Manuscript (MS): It all starts with the author's original form of the work (handwritten, typed or on a disk) submitted for publication.
Head(er): The margin and/or the printing at the top of the page
Gutter: The inside margins toward the back binding edges.
Interleaves: Printed pages loosely inserted (unattached) in a publication.
ISBN: International Standard Book Number, which is assigned to a published work and usually found on the title page.
Color sequence: The order in which inks are printed for color illustrations. Also called laydown sequence or rotation.
Layout: Sample of the original that shows position, direction and instructions for the final design of the book.
Proof: A test sheet made to reveal errors or flaws, predict results on press and record how a printing job is intended to appear when finished.
Proofreader marks: A standard set of symbols and abbreviations used to mark up manuscripts and proofs for corrections.
Specifications (specs): The complete, precise written description of a printing job including type size and face, paper quality and the printing and binding methods to be used.
Acid-free paper: Made from pulp containing little or no acid, so it resists deterioration from age. Also called alkaline paper, archival paper, neutral pH paper, permanent paper and thesis paper.
Deckle edge: The edge of is left ragged, as it comes from the paper-making machine instead of being cleanly cut. Sometimes called feather edge.
Finish: The surface characteristics of paper.
Leaf: One sheet of paper in a publication. Each side of a leaf is one page.
Quarto: Sheet folded twice, making pages one-fourth the size of the original sheet. A quarto makes an eight-page signature.
Signature: A printed sheet folded at least once, possibly many times, to become part of a book, magazine or other publication.
Bind: The joining of leafs or signatures together.
Book block: Folded signatures gathered, sewn and trimmed, but not yet covered.
Case binding: Uses glue to hold signatures to a case made of binder board covered with fabric, plastic or leather, more commonly known as hard cover.
End sheet or end papers: The paper that attaches the inside pages of a case-bound book to its cover.
Flush cover: Trimmed to the same size as inside pages, such as a paperback book.
Lay flat bind: A method of perfect binding that allows a book to lie fully open.
Mechanical bind: To bind using a comb, coil, or any other technique that is not gluing, sewing or stitching.
Saddle stitch: To bind a book by fastening sheets together where they fold at the spine with special thread.
Spine: Back or binding edge of a publication.