There are aspects of printing that are so small, yet so ingenious that we normally don’t pay any attention to them. For instance, let’s say we want to go to a concert. We have our ticket with us, we’re ready to rock. All it takes is getting past the doorman or security. We would typically do that by showing them our ticket and then waiting patiently for the few seconds it takes them to tear off the proper ticket stub. That stub is proof to them that we legally bought the ticket, while the rest of the ticket is proof to us that we’re allowed entry.
Now, how can the person at the door tear off the ticket stub so quickly? Well, it was incredibly easy for them to do since these tickets were already perforated beforehand.
Since most people don’t go into the science of printing, perforating will require an explanation. In this article, we go a little deeper into the process of perforating and why it’s so important for the industry.
What Is Perforating and What Types of It Are Out There?
Perforating is the practice of puncturing small holes into a piece of paper to make it easier to remove at a later date. In addition, when we perforate holes in folded signatures in booklet binding, we allow the excess air to escape. That way, the printed page won’t wrinkle later.
There are several types of perforating and they mainly differ based on the size and shape of the holes, called perforations. For example, we can have a piece of paper with round perforations or we can use narrow line slits. In addition, the perforations can be spaced closer together for easier removal or further apart. The size of the perforations will also play a vital role in the removal of paper.
Broadly speaking, perforations are added at the very end of the printing process. Manufacturers will use a special tool at a bevelled angle called a perforation blade. Interestingly enough, we can buy our perforation blades, since there are various types of them available in online retail.
Why Do We Use Perforation?
Earlier, we used tickets as an example of using perforation. However, there are plenty of other ways we can apply this method, and they involve paper items like:
- Invitations
- Vouchers
- Flyers
- Wanted ads
- Folded leaflets
- Workbooks
- Notebooks
- Chequebooks
- Bills
- Multipart forms
- Brochures
One key use of perforation, as we’ve already outlined with the example of the ticket, is the “two-party verification system”. In other words, when we have a document that has to verify an action to someone else, each of us gets to keep one part of it. The same applies to some multipart forms and bills. Namely, when we remove a small slit at the bottom of the document, we pay the bill using that slit and keep the other section of the paper ourselves.
Another use that is worth mentioning is the one-time-only shopping system. Namely, lots of vouchers have a perforated stub. By removing it and keeping it, the seller makes the coupon void after its initial use. That way, they can prevent multiple customers from using the same coupon for different purchases.
Finally, there’s the clean removal of individual papers from a bound product. Nowadays, plenty of notebooks have perforation slits along the edge of individual pages. That allows us to cleanly tear off a page if we intend to save what’s on it. Alternatively, we can discard the page if we made a mistake on it while writing or drawing.
The Value of Perforation
We can’t stress the importance of perforating enough. So many different industries benefit from this practice that lots of people simply pay no heed. Therefore, the next time you buy a ticket or get a bill that you need to fill out, take the time to appreciate those small slits that make the papers part ways easily.
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Printing Guides
The basics of perforation are in the sections above. However, if you want to find out even more, you can give us a call at 0800 0148 970 or simply email us today. We can talk about any topic related to printing and help you find your way around it all. Just contact us, and we will happily point you in the direction of the best printing type for you and your company’s needs.
You may also browse our paper products here and have a talk with our staff if you want to use perforations for your promotional paper items. We are waiting for your call!
