Whether you will use glue, stapling, or binding, a well-bound book will always have an extended lifespan, all other factors remaining constant.
Binding involves joining together loose pages in order to form a more productive print product. Although you will have many binding options, not all bindings will fit your desired outcome. Binding durability, binding cost, number of pages, and the purpose of the final product are some of the criteria you should consider before choosing the binding method.
In order to assist you in choose the right binding for your project, this article will dive into the most common bindings available today, explaining both the upsides and the downsides.
Here are some of the bindings to consider:
Saddle Stitch Binding
Saddle stitch binding, commonly known as stapled binding, is one of the most popular and easy binding techniques available today. The method involves folding, creasing, and binding the pages together in order to make magazines, brochures, numerous advertising pamphlets, and even catalogs.
In saddle stitch binding, the sheets of paper are folded and stapled together on the spine edge in a single workflow. The binder will punch a wire in two places, running it from the outside to the inside of a spine. Afterward, they will trim the document on three sides.
Saddle stitch binding is not only economical but also quick. Moreover, it is high quality and quite durable. The way it sets the pages makes them completely open flat, ensuring no printed content disappears in the gutter.
For saddle stitch binding to work, the pages must be divisible by four. Individual pages cannot fit this method. There is an exception, though, for the fold-in pages made on the cover.
The paperweight determines the maximum number of pages you can bind. A higher weight means fewer pages.
Other advantages of this type of stitching are that it allows different formats and variations, is eco-friendliness and has the ability to integrate loop stitching binding for archiving files.
The drawbacks are inferior appearance, difficulties in stalking, and page creeps.
Perfect Binding
In this bookbinding method, the pages are glued together in order to produce a desired document. Perfect binding works well with advertising brochures, sales catalogs, paperbacks, magazines, and any brochure with a large page count.
In perfect binding, the binder collates the folded sheets section in order to form the inside of the finished product. The spines are further trimmed in order to have a stronger binding. The glue is then applied all over the spine in nozzles while the wrap-around cover is made to join with the wet glue. Afterward, the trimming on the three sides finishes the product. A hot melt or any PUR adhesive works with this method.
The hot-melt adhesive is more affordable, although it has limited durability. You might have to consider it when working on a short-lived product.
The PUR adhesive is slightly expensive, although it is more durable. Use it when producing a long-lasting product with high page counts.
Other advantages of a perfect binding are that it is cost-efficient, allows the combination of single and multiple paper types, superior appearance, and can allow more formats.
Some drawbacks include limited spine strength, longer drying time (up to 72 hours), and content loss in the gutter.
Glued Fold Binding
A glued fold is a low-priced method that suits simple advertising products. The pages are limited, and the covers could be more useful. The fold-glued products include direct mail marketing products, basic leaflets, advertising mail and inserts.
The glue used in this type of binding is well applied on the crease lines. After gluing the sheets together, apply offset printing on the documents with page ranges of eight, twelve, or sixteen.
The maximum weight supported ranges between 80 and 135 gsm.
Glued fold binding is also applicable in web offset printing where one needs huge runs, from about 50,000.
Other advantages of glued fold binding are its opening and its ability to accommodate many formats.
The drawbacks include the inability to accommodate cover, the unsuitability of durable products, and the lack of high-end appearance.
Conclusion
Although some people prefer using folders to keep documents together, it is very unsafe when you have a lot of documents as they are held loosely. When choosing a binding method, consider the cost, page count, product durability, and the desired appearance. You might also consider the need for different paper types and the desired opening behavior.
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