What material is needed to make a photo book. Custom Photobook Business

Photobooks are such products, the popularity of which will not dry up soon. They enjoy in high demand. Souvenir products, namely, photo books can be attributed to this type, imply colorful publications in which many photographs are collected. Taking into account the wishes of customers, as well as using special equipment for the production of photobooks, specialists carry out the layout and editing of each page.

Distinctive feature

It should be understood that these books differ from simple photo albums in the manufacturing technology itself. Pictures in such publications are not glued to the page. First, they create layouts - and each of them is individual. However, it should be noted that the equipment for the production of photo books and photo albums is exactly the same.

What should be purchased without fail?

So, what equipment will you need to use in order to set up the production of photobooks? The main machines should be listed. First of all, you need to buy a creaser. This device helps to carry out such a procedure as punching a sheet for subsequent bending of products characterized by different densities.

It is understood in this situation as plain paper, and double-sided self-adhesive cardboard for the production of photo books. The functions of different models may include performing an operation such as line perforation. This procedure should be understood as the creation of a special tear line.

"Wet" assembly technology

In the process of manufacturing products, it will be necessary to assemble pages on a pre-prepared basis. It is necessary to choose equipment for this procedure depending on what glue and material will be used. In order to establish a "wet" assembly, which uses a liquid adhesive solution, you should purchase a special glue machine. With it, an adhesive layer will be applied to the base.

What other assembly technologies are available?

The "dry" production technology refers to the use of the base on which the adhesive layer has already been applied. A combined method can also be used. The most optimal equipment for the production of photobooks in such a situation is gluing machines.

With their help, you can apply a uniform layer of adhesive solution of a certain thickness. Some models can work with hot glue. They are equipped with a special heating element for this. There is also a forced ventilation system in such devices.

The use of the press in the production of souvenirs

In order to crimp the block, you should use photobook production equipment such as a crimping press. It is the best option. If it is based on "liquid" technology, the products must be under pressure for two days.

Only in this case can we talk about the complete drying of the base. With "dry" technology, a long stay of products under pressure may not be required. However, in such a situation, you will have to buy such equipment for the production of photobooks as a heat press. With it, pages are assembled under pressure.

Crimping press can be mechanical, electrical, electromechanical or vacuum. A device of this type not only provides pressure on the product, but also does it evenly. The main characteristic is the maximum height of the crimping block.

What is the best cutter to use?

In order to trim the previously created block, you need to use a guillotine-type cutter. It allows you to make the pages more even and beautiful. Why the guillotine type? Because by using cutters of a different variety, layouts can be ruined. Guillotine equipment falls from above, the quality of its work is higher. But this cutter needs to be sharpened thoroughly from time to time.

Outer shell manufacturing process

Do not forget about the manufacture of binding. It should be understood as a rigid outer shell in which all pages are located. It is necessary to thoroughly approach the purchase of raw materials. Expendable materials for the production of photobooks in this situation must be of high quality. Usually either fabric or artificial leather is used. To get perfectly high-quality products, you need to make your own binding, and not buy a ready-made version of it.

In order to make the outer shell, you should use automatic cover making machines for the production of photobooks. They can simplify the binding process. These machines can work with a variety of materials. In this case, the output will be ready layout given size. When choosing equipment, you must be guided by the dimensions of the binding cover. However, one should not forget about such additional parameters as power and trimming method.

Minimum production lines

Increasingly in Lately such universal installations as photo ministations began to be used. In the case of their use, it is possible to combine several technological devices necessary to perform different tasks at once into one group. Among the main advantages of the equipment are compactness and efficiency. However, there are also disadvantages. The equipment has lower operating parameters compared to the above devices.

Conclusion

This review lists the main devices that you will need to purchase if you want to set up your own own production souvenirs of this type. In addition, do not forget about the constant improvement of your own enterprise. Only in such a situation can we talk about a stable high income.

Making photobooks is a relatively new phenomenon in the photography business. But this type of earnings is gradually strengthening its position in the market of photo services. The gigabytes of digital photos stored on the hard drives of home computers are being replaced by original and compact photo books that are able to preserve the emotions received from the most highlights life.

The production of custom-designed hardcover photo albums brings a good profit to its owners, as the fashion for this product grows.

This type of earnings is especially relevant for those who are engaged in photography. The production of photobooks is included in the package of services of any self-respecting photographer and is a separate item of his income. If the creation of a unique photo album in a book version is not the main, but an additional source of finance, then you do not need to buy special equipment for making photo books.

It will be enough to create layouts for future books in available graphic editors and select suitable printing houses or advertising agencies for printing. In this way, you can save time and money required for the production of a photobook, without losing the quality of work.

The layout of a standard photobook does not take much time for a professional. There is a demand for the product all year round, although in this business there is also seasonality. Most often, newlyweds order a photo book. The peak of wedding celebrations falls on late spring, summer and early autumn.

Although there are many other reasons for ordering such an unusual photo report:

matinees in schools and kindergartens;
anniversaries of relatives;
round dates and other family celebrations;
popular holidays such as New Year, March 8, February 23;
birth, discharge, christening of a child, as well as children's thematic photography;
beautiful design of a portfolio, catalogs of services and goods.

A professional photographer does not need additional advertising. The production of photobooks can bring him a good income at minimal cost.

How to start making a photo book?

The growing demand for photobooks makes it possible to single out their production as a separate profitable niche in the photo services market. To organize such a business, you need to clearly understand all the stages of creating a photo album, as well as know what equipment for the production of photo books will be needed to develop the business.

The photobook manufacturing technology includes 3 stages:

Creating a layout.
Cover design and printing.
Assembling a book using special equipment.

What equipment to choose for making a photobook?

To print a photo book, you need to purchase a high-quality color photo printer. It is necessary to connect the pages and the cover into one with the help of special machines. Photobook production equipment can be manual or automatic.

Manual machines are cheaper and will cost about 100-150 thousand rubles. The downside is that almost every action to create a photobook in this case is performed on a separate technical tool. There are 6 in total:

cover making machine;
a special table for assembling a book;
creasing machine;
machine for cutting rounded corners;
machine for cutting pages along the edge;
machine for landing corners on the cover.

Automatic equipment is more expensive. Its price is approximately 350-400 thousand rubles, but the advantages in speed are obvious. One machine performs all the functions required for the production of a photobook. Equipment can pay off in 1 working season, if you correctly build an advertising strategy.

Advertising and business promotion

When creating a small production of photobooks, it is necessary to find out for whom such services will be of interest in a particular region. IN major cities competition among manufacturers of these products is high. In medium and small sizes settlements this niche is not yet occupied. You can offer the production of photobooks individuals, individual photographers and photo studios, holiday agencies, children's institutions, modeling agencies, restaurants and travel companies.

You can tell about your activities using the website, communities in in social networks, messages on thematic forums, printed materials: flyers, business cards, leaflets. Advertising costs should be justified in a short time, especially if you start activities on New Year's Eve or on the eve of the wedding season. A photo book is beautifully designed emotions and pleasant impressions about various happy events in life that everyone wants to keep for as long as possible, so there will always be a demand for such products.

: housewives, as well as young mothers. You can create the very first masterpiece for yourself, because after the birth of a child, a huge number of photographs appear in the house. In addition, a lot of different events take place in life - weddings, birthdays, vacations at sea or in the forest, so there are materials for the first photo books in every home.

After you do the first work for yourself, certain knowledge and skills will appear, as well as valuable experience. Thanks to this, making a photo book like will become not only your hobby, but also a source of additional income. To print books, you need a quality printer and good paper. The binding can be ordered at a printing house or made by hand using the scrapbooking or decoupage technique.

Buy expensive equipment single orders not advisable. They can be printed in advertising agency or printing house. To choose a good publisher, you need to compare the quality and prices in different companies. This will help you choose the best option.

Cost of work

The cost of a photobook depends on the number of pages. The price of one page is 100 rubles, respectively, an album of 10 pages will cost 1000 rubles. Add another 400 rubles for the binding, and you get 1400 rubles. You will spend only 350 rubles to make such a photobook. From one product you can get 1000 rubles of net profit.

Cover printing, text design and photo editing are Additional services for which a separate price list should be drawn up.

Making a photobook to order as a business is a fairly profitable business that does not require large investments.

A variety of cover textures, design options and formats allows you to meet the requirements of any, even the most demanding client. It all depends on the financial capabilities of the customer.

Who orders photobooks?

Such a business will bring good income in metropolitan areas. IN provincial towns this business can be done by independent artists, for whom making a photobook with their own hands is an additional source of income.

Some aspiring entrepreneurs doubt that such a business line is promising, because modern people store photographs in digital form. But the paper version is more reliable, because a computer or other device may fail and you will lose your memories. In addition, it is very pleasant to pick up an originally designed photo book and show it to guests. Therefore, the production of photo albums enjoys in great demand among those who take care of pictures dear to their hearts.

The production of photobooks is also often interested in:

Models, designers and other professionals who want to make a portfolio of their work;
Parents who wrote a fairy tale or poem for their baby. Such books have recently become in great demand;
Travel agencies order photo books describing historical or cultural places.

Directions can be very different. Do not wait until competitors appear in this area. Hurry up to be the first to offer your services, and your photobook business will definitely become successful.

How to start a business?

The photobook maker that has it all necessary equipment, can conclude a cooperation agreement with different design studios ready to accept orders. They can be located in different cities, and send completed orders by mail.

Design studio staff can:

Take orders;
Engage in the promotion of services in your city;
Develop the design of photobooks and coordinate it with the client;
Take photographs.

You can start the production of photobooks from scratch, without starting capital. Two people are enough for work - a designer and Sales Representative. At first, page design can be done according to templates. You need to make some samples that you will show to clients. The most important thing is to organize as many points for receiving orders as possible. For example, in China, orders for photobooks are taken in any supermarket.

Advertising

Despite the fact that photobooks are aesthetically valuable and convenient items that can be ordered at a low price, many consumers are generally unaware of their existence. Therefore, if you decide to make custom photobooks, the business plan should include advertising costs.

You can offer your services:

Photo studios;
Private photographers;
Schools and kindergartens;

Direct buyers are usually found on regional Internet forums, as well as through newspaper advertisements. You can distribute flyers or business cards in shopping malls, children's shops or in amusement parks. There are many options for how to make money on the production of photobooks to order. The most important thing is not to stop there and look for new customers.

An excellent means of advertising and an additional sales tool will be your own website on the Internet. Here you can post examples of work, prices, design options and customer reviews. The more templates you can offer, the more customers you will get.

In summer, the production of wedding photo books is in great demand, and before the New Year, you can make money on children's photo albums.

Manufacturing technology

To make a good photo book, you need to carefully study all the stages of this process:

Design the layout future book with photos;
Print the cover and all the necessary pictures;
Crop and assemble your photobook.

Equipment

First of all, decide what equipment for the production of photobooks you will use - manual or automatic?

Equipment for manual production:

Cover assembly machine;
Table for assembling a book;
Bending machine - creasing;
Corner rounder.

This equipment will have to spend 120-150 thousand rubles.

If you have a decent start-up capital, you can purchase an automatic machine for the production of photobooks, on which you can perform all the necessary operations. It costs up to 300 thousand rubles.

To test this idea for a business, you do not need to immediately buy equipment for making photobooks. Take photos and assemble them into a book using special programs on your computer. You can print them at any printing house. If things go well, you can start expanding production.

Benefits of a business idea

The absence of large investments, a high margin on products, as well as the relevance and great demand for ideas, allow you to return initial capital for one season.

You can make photobooks in your free time to get additional income. This service is often offered to visitors in photo salons. Many aspiring entrepreneurs choose this type of activity to start their own business. In any case, the production of photobooks is a fairly promising direction. It promises a good profit, and also allows you to constantly grow and develop.

Difficult technological process, including the use of the most modern and materials. A variety of equipment, its capabilities allow you to make a photo book according to various technologies. The design of any photobook is the same regardless of the equipment used. A photo book consists of a photo book, on the pages of which photos are placed, and a cover (cover). Already at the stage of obtaining an image, two fundamentally different printing technologies are distinguished - printing on and printing printing. Let's consider the operations included in the typical technological process of making a photobook.

Photo printing of spreads

Modern technologies make it possible to produce original photo album from real photographs, printed in a chemical process and rolled onto a dense substrate. Adjacent photo pages are printed on one sheet and are called spreads. In this case, a photobook block consists of photos pasted onto a base (plastic or cardboard) in succession, forming pages. The pages of a photo book assembled using this technology have the ability to open 180 degrees, forming a flat surface. Now the brightest frames can be placed not only on individual pages, but also on the entire spread, using the entire area without restrictions. When laying out spreads, it is necessary to take into account the technical requirements for files imposed by the manufacturer of photobooks. The geometric dimensions of the spread are calculated based on the size of the photobook itself. For example: if you ordered the production of a photo book 20x20, then the spread size should be 203x396mm. The final dimensions of the block after trimming are 3mm. on three sides it will be 197x197mm. Additionally, the manufacturer indicates the characteristics of the printing device: the color model of color reproduction, resolution (the number of dots - elements of a raster image per unit area), the bit depth of the color palette. For example: to print pages on a standard digital lab, you must specify the following parameters. RGB, 300 dpi, 8 bit/channel.

Reversal scoring

After printing, the spread of the future book is folded in half. But the fold may be uneven or not neat enough. Moreover, photographic paper at the fold can be damaged ink layer and there is a high probability of cracking the emulsion layer. To avoid this, scoring is used - the process of punching a thin convex strip with a special tool - a cliché. If the center of the turn was determined correctly when laying out the layout, then the big will coincide with it. Without violating the sequence, the turns are scored in the middle, bent at the place where the big is applied and folded, keeping the order of assembling the turns.

Block assembly

Further, the spreads, folded in half, are glued onto a dense base, the dimensions of which are slightly larger than a page (half of the spread). Depending on the base material and the adhesive used, three technologies are distinguished: "wet" (using liquid glue), "dry" (without liquid glue) and combined (both liquid and dry types of glue are used). The base material on which the spreads are glued is plastic or cardboard. With the "wet" technology, the formation of the book block is carried out by applying liquid glue to the surfaces of the spread and the base. Glue is applied using a special gluing machine. "Dry" technology involves the use of a base with a pre-applied adhesive. It is only necessary to remove the protective layer and the base is ready for assembly (hence the name "self-adhesive"). The base material can be either cardboard or plastic. The assembly sequence is as follows: turn - base - turn - base .... etc. If endpapers are planned for the future book, then the assembly begins and ends with endpapers. After mounting the next turn or base, it is necessary to fix the block with special clamps. The base is glued with a slight indentation, which makes it possible to open 180 degrees.

Block crimp

After assembly, the block is placed under a press. According to the "wet" technology, it is necessary to immediately squeeze out the remaining air between the spreads and the base of the pages. Further, the exposure of the block under pressure sometimes reaches 48 hours. This is necessary so that the cardboard, which has absorbed moisture from the applied glue, is completely dry without deformations and warping caused by the action. internal stresses. To reduce the drying time, special presses built into the drying chambers are used. "Dry" technology does not require a long exposure of the block under pressure. In this case, the crimping time is significantly less. If hot glue is applied to the base, then the block is placed in a special heat press, where the sintering process takes place. The cooling of the block is also carried out under pressure. It is worth noting that spreads printed on glossy paper are more likely to stick together. Books collected by different technologies have significant differences that are not obvious at first glance. The difference is in the materials themselves, from which the block is assembled. Cardboard is a hygroscopic material that absorbs water vapor (moisture) from the air. If a book assembled on cardboard is wetted or placed in a room with high humidity, then the book block will deform (bend). Under normal conditions, the probability of such bending is quite low. Plastic - an artificial material is not a hygroscopic material. In connection with this, another problem arises. A photograph pasted on plastic is a hygroscopic material and continues to absorb and release moisture. Arises next situation: if the humidity is low, the photo is reduced in size, if it is high, it is enlarged. Therefore, spreads with a photo pasted on one side will be curled. After several cycles of reduction-increase in size, the photo peels off the plastic. It is also worth noting that books assembled on plastic are heavier than books on cardboard. The assembled blocks are glued with gauze at the folds of the spreads (spine), with access to the spine fields of the endpapers, to increase the strength of the book when opened. The fabric material, as it were, tightens the block, eliminating the appearance of gaps between spreads, and prevents the book from falling apart.

Block pruning

To align the pages, the block is cut off on three sides. The bleed allowance is approximately 3-5mm. For decorative trimming, a colored base is sprayed or glued onto the ends of the pages. The edging is done on a special machine designed for polishing and foiling the ends of book blocks. The decoration of the block is completed by gluing a captal, which gives the book a finished look.

Making a cover (cover)

To understand the technology, it is necessary to define terms. The cover is a flexible paper covering, one-piece or composite, in one way or another (paper clips, hot-melt glue) attached to the spine of the block. The binding cover is the outer shell of the block. Being integral or composite, it is connected to the book block with the help of endpapers or extreme spreads. The spine of the block is not glued to the lid. For the manufacture of the simplest photo books, the so-called soft photo cover is used. This is an ordinary photo, to give reliability to which lamination or varnish is applied. In this case, the block cropping process occurs after the block is inserted into the photo cover.

Cover photo lamination

Cold and hot lamination is applied. In cold lamination, self-adhesive films are used, on which the adhesive layer is protected by a detachable substrate. For hot lamination, films are used, on one side of which a layer of polymer glue is applied. Passing through the heated shafts of the laminator (about 100 degrees), the film acquires adhesive properties. Speaking about the "minuses", we note that when applying the film by hot lamination, the dark pigment in the photograph "boils" (bubbles appear). This shortcoming manifests itself in photographs printed on an inkjet printer that uses water-soluble dyes. The "minus" of cold lamination is the high cost of the film.

Cover photo varnishing

The process is devoid of the disadvantages inherent in both types of lamination. The lacquer coating does an excellent job of protecting it and increases the contrast of the image by about 10%.

Binding cover manufacturing

For the manufacture of the cover, you can use more reliable materials made on the basis of fabric and artificial leather. The assembly of the cover is carried out on a special cover-making apparatus (covermaker). The device allows you to accurately position the cardboard sides and back (spine) relative to the cover material of the binding cover, automates the process of trimming corners and bending flaps. The "face" of the cover can be decorated with a photo by making a cut-out for it. The cover material is tucked inside the cutout and a laminated photograph is inserted. If equipment such as a calender is available, it will not be superfluous to pass a cover through it for the final pressing of the cover material. The original design of the spine of the cover will make the book more presentable. Additional use of several materials in the design of the lid, embossing, installation of decorative corners provide unlimited possibilities for personalization. For as a cover material, a photographic image is used.

Installing the unit in the lid

This operation completes the photobook assembly process. Endpapers are successively glued to the sides of the lid. When installing, you must carefully monitor the accuracy, otherwise all the work done will be in vain. To improve disclosure and give structural strength, the book is hatched.

Hatching (rolling) of the scar

This method of finishing consists in applying depressed scars with blunt heated knives - in-depth lines on the front side of the binding cover along the spine margin. The block is pressed under pressure, which ensures high-quality fixation of the decorative relief. The operation is carried out on special hatching equipment.

Package

An important detail in the production of photobooks. After the book is made, it is necessary to pack the book. If this rule is neglected, then after transportation from the workshop to the customer, due to the hygroscopic properties of the materials discussed above, the book may be subject to deformation.

Equipment for the production of photobooks is the most dynamically developing direction in the photographic market. To date, the entire range of equipment necessary for the assembly of photobooks is presented. Many of the equipment described in this article are also used by our workshop.

Printing device

To obtain prints of page spreads, you need equipment that produces an image of the required photo quality. This can be either a household inkjet printer that prints inks on photographic paper, or one that exposes an image on. Spreads printed on such equipment are equally suitable for assembling a photobook. There are no restrictions related to photo paper heating or adhesive properties. Photos printed with water-based inks require additional protection - varnishing or laminating. The difference in the quality of images obtained by different printing devices is not considered in this article. With the purchase of this equipment, you can take your time, and print spreads on the side.

Creaser

Designed for creasing printed materials of various formats (in our case, photographs). The main parameter is the working width of the creasing. For the production of small runs, a good choice is a manual creaser. Creasing is performed to prevent a break at the point of folding the turn. The system of double stops for creasing allows you to significantly speed up the process of rearranging the material from one indent to another. This is very convenient when, for example, the folds of the spine of a cover photo are scored. If further expansion of the production program is planned, then it is better to choose a more "older" model. Such devices are designed for creasing thick paper and cardboard in the manufacture of calendars. An additional option of such models is the possibility of applying dashed perforation, which allows you to create a tear line. On the reverse side of the creasing knife, perforation is applied, and to reconfigure the device, it is enough to remove and turn the knife over. Accordingly, the surface of the marzan changes, which is rearranged to the side intended for working with a perforating knife. The power of the rack mechanism of such a scoring machine is sufficient for through breakdown of material with a density of up to 250 g/m 2. For large runs, a rotary creasing system is used, which guarantees no stretching and tearing of the paper, does not damage the fibers, keeping the printed layer intact. The process is carried out using special scoring rollers mounted on the shaft.

Photo press machine SX-630 "Butterfly"

photo press machine

It is this "serious" name that has a device designed for assembling blocks of photobooks. In fact, this is an assembly table equipped with a pneumatically driven clamp. A special plate is built into the clamp, which regulates the indentation at the time of gluing the base of the page. The kit includes a special magnetic stop, which facilitates the fixation of the assembled block. On such an assembly table, assembly is possible both with the use of cardboard bases smeared with liquid glue, and with the use of self-adhesive plastic or plastic with a hot-melt adhesive coating. The clamping action is driven by means of a pedal included in the pneumatic circuit circuit. The pressure in the system must be at least 3 atm. Compressed air is supplied from external source- a compressor not included in the scope of supply.

The choice of compressor depends on the required performance, and is determined by the number of pneumatic equipment connected to the circuit. The membrane type compressor (air) is quieter in operation, but less productive. The piston type (oil) compressor has high performance combined with relatively noisy operation. On the initial stage work is quite suitable membrane. It will provide the required 3-4 atm, but with an increase in the volume of orders, it can fail due to overheating ("knock"). The fact is that the block head is assembled on thermal paste, which loses its properties from overheating. It is possible to purchase a two-cylinder membrane-type compressor with increased power at once. But this design is less hermetic and has losses in the system and does not give a noticeable difference in performance.

glue machine

The main function of this equipment is the application of a uniform adhesive layer with an adjustable thickness on the surface of a large-format sheet semi-finished product. The use of gluing equipment allows not only to increase productivity, but also to significantly reduce glue consumption. This equipment is required. Unlike other equipment that automates the process, increasing its productivity, the absence of a gluing machine will make the assembly process impossible. A manually applied layer of glue under pressure in the press will be squeezed out, which will lead to gluing the pages together. The principle of operation of the adhesive is as follows. Glue is poured into a special tray before starting work. A system of shafts is immersed in the pallet, on which a thin layer of glue is applied during rotation. The shaft, which is located above all, is the pressure one and recedes from the shafts with glue by the amount of the adjustable gap. This gap is adjusted depending on the thickness of the material on which the adhesive layer is to be applied. The thickness of the adhesive layer is regulated in two ways: by changing the distance between the shafts immersed in glue, or by moving a special plate that removes excess glue from the shaft. Special guides ("feathers") are provided for the removal of glued material from the shafts. The adhesive for the sticker must be selected so that it does not have a chemical effect on the photo paper. The adhesive should not contain acids, chlorine, sulfur, etc. Photo glue, rice starch glue, and most synthetic adhesives are harmless to photo paper. Depending on the adhesive used (a type of PVA or hot melt adhesive), a heating element can be installed in the machine. Working on a glue machine with hot glue requires forced ventilation of the room, because. an odor reminiscent of the smell of molten rosin is emitted. On some models, the speed of rotation of the shafts is adjustable. Sizing width is the main parameter of this equipment.

laminator

A device for applying a protective film on printed matter. In addition to protecting the image from moisture, UV radiation, mechanical stress and other contaminants, the film changes appearance print, enhances contrast and color saturation. There is hot and cold lamination. For cold type lamination, a self-adhesive film is used, on which the adhesive layer is protected by a substrate. During operation, the substrate is separated, and the film itself and the print are rolled between two shafts of silicone rubber. The high pressure in the contact area of these rollers ensures a high-quality sticker of the protective film. For hot lamination, a film with an applied polymer adhesive is used, which becomes liquid and acquires high adhesive properties only when heated (about 100 degrees). Lamination can be one-sided or two-sided. If the image is laminated on one side, then, depending on the humidity of the room, such a sheet will bend (may be rolled up), which will complicate the process of assembling the cover photo. This is due to the hygroscopicity of paper. Double-sided lamination or installation of a moisture generator in the workshop will help to correct the situation. For cold lamination, heating to a temperature of 30-40 degrees is sometimes necessary. Therefore, a laminator with heating will allow the use of films for both cold and hot lamination. The main operating parameter is the width of the laminator rolls.

varnishing machine

Appointment - drawing a glossy or opaque varnish layer. The principle of operation of the equipment is as follows: varnish is fed onto hot rollers and evenly distributed, after passing through the rollers, the sheet enters drying chamber where it dries with a UV lamp. The process has low cost, because varnish is recyclable. Compared to the coating obtained by lamination, the varnish layer improves the contrast by 10-15%. The machine, which has a chain drive mechanism, has a through-type design that provides an unlimited length of varnishing. Important parameters of varnishing machines are the width of the conveyor and maximum speed varnishing. More advanced models, thanks to the shafts with a special reflex, have the ability to apply a textured lacquer coating.

Crimp press. Foot height 0.5m.

crimp press

This type of equipment is used to carry out operations for sealing book blocks or notebooks, as well as for subsequent crimping after connection with the binding cover. Structurally, the press consists of two plates - movable and fixed. The blanks to be compacted are placed directly on the fixed platen, after which the movable platen is lowered to provide the necessary pressure. Special guides ensure uniform distribution of the load over the entire area of the slab. The main parameter is the height of the crimped foot. More productive electric ones for precise regulation of the crimping time are equipped with a dwell time sensor in the closed position. One of the varieties is a hot press. Serves for baking a book block under pressure at a certain temperature (0-110 degrees). For quality workmanship binding cover, which has a complex three-dimensional relief, requires a vacuum thermo-press. Vacuum technology ensures uniform pressure over the entire required area. A special system of heating elements ensures fast and uniform heating throughout the work area. Samples are located over the entire area of the table, the size of which is the main characteristic of this type of equipment.

Embossing press

Embossing is the process of obtaining an image on paper, cardboard, leather, leatherette, etc. with help special form(cliche). The cliche, heated to a predetermined temperature, is lowered onto the printed material under a certain pressure. The resulting image may be colorful or "blind". According to the direction of deformation and the use of foil (metallized, pigment, holographic), three main types of embossing are distinguished: flat foil embossing, blinding and hot stamping. Foil stamping allows you to get a glossy rich image. The foil is used not as a film, but as a base, with the following applied to it: a dye, a metallized layer and a hot melt adhesive. Blind (blind) embossing is used to obtain an impression with a smooth surface without the use of foil. Relief embossing is obtained by using a counterstamp located at the bottom. Thus, a convex image is obtained. This type of embossing is used to imitate bandages - convex transverse stripes on the spine of old leather bindings. A cliché is a plate on which the space elements are deepened relative to the printed ones. The convex stamp used in relief stamping is a male (as opposed to a matrix). All binding materials have different characteristics in relation to embossing. Therefore, to obtain the final version, it is necessary to make samples on the samples, adjusting the temperature and pressure of the press.

Cover making machine

The equipment is designed for operational right size based on various coating materials. The device helps to accurately position the cardboard elements of the lid (spine and sides) relative to the cover material (photo or leatherette). A photo cover is placed on the fixture table ( reverse side up) with an applied adhesive layer. If the cover is printed on self-adhesive, then the protective backing is removed. Additional stops limit movement along two axes, and the backlight of the table from below allows you to control the center of the cover. A small vacuum created inside the table, due to the pressure difference, presses the material against the table surface. Special fixture allows you to accurately place the cardboard sides and lagging and press them against the cover material. After trimming the corners of the valve, they are bent from four sides in a special press clamp. Binding cover assembled. The whole process takes 2-3 minutes. Making a similar lid by hand will take about 30 minutes. Most of the time will be spent on calculations, and if a mistake is made, the cover will be sent to marriage. The main parameter of the device for the production of bound books is the maximum possible size of the binding cover. But the options have a great influence on the speed and accuracy of work: trimming the corners of the cover material, a press clamp for bending the valves. Some manufacturers produce models that integrate the creasing process.

Calender

This type of printing equipment is indispensable in the production of photo books. The machine has a system of horizontal shafts. The lower shaft is metal, the upper one is rubber coated. A gap is created between the shafts, which is regulated by special flywheels. The surface of the table is located at the same horizontal level with a gap, for convenient material supply. As a result of passing between the shafts, the material acquires the necessary density, and, if necessary, sticks together. In the production of photobooks, this equipment is used for pressing binding covers. The lid is evenly rolled, and the cover material is crimped evenly over the base. The main technical characteristic is the width of the fastened material.

Guillotine cutter

Any workshop for the production of photobooks should have a guillotine-type cutter. In such cutters, the knife is fed along the vertical axis, which ensures a high quality cut across the entire block. The main parameter is the length of the cut. To cut several photo books at once, it is necessary to take into account such a parameter as the height of the foot when choosing a cutter. The simplest cutters are equipped with a manual backing drive (paper stop) and a manual clamp. Further growth model range provides the presence of mechanical and electrical pressure, which significantly increases the accuracy of the cut. Additional options: devices for cutting narrow strips, illumination of the cut line, protective screens or covers, mechanical blocking of the process in case of danger of injury, make work more comfortable. The replaceable knife has the possibility of micro-adjustments, which allows you to adjust it when worn.

Hatching equipment

Hatching is the process of applying a decorative hem that facilitates the opening of the side of the binding cover. A special system of adjustments makes it possible to adjust the desired indentation of the hem from the spine. Hatching knives made of a material with high thermal conductivity, under pressure corresponding to the thickness of the book, press the cover material in the place between the spine and the cardboard side. Heating profiles are provided for heating blunt knives. The temperature makes it possible to activate the adhesive inside the lid. A photo book with such a finish takes on a more presentable look. When choosing such equipment, the first thing to pay attention to is the width of the working area.

Corner rounding device

It is a table on which the block is horizontally located. A special stop allows you to quickly and accurately set the angle of the book block, and the presser foot automatically fixes it clearly. The knife installed on a vertical bed has a rounding. The kit includes 7-8 knives with different radii (from 2 to 8 mm.). The operation is controlled by a foot pedal, which is very convenient and greatly increases the productivity of the operation. The equipment is not complicated, has a reliable metal structure, large work surface. One of the advantages is the quick replacement of cutting knives and marzan. It is possible to round the corners of the pages of the block and the binding cover itself together and separately. This equipment will expand the range of additional options for finishing the photobook.

Book edge gilding equipment

The gilding technology produced on such equipment allows you to decorate any book, diary or other printed publication. Due to the finish in gold or silver tone of the edge of the block, such a book looks more attractive. The block is installed in the clamp, and special rollers apply the material to the end, creating a uniform pattern on the surface. As a rule, a special foil is used as a material. If desired, immediately before applying the dye, the edge of the block can be subjected to torshoning, to give the block a roughness, as special kind artistic decoration. With adhesive seamless bonding, the spine of the block is subjected to torshoning. It makes no sense to purchase such equipment with small volumes. This operation can be ordered from other companies specializing in gilding the spine.

Monoblocks, photo assembly stations

Various design variations for placing several of the above devices in one case form a huge army of all kinds: photo book station, album machine, probook, binding center, collamatic and even coffee table book. Obviously, the main advantage of such equipment is compactness. By purchasing such a device, there is a high probability of producing a limited range of products. The units included in such a "machine" have low technical specifications and some may not be required at all. The main parameter of such equipment is naturally performance.