THE KIND OF MAKEREADY THAT IS WORTH WHILE
After the grooves have been cleanly cut, and after all strips of the box-board have been removed from the grooves, lay a sheet of plain white paper over the entire counter-die and pull an impression of the form on this sheet. Then turn over the sheet of paper; study the detail of the impression and see if any of the cutting and creasing rules are weak in certain places. With a blue pencil mark rings around any of the weak places which may appear. Then with a sharp knife, flour paste and French folio paper, “spot up” all circles made by the blue pencil with pieces of the French folio. Some places, extra weak, may call for two or three circles of the French folio. After the sheet has been “spotted up”, loosen the counter-sunk screws in the platen plate; lift off the plate, and with a small quantity of flour paste attach the “spot-up” sheet to the under-side of the platen plate in true position so that it will register with the counter-die, or makeready on the other side of the plate. Paste the “spot-up” sheet, face up, to the under side of the plate. Then replace the platen plate with the “spot-up” sheet under it. This process of makeready is worth while on all forms which are to have long runs, and it will cause all of the weak cutting and creasing rules to have an even impression. Strange as it may seem to the beginner, the little pieces of French folio, when properly placed under the platen plate, will do wonders in making a die even. In the case of rules which have been in service for some time, several “spot-up” sheets may be needed under the platen plate, and in the case of worn rules, the “spotting up” should be done with pieces of book paper, or even with heavy Manila paper. An exceedingly weak place will require a heavy piece of paper under the platen plate.