Scoring is another paper-centric word that pops up pretty often. Scoring is simply the process of adding a crease to a sheet of paper or cardstock so that it folds more easily. There are simple, inexpensive hand-held tools made for scoring and then there are also machines (around the size of a paper cutter) that take on larger jobs with less elbow grease. Adding the crease helps to keep the paper and ink from cracking, giving the piece a...

Often one of the first questions a designer will ask when discussing a new project is “Do you want the piece to bleed?” Huh? Paper can bleed? Should it bleed? The answer is yes! And maybe. Bleeds simply refer to the ink or printing running (aka bleeding) all the way to the edge, rather than leaving a thin white border. Most printing machines can’t print all the way to the edge of a sheet of paper (although the technology is getting...