Don’t Get Bound Up! Choosing the Perfect Binding for Your Project.

Choosing the right binding for your printed product depends on several factors – the type of publication, the intended audience and intended use, the number of pages, the printing process and your budget.

From sleek perfect binds to simple saddle stitched booklets, there is a bind that is right for every project.

Learning about the pros and cons of each will enable you to get a sense of the bind that is best suited for your use. It will also allow you to visualize how your final product will look.

Saddle stitching is a binding method that is suitable for smaller publications with a low page count, such as brochures, event programs, catalogues and magazines. The pages are folded in half and stapled along the spine. The low cost of this type of binding is ideal for large print runs.

With saddle stitching, it is important to keep in mind that the number of pages must be in multiples of four. The reason for this is that because the paper is folded in half so that each folded sheet forms four pages- two on the front and two on the back. Laying out the pages so that the final product is in order can be a challenge. However, we can easily impose your publication so that the finished booklet is in the right sequence. All you need to do is give us the single pages in order.

Perfect Binding gives your finished product the look of a paperback book. In addition to using this method for self-publishing and the production of other books, it is ideal for reports and manuals. With perfect binding the pages are gathered together and glued along the spine, and then trimmed to size. In addition to having printed covers, if your book contains enough pages the spine of a perfect bound book can have information printed on it that can be displayed when stacked or on a bookshelf.
Keep in mind that perfect bound books are not very durable so don’t perfect bind workbooks that will be used repeatedly. Think of paperback books that you’ve lent out and are returned with broken spines.

A square-back saddle stitched bind will allow the booklets to lay flatter than a regular saddle-stitched booklet, while the square spine gives an appearance closer to perfect binding. Square back binding is an affordable solution in- between saddle stitching and perfect binding- offering the security of a saddle stitched spine with the improved appearance of a perfect bound square spine. It also allows for thicker books than saddle-stitching.

Coil Binding is a good choice for documents that need to lay flat like manuals and workbooks. With coil binding, pages are punched with small holes and a coil is inserted through the holes. Coils come in a variety of colors offering a visual pop to your documents.  Another benefit is that the pages in a coil bound book can rotate 360 degrees and not affect the integrity of the spine. Additionally, plastic coils can bounce back after being crushed so it is the most appropriate method for binding books that will be used heavily.

Similar to Coil Binding, instead of using a coil, Wire-O Binding uses a double-loop wire. It is a more professional and elegant looking option and is suitable for pitch-books, lookbooks and proposals.

Velo-binding is a type of binding where plastic strips with rigid tines are inserted through paper that has holes punched in it, with a plastic strip then inserted through the holes after the paper. The strips are then heat-sealed binding the pages together.

Since it offers a secure and tamperproof binding, velobinding is ideal for confidential documents like legal briefs. However, the inability to modify a velobound document can be a drawback for certain uses. Another potential issue is that velobound documents do not lay flat when opened.

Case Binding is ideal for hardcover books and premium products. The pages are gathered together and sewn or glued and then glued to a hardcover case. Some of our clients use this form of binding for their students’ dissertations. A downside of Case Binding is that it very costly and the turnaround time is much longer than the other options.

Finally, for a temporary solution that can easily be added to or have pages removed from, consider a three-hole presentation binder.  While they are not the most professional or attractive looking alternatives, presentation binders give you the ability to insert a cover page and spine into the binders’ covers.

When your project needs to be bound durability, appearance and functionality of the finished product are all important factors. Additionally, your time frame and budget must be taken into consideration.

At Copycats, our knowledgeable professionals are happy to discuss your project with you in depth, show you samples of the different binding methods and help you select the perfect option for your project.