Scoring & Folding is a technical topic that has more impact on creative and marketing decisions than one would think. In planning stages, the very size and format of a piece is often determined by folding factors. But don’t worry, we’ll guide you through it!
THE SCORE
Scoring prepares paper to fold better with reduced cracking and more uniformity. There are three main types: litho-scoring, letterpress scoring and machine scoring done on the folding machine.
LITHO-SCORE: Performed on the offset press but often as a 2nd pass to protect the fresh printing. Precise scoring rules are backed by the press’ own blanket to produce a crisp score.
LETTERPRESS SCORE: Performed separately on letterpress equipment with male/female dies to impart a strong score to heavy and especially high-gloss sheets. Examples: pocket folders, packaging.
MACHINE SCORE: Think of a dull pizza cutter which produces a groove an instant before the machine folds the sheet.
THE FOLD
Most folding is done by highly-complex machines. A typical “single” fold is called a half-fold, i.e., 8 1/2 x 11 down to 5 1/2 x 8 1/2. A right-angle fold is as it sounds — a fold made perpendicular to the previous fold. Think of a “broadside” brochure. Depending on paper weight, you can expect imperfections at the inside corner. More than one consecutive right-angle fold is asking for trouble.
THE FIELD (PAPER): Obviously, paper characteristics influence the choice to score or not and the selection of method. Here’s the play:
GRAIN: Paper has grain and always folds better parallel to that grain, whether scored or not.
WEIGHT: 80 lb. text and below usually needs no scoring, but grain still counts. 100 lb. text and up does need it. Curiously, 100 lb. coated text and 60 lb. Coated cover fold less well (even after scoring) than heavier weights.
VIRGIN / RECYCLED: Virgin paper, with long smooth fibers, folds the best along the grain and resists against it. Recycled, with shorter more random fibers, folds fine either way.
And some random notes for those who seek them:
European paper, with virgin fiber and high moisture content (for suppleness), folds very well.
Uncoated stock generally folds better, except when printing with solids on the fold and in extra-heavy cover weights.
