Trimming

The Polar Guillotine Blade

The Polar 45" Blade with 9999 electronically programmed cutting routines slices through the biggest trimming jobs with accuracy and efficiency.

The operator simply calls up a routine and rotates the stock after each cut. For example, if you had 4.25" X 5.5" postcards printed 4 up on an 8.5" X 11" sheet, you would cut across the 11" length 5.5", turn the resulting stacks one time, and cut each of those at 4.25" two times (one for each stack.) The routine for this cut procedure would then be (1) 5.5", (2) 4.25", (3) 4.25", STOP or REPEAT. This information is all stored in one of the 99 programs available.

Design Considerations

Whether you are designing your project in concept sketches only or doing full layouts via desktop publishing or mechanicals, consider these issues before finalizing your design.

Base Design on Stock Size	Break your design's trim size down from "quadrants" based on standard stock sizes.
Correct Trim Size	If you create your design in a desktop application, create your document at the size you want it to trim to. Don't put an 8.5" X 11" document on a 9" X 12" page and create your own trim marks manually. This takes you longer, confuses not only the person imaging the job but press operators and trimmers as well.
Allow for Bleeds	Allow for bleeds if your images are meant to go to the edge of the paper. As accurate as equipment is, uncontrollable factors, such as paper stretch due to changes in humidity and the pressures exerted on paper in the process of printing on it, can cause the paper to stretch or shrink. If the image "stops" right on the edge of where it is supposed to trim, it is very likely that you will see a white line down the edges of some of your pieces. To prevent this, always let the image extend 1/8" beyond where you intend it to trim.
Ganged Sheets	If you plan out a loose imposed sheet- that is, if you lay out several different sized final pieces just how you intend them to trim out, try to visualize that the cutter will have to go completely across that sheet in order to make a cut. Do not create any 90º cuts in the imposition. We highly recommend you contact us prior to planning such a project.
Binding and Folding	If your project involves any kind of binding or folding, there are many things that affect how your project trims out. See the special considerations on the Folding, Saddle Stitching, and Perfect Binding pages.
Die Work	If your project involves any die cutting, scoring, or perforating, there are special considerations as to how much margin is needed around your piece and the thickness and grain of the stock. This would also be an area that you may want to discuss with us prior to commencing a final design.