Shaping and forming papers and boards

For a straight craft-knife cut, place the card on a cutting mat and position a steel rule along the intended cutting line. Hold the rule securely and run the knife along its edge, making several light cuts until the blade passes through the card.

Each tool has a purpose. The steel rule guides the blade along a straight line. The cutting mat protects the work surface beneath the card and provides a suitable surface for cutting. Several light passes give greater control than trying to force the blade through in one heavy cut.

Creasing and scoring to control a fold

A crease is a line pressed into paper or card so that it folds neatly. To crease by hand, gently bend the card over, align the parts being folded and flatten the bend last. Pressing along the bend establishes the crease. Hand creasing can produce a wider, less sharply defined fold than preparing the line by scoring first.

Scoring prepares a precise line before folding. Place the card on a cutting mat, position a steel rule along the intended fold and draw a scoring tool, scoring stylus or bone folder along the rule. This makes a straight impression without cutting through and separating the card.

The prepared line encourages the card to bend in the intended place. This is useful when carton panels need to meet neatly: an accurately positioned score helps produce a controlled fold rather than an uneven bend elsewhere in the panel.

Folding the card into position

Folding is the bending operation itself. Creasing and scoring help establish where the fold will occur; folding changes the direction of the material on either side of that line.

For a small quantity, card can be folded by hand. If a line has been scored, bend the card along that line and press the fold into its final position. For larger quantities, a folding machine works more quickly and produces more consistent, accurate folds, reducing variation caused by hand work.

Perforating a controlled tear line

Perforation means making small, repeated holes or slits in paper or card. Unlike a continuous cut, it leaves bridges of material between the openings. The sheet stays connected, but the line is weakened so that it can tear cleanly where intended. Perforation can also make card easier to fold along that line.

A rotary perforation cutter uses a perforating blade to make the repeated incisions. Guide it along a steel rule to produce a straight perforated line. The important result is a pattern of cuts and uncut sections, rather than complete separation of the sheet.

• Creasing: bend the card, align it and press the bend flat.
• Scoring: use a scoring tool along a steel rule to prepare a controlled fold line without cutting through.
• Folding: bend the card into position, following the prepared line.
• Hand folding suits small quantities; machines give faster, more consistent folds for larger quantities.

Perforating

• Use a rotary perforation cutter guided along a steel rule.
• Repeated holes or slits leave connecting bridges.
• The weakened line allows controlled tearing or easier folding.