In printing, mechanical separation is the process of separating the image areas of a printing plate from the non-image areas. The non-image areas, which include the margins, gutters, and spines, are usually left blank so that the printing plate can be clamped in a printing press without damaging the image areas.
The most common type of mechanical separation is die cutting, which uses a sharp blade to cut through the printing plate. This type of separation is typically used for large print runs, as it is the most efficient and cost-effective method.
Other types of mechanical separation include laser cutting and waterjet cutting. These methods are typically used for smaller print runs, as they are more expensive and time-consuming.
Once the printing plate has been separated from the non-image areas, it can be clamped in a printing press and used to print books, magazines, newspapers, or any other type of print material.
Mechanical separation is the process of removing certain elements from a book or print material in order to create a new, separate work. This can be done for a number of reasons, such as to create a new edition of a book with updated content, to remove offensive or outdated material, or to create a shorter version of a work.
Mechanical separation is vital to the printing process. It allows for the clean and precise transfer of ink from the printing plate to the paper. This process is essential for ensuring that books are printed with high-quality images and text.
There are a number of ways to mechanically separate a book or print work. One common method is to cut out certain pages or sections and then bind the remaining pages together. This can be done by hand with a sharp knife or scissors, or by using a mechanical cutting machine.