Printing people: What is 25 inch web?

[usregimechange]

New graphic designer needs to know. Thanks bunches.

[begin_within]

1. That refers to the width of the paper sheets that go through the press.

At least I think so. A sheet-fed, 6-color Heidelberg web press may accept certain width of paper or a variety of widths. Oh wait, I'm not sure if I even know what I'm talking about. I did have a project printed on 32-inch web press once. I think.

[usregimechange]

2. I think your right about it being the width but what is the height?

[InternalDialogue]

3. Web printing is when the paper is continuous, like a spider web.

It's as long as you need it to be.

And that comment should in no way be construed as part of a sex thread.

[usregimechange]

4. do you know how tall "25 inch web" is for a magazine?

[InternalDialogue]

5. I don't know how much help I'll be.

I do all sorts of prepress work, but I rarely work with the printers directly.

The 25-inches refers to the width of the paper fed through the press. It's on a roll, so it just keeps rolling out as it prints. But that paper can be used in different ways. A newspaper may print just one folio wide, if it's a large paper. That width would give you a full sheet of both pages -- like the spread of pages 8 and 9 (backed with pages 1 and 16) in a 16-page section.

But for a magazine, whose spreads certainly wouldn't be 25 inches wide, it's more likely a signature of more than just one or two pages that make up the width. It could certainly be an 11-inch page height, turned sideways and run in pairs, so the 25-inch paper accommodates two sets of pages top to bottom, not side to side.

I'm sure there are some internet sites that explain the basics. But each job is different, and if it concerns a specific job or a specific printer, it's not always done exactly the same everywhere. When it comes down to it, printers make their money minimizing waste. They'll work to get the most pages configured most efficiently on the size of their press, and each job can be handled differently in that respect.

Does that make sense? Any help?

[usregimechange]

11. Yes, thank you. Not much in the way of help on the web...

[mike_c]

8. not sure what the question refers to....

One typical American broadsheet size is 12.5 inches wide and 22 inches or more vertically. On a continuous roll fed web press the vertical size is more-or-less arbitrary.

[lizziegrace]

6. Yeah right

:eyes:

Not in the Lounge. Not tonight. ;)

[InternalDialogue]

9. Just trying to keep clear of the wreckage.

Hey, I was just listening to the iPod and picking out some new stuff to send you.

What do you think about that, missy!?!

[lizziegrace]

13. I think that's great!

I think that's great! :)

Now, about keeping clear of the wreckage? I believe it's hopeless. As Ellis would say, "Give in, give up".

Just sayin....

[begin_within]

7. I'm pretty sure that web presses use rolls of paper instead of pre-cut sheets.

This page might shed some light:

http://www.canadaprintquotes.com/printing101/what_is_a_webpress.asp

[Ellipsis]

10. Here ya go

http://www.komori.com/contents_com/product/system/25.htm

[Book Lover]

12. In what context is this? Are you setting up master pages?

To be honest, if you're just making pages, the width of the sheet in the press isn't really relevant to your work.

Your printer will be happy to answer your specific questions, also. Let them know you're new; they won't burn you because you're the new guy or anything.

[usregimechange]

14. Designing graphics/ads around magazine text to make a

magazine about 25 pages. The printer said "25 inch web" that is all I know so far.

[Redstone]

15. That's the width of the roll of paper he's feeding through his press. All it means to you is that

you should use the dot gains for SWOP and the kind of paper you're printing on.

And do NOT send the printer any RGB files. That's a real junior-varsity mistake, right there.

Redstone

[Book Lover]

16. As long as you and the printer agree on the trim size of your pages

and you know how big the signatures are (multiples most commonly of 8, but 6 is occasionally used, so your final page count will not be 25 pages, but very likely 24, cover may or may not be included in that count), then you should just go ahead and do your work within the agreed sizes and not worry about this particular detail of the press.

[jmowreader]

18. Page count is usually divisible by four

It's ALWAYS divisible by two, and on this half-web it's divisible by eight because of the way the press is set up.

So you could do a 24-page book with no problem, you could do a 32-page with no problem. Past 32 you need to be careful of your pushout--you put the inner pages closer together so you don't cut the page numbers off when you bind the piece. Pushout's something YOU don't get involved in, though--it takes a micrometer and a sheet of the publication stock to figure out how much to put in, so the printer does it for you.

[jmowreader]

17. It's also called "half web"

A half web in this case uses a cutoff of 22-3/4". IOW, the biggest sheet this press can print is 25" x 22-3/4".

There are three functional areas on a web press. First is the rollstand. On it are hanging two rolls of paper. You feed from the top roll. When it almost runs out, the rollstand sticks the leading edge of the bottom roll to the end of the top roll, so the press will feed from the bottom roll. It then spits out the core of the empty roll and lifts the full roll up so a new roll of paper can be put in the press. (This keeps you from turning the press off to put a new roll of paper in it.)

Next are the press couples--the machines that put ink on paper. Webs print on both sides at once.

Finally comes the finishing equipment--the press can cut and fold what it prints. If it's a book that will fit on a single signature, it will also staple and trim it.

Someone upthread said there was no limit to the length of an image a web can print. Not true--there are still plates on these presses and they have finite lengths. Half-webs will print sigs consisting of eight letter-size pages.

Now if you REALLY want to be bad-ass...Goss International and MAN Roland both make 64-page webs.

[Casper Alabaster]

19. Sounds like you need liason between art dept.

and production; knowing about the press reproducing your work will save considerable amount of time. 25" web refers to an offset press; the rolls are brought to the press by a clamp-truck, much like a fork-lift. At the press, you insert a steel shaft through the core and secure the clamps/chucks. Then you splice onto the previous roll, taking care that there are no edges hanging out; web refers to all the rollers and tensioners and spindles controlling paper-feed. If you miss a splice, you have to re-web the machine while the ink dudes begin to grumble!:smoke: