OA AQ

So, I was at the printer on a job. I love the sound and rhythm of the big 8-color presses (kachunk, kachunk, kachunk, kachunk) and the smell of the ink. The designer Shani and I are sitting in the "hospitality suite" which is really just a small enclosed room in the middle of shop with a desk, tables and chairs, a couch, a huge flat-screen TV and light tables to check sheets. Anyway . . .

While Shani and I wait to see a sheet, we chat with Lenny, our account rep., talking about current and outdated printing terms. Lenny's been in the business for almost 40 years.

There is a common printing term, "overall aqueous coating" or more commonly, "o/a AQ". Well, Lenny has a client, a young kid who uses the archaic term "Flood AQ". Lenny doesn't know from where or who this kid learned this term. Lenny said, "'Flood aqueous?' They haven't used this term since Noah's Ark!"

Shani and I saw a sheet, made comments. Saw another sheet and made more comments and then saw a third sheet and, because the third time's the charm, signed off and left, happy in the knowledge that the job will be beautiful when completed.