Producing the artwork
This example shows how to set the artwork for a flight (sometimes called a bank) of ten A4 (297x210mm) divider cards with a 13mm width tab (ie overall size 297x223mm).
However, the same method is applicable for any size card with any number of tabs per flight and any width of tab (choose from 6, 10, 13,16 or 19mm).
step 1 - Leave 5mm clear of print at the head and the tail to allow for the shape of the end positions.
In this example 297mm minus 5mm at head and tail equals 287mm.
step 2 - Allow 3mm between each divider for the tab shape. (There is always one less gap than the number of tabs per flight!)
In this example there will be 9 gaps of 3mm, which equals 27mm. 287mm (from step 1) minus 27mm equals 260mm.
step 3 - Divide the remaining length by the number of tabs per flight to give you the width of the text box.
In this example 260mm (from step 2) divided by 10 equals 26mm.
step 4 - Centre the text (horizontally and vertically) within the resulting text box.
In this example text should be centred in boxes 26 x 13mm. (From step 3 x tab width).
Cutting the boards to size
The tabbing knives cut above and below the tab and can be moved closer together or further apart as required to produce any length of tab and therefore any number of tabs per flight.
However, the tabbing knives do not cut the foredge of the divider; so if you are supplying the boards cut to size they should be finished width as well as finished height (297x223mm in this example), with the text centred within the tab width (13mm in this example).
Plastabbing - important notes!
The process of plastabbing involves the printed sheets passing under a set of heated rollers under pressure. If print is on the body of the card the action of the heat can remove ink and re-print it randomly! We recommend that any body print is sealed with a water based varnish (varnish with a spirit content can cause further problems).
Porous stocks are best for plastabbed dividers as any air can escape into the board. Coated stocks, along with heavy ink coverage, can trap air and create bubbles making the text harder to read.
ORDERING your tabs
