Xerox 2000 manual Binding and finishing, Collating, Folding and scoring

6 Binding and finishing

Outside of the commercial print world, a vital part of a document’s lifecycle is often overlooked. Many people believe a document is completed once the pages leave the printer, disregarding the finishing process altogether.

Yet advancements in binding and finishing processes are just as revolutionary as those found in the rest of the printing marketplace. Documents are put together faster and with more precision than ever before, keeping pace with the rate at which they are produced by new digital technology.

Postpress operations generally follow a basic sequential order for finishing. Documents are first collated, then folded, then bound and finally trimmed. After trimming, there are other finishing options that can be performed for document protection or aesthetics.

Collating

Just after printing, postpress operators must ensure that all final pieces, including text pages, tabs, inserts, etc. are placed in the appropriate position within the final document.

Collating a job refers to gathering signatures together in the correct sequence. Put simply, it means ensuring that page 1 is followed by page 2, page 3, and so on.

Folding and scoring

There are many contributing factors to successful folding. Sheet size, for example, has a bearing on the type of folding to be performed. Paper thickness or weight is another important consideration. Some papers may be too thick or rigid to pass through the paper path of the DocuColor 2060. They may also crack or blister when folded or scored.

The grain of the paper is another factor that affects the folding process. A paper’s grain refers to the direction of the fibres with respect to the long edge of the paper. Paper

can be long grain (the grain runs parallel to the 297 mm dimension of an A4 sheet) or short grain (the grain runs parallel to the 210 mm dimension of an

A4 sheet). Paper folds most smoothly parallel to the grain, while folds against the grain may cause paper to crack and

appear lumpy and ragged.

6 – 1