Print Signatures
Welcome to our introduction of print signatures. They play a crucial role in offset printing, ensuring efficient production, proper page sequencing, and cost-effective layouts.
Print signatures are an essential element of book printing and binding. A signature is a single sheet of paper printed on both sides, containing multiple pages arranged in sequence. It is then folded, cut, and bound with other signatures to create a complete book.
The number of pages in a signature depends on the book size, paper dimensions, and binding style. Page counts are always in multiples of four, typically 8, 16, or 32 pages per signature. Proper planning ensures efficient printing and professional results.
We use signatures when printing books because they are more cost-effective than printing each page individually. They also make the book easier to handle during imposition, which is the process of arranging the pages of a book in the correct order. While this process can be complex, it is essential for producing high-quality books. Using print signatures is a great way to save money and time, and it ensures that your book will look great when it is finished.
The standard sheet feed size for most offset printers is A1. If you have a book or catalog that is A4 size, for example, the print signatures would be in multiples of 16 pages, because you can neatly fit 16 A4 pages on an A1 sheet. If your book or catalog were to have exactly 160 interior pages, your design would be composed of exactly 10 signatures. But if your interior only had 158 pages it would be difficult to make up the signatures. In that case, we would recommend adding 2 more pages to make up full signatures.
How We Create Print Signatures for Book Binding
For book printing, we will organize your pages into what we call “signatures”. The number of pages on each sheet and how they are laid out to make the signatures depends on the paper size and stitching or binding method you've chosen for your finished book. But you needn't worry about this as it's something we handle for you.
What Is Imposition in Print Signatures
Imposition is the process of arranging the pages of a book design into the correct order and orientation so they can be printed onto the press sheets. The process takes into account the page sizes and the number of pages that need to be printed. It also takes into account the number of press signatures that will be used in the printing process. Imposition ensures that each signature contains the right pages in the right order, and that the pages are laid out in the correct orientation. By arranging the pages into press signatures, you'll reduce the cost of printing, as fewer press sheets are needed to print the entire book. Imposition is a complex process, but it is essential for the printing of a book that is laid out properly and looks good.