Book binding is the process which printed pages are assembled with the cover of the printed product. There are different ways to book binding. The choice of binding differs due to where the printed product is going to be used, page count etc.
1. Hardcover
It is also known as case binding. When we look in the past, all major books are bound by this technique. In the past, people were using this method because back in time they didn’t have automation for cover assembling and they also didn’t have the glue technology we are using now. We can say it is the best way when the book is wanted to be preserved perfectly and the page count is high. It is the most durable technique and it is a high-quality option. In this binding method, sections of following pages are sewn together (as 8/16/24/32 pages according to gsm of paper) and then gathered with the cover by glueing end-pages to the cover. When a hardcover book is opened from the middle the spine can be seen like the figure below. These days this method is mostly used for textbooks. To sum up, hardcover books can be an expensive choice compared to the other bindings but is also high quality and long-lasting.
2. Saddle Stitch
Saddle stitch is one of the most cost-effective way of binding if it is not planned for long term preservation and also when the page count is low (fewer than 48 pages). Printed sheets are folded and placed inside one another according to their page numbers and they are stitched together on the stitching machine. Page count should be multiples of 4 for this method. Nowadays saddle stitch binding is mostly used for comic books, catalogues and brochures.
3. Perfect Binding
This is the method which all the pages and the cover are glued together with a special adhesive. Perfect bound books have spines that are generally printed. Spine is 1 of 4 sides of the book, other 3 sides are trimmed. Cover of the perfect bound books is mostly coated paper which is also heavier than the pages inside. People mostly prefer perfect bound books because they look appealing, professional and moreover they are affordable. Generally, it is used for catalogues. An important tip for this method is; it is not used when spine width is less than 2mm.
4. Spiral/Wire Binding
This method is really convenient for user manuals, workbooks, presentations etc. Holes are punched on the printed pages and metal or plastic coils keep together those pages by going through the punched holes. It gives the printed product flexibility because pages can turn 360 degrees.
As Step Printing House, we are providing you with all the options above for binding. Binding is as important as printing. When the printed product is not bound properly it won’t matter how good is the printing, it will look of poor quality and unprofessional. You can trust us with your product in all terms from printing to binding, it will be done just as you wish.
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