Design for Print Process and Terminologies

Design for Print Process and Terminologies

Verso - the back page, usually the left side of the spread
Recto - front side, usually the right side of the spread

There are many other existing options for book sizes to go with and a slightly different sized book to the norm already generates more interest to the book. However you have to acknowledge practicality and function.

Stock - considerations for which paper stock to use

GSM - the weight of the paper - more gsm means more weighty

Grain - the direction in which a majority of the fibres lay which dictates which direction it is easiest to fold, or tear. 

Absorbency - how the ink absorbs. 

Uncoated - ink absorbs more. 

Coated - ink tends to sit on paper which allows for more sharp images. (consider do you want your print to be the highest quality? You can push this by using uncoated/less effective paper stock to push your point)

Opacity, ink holdout, print quality, print method, colour, weight

Colour Management

Spot Colour - a special premixed ink that is used instead of or in addition to the general printer inks and it requires its own printing plate e.g Pantone Colour Matching.

CMYK is using four colours to trick the eye into seeing the colour but spot colour is the pure colour. 

When you screen print you are using spot colours.

Printing & Alignment

Lithography - essentially like a screen from screenprinting however it's a big metal plate in which the ink is tranferred to. It's good for high quality prints, high print run but expensive as the printer has to make a new metal plate to be used. The high print run may also be a disadvantage if you just want a one-off.

Digital Print - Inkject or laser. It's fast, easy to set up, one off jobs and flexible as you can test/experiment with it. However it's slightly lower quality (people tend to prefer lithography), the ink is a powder so it just sits ontop of the paper and cracks when folded, and more expensive for high quantity print runs. 

Letterpress - relief print with a raised surface that is inked
Screenprinting - low print run, one offs, spot colours
Risographs - high print runs, low set up costs, little environmental impact

Binding

Spiral binding - punching holes and wiring a spiralled wire - like a notebook.
Wiro binding - similar to spiral binding but each spiral is clamped close.
Singer Stitched - a simple stitch using a sewing machine.
Elastic bands - simple and cost effective, interesting to use if you want to constantly rearrange the pages.
Perfect bound - using the glue machine for a perfect alignment and fold.
Japanese Stab Stitch - interesting pattern but uses up a lot of margin. 
Coptic Stitch
Pamphlet stitch
Saddle-stitch - it's just stapled not stitched.
Binding rings - another method of not stitching.
Belly Band - a sheet of paper that slots ontop of the book keeping it shut - can be an accessory to a different bind.
Bolt bind - going to keep the paper really tight and allows the book to fan out rather than lay flat.
Gatefolds & throw-outs - methods of inserting extra or oversized typically to provide extra space or to showcase a specific visual element. *gatefold with a folded sheet of four panels or the throw-out can be effective for my project.
Tip-ins and Tip-ons - an option to add odd sized pages through the use of tip-ins and tip-ons - this paper is often a different stock or colour. 

Finishing

Foil blocking - more expensive for high print runs.
Embossing/debossing - raised or indented surface - also more expensive for high print runs.
Die, laser and kiss cutting - cutting things out of the publication.
Duplexing - bonding two different stocks together to act as one double-sided page.
Laminate - crisp finishing and liquid resistant
Varnish - a coating providing gloss - can add a spot varnish so only specific elements are shiny.

Trimming and Guillotining

Must be trimmed properly for a professional finish or it won't look like a properly finished product.