RandoziBooklet Creep Estimator
When sheets are nested and folded, the inner ones stick out further at the edge and their content creeps towards the fold. Enter the number of sheets and the thickness of your paper to get a simple geometric estimate of the shift for each sheet. It is an indication to check with a test print, not a measurement.
Typical values, measure yours
Indicative estimate only: a simple geometric model, not calibrated to any paper, fold or binding. Check it with a printed test copy before you correct anything.
Estimated shift of the innermost sheet
0.3 mm
| Sheet (1 = outside) | Shift (mm) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0 |
| 2 | 0.1 |
| 3 | 0.2 |
| 4 | 0.3 |
Model: the outer sheet does not move and each sheet further in moves one more paper thickness towards the spine. The page does not convert a paper weight in g/m² into a thickness.
How it works
- Enter the number of nested sheets in one signature.
- Enter the thickness of your paper in millimetres (measure it, or start from a typical value).
- Read the shift of the innermost sheet and the shift of each sheet in the table.
- Print a test copy and compare it with the estimate before you apply any correction.
What people use it for
Before trimming a booklet
Get an idea of how much the inner pages will move before you cut the edge.
Deciding the size of a signature
Compare the shift with 2 sheets and with 6 sheets in the same paper.
Preparing a test print
Know the order of magnitude to look for when you measure the margins on a proof.
Questions
- What is the model?
- The outer sheet is not shifted. Each sheet further inside is shifted towards the spine by one more paper thickness t, so sheet i, counted from 0 on the outside, moves by i × t. The innermost of s sheets moves by (s − 1) × t. For 4 sheets of 0.10 mm that is 0.30 mm.
- How accurate is it?
- It is a simple geometric estimate, not calibrated to any paper, fold or binding. A real fold uses both leaves of each sheet and the shape of the fold, so the real shift can differ. Always check it with a printed test.
- Which thickness should I enter?
- The one you measured on your own paper, for example with a caliper over a stack divided by the number of sheets. The page does not convert a weight in g/m² into a thickness, because that depends on the paper. The quick values are typical, measure yours.
- Does it correct the layout for me?
- No. It gives the numbers only. Whether and how you apply a correction in your layout software is for you to decide after a test print.