Conventional Finishing: Pocket Folders, Interactive Formats and Other Techniques

Pocket folders

Although we produce many standard 4 page, 9 x 12, 4” horizontal double pocket folders, we’ve also produced well over 100 unique formats. The typical groupings outside of a more standard pocket would be horizontal pockets, vertical pockets and combination pockets. These formats can be laid out in a 4 page, 6 page or 8 page configuration. You can further add uniqueness to your pocket folder by choosing unique stocks and adding embellishments such as foil stamping, embossing/debossing and specialty coatings. You can also add different shaped and sized pockets into the design. Different types of folder closures; tuck and tab, magnets, velcro, button & string, custom string/twine or leather strips, pretty much anything you can think of can make your project even more unique.

Standard diecut 4 page, 9” x 12” pocket portfolio with two 4” horizontal pockets glued outside edges

Award winning stitched booklet with custom diecut back cover vertical pocket folder and custom die cut bank of 5 tabbed inserts

Award winning diecut dimensional pocket folder with a combination vertical and horizontal pocket

With our large format digital press, we can create one-piece pocket folders allowing for very cost effective smaller quantity print production. We have several formats and existing dies on file that take advantage of these efficiencies, so please ask us about how these formats can help your next small run pocket folder project.

Award winning diecut 6 panel dimensional pocket folder with cutouts and pockets to house 3 saddlestitched booklets and closed with a bound-in leather strap

This diecut horizontal dossier style kit folder has a custom short fold hinged opening, wraparound reinforcing glue flaps and a series of custom diecut inserts.

Award winning diecut 4 panel dimensional pocket folder with a vertical and horizontal pocket to house a booklet and closed with a button and string

Diecut pieces with interactivity

Creatively integrated diecutting can be used to add interactivity into your projects. Some of these cool formats would include slides, wheels, pull overs, zip strip pulls to open your piece and pop-up dimensional pieces.

This award winning diecut 4 panel selfmailer has two levels of interactivity. There is a built in sleeve to pull out a sliding lenticular insert which would then switch from a daytime to nighttime panoramic shot as you would change the viewing angle of the insert.

Basic diecut sleeve and sliding insert configuration. As you slide the insert up or down it reveals a different set of information that shows through the various diecut windows in the sleeve.

Custom diecut wheel and rotating insert configuration. As you rotate the grommeted insert clockwise or counterclockwise it reveals a different set of information that shows through the window in the wheel.

Custom wall mounted diecut wheel and rotating insert configuration. Thick foam tape allowed for the needed clearance for this to work away from the wall. As you rotate the grommeted insert clockwise or counterclockwise it reveals a different set of information that shows through the windows in the wheel.

Custom diecut conceal and reveal card. A folded over panel is diecut and glued in areas other than the hinged door allowing for the door to swing open when pulled.

Custom diecut selfmailer where you push down on the sides and a middle panel pops up. We’ve produced both static and fully variable mailpieces in this format, so it’s a terrific creative digital format.

Custom diecut pouch with a zip strip to open the package

Custom diecut selfmailer where you pull the zip strip to open the mailpiece to reveal the internal contents. This particular design did not have other inserts included so this could be produced as a fully variable mailpiece.

Grommets, Eyelets and Screw Post Binding

Grommets and eyelets can be used to bind a booklet. Heavier cover stocks tend to work better and a good score adjacent to the hardware helps to create an easier opening/closing and flipping through the book.

Grommet and eyelet bound booklets can be contour diecut to create a very unique and interactive presentation. The left booklet swivels and the right booklet has a score adjacent to the hardware allowing for either a swivel or flipping through the book action.

When the page count exceeds the capacity of a grommet or eyelet, you can achieve the same effect with screw post binding. Many are familiar with screw post binding with PMS swatch books or with paint color swatch books where the capacity can be way up to several inches. Above left is a 4CP color selector we conventionally printed on a light weight offset stock with 80+ leaves. Above right is a side view of a screw post mechanism which are available in plastic and metal and in a variety of colors and capacities.

Other unique binding and finishing techniques

There are so many different and unique binding and finishing techniques that can be used on printed projects. The examples provided above and on the other pages are not the only techniques available or formats that can be explored if you’re looking for a unique looking presentation. A couple more unique approaches are presented below. If you’re looking for that unique approach and not sure how to get there, please contact us for inspiration and samples of how to make your next project stand out from the pack.

So, you’ve heard the expression "it would have been held together by a rubber band" before? Well, we’ve produced rubber band bound booklets. A heavier cover stock formed a wraparound cover and then individual sheets along with that cover had a common notch diecut on both sides to form the area where the rubberband would sit and squeeze in to hold the book together. This rubber band binding also allows the individual leaves to be taken out and then put back in. You can even custom print the rubber band in colors and they are available in different sizes to fit different width booklets.

Edge painting is a newer technique to apply specific colors to the trim edge or edges of your project. This works well with thicker stocks and you can custom mix virtually any color to match and complement your color palette and overall design.

If you have a project where you would like to consult with us to explore more unique and clever available formats that could work with your specific content, budget or schedule constraints, please contact us here.