April 2005: Hold it Together with Capacity Pockets

There are several options for adding materials to printed products. Pamphlets, stitched books, sell sheets and other materials can be incorporated with pockets, die cuts and other “loose” formats that don’t include binding. Capacity pockets in particular are excellent for including large-format media, previously bound books or small collections of stitched or folded products because they are designed to carry weight other styles cannot. Let’s take a look at some advantages and disadvantages of few popular options:

A box pocket (A) is great for thicker items that are included in the project from the beginning, but gusseted (B) and expandable (C) pockets ship flat and are ideal for pockets that will be filled by end users later on.

The functionality of a portfolio starts with a well-designed pocket. If your portfolios will hold pamphlets, stitched books, sell sheets, digital media discs or items such as pens, pockets should be designed to hold them securely. Here are a few common pocket styles:

Box Pockets – A box pocket allows your portfolio to hold thicker items such as bound books. Box pockets are formed by placing two scores on the pocket to form a box. While this pocket style can hold a large quantity of material, portfolios with formed box pockets cannot be packed and shipped flat. That results in essentially packing air during shipment. In addition, unfilled box pockets can be crushed easily.

To reduce overall costs and minimize the threat of damage, consider having The Riverside Group insert products into the pockets and perform fulfillment and shipping services.

Gusseted – Also called an accordion pocket, this design involves placing a third score in the center of the two scores that form the pocket. This center score permits the pocket to fold flat after gluing, allowing it to be packed efficiently and minimizing the potential for damage during transit or subsequent production operations.

Expandable – An expandable portfolio pocket combines the capacity of a box pocket with the fold-flat capability of a gusseted pocket. An expandable pocket also adds one key advantage: the ability to expand incrementally to match the thickness of the materials it holds. Expandable pockets are formed by die cutting a series of slits and scores that allow the pocket to stay flat during production.

Materials Tip: For most capacity pocket projects, select cover-weight stocks with high-fiber content. Substrates with too much clay or other filler material won’t fold as well on scores or maintain necessary strength when pockets are filled.

The Riverside Advantage
At the Riverside Group, there is no such thing as a ‘standard’ capacity pocket. In addition to these pocket style choices, custom die cutting can create added utility in the form of business card slits, Rolodex cards or narrow pockets for pens and other items. Spot UV coating, embossing and foil stamping can also be used to add a decorative touch to your portfolios. Whatever your project demands, you’ll find the helpful team at The Riverside Group is ready to work with you to deliver products that last.

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