Short-run print desk
Measure the sheet before it goes to press.
Imposition, creep and spine figures that hold at the guillotine, agreed before the ink is mixed.
Featured check6 routes
Three stages
Tools by stage01
Plan
Count sheets, fix bleed and approve a proof before makeready.
02
Press
Hold the sheet steady and keep ink inside the agreed coverage.
03
Finish
Fold, trim and bind to the numbers on the ticket.
Every tool
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SHEETSheet CountTurn a page count into parent sheets and press passes.
SHEETImposition PlanFit pages onto a sheet without turning the grain.
SHEETGrain DirectionChoose a grain that keeps folds clean and pages standing.
SHEETWaste AllowanceAdd make-ready and spoilage without guessing.
TRIMBleed BuilderSet bleed and safety from the trim size, not from habit.
TRIMCrop MarksPlace marks the guillotine can actually see.
TRIMSpine WidthCalculate a spine from text caliper and cover stock.
TRIMTrim OffsetShift the trim line to keep a printed rule on the page.
FOLDFold PanelSplit a cover into panels that meet at the fold.
FOLDCreep CalculatorPush inner sections out so the fore-edge stays even.
FOLDGatefold MapLay out a gatefold with the short panel inside.
FOLDFold SequenceOrder folds so the last fold is the one that matters.
BINDBinding PickerMatch the binding to the page count and the opening.
BINDStitch CountCount stitches from signature length and stock weight.
BINDGlue SetSet adhesive width from spine bulk and cover overhang.
BINDHinge AllowanceLeave a hinge gap that survives the first opening.
PROOFProof ChecklistCheck the proof for the ten things that stop a press.
PROOFInk CoverageReport coverage per side before plates are made.
PROOFColour BarPlace a control bar that fits the trim and the sheet.
PROOFSign-off SheetRecord who approved what, on which proof, at what size.Shop notes
All shop notesBleed is a promise, not a marginThe extra millimetres are a contract with the guillotine, and 3 mm is not always enough.Read Grain decides the fold before the design doesA beautiful cover folded across the grain will bow, crack or both.Read Creep is not a myth, it is arithmeticInner pages shift by the caliper of the paper, and the fore-edge shows the total.Read The spine is the only exact measurementEverything else can be trimmed; the spine is printed before the book exists.Read A proof is a decision, not a previewIf nobody can say which file was approved, the press sheet becomes the argument.Read Waste is a line item, not a surpriseMake-ready and spoilage are different numbers, and both belong on the ticket.Read
Calculators
All calculatorsCalculatorSheet YieldHow many trimmed pages fit on a parent sheet, and how many sheets a run needs.Calculate CalculatorSpine CalculatorSpine width from leaf count, text caliper, cover thickness and a glue allowance.Calculate CalculatorInk CostEstimate ink cost from sheet count, sides and average coverage.Calculate
Bench reference
Reference indexExample figures for a short-run litho job on 120 gsm text and a 300 gsm cover. Replace them with your own shop numbers before quoting.
| Item | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Bleed | 3 mm | 5 mm for heavy or laminated cover stock |
| Safety margin | 5 mm | Text and rules stay inside this inset |
| Gutter | 6 mm | Between trimmed pages on the same sheet |
| Creep threshold | 2 mm | Compensate in the imposition above this total |
| Spine allowance | 0.6 mm | Glue take-up before rounding to 0.5 mm |
| Stitch spacing | 60 to 90 mm | Centred on the fold, clear of the trim |
| Make-ready | 80 sheets | Small multi-colour press, per plate set |
| Running waste | 3 to 5 % | Separate from make-ready and finishing |