OCR— Optical Character Recognition. A device that reads printed pages into a computer.
Offset printing —any one of several printing processes that print type from a flat, rather than a raised or incised, surface. Also called “offset lithography” and “photo offset.”
Opaque —not admitting light. Also, to paint portions of a negative so they will not reproduce.
Operating system —a group of controlling programs that govern the functioning of a whole computer system.
OPM —other people’s money. A business term meaning to borrow capital from elsewhere rather than using one’s own.
Option —the right to purchase or sell something—such as movie rights—for a specified price and within a certain length of time. Also, the right a publisher may have, by previous contract, to bid on an author’s subsequent books.
Ornament —a decorative device in book design, such as a larger initial letter, rule line, or border, etc.
Orphan —the first line of a new paragraph that appears alone at the bottom of a page.
Otabind —a trademarked binding process for trade paperbacks that resembles perfect binding (it has a printable spine) but allows a book to be opened out flat. Ideal for cookbooks or workbooks.
Out of Print (OOP) —a book that is no longer available through the publisher. As contrasted with OOS, out of stock.
Out of Stock (OOS) —a book not available because its publisher’s supply has been temporarily exhausted.
Over the transom —unsolicited material sent to a publisher directly by the author rather than through an agent or at the request of an editor.
Overrun —an extra amount of finished copies of the book the printer may produce above the stipulated order (should never exceed 10 percent). Also, an additional quantity of book covers a publisher may order for promotional purposes. |
