Gathering is the process of assembling a group of individual sheets of paper into a “gather” or “bundle.” This term is most often used in reference to the process of creating a book or booklet from individual pages. The pages are first printed on large sheets of paper, which are then cut into smaller pages. The pages are then divided into small groups, or “gathers.” Each gather is then sewn or glued together to create a finished book or booklet.
The term “gathering” can also refer to the process of creating a stack of individual sheets of paper. This is often done in order to create a document that is several pages thick. For example, a stack of 100 individual sheets of paper would be considered a “gather.”
Gathering is the process of preparing a book for printing by assembling the individual pages into groups, or “gatherings.” This process is important because it ensures that the pages of a book are printed in the correct order. If the pages were not gathered correctly, the book would be difficult to read.
The first step in gathering is to fold the pages of a book into halves, or “leaves.” The pages are then divided into small groups, or “signatures,” which are then sewn together. The signatures are then gathered into larger groups, called “quires.” Finally, the quires are gathered into the correct order and glued or sewn into the spine of the book’s cover.
In the digital age, the idea of gathering as it pertains to books and printing is an anachronism. Nevertheless, there are those who continue to cling to the concept, believing that the physical act of gathering books and printed materials is a lost art.
Gathering is a critical step in the printing process, and it is important to make sure that it is done correctly. If you are planning to print a book, be sure to find a printer who has experience in gathering books.