UPMSP Intermediate Book Craft flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Grain direction test

Fold or tear a paper scrap along both axes; the direction that folds smoothly and tears cleanly is the grain direction.

GSM

Grams per square metre, the standard measure of paper weight; higher GSM means heavier, thicker paper.

Acid-free paper

Paper with pH around 7 or slightly alkaline (7-8.5), which resists yellowing and embrittlement over decades.

Signature

A folded group of pages sewn together through the fold; multiple signatures form the text block of a book.

Coptic binding

An exposed-spine binding using a chain stitch, allowing the book to lie flat; historically associated with early Christian codices.

Perfect binding

A binding method where pages are trimmed at the spine and glued with flexible adhesive, common in paperback production.

Case binding

A binding where a sewn or glued text block is attached to a rigid case made of boards, spine strip, and covering material.

Kettle stitch

The link stitch at each end of a signature that locks sections together during sewing.

Japanese stab binding

A binding where holes are punched near the spine edge and thread is laced in patterns; four-hole is the classic form.

PVA adhesive

Polyvinyl acetate, a flexible adhesive that dries clear and remains water-reversible, suited to paper and cloth.

Wheat starch paste

A strong, reversible adhesive cooked from starch powder, favored in conservation for paper repair and lining.

Bone folder

A smooth tool used to crease and smooth folds in paper and cloth; never struck with a hammer.

Awl

A pointed tool that pierces holes in paper or board without carrying thread, used before sewing.

Japanese tissue

Thin, strong kozo paper used with wheat starch paste for nearly invisible tear repair in conservation.

Foxing

Brown spots on paper caused by metal impurities and moisture; treated by deacidification and cleaning, not bleaching.

Reversibility

The conservation principle that repairs should be undoable without damaging the original material.

Deacidification

Applying an alkaline treatment to neutralize acid in paper and add an alkaline reserve against future acid.

Gold tooling

Pressing heated brass tools through gold leaf onto leather or cloth, using a sizing layer such as glair to hold the leaf.

Blind tooling

Impressing a heated tool into leather or cloth without gold, leaving a dark or burnished impression.

Foil stamping

Transferring metallic foil to a cover using heat and pressure; the carrier releases the metallic layer onto the substrate.

Marbling

Floating pigment on a size bath and lifting the pattern onto paper; comb and stone patterns are classic.

Accordion book

A book made from a single folded sheet zigzagging back and forth; no sewing required and it can display as a frieze.

Tunnel book

A book with layers of cut paper arranged in depth, viewed through a peephole in the cover.

Zine

A small-circulation self-published booklet, often photocopied and stapled or pamphlet-stitched.

Guillotine safety

Keep hands behind the clamp line, use a push stick for small pieces, and never reach into the blade path.

Dull blade rule

Dull blades slip and cause cuts; change blades when they stop cutting cleanly.

Ventilation requirement

Solvent-based adhesives and sprays require local exhaust ventilation; PVA and wheat paste are low-VOC alternatives.

Honing

Sharpening a knife edge on a fine stone; a leather strop then removes the burr and polishes the bevel.

Break-even point

Fixed costs divided by the difference between selling price per unit and variable cost per unit.

Markup vs. margin

Markup is profit as a percentage of cost; margin is profit as a percentage of selling price.

Waste allowance

Extra material (typically 10-15%) added for cutting errors, trimming, and test pieces.

Competency-based training

Training where learners demonstrate skills against defined standards rather than time served.