Today we take a look at a few printing term phrases that you might hear around the shop. Specifically, work and tumble, work and turn, and a few others.
Generally speaking printing terms like work and tumble aren’t something you absolutely need to know. Unless of course you are a press operator or work in a prepress department. That said if you are someone who buys a lot of print for a company, then it can be important to know. There are cases where the difference between a work and tumble or a work and turn could help save you money and problems.
Some background information.
The terms we are looking at today are specific to printing on a press and how a job is set up (or imposed). We generally don’t use them for digital printing. At their most basic they refer to how a printing plate is laid out, and how the paper is passed through a press. They also involve how the gripper (the part of the paper the press latches on to) is aligned to the press. Check out the links above for more info about these terms.
Both work and turn and work and tumble are used when printing something with two or more sides (such as a brochure).
A Work and Tumble
A work and tumble involves flipping a paper on its short edge and then putting it back through the press.
Work and Turn
A work and turn on the other hand involves flipping a paper along its long edge and running it back through the machine.
Why would you do this?
Sounds simple right? Maybe too simple? Why would someone even want to do it?
Well, imagine you are printing a 2-sided postcard. On one side is graphic image, and on the other is some text announcing an event. If we imposed both sides 2-up on a large sheet, then we would need 2 printing plates.
However, if you instead chose to print with a work and tumble you would print both sides at the same time. This way we could use 1 printing plate.
This has all kinds of benefits. Of course, you are using one less printing plate, so that is a cost savings right away. On top of that, the press operator doesn’t need to change that plate on their press. That means less operating and clean-up time. This adds up to increased efficiency and of course cost-savings on a project.
work and tumble vs. work and turn
So, is there a benefit to one of these over the other? The simple answer is no. This all comes down to the press and the press operator. Generally speaking a work and tumble is more difficult to register (as in aligning front to back) than a work and turn, but this will depend on the project.
At cutpasteandprint, our press operators and prepress team always work together to set up a job in the best way possible to improve ease of print and efficiency.
cutpasteandprint Printing, graphic design, binding, and promotional product specialists in Huntingdon Valley, PA. We proudly serve the Bucks and Montgomery County areas with superior quality, great customer service, and a commitment to getting you and your the best possible printed materials. Our services include: Digital Printing, Offset Printing, Graphic Design, Promotional Items, Bindery, and Copying.
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