Reprographics is the technology and practice of reproducing drawings and documents, particularly construction blueprints and technical drawings. The reprographics glossary below defines 50+ essential industry terms every construction and architecture professional should know.
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Reprographics Glossary Terms: Reproductions and Printing Terms
Blueprint: A reproduction of a technical drawing produced through a light-sensitive process. While traditional blueprints (created through chemically-treated paper exposed to light) are now obsolete, the term is still commonly used for any construction drawing reproduction.
Large Format Printing: Printing technology and services that produce wide documents, typically 18 inches to 60 inches wide. Large format printers produce architectural drawings, site plans, posters, and signage.
Reprographics Service Provider: A business that provides document reproduction, printing, and distribution services, particularly specialized services for construction and technical drawings.
Color Separation: The process of dividing color images into individual color components (typically cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) for printing processes. Modern digital printing automates color separation.
Registration: The precise alignment of multiple color separations so that colors align perfectly and no gaps appear in the final print. Misalignment results in color fringing or gaps.
Halftone: A printing technique that simulates continuous tone (grayscale or color) through a pattern of dots. Halftone screening creates the appearance of continuous tone through dot pattern variation.
Screening: The process of creating halftone patterns from continuous tone images. Screen frequency (measured in lines per inch or LPI) determines halftone dot size and printing quality.
DPI (Dots Per Inch): The resolution of digital images and print output, measured as dots or pixels per inch. Higher DPI produces higher quality but larger file sizes.
LPI (Lines Per Inch): The frequency of halftone screening, measured as screen lines per inch. Typical LPI for professional printing ranges from 85-300 LPI.
Media and Materials
Bond Paper: General-purpose paper used for documents and drawings. Bond paper is lower cost but less durable than specialty materials.
Vellum: High-quality tracing paper used for original drawings. Vellum accepts pencil marking well and can be reproduced multiple times through light exposure.
Mylar (Polyester Film): Durable plastic film material used for long-term drawing archival. Mylar resists deterioration and maintains dimensional stability over decades.
Tyvek: Non-woven polyethylene plastic material that resists moisture, tears, and degradation. Tyvek is used for durable construction document printing.
Coated Paper: Paper with glossy or matte surface coating that improves ink adhesion and color vibrancy. Coated paper is used for high-quality color printing.
Matt Finish: A flat, non-reflective surface finish on printed materials. Matt finish reduces glare and is often preferred for technical drawings.
Gloss Finish: A shiny, reflective surface finish that increases color vibrancy but creates glare. Gloss finish is common for color marketing materials but less preferred for technical drawings.
Opacity: The degree to which a material blocks light transmission. Higher opacity prevents show-through of content on the reverse side.
Basis Weight: The weight of a ream (500 sheets) of paper at standard size. Basis weight indicates paper thickness and durability. Higher basis weight indicates heavier, more durable paper.
Caliper: The thickness of paper or film material, measured in thousandths of an inch (mils). Caliper directly relates to material durability and handling characteristics.
Reprographics glossary terms: Printing Technologies
Xerography: Electrostatic printing technology used in photocopiers and laser printers. Xerography uses charged powdered toner fused to paper through heat.
Inkjet Printing: Technology that sprays liquid ink droplets onto media to create images. Inkjet provides full-color capability and works on diverse media types.
Toner-Based Printing: Electrostatic printing that fuses powdered toner particles to paper through heat. Toner printing produces sharp text and line work ideal for technical drawings.
Offset Printing: Professional printing technology using metal plates and oil-based ink, typically for high-volume color printing. Offset printing is less common for technical drawings but used for marketing materials.
Raster vs. Vector: Raster images are composed of pixels (dots), while vector graphics are composed of lines and curves defined mathematically. CAD drawings are vector format; photographs are raster format.
RIP (Raster Image Processor): Software that converts vector CAD drawings or PDFs into raster format suitable for printing. RIP technology optimizes drawings for specific print output.
Specifications and Standards
ANSI (American National Standards Institute): Organization that develops standards for paper sizes, drawing scales, and technical specifications. ANSI standards are widely used in United States construction.
Drawing Scale: The ratio between dimensions on a drawing and actual field dimensions. Scale notation (such as 1/4″ = 1′) indicates the proportional relationship.
Sheet Size: Standard paper dimensions used for construction drawings. Common sheet sizes include 24×36″, 18×24″, and 11×17″. Sheet size is selected based on drawing complexity and printing equipment capability.
Title Block: Information section on a drawing that includes project name, drawing title, scale, date, and drawing number. Title blocks provide essential reference information.
Revision Block: Notation area on drawings indicating changes and updates. Revisions are numbered or lettered (Revision A, Revision B, etc.) with date and description of changes.
Color Spec (Specification): Notation indicating special color printing requirements, such as “Print in color for floor plan” or “Color red indicates mechanical systems.”
Document Management and Delivery
Digital Plan Room: Online platform where construction documents are stored, managed, and accessed by project team members. Plan rooms provide centralized document control and version management.
As-Built Drawings: Drawings that document the final constructed condition, showing deviations from design drawings and actual field conditions. As-built drawings become part of permanent project record.
Set Management: Organization and control of complete drawing sets, ensuring all sheets are included, in correct order, and of appropriate version.
Collation: Assembling multiple documents in correct order and sequence. Reprographic providers collate drawing sets to ensure completeness.
Binding and Finishing: Assembly methods including binding with spiral binding, saddle stitching, perfect binding, or folding. Finishing options affect document appearance and durability.
Plot (or Print): The process of producing a hard copy drawing from a CAD file or digital image. “Plot” is the term commonly used by architects and engineers; “print” is used by general audiences.
Quality and Control
More reprographics glossary terms content.
Color Match: Precise reproduction of colors from original design intent. Color matching is critical for drawings where color indicates specific systems or information.
Line Weight: Thickness of drawn lines, indicating hierarchy and importance. Proper line weights ensure drawings are clearly readable and professional.
Contrast: Difference between light and dark areas in a printed image. Adequate contrast ensures drawings are readable in field conditions or when photocopied.
Bleed: Image area that extends beyond the page boundary to ensure complete color coverage to page edges. Bleed prevents white borders on color images.
Dot Gain: The optical effect where printed dots appear larger than intended, slightly darkening the overall image. Dot gain compensation maintains color accuracy.
For information on industry printing standards and best practices, the Printing United Alliance provides valuable resources for professional print quality and accuracy.
The reprographics industry combines technology, materials science, and craftsmanship to deliver construction documents that professionals depend on. Understanding these industry terms enables better communication with reprographic service providers and more informed decisions about document specifications and quality requirements. See our large format printing or contact us. Resources at printing.org.
