What Is Collate Printing - What Does "Collate" Mean In Printing Terms?
Collate printing refers to printing a series of pages in a certain sequence to make complete sets that are in numerical order. Click on the following sections to learn more.
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Collate printing projects are printed in sets that are in numerical order
Collate Printing
1. Difference Between Collate and Non-Collate Printing
Here is an example to help illustrate the difference between collate printing and non-collate printing. You have a 7-page document, and you want 4 copies made of that document.
Collate Printing:
If you choose to have it collated, then the following would happen. The printer would print one copy of page 1 then one copy of page 2 and so on until all seven of your first set are done. It would then repeat this process three more times until you have 4 complete sets of pages that are in numerical order.
This type of printing is helpful when you want to have your projects printed out as a complete set. Usually, collated print jobs are also bound to keep the pages together. The binding can be as simple as a single staple but for longer and more professional results, you can choose from a variety of binding methods.
Non-Collate Printing:
If you choose to not have your document collated, then the printer would print out 4 copies of page one, followed by 4 copies of page two and so on until you have all 7 pages copied.
Non-collate printing is useful for times when you do not want your projects in numerical order. For example, you might be preparing handouts for a class that you are teaching and you want to hand each page out separately at different times to your students.
When you need your copies in numerical order, you should get them collated
2. Types of Projects that Use Collate Printing
You would choose to have your print job collated when you want to have a series of pages that you need to be grouped together in numerical order.
Some of the more common types of projects that are collated include:
Brochures
Books
Training manuals
Study guides
Catalogues
Magazines
How-to guides
Booklets and brochures are collated
3. Types of Binding for Collate Printing
Staple:
If you just have a few pages that you need bound together, a single staple in the top corner can effectively hold them together.
Why Choose Staples: This type of binding works well for single-use printing and if you don’t need to keep the document for a long time.
Saddle Stitch:
Saddle stitch binding is one of the most common and cost-effective methods of binding. It is more durable than simply using a single staple to keep your pages together and it looks more professional. Here is how saddle stitch binding is done:
Each page of your booklet is printed on both sides
The pages are collated and stacked together in page number order
Each page is folded in half
The pages are then stapled through the fold with a saddle stitch stapler
Why Choose Saddle Stitch: If you want a very economical way to bind your publications, saddle stitching is a good option. It works well for publications such as:
Thin catalogues
Anniversary/Event books
Workbooks
Organization by-laws
Membership booklets
Programs
Newsletters
Pamphlets
Direct mailers
Comic books
Thin magazines
Saddle stitch binding is done with a specially designed stapler
Square Back Saddle Stitch
Square back saddle stitch binding will give you an even more professional appearance than regular saddle stitches. With square back saddle stitch binding, the pages of your booklet are still bound together with staples like in saddle stitch binding, however, the spine of your booklet is flat.
Square back saddle stitch is an affordable solution that is in between simple saddle stitching and perfect bound binding. It gives you the secure hold of using staples with the elevated appearance of a square spine at a lower cost than perfect binding.
Why Choose Square Back Saddle Stitch: Square back saddle stitch is a great choice for the same types of projects as saddle stitch. If you want to spend a little bit more and get a final result with more finesse than a simple saddle stitch, then choose the square back option.
Perfect Bound
Perfect bound refers to the process of grouping pages of booklets or books together and binding them with a thermal adhesive. Once all of the pages are bound together, more adhesive is applied to the spine and then the cover is wrapped around them.
This booklet printing and binding process gives you a crisp, clean, and extremely professional-looking finished product. It is a popular choice for softcover books and thicker magazines and booklets.
Perfect binding books have a number of great advantages over other binding methods including:
You can easily stack and store them on a shelf
You can have the title of your book or booklet printed along the spine
You can choose to have your cover clear-coated to make it even more durable
You get clean cuts for the perfect edges on all three sides
It is a great, affordable choice for short runs and on-demand printing
Why Choose Perfect Bound: If you are looking for a highly professional look and feel to your books/booklets and you want a cost-effective option, then perfect bound is a great choice. Perfect bound can give you the high-quality look without the high price tag of a hardcover publication.
Perfect bounds work really well for the following collate printing projects:
Corporate reports
Catalogues
Product brochures
Manuals
Corporate magazines
Perfect bound is a great choice for larger booklets
Twin Wire:
Twin-wire is a method of binding booklets using a continuous hinge that is made of double wire loops that are threaded through the square, rectangular, or circular holes along the edge of your pages. The loops hold your book covers and pages together. You can often choose from a variety of different coloured wires and hole sizes to compliment the style of your booklet.
Twin-wire binding has many advantages including:
It allows each page in your booklet to lie flat as you open them
It lets you turn your pages 360 degrees without bending or creasing them
It gives your booklet a very polished, professional appearance
It provides you with sturdy binding that can take more than just average use
It can handle a wide variety of book sizes - thinner books will use a smaller wire size and thicker ones will need a larger wire size
Why Choose Twin Wire: Twin wire binding allows your readers to quickly find information without having to flip through countless pages. They can stay open by themselves which makes them perfect for training sessions and seminars. They are also a good choice when you would like your booklet to have a thicker stock of paper and if you want to incorporate index tabs.
Here are some examples of collated printing projects that would benefit from twin-wire binding:
Reports
Directories
Collective agreements
Training manuals
Twin wire bindings lay perfectly flat when opened
Why Choose JH French for All Your Printing Needs
Personalized Service:
When you choose JH French, you will be working with real people, not a computer program. Our experienced printing professionals can answer all of your questions and give you helpful suggestions for improvements so that you can be sure of getting a top-quality finished product.
You will find that we are with you every step of the way through the entire printing process and will be giving you the personalized experience that you deserve.
Experience:
When you deal with us, you are dealing with an experienced printing company that knows the printing business inside-out, not a new company that is just starting.
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