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Although often overlooked, the choice of scoring
method is crucial in achieving accurate, clean folding. |
Sometimes the smaller aspects of a printing job are overlooked. When it comes to scoring, overlooking the type of score used could lead to serious problems, including finished products that are torn, crooked and ragged in appearance.
There are four primary ways to score flat sheets for folding, ranging from most economical to most expensive. In the case of scoring, the scale of cost associated with the type of scoring also correlates to quality.
Most Economical
Scoring can be performed on the press. It’s economical and serves the purpose adequately in certain circumstances. But the cost advantages of press scoring are often lost because press scores frequently result in cracking, exposed fibers and uneven folds. The higher risk of ruining quality printing makes press scores the least attractive option when quality is the foremost concern.
Good
The scores that come with folding machines can be sufficient; again the job’s quality must be balanced carefully with all other factors. These standard scores utilize a steel collar that creases the paper. These scores are simple to set and will get the job done. However, for more difficult jobs most binderies upgrade their folders with scoring attachments. These attachments run on the slitter shafts of a folding machine, and produce a much higher quality score. It’s done with a female and male collar. The opposition of the male/female set-up makes a firmer impression on the stock and consequently delivers a better result. However, there are limits. This scoring option may not be well suited for some projects, i.e. jobs on extremely thick stock or those with very heavy ink coverage.
Better
A rotary scoring machine is meant for one thing: handle flat sheets on a high quality level. In terms of scoring, specialty rotary machines can produce accurate scoring with little propensity for cracking, because it has fine tolerance shafts. This type of score is ideal for products up to 9 pts. in thickness, and its production speed makes it relatively economical for most production volumes.
Best
For thicker stocks with heavy ink coverage, your best option is die scoring, which is a high-quality score produced on a die cutting press. Die scoring results in a beautiful score that minimizes cracking on even the toughest stocks. But this Cadillac of scoring methods also carries a higher price point that may be justified by the quality demands of the project.
The Rickard Advantage
At Rickard Bindery, we are folding experts, so we know scores as well as anyone in the business. Because each type of scoring has an increasing level of cost associated with it, discuss scoring with us before putting a project on the press. With more than a century of high-quality folding, scoring, gluing, saddle stitching and attaching experience, let Rickard Bindery take the worry out of your outsourced post press needs.
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