in Basics
Bindery Reference Guide
Bindery refers to the production tools and processes necessary to combine multiple pages into a single bound piece. Bindery is a post-print process that is also known as "finishing" because these steps are almost always the last steps to complete the product. Let's walk through the various options you have for finishing your projects! We've organized the types of bindings into six categories, represented in the image below.
Six categories of binding options with examples of each.
Stitched
Stitched: Saddle Stitch
The saddle stitch is the simplest, least expensive and most popular of all commercial binding methods. Akin to a staple, the stitch is the binding of choice for countless types of printed materials.
Saddle stitch
Stitched: Side Stitch
Think three staples along the left edge of your booklet, it is often specified when you want to mix and match stocks within a single piece, such as color-coded section pages.
Side stitch
Stitched: Corner Stitch
A single staple in the top left corner.
Corner stitch
Perfect
Perfect: Perfect Binding
An incredibly popular option for high page-count books and other materials where other options such as saddle stitching aren't realistic. Perfect binding relies on adhesive to glue a book's pages to a cover. The spine side of the interior pages are ground off and the pages are glued directly into the cover.
Perfect bind
Perfect: Lay Flat Binding
As the name implies, a technique that is similar to perfect binding that allows the book to stay open. Unlike perfect binding, the lay-flat method does not glue the book block at the spine to the cover. The spine side of the interior pages are ground off and the pages are glued into a carrier sheet that’s glued into the cover. This gives more flexibility at the spine allowing it to lay flat.
Lay flat
Sewn
Sewn: Center Sewn
Center-sewn book use a single thread to sew a single straight line through the center of a signature. It's best used for a single signature, as you may see bulging when used to bind multiple nested signatures.
Center sewn
Sewn: Side Sewn
Side sewing can be used on multiple signatures, a single signature, or individual sheets. It requires a wide left margin/gutter and potentially a score to the right of the sewing, as this method can be difficult to open fully.
Side sewn
Case
Case: Adhesive
This high-quality binding method is typically specified for high-end, hardcover books. The spine side of the interior pages are ground off and the pages are glued directly into the hard cover. Embossing and/or foil stamping can be added to the hard cover. The printed wrap is very common, but optional.
Case binding with adhesive
Case: Smyth Sewn
This high-quality binding method involves sewing together the signatures. These book blocks are then glued to a hard cover. This is the process is the most durable and is used to produce most coffee-table books.
Smyth sewn
Coil
Coil: GBC
GBC is an example of a comb binding, an economical, low-tech approach to bind manuals and other printed matter that needs to lay flat when opened.
GBC binding
Coil: Plastic Continuous
Another popular coil where the coil is spun into the book and the ends crimped. With a little work, a crimp can be cut off to spin the coil back out to replace a page. Very popular for calendars and workbooks the have to be totally flat.
Plastic continuous
Coil: Double Wire-o
A good solution that's easy to implement, relyng on pre-formed loops that run down the spine of a book. With a fair amount of work, the wire can be removed and re-installed if a page needs to be replaced. Very popular and classy option for calendars and workbooks the have to be absolutely flat.
Double Wire-o
Coil: Concealed
The coil is partially enclosed by a cover to obscure it and provide a spine where title information can be printed. Can be done with Coil or Double Wire-o and surprisingly doesn’t add a tremendous amount of cost to the exposed coil option.
Concealed coil
Other Bindery Options
Other: Post and Screw
These make for a cool look that's not too expensive to achieve. This makes it simple to replace pages if needed.
Other: Ring
Great for samples and swatches. Also easy to replace pages.
Post and Screw and Ring Binding options
Other: Padded
Glue along the edge of a stack creates a pad.
Glue: padded
Eyelet and Grommet
Drill a hole and add some hardware for a more permanent fixture!
Eyelet, which looks very similar to a grommet
Color Options
Many of these binding methods offer a wide variety of materials and colors to choose from. Give your sales representative a call to review your options.
Bindery: Glossary of Terms
Adhesive binding
Versatile method of binding in which pages are adhered together with glue.
Bench sewing
Signatures sewn together through the fold by hand.
Binding dummy
A paper dummy of the book made of the actual paper stock to be used in the exact weight, finish, and size, and assembled in the chosen binding method.
Bulking sample
Blank book made of the actual stock to be used to show the thickness of the entire book.
Caliper
Thickness of an individual sheet of paper; must be considered when determining the most efficient method of binding.
Case
Book cover produced separately from the inner pages and later attached by case binding, made of two covered boards.
Case binding (edition binding)
Signatures are bound together and attached to the case by end sheets (flyleaf), used for hardcover books.
Codex
Ancient book made of folded sheets of papyrus or parchment bound together at one edge.
Comb binding
Sheets with a row of rectangular holes are placed over an open plastic comb, which is then closed.
Compensation
Printers will compensate for creep by adjusting the inner margins of the innermost spreads incrementally, so that edges will be even.
Cover board
A hard cardboard, sometimes called binder’s board, used to make book covers.
Creep (push out)
Tendency of the inner pages of a saddle-stitched or sewn book to extend further from the spine than outer pages. The more pages, the more likely that this will occur.
Flush-trim
All of the pages are cut flush to the face. Foldouts require special attention.
Flyleaf
The end or last freestanding leaves in a book.
Grind-off
Used in perfect binding, the spine is trimmed roughly to improve adhesion to the cover.
Gutter margin
Margin between two facing pages of a book; wider gutters are required for thicker books.
Hinge score
A score made at the point where the end sheet and flyleaf meet and join the spine to make it easier to open the book without cracking.
Lay-flat binding
Stack of pages is adhered to a “cap” which binds the covers of the book so the pages move independently from the spine.
Leaf
Individual sheet of paper which creates two pages; not to be used interchangeably with pages.
Loop stitch
Folded signatures are bound by a wire that forms small circular loops extending beyond the spine, intended for insertion into a 3-ring binder.
Mechanical binding
Any binding technique, including the use of combs and coils, that does not involve adhesives, sewing, or stitching.
Perfect binding
Method of binding in which the spine of a stack of pages is roughened and adhesive binds the cover to the spine.
Perforate
Small holes or slots in paper used to accommodate binding coils or improve adhesion to covers or between pages. If the fold is complicated, the bindery may perforate the head, foot, or spine to let out air that may be trapped in the fold.
Post-and-screw binding (Chicago screw)
Barrel post runs through holes drilled into the book and a cap screw is added to keep the pages and covers together.
PPI (Pages per inch)
The calculation can be used to determine the spine thickness.
Rule up
Before starting the press, the prep foreman pulls a sheet and rules it into its final dimension to check for sheet position, imposition accuracy, and other factors to make sure it can be folded and bound properly.
Saddle stitch
Folded signatures are bound along the fold line; primarily used for books less than 1/4 inch thick.
Scoring
Process of creating a ridge on paper to produce an accurate fold and prevent cracking. The width of the score should equal the caliper of the paper.
Sewn binding
Any method that uses thread to sew the signatures together.
Side stitch
Folded signatures or individual sheets are bound on the side of the spine near the gutter margin.
Signature
Also called a press form, a large sheet of paper printed with several pages, which upon folding become a section or all of a book. Folded signatures are gathered or inserted into one another to make a larger book.
Smyth sewn
A method of machine-sewing together folded, gathered, and collated signatures with a single thread through the folds of individual signatures.
Spiral binding
A continuous spiral coil runs through a series of holes near the gutter, may have single loop of either plastic or wire.
Stab binding
A traditional Japanese method of binding that involves stabbing holes along the spine of the book and using thread, twine, or ribbon to make exposed stitches that become a decorative element.
Tape binding
Tape wraps around the spine of the book; signatures are usually stitched together before taping for reinforcement.
Text block
Bound block of trimmed signatures, including end sheets, which is then attached to the case.
Trim
Straight cut intended to remove excess paper or folds of signatures.
Wire-O®
A pre-coiled double-loop wire binding that will handle books larger than 2 inches and will open flat without jogging pages up. Comes in many colors.
Color Options
Many of these binding methods offer a wide variety of materials and colors to choose from. Give your sales representative a call to review your options.
Source: SAPPI