Are any of you having any luck folding finished pieces that have full coverage? We check that the grain is correct for folding, but even after scoring, the pieces crack.

We have also encounted some toner cracking on some full coverage pieces. We typically score all of that work and that usually does the job. We did some very casual tests and it seemed to be worse on pieces with a clear toner flood. However, that was not conclusive.

It definately seems that the closer you get to approaching the maximum 280% toner level the worse the cracking gets.

The problem also seemed worse on a square fold than a normal fold.

There are a number of factors that are involved.
Grain is one and you are doing the right thing there (although not always possible).
Stock is another. Experiment with different substrates. Realize most cracking is not just the surface ink (or toner), its the sheet itself.

Different methods of scoring behave differently. Your best bet is a male/female impact score. This type of score squeezes the sheet from both sides in one vertical operation as opposed to a rolling score that plows through the fibers in a horizonal plane.

When scoring, be certain you are scoring properly in relation to the fold. The valley of the score should be on the outside of the piece once its folded. Also, don't assume that a deeper score is better - its not. Use the lightest score pressure possible that will still allow consistent folding.

Hope that helps.

Thanks for the info, does scoring work just as well as creasing? We currently vend our digital work out and finish it in house, so by the time we get it there is no time for a reprint.