods of transferring a digital file to paper. Laser printing uses the principle of static electricity to adhere toner – a fine, colored powder – to paper, as compared to the liquid ink printing of an inkjet printer. In laser printing, the image is fi ... Read More

Letterpress
In the printing industry, printers that use a raised surface to transfer ink to paper are referred to as letterpress printers. Letterpress is typically used to transfer type or written materials rather than images. This type of press is different than the four-color printing press used by most pr ... Read More

Lines per Inch (lpi)

The amount of lines that a printer can reproduce within a linear inch as measured from top to bottom is referred to as lines per inch. The more lines per inch a printer is capable of reproducing, the higher the quality of printed reproduction. Most newspapers print around 85 lines per inch while ... Read More

Lithographic Printing
Lithographic printing, or lithography, refers to any method of printing that uses a plate to transfer ink to a surface using a series of chemicals to separate ink rather than using engravings or raised surfaces. The art of lithography dates to the 1700s when printers used limestone (“lithos” ... Read More

Loupe
Printers often use a small high-powered magnifying glass called a loupe (pronounced loop) to inspect the final printing products or even work in progress. A loupe can be affixed to a pair of glasses for regular use or simply a small device that can be stored in the pocket of the user. Printers us ... Read More