face cut label

a die cut label from which the matrix has not been removed.

face stock

the part of the pressure sensitive construction that is printed. It ends up being most of what a user sees as a label. In gummed paper, frequently this layer is called the base material.

FACT

Federation of Automated Coding Technology

fading

the gradual decrease in brilliance of color frequently applied to the change in color produced by light.

fadometer

a mechanical device which measures the effect of light upon colored surfaces.

fanning

a process of manually separating the edges of sheet stock. It is a common recommended procedure when printing sheet pressure sensitive. The goal is that the edges of sheets will not stick together when they feed into a press.

FDA 21 CFR 175.105

this number represents the FDA regulation governing materials acceptable for indirect food contact. Adhesives that meet this regulation have components in compliance and acceptable for labeling of food items when there is a functional barrier between the adhesive and the food. A functional barrier would be packaging for the food.

FDA 21 CFR 175.125

this number represents the FDA regulation governing materials acceptable for direct food contact. Adhesives that meet this regulation have components in compliance and acceptable for being applied directly to the food item. For example labels that need to be applied to fruits and vegetables that have edible skins need to be in compliance with this regulation.

felt side

the side of paper that did not come in contact with wire during the paper making process. Generally it is more smooth than the wire side. See also wire side.

festoon

a devise used by roofing manufacturers that allows continuous production while they briefly stop the web of felt to splice a new roll. It can also refer to a method of air drying coated paper by hanging it in long loops from cross rods in the drying chamber.

fibre

the strands of wood, cotton or jute that make up the paper. This can also be spelled fiber.

fibre tear

the rupture of paper or cloth fibres during the separation of the adhesive from the substrate. This can also be spelled fiber tear. If corrugated is the substrate, a label would exhibit fibre tear when small pieces of the brown box come up with the label during attempted removal. Against other non fibrous substrates, fibre tear would occur when parts of the label destruct and are left on the substrate during attempts to remove the label This represents a higher bond to the surface than would adhesion without fibre tear. It is still possible for the label to provide good enough adhesion that it will not flag or fall off without exhibiting fibre tear. Labels leaving fibre tear would not have a tendency to either fall off or flag.

fill

the maximum width of paper that can be made on a paper machine.

film

a transparent or opaque material used for face and liner material manufactured from synthetic molecular weight polymers.

ilm liner

a release liner that uses a film as a base rather than paper. Film liners offer better caliper control than paper. They are more forgiving of too deep die cutting and do not tend to break as frequently as paper liners when die cutting extends through the silicone release layer. They also provide greater strength than paper liners. Frequently they find use when end customers are concerned about avoiding liner breaks. Film liners are more expensive than paper liners.

film master

a photographic film representation of a specific symbol from which a printing plate is produced.

FIM

Facing Identification Mark, used on reply mail to identify the front of the envelope during presorting or bulk mail.

fine paper

papers primarily intended for printing and writing applications. It is the opposite of coarse paper in smoothness of printing paper. Sometimes, merchants that specialize in printings grades are called fine paper merchants. See also coarse paper.

finish

the surface property of a paper sheet determined by its surface contour and gloss.

First Read Rate

the ratio of the number of successful. reads to the number of attempts.

fish eyes

round or eye shaped deformations in a coating on the surface of a substrate.

fixed beam bar code reader

a scanning device where scanning motion is achieved by moving the object relative to the reader; as opposed to Moving Beam Reader.

flag

a marker inserted into rolls or a stack of sheets to designate splices, defects, etc. It is usually a brightly colored piece of paper.

flame treatment

a method of changing the surface characteristics of polymeric materials to promote good wetting and adhesion of applied liquid materials.

flexibility

a property of face stocks which is measured under specified conditions to indicate how readily they will conform to curved surfaces. Generally the heavier and thicker a material is, the less flexible it will be. Latex grades tend to offer greater flexibility than plain papers of the same basis weight.

flow out

the ability of an adhesive to wet out or spread after application.

fluorescent paper

a paper coated with a pigment which not only reflects a visible wavelength, but is activated by most of the remaining absorbed light to re-emit it as a color of longer wavelength which results in reinforcement of the reflected color. They almost seem to glow.

fluorocarbon films

a film with very high and low temperature limits, excellent electrical characteristics, and very slippery, non-sticking surface. example dupont's teflon.

fluting

the distortion of the edge of a roll due to the fact that it is no longer forming a circle.

flying splice

an operation of splicing a new roll on production equipment without stopping the production equipment. This is also used in the roofing industry to join new rolls of felt. See festoon.

foil

see ribbon .

foil paper laminate

the formal term for foil stocked in the pressure sensitive industry. It is a laminate of aluminum foil and paper. The aluminum gives the face stock a metallic appearance, while the paper adds stiffness and strength.

fold

Paper is tested for fold strength by the forms industry with a MIT or Schopper Tester. Both determine the amount of double folds required to rupture a paper sample under constant tension. Results are measured in both MD and CD.

folio

a trade term in sheets for a 17 x 22 size.

font

a specific size and style of printer's type.

formation

a property of paper which is determined by the degree of uniformity of distribution of the solid components of the sheet with reference to the fibers.

formed font impact

a printing method for labels consisting of a rotating drum etched with raised bars and characters. A one-time ribbon and the label move between the drum and a micro controlled hammer.

four-color process

printing with yellow, magenta, and cyan color inks plus black, using screens to create all other colors.

fourdrinier

usually a reference to the whole paper machine. Its origins were based on the wet part of the paper machine originally designed by Henry and Sealy Fourdrinier.

FPM

an abbreviation for feet per minute. It is a frequently used term to quantify press processing speeds.

FPRR First Pass Read Rate

see First Read Rate

free sheet

paper made of pulp which has been subjected to the very minimum of beating or hydration. A free sheet has a low apparent density and a high rate of absorption.

freezer adhesive

a type of pressure sensitive adhesive designed for application at below freezing temperatures. Most freezer adhesives will work in refrigerator conditions, but will not work well at room temperatures. Most will act as a very week removable when applied at room temperature. See also cold temperature adhesive and all temperature adhesive.