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A

Text on this page provides just the briefest of definitions or teasers for Desktop Publishing terminology starting with A. For more detailed encyclopedic descriptions see the individual page for each term where you'll learn all about accent marks, agate line, AQ coating, artwork, axis, and so much more. 
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45 Articles in: Desktop Publishing Dictionary of A Terms
Alpha Index

# | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | (Q) X Y Z 
 

A4
Letter size paper, except in North American. Learn more about how it is used in desktop publishing.
AA
AAs or Author's Alterations are changes made to projects...
Absorbency
The ability of paper to absorb and hold ink or other liquids is absorbency...
Accent Mark
A common occurrence in French, German, Italian, Spanish, and other languages, accent marks are marks that change the way certain letters sound.
Diacritical
A common occurrence in French, German, Italian, Spanish, and other languages, diacriticals are marks that change the way certain letters sound.
Accordian Folds
Zig-zag folds with 6 or more panels and two or more parallel folds are called accordian folds and they are one way to fold brochures and business letters.
Use Acid Free Paper for Longer Lasting Color
Acids in paper can harm whatever comes in contact with the paper. Acid free paper helps to prolong the life of a project.
Acknowledgment
Part of front matter in a book, it's where the author (or editor or publisher) acknowledges contributions from others.
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Learn what Adobe Acrobat Reader is and it's connection to PDF documents.
Addendum
An addendum is supplemental material that adds to, expands on, or otherwise enhances a publication.
Additive Primaries
Colors that add up to white light...
Adjacent Caps
An adjacent cap is an initial letter in the first word that is set off to the side of a paragraph. It's like a dropped cap but dropped over to the side.
Adjacent Colors
Learn more about these color wheel neighbors...
Adobe
Publisher of InDesign, Photoshop, and more software...
Adobe Acrobat
Is it a file format or a software program or something else? Find out what Adobe Acrobat is and how it applies to desktop publishing.
A Beginner's Guide to Adobe Acrobat Distiller
Find out what the Distiller program has to do with PDF files, how to use it, and where to find it.
Adobe InDesign
Professional page layout software from Adobe.
Agate Line
Still used as a unit of measure in advertising space in some newsletters...
Agate
A standard unit of measurement found primarily in newspaper publishing...
Aliasing
Aliasing is when curves get ugly. What causes those jagged edges?
Beginner's Guide to the Principle of Alignment in Graphic Design
One of the principles of design, alignment is commonly thought of in terms of aligning text but also applies to graphics and even icons on your phone.
All Caps
All uppercase...
In Page Layout an Alley Isn't Always a Dark, Scary Place
The alley is not a gutter but you might find a gutter in the alley. Learn more about this desktop publishing and page layout term.
Alpha Channels
Learn what alpha channels are and how they are used in desktop publishing
Ampersand
Find out what an ampersand really is and how the ampersand is used in desktop publishing.
Anchor Point
Points on a path that connect two segments are anchor points.
Anti-Aliasing
This page offers an explanation of what anti-aliasing, aliasing, font smoothing, and jaggies mean in terms of desktop publishing.
Old Paper? Try an Antique Finish
Get the definition for antique finish, spelling, descriptions, additional information for the term antique finish - a paper term
Aperture
Learn what part is called the aperture and the role it plays in typeface identification.
Apex
In typography, apex is part of the anatomy of some characters.
Apostrophe
The little squiggle that turns it is into it's is called an apostrophe. Discover what forms the apostrophe takes.
What's an App?
Programs on your desktop, laptop, tablet, smartphone, and in the cloud...
AQ Coating
Wet paper?
Make It Last Forever (?) With Archival Paper
What Archival Paper means and how archival paper is used in desktop publishing
Do Your Fonts Have Arms?
Cross your arms, or not. Discover what part of a letter is the arm and how it is similiar and different from a crossbar and cross stroke.
Artwork
In desktop publishing artwork is the pictures but sometimes it's the text too when we're talking about camera-ready artwork.
Here's What 'Ascender' Means in Typography
Which way does the ascender go and what is its significance? Find out.
Asterisk
What is an asterisk and where did it originate? Use of an asterisk in desktop publishing
Asymmetrical
There are several types of balance, including asymmetrical. Discover how to use this type of off-center design layout.
At sign
Origin and definition of the at sign or @
Auto Leading
Leading done, automatically...
Auto Trace
Auto trace is a feature of some graphics software for automating the process of creating vectors from bitmap images.
Axis
An imaginary line drawn from top to bottom of a glyph bisecting the upper and lower strokes is the axis.
Encyclopedia of Desktop Publishing and Dictionary of Terms
Explore definitions, illustrations, and overviews of a variety of graphic design, typography, prepress, and printing terms and techniques. Each entry has a brief definition plus one or more links to an expanded and cross-linked dictionary or encyclopedia entry, with tutorials and tips.
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