Chapter 17 - Finishing & Binding

Finishing

A term used to describe the methods carried out during or following printing

Binding

Various methods of fastening sheets together

Cutting

Making large sheets into several smaller sheets

Guillotine Cutter

The most common type of equipment used to cut paper stock

Non-repeat device

A safety feature of an automatic paper cutter that only allows the blade to descend once before needing to be reset back into position

Two-handed operation

A safety feature of an automatic paper cutter which requires two hands to push the buttons to start the blade’s descent

Electric eye stop

A safety feature of an automatic paper cutter where a detector stops the descent of the cutting blade if an object or body part is in its path

Buckle type

The most common folding machine for smaller sheets

Knife type folder

A type of folder that uses a folding knife between rollers for folding

In-line operations

Additional finishing units done as a continuous process or at the end of printing

Off-line operations

Operations done on stand-alone equipment

Perforating

A process that places small slits in a substrate

Slitting

A process involving continuous cut across stock

Creasing

The process of compressing a substrate to fold more easily

Scoring

The process of applying a slight cut in heavy stock before folding

Die-Cutting

A method often used for cutting irregular shapes, involving a sharp metal die forced through stock by pressure

Embossing

Creates a raised image on a substrate

Blind Embossing

Stock creates the image

Debossing

Creates an image sunk into a substrate

Stamping

The process of using heat and pressure to transfer metallic tone or color to a substrate

Relief

Stamping is a form of ______ printing.

Numbering

The process of imprinting items with consecutive figures, using a *numbering machine*

Punching

A process that involves forcing a metal rod through paper to make holes for spiral binding

Drilling

A process that involves a revolving, hollow drill bit with sharp edges forced through a lift

Coating

Providing a clear, protective surface

spot

A varnish coating may be applied as full coverage or a ____ location.

Laminating

A process that bonds materials together to become a common unit using material such as plastic

Indexing

Adding plastic index tabs or index thumb cuts to the edge of a substrate

Edge Staining

Giving edges of gathered material a different look

Gilding

Applying gold leaf to a book edge, an example of edge staining

Converting

The general process of changing one printed piece to another, including methods like bookbinding, laminating, coating, folding, etc.

Pamphlet Binding

A form of binding with the sheets being folded, gathered, and stitched through the center

Gathering

The process of assembling signatures for a book

Collating

The process of assembling single sheets and checking signature placement

Stitching

The process that holds sheets together with wire staples, used on books fewer than 120 pages

Saddle stitching

The binding method most commonly used for fastening magazines, catalogs, and booklets; involves folded sheets being fastened at a fold mark

Creep (or shingling)

Pages pushing out on book edge, caused by stitching

Side-Wire Stitching

A form of binding using staples that are inserted on the cover of a same stock or specially printed substrate

Edition Binding

The most durable and permanent method for binding books that will be used over a period of time

Perfect Binding

A form of binding where signatures are gathered and flexible glue is applied to stick and clamp the sheets together and trimmed afterward (*Used for paperback and other perfect-bound books)*

Mechanical binding

A broad kind of binding that holds sheets together in loose-leaf form

Plastic Comb Binding

A type of mechanical binding where a plastic comb is applied through punched rectangular holes across the edge, allowing the binding to be open and pages to be added or removed

Spiral Binding

A type of mechanical binding where the binding doesn’t open and has a metal wire spire fed through punched round holes

Packaging

Wrapping, strapping, or boxing printed pieces for delivery

packaging

Plastic shrink-wrap, banding machine, and a taping machine are all methods of…

Plastic shrink-wrap

A packaging method in which a stack of printed piece is placed on a machine and enclosed in plastic