December 2005: Die Scoring: All About the Rules

Both cutting and scoring rules are used to create this pocket folder die.

Despite the catchy title, you sports fans will be disappointed that “rules” and “scoring” have nothing to do with your favorite game. Here, rules refer to the thin strips of metal used in a platen press to create a score prior to folding. While die scoring isn’t the only type of scoring available – folder, rotary and press scoring are also possible – it does yield the highest-quality, most-accurate score.

The Rules on…Rules

That accuracy is the result of carefully-designed steel rules placed in a hardwood board at the location of each score. The “business” end of the rule is fitted with a matrix or channel, which will be placed on an opposing platen (and is why die scoring is also referred to as “channel scoring”). The channel provides the female to the male die; paper is creased between the two to form the score.

The height and width of a rule varies based on the depth and size of the score you need to create. For example, a 1.5 point rule is optimum for paper up to 7.5 point; a 3 point rule will score up to 24 pt. board. Most full-service binderies have scoring rules on hand of up to 3 point, which is thick enough to put a score in your company’s conference table (well, almost!).

Appropriate Applications

In general, scoring is a must for projects printed on 100lb. text weight or heavier stock. Channel scoring is recommended for projects with heavy ink and coating coverage, those on heavier cover-weight stocks, and those that demand superior folding quality and accuracy.

The Importance of Layouts

The layout is an important factor in the production – and possibly the cost – of your scoring project. First, be sure to clearly identify the gripper and side guide areas of your sheets. This will help us obtain the best registration on the die press. In addition, leave a sufficient margin in these areas. Scoring rules can damage equipment if they extend beyond the sheet boundaries, so be sure to leave a small margin of paper beyond the image and trim-off areas.

For multiple-up projects, sheetwise layouts are more efficient than work-and-turn if the bead of your scores will all be in the same direction on the finished pieces. A work-and-turn layout is fine but a special die will need to be made to create same-side scores, adding time and cost to your project.

The Riverside Advantage

Quality channel scoring requires plenty of experience and an eye for detail. You’ll find that and more at The Riverside Group. In addition to channel scoring, we offer complete die cutting, perfect binding, mechanical binding, hardcover case binding, folding, cutting, UV coating and many other capabilities. Need help planning your projects? Give us a call and we’ll help you engineer them for success.