Measured on a solid printed area, usually at 75 or 60 degrees, it depends on how much ink vehicle stays at the surface, how evenly the ink film levels and how smooth the coating underneath is. Tight coatings with good ink holdout give high print gloss, while absorbent sheets drink the vehicle and leave a dull, pigment-rough film. Printers judge a paper on print gloss and on snap, the gap between print gloss and paper gloss.
Paper gloss is fine but print gloss on the cyan solid dropped to 70, so the new coating is pulling the vehicle in too fast.
Also heard as
- ink gloss
Related terms
Snap
Pressroom word for the visual contrast between glossy printed areas and the surrounding paper.
Ink holdout
The ability of a paper surface to keep ink and its vehicle on top instead of absorbing them.
Gloss
The mirror-like shine of a paper or print surface, measured as specular reflectance at a defined angle.
Mottle
Uneven, blotchy appearance in a print or coating, seen as cloudy patches of density or gloss.