Innovative Binding Solutions for Every Type of Book

innovative binding solutions for every type of book

Whether you publish a coffee table book, catalog, calendar or magazine, you may consider digital book printing and binding for affordability and quality. Digital book printing has emerged as a popular method of book printing over the years. Book bind style is an essential consideration as it affects multiple aspects. There are various book binding options with their own benefits and challenges. Choosing the right book binding method is important for publishers, authors, and businesses or individuals. This is because an appropriate binding style helps improve the aesthetic appeal of the book, meet user needs, withstand the rigors of daily use, and leave an impression on reader’s minds. This post introduces you to different book binding styles and offers tips on choosing the right book binding service for your needs.

A Few Important Types of Book Binding Styles You Must Know About 

There are several book binding styles you must address when it comes to choosing the right one. This section offers an overview on a few widely employed types of book binding styles.

Saddle Stitching: This is a cost-effective book binding style for binding books required for short-term use, such as calendars, small booklets, catalogs, magazines, and so on. The pages are printed, organized, and stitched together using metal staples in saddle stitch book binding. The saddle stitch book binding can be done with or without a cover. The saddle stitched books lay flat and have the paper count divisible by 4. Due to the ease of binding, saddle stitch book binding services are an affordable option.

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Perfect Binding or Adhesive Binding: Often referred to as paperback or soft cover binding, many publishers employ adhesive or perfect binding to bind magazines, novels, catalogs, and other books of various genres. These books feature a cover made of heavier paper. The book blocks are usually notched on the spines to allow adhesives to penetrate the pages and attach them to the cover.

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Adhesive Case Binding: For those seeking extra durability and a premium finish for their books, adhesive case binding, also known as hard cover binding, is the ideal choice. This method, often used for textbooks, long-term keepsakes, or first editions, involves using EVA or PUR glue then encasing the book block in a sturdy hard cover made of boards wrapped with your choice of materials. Cover material choices include  a wrap printed with your design, cloth in a wide range of colors, or faux leather. Each option gives you the opportunity to express the individuality of your cherished books.

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Mechanical Binding: This binding method uses a series of loops, coils, or rings to hold the pages. This type of binding allows books to remain open and flat, making it ideal for notebooks, recipe books, and so on. There are three types of mechanical binding – plastic spiral coil binding, wire-o binding, and comb binding.

    • Plastic spiral coil binding: This binding technique is simply referred to as spiral binding where series of evenly spaced holes are punched along the edges of pages and a flexible plastic coil is inserted into them.
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    • Wire-o binding: This binding technique is also known as twin-loop or double-loop wire binding, in which a double-loop wire is inserted through holes punched along the edges of the pages and crimped.
A pile of wire-o bound books
    • Comb binding: This binding technique is also known as plastic comb binding, where a series of plastic teeth are introduced through rectangular holes punched along the pages of the book.
Comb binding

How to Choose the Right Book Binding Style for Your Project?

When choosing the book binding style, you can consider the tips below.

  • Consider the Purpose of Your Book: What do you want to print? A coffee table book, a manual, a calendar, a magazine, or a textbook? If you are planning to print a manual or a reference book, spiral binding is the perfect choice; saddle stich binding is perfect for promotional materials; perfect binding is ideal for a novel, and adhesive case binding is suited for coffee table books, textbooks, first editions, and long-term keepsakes.
  • Page Count: Your choice of the binding service may also be influenced by the number of pages the book may have. Saddle stitching is a great option for fewer pages, such as brochures, booklets, and so on. Keep in mind saddle stitched books require a page count divisible by 4. Perfect bound and case bound books printed digitally require a page count divisible by 2.
  • Aesthetic Appeal of a Book: It is a well-known fact that “beautiful books always sell”. If you want to project your book as utilitarian, then spiral binding service is a wise choice. If you want to sell your book to a more refined audience and think sophistication is your way, case binding is the best choice in this regard.
  • Durability: Do you want your book to last long? If so, hard cover binding can be the right choice.
  • Type of Printing: As previously stated, digital printing has been a popular choice among publishers, authors, business executives, and others in recent years due to its printing flexibility. Many publishers are choosing to produce more frequent short-runs as opposed to one very large run. This model reduces warehousing needs and excess inventory.
  • Consider Your Budget: Like any other service, cost considerations are important when choosing the right book binding service. Saddle stitch binding and perfect binding are generally affordable styles. If utility is your focus at cost-effective prices, spiral and wire-o binding are considered the good options. Case binding is more appropriate for those printing projects where the budget is flexible.
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Hence, choosing the right book binding style demands a balance of function, aesthetics, budget, and many other factors. Partnering with an experienced book binding service like Total Printing Systems (TPS) can work in your favor. Our experts will work closely with you to understand your requirements and offer you the best solution.