Cutting / Scoring

Creasing Matrix comes in all colors and sizes. Be sure to check before ordering. The matrix needs to match the thickness of the paper or card stock being creased in thousandths of an inch. The basis weight does not relate to thickness.

Note that the popular Perf-a-Base is no longer made and we do not have a replacement product.

We stock Zimmer, Simonds, and other brands of steel rule. Any of their products can be ordered subject to some minimum requirements. Lengths may vary from 30 inch lengths shown--other lengths will be priced accordingly. Quantity discounts on 100, 300 and 500 foot breaks.

Steel rule requires special handling and packaging--orders for one to 4 pieces (can be combined types of rule) will have an additional $4.00 handling fee added to your order. This charge will not show up on the web page order form or acknowledgement that is sent automatically when placing internet orders.

Channel Creasing Matrix, or Creasing Matrix, is used on platen and cylinder presses to achieve perfect scores. Form inking rollers have to be removed from the press if in place. A strip of the desired length is cut with a sharp knife or sissors, the matrix is pressed down on top of the locked up scoring rule, a paper strip covering an adhesive strip is removed, the press put on impression and run through the impression cycle once, that transfers the matrix to the tympan paper or die cutting plate or jacket, then the plastic locating strip is removed from the matrix leaving behind the matrix. The matrix is then in register for scoring. Matrix must be sized to the thickness of the stock being scored. The thickness can be found in many paper books if a commercial paper, or will have to be measured if an art or hand made paper. The basis weight either in pounds, as in 80# cover, or gsm, is of no useful value here, but actual measurement of how thick the paper stock is determines the matrix to be used. For example, Crane's 110# Letra is about .019" thick and the 220# Letra is .038. When scoring against the grain, it is usual to use the next larger size matrix. Give us the thickness of the stock in the Special Instructions section of the order blank and we will provide the correct matrix. The matrix has to allow for the width of the 2 pt scoring rule plus twice the thickness of the stock. It is not reusable, so order enough for several jobs if this is a first time order. We can also provide matrix for 2 parallel scores--call for information.

For many printing needs, including measuring the thickness of paper, an inexpensive micrometer is a useful tool to have in the shop.

Matrix is color coded by the manufacturers and the color name is how this particular product is ordered. The following is a list of the most common sizes by color and the thickness of paper being scored.

Gold, paper, under .004" in thickness;

Orange, .004-.006";

Buff, .006-.010", typically used for index stock;

Cloud, .006-.016";

White, .010-.016";

Lime, .010-.016", with a deeper channel than the White;

Yellow, .016-.020";

Violet, .016-.020", with a slightly wider channel than Yellow;

Olive, as a substitute for the now discontinued Mauve, .020-.024", recommended for Crane's Letra 110#; and Blue, .036-.040", if you want to try scoring Crane's 220# Letra.

It is recommended that records be kept indicating which matrix works best for any particular paper stock. Other colors take the range of paper thickness up to .064-.072"

We stock .918", type high rule in the perforating, cutting, and scoring rule. We also stock rule in various other heights, like .895", .909", and .937". Any height we don't have on hand can be readily obtained.