There was a list of corollaries to Murphy’s Law (“If anything can go wrong, it will go wrong.”) that made the rounds some years back that included the gem “The paper is strongest at the perforation.” Today, we’re going to talk about perforating.
What is Perforating?
An operation performed after a piece has been printed and ink has dried, perforating is a process that punches small holes or slits through the paper or card stock. These holes or slits (called perforations) make it possible to detach or separate the paper or card stock along the line of holes/slots without tearing or otherwise damaging the separated pieces.
Perforations, whether holes or slits, can vary in number and size. The smaller and more numerous the holes/slits of the perforation (micro perfs), the more easily the paper is separated. Larger and less numerous the holes/slits of the perforation (macro perfs), means more effort is required to separate the paper.
What are the Benefits of Perforating?
Perforating makes certain printed items more functional and user-friendly. Response cards, coupons, return forms, checks, receipt stubs, inventory tags, claim checks, door hangers, tickets — the number of items that use perforating are legion. Perforating is particularly useful when explanatory text must accompany, for instance, a form that needs to be filled-out and returned by a recipient. Or, as in the case with coupons or response cards, the accompanying text provides the details, selling points, and benefits to be gained from using a coupon or returning a response card. Items such as numbered tickets, can be kept in a convenient roll and easily separated at the time of usage. Perforated tags make it easy to provide a built-in receipt for a customer/client when performing repairs, tracking inventory or, as in the case of an inspection tag, indicating when a service or operation has been performed.
If you have any questions about perforating, give us a call at 330-597-8560. We’re happy to help you get the most out of your printing project.
