Glossary

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WAND SCANNER - See LIGHT PEN

WARM COLOUR

A colour that appears to be on the reddish side.

WASHUP

The step in press make-ready of cleaning the ink rollers, plates and ink fountains of a printing press.

WASTE - See MATRIX

WATER SOLUBLE ADHESIVE

A pressure sensitive adhesive in which all components are water soluble. Refer LM.

WATERBORNE ADHESIVE

A dispersion of fine particles in another liquid. Many pressure sensitive adhesives are waterborne or emulsion adhesives. Refer LM.

WEATHERABILITY

Ability of a pressure sensitive label to withstand the effects of outdoor weathering, including time. Refer NS & LM.

WEATHEROMETER

A testing machine designed for evaluating the ability of a pressure sensitive label to withstand various simulated weather conditions. Refer NS & LM.

WEAVING

A poorly wound roll of labels (or other material) in which the individual layers of the labels are not in proper alignment with the other layers.

WEB

The paper, foil, film or other flexible material, from a roll, as it moves through the machine in the process of being formed or in the process of being converted or printed etc.

WEB DIRECTION - See MACHINE DIRECTION

WEB GUIDE

A device which keeps the web travelling straight and true through the press.

WEB PRESS

A press which prints from rolls (or webs) of materials such as pressure sensitive.

WEB TENSION

The amount of pull or tension applied in the direction of travel of a web of paper through a web press. Poor control of web tension will result in register problems, ‘growing’ paper, fan-folding difficulties and sheeting problems.

WET STRENGTH

The tensile strength of paper when it is wetted after manufacture.

WETTING

The relative ability of a liquid adhesive to display interfacial affinity for an adherend and to flow uniformly over the adherend surface.

WETTING AGENT

A preparation usually added to aqueous solutions to facilitate their spreading or increase their ability to evenly wet or penetrate a surface.

WHIP - See BOUNCE (Roller)

WHICKING

Tendency of a liquid to ‘travel’ through paper. Refers to absorption of moisture into paper through the raw edge.

WIRE SIDE

That side of a paper which has come into contact with the wire of the paper machine during the process of manufacture.

WRAP-AROUND LABEL

Label that extends completely around a bottle, can or other product, and as well as adhering to the product, it tips onto itself to completely seal (overlaps).

WRINKLES

Small creases or folds in a smooth surface.