B2B (Business to Business) The exchange of products or services between businesses rather than between businesses and consumers.

B2C (Business to Consumer) The exchange of products between businesses and consumers.

Backbone The back of a bound book connecting the two covers; also called spine.

Backing up Printing the reverse side of a sheet already printed on one side.

Back-trap mottle Non-uniform trapping of previously laid down ink film(s) onto an offset lithographic blanket mostly caused by non-uniform ink setting and/or incorrect ink tack sequencing in multicolor printing.

Bad break In composition, starting a page or ending a paragraph with a single word, or widow.

Bandwidth Measured in bits-per-second, it is the amount of information that can be sent through an Internet connection.

Basic size In inches, 25 x 38 for book papers, 20 x 26 for cover papers, 221/2 x 281/2 or 221/2 x 35 for bristols, 251/2 x 301/2 for index.

Basis weight The weight in pounds of a ream (500 sheets) of paper cut to a given standard size for that particular grade; e.g., 500 sheets 25" x 38" of 50-lb. book paper weigh 50 pounds

Bezier curve The description of a character, symbol, or graphic by its digital outline used by drawing programs to define shapes.

Bi-Cubic downsampling Bi-cubic downsampling uses a weighted average value to assign to the pixel area for image compression.

Bimetal plate In lithography, a plate used for long runs in which the printing image base is usually copper and the non-printing area is aluminum, stainless steel, or chromium.

Bit In computers, the basic unit of digital information; a contraction of BInary digiT. A number of bits is a byte.

Bit-depth 1. The number of bits of tonal range capability of the pixels in an image. For example, RGB 24-bit color means a pixel depth of 8 bits per color, or 256 levels per color.
2. The number of bits of tonal range capability of the spots of an output device.

Bitmap In computer imaging, the electronic representation of a page, indicating the position of every possible spot (zero or one).

Black-and-white Originals or reproductions in single color, as distinguished from multicolor. Sometimes called monochrome, but that could also mean any single color ink. Abbreviation: B/W.

Black printer In color reproduction, the black plate is generated to increase contrast of dark tones and make them appear neutral.

Blanket In offset printing, a rubber-surfaced fabric that is clamped around a cylinder, to which the image is transferred from the plate, and from which it is transferred to the paper. Some digital printers use an offsetting blanket or transfer unit.

Bleed An extra amount of printed image that extends beyond the trim edge of the sheet or page.

Blind embossing A design that is stamped without metallic leaf or ink, giving a bas-relief effect.

Blind image In lithography, an image that has lost its ink receptivity and fails to print.

Blueline A form of analog proofing that are still used by many people. They are made from films. The films are exposed to a light sensitive paper. They can be folded and bound.

Blowup An image enlargement.

Body In inkmaking, a term referring to the viscosity, or the fluid consistency, of an ink (e.g., an ink with too much body is described as stiff).

Body type A type used for the main part or text of a printed piece, as distinguished from the headings.

Bold-face type A name given to type that is heavier than the text type (plain or regular style) with which it is used.

Bond paper A grade of writing or printing paper where strength, durability, and permanence are essential requirements; used for letterheads, business forms, copying, and general printing requirements, etc. The basic size is 17" x 22".

Book paper A general term for coated and uncoated papers. The basic size is 25" x 38".

Bpi Bits per inch.

Bps Bits per second.

Break for color In artwork and composition, to separate the parts to be printed into different colors.

Brightness In photography, light reflected by the copy. In paper, the reflectance or brilliance of the paper.

Brochure A multi-page pamphlet bound in booklet form.

Bronzing Printing with a sizing ink, then applying bronze powder while still wet to produce a metallic lustre.

Browser An application program that interprets HTML into words and graphics, displayed on a webpage.

Bruising refers to the backside of an engraving. The next time you look at a business card or letterhead with engraving, flip it over and look at the back side. The mark left on the back by the 2200 pounds of stamping pressure is called a bruise. The pressman will look at the bruise to check on the engraving on the other side of the sheet.

Bulk The degree of thickness of paper. In book printing, the number of pages per inch for a given basis weight.

Byte In computers, a unit of digital information, equivalent to one character or 8 to 32 bits, 64 bits, etc.