The Bindery: Start With The End In Mind

One of the most important aspects of any printed project is the final touch, or the "finishing department", as it is called. It is critical with any project to plan with the end in mind. Understanding folding, as well, is essential to effective bindery planning. Paper can be folding in many ways. Mismeasured folds are the cause of many reprinted jobs. Generally, you can expect a tolerance of 1/32 inch per fold. This varies according to the weight and the caliper (thickness) of the paper stock and the location of the folds. Proper planning in the design and production stage will help eliminate errors.

Illustrated are the most common folding styles used in print production today. Using standard names will help ensure good communication between designers and printers.