Precision Visit OUGD502

The precision print shop was filled with numerous different machines and contraptions to create the design exactly as the design wants it. They have several large printers that use CMYK to create all the colours required. They work via an almost photographic process, in which positive separations are then etched (acid not dry point) onto aluminium plates. The plates were create from digital files in lines per inch rather than dots, this makes a higher definition print. When working with straight digital prints for reasons of cost and run size they can use a program which spreads the dots in an uneven manner to ensure that no underlying print patterns show and to create a greater density of colour where necessary.

Ink is then transferred to a blanket and the to the plates and then to the paper so that it is as even coverage as can possibly be achieved.

Although the CMYK process can achieve most colours, they also have pantone options for when a specific colour is required.

They have a huge stock of paper options  but also order in for specific jobs so that they don't have too much surplus material.

When a book or leaflet of any kind is being produced, there are distinct limitations on things such as margin space. This made it clear that good communication with the printer is pivotal in achieving what you have set out to do.

These margin limitations were not only because of the binding they do in shop (saddle stitch) but also because they outsource perfect bind and binding options. 

They had a folding machine that managed 40,000 single folds and hour. However, this was not an exact science, which explained why there had to be so much lee way for the margins.

They could produce spot shine and embossing effects by using a process not dissimilar to letter press. The images above show both the finished texture and the plate used to apply the pattern onto he paper.

They had die cut machines which use specially made nets of blades which is pressed into the paper to achieve an even cut.

The foiling was done in a similar way to the spot shine using a sheet of foil transfer and an etched plate which then presses the foil onto the paper with heat to create the smooth finish you see above.

They had lots of examples of the stock they could print onto and holding and looking at them made us realise that they hadn't mixed stock weights in each book. They then explains that this would cause doe pages to warp and bend under the weight of others.