What is perforating?

Posted by michael on February 18th, 2019

Understanding the Perforating Process

Perforated paper is paper that has had holes, cuts or scores punctured into it. One common example is often seen on invoices that have tear off return payment stubs. The number of actual punctures per inch - referred to as teeth per inch, or tpi - determines both the appearance of the torn edge and the ease with which the paper is separated at the line of perforation.

There is no standard rate of perforation, just as there is no standard use of perforation. For example, the perforation commonly found on the return receipts of your local utility invoices is often perforated at a rate of 40 teeth per inch. Generally, perforation at a rate of 30 or more tpi is referred to as micro-perforating.

Conversely, some perforating is designed to render paper tear able, but not too tear able. For example, perforation between raffle tickets and their corresponding tear off stubs are often perforated at a rate of 12 tpi, assuring that the stub does not come apart too easily; either during normal handling or when being printed. Other examples of perforated items that are not necessarily micro perforated include auction cards, movie tickets, valet parking slips and inventory tags used by manufacturers.

Scoring

Scoring means creasing paper so that it can fold effortlessly and neatly. This is done by creating an impression along a line on which a paper sheet will be folded. Both the depth and depth of scored lines or impressions can be differed according to your requirements.
Scoring offers a professional look to the item to be folded that is crisp and neat. It makes the item a lot easier to fold. The examples of the scored paper include memorial folders, bulletins, invitations, etc. Without scoring, these items will be folded unevenly.

Die-cutting

Die-cutting is a process by which paper is impacted by a stationary die through the use of a letter press machine. A "die" is a combination of perforating pins, slicing blades and/or cutting edges of metal rules placed to score, which, when forced down against a sheet of paper, creates a punched out paper product. One example of a die cut product is a door hanger, which includes perforation, the cutting of holes, and the rendering of a slit so that the hanger can be easily placed over a door knob.

Dies are used whenever regular perforating and/or scoring blades used on a perforating machine cannot satisfactorily accomplish the task. Examples of die-cut paper products include our door hangers (the hole that is cut to fit around the door knob), Chinese auction cards (due to the complication of the configuration). Normally, any curved line or one that starts and stops before the edge of the sheet of paper requires the use of a die.

Our prayer cards and holy cards are die-cut due to the very fine and exact placement of the perforation required to accommodate both clean edges and exact registration of printing text and graphics multiple times on the same sheet of blank prayer cards.

Final Consideration –

We like to think that, if you can imagine it, we can do it. If there is a particular paper format that has perforations, cuts or scores that would benefit your business or event, let us know. We enjoy working with people to create exactly what they need.

On the other hand, we manufacture and offer numerous popular items that are already per-perforated in all colors and package sizes, including 10 different raffle ticket formats, door hangers, memorial prayer cards, bingo pop-out cards, invoices and bulletins.

Perforated Paper Online specializes in providing perforated paper products and design, development and sale of imaging and printing software perforated paper in Pennsylvania.