Are you looking to elevate the presentation of your written works or personal projects? Hardback binding might just be the solution you've been searching for. In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the intricate art of hardback binding, exploring the materials and tools essential for a successful endeavour. From selecting cover materials to understanding different paper types and weights, we've got you covered every step of the way.
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Follow our expert step-by-step instructions to master the hardback binding process, ensuring a professional and durable finish. Discover the nuances of creating endpapers, attaching book blocks, and adding those final touches that truly make your project shine.
Let's set foot in the world of binding, where durability meets aesthetics to make physical copies of your work stand out. Stay tuned for valuable insights into achieving top-quality hardback binding results!
Hardback binding requires specific materials and tools to get the job done correctly. Be it the right quality of paper or the suitable glue; every material plays a critical role. These include the cover material, different paper types, and weights depending upon the need and usage of the book, as well as binding tools such as bone folders, brushes, and cutters. Let's discuss these in detail.
Wibalin® Natural by Winter & Company is a high-quality, uncoated, dyed-through paper that is 100% recyclable. Available in 50 vibrant colours, it serves as an excellent choice for book covers, premium packaging, stationery, hang tags, and labels. Its versatility allows for various printing techniques, including offset, digital, and screen printing, as well as finishing options like blind or hot foil stamping. Produced according to ISO standards, Wibalin® Natural is FSC™ certified (FSC-C), vegan, and REACH compliant, making it an environmentally responsible option for high-quality cover work.
Binding tools are indispensable for a successful binding process. Some of the vital tools include:
Ready to transform your written words into a tangible, beautiful book? This step-by-step guide will walk you through the process of hardback bookbinding. From preparing your pages to adding the finishing touches, you'll learn how to create a unique and personalised book that you can cherish for years to come. Let's get started.
Before we dive into the binding process, it's essential to prepare your pages. This involves collating your printed pages, ensuring they're in the correct order, and making any necessary adjustments to the page edges. Let's get started!
To start the hardback binding process, the pages need careful printing and trimming. Precision is key in ensuring a professional finish. Whether it's for a thesis or a dissertation, accurate trimming is crucial for a polished outcome. The front cover, back cover, and book spine should all align perfectly once the pages are trimmed to size. This step sets the foundation for the entire binding process to follow. Utilise the right tools and techniques for crisp edges and a tidy final product.
Ensure precise alignment of the pages before binding to maintain a professional look. Utilise a straightedge or aligning tool for accuracy. Proper page alignment is crucial for a flawless end result, especially in perfect binding. Pay attention to the edges and corners to avoid any misalignments that can detract from the overall quality of the final hardback binding. Take your time with this step to guarantee a clean and polished finish.
To ensure a secure binding, consider either sewing or glueing the pages together. Sewing provides durability and flexibility, ideal for thick or frequently referenced books. Conversely, Glueing offers a simpler and quicker method, often preferred for lightweight publications like booklets. Experiment with both techniques to find what suits your project best. Remember, the choice between sewing and glueing impacts the overall quality and longevity of your hardback binding. Explore different options before proceeding with your final decision.
The cover board is the backbone of your hardbound book. In this step, we'll guide you through the process of selecting the right materials, cutting the boards to size, and preparing them for the binding process. A strong and well-constructed cover will protect your book for years to come.
For hardback binding, selecting and cutting the cover boards and spine boards is crucial. Choose durable materials for longevity. Cut the boards to the appropriate size, ensuring they fit the book snugly. The spine board is essential for the book's structural integrity. Precision in cutting is key to achieving a professional look. Take time to measure accurately and use sharp tools for clean cuts. Careful selection and cutting set the foundation for a well-bound hardback book.
The cover material is the face of your book. In this step, we'll explore various options for covering your book boards, from classic cloth to modern faux leather. We'll also discuss how to cut and apply the cover material to create a professional and attractive finish.
When selecting a cover material for hardback binding, consider options like durable hard covers or flexible soft covers. Choose materials that complement your content, whether it's for reference books or artistic thesis projects. Ensure the cover colour and printing match the theme. In the UK, London-based services offer a range of cover options for booklets and dissertations.
When cutting the cover material for hardback binding, precision is key. Use a sharp blade and a cutting mat to ensure clean edges. Measure and mark the material according to the size of your book covers, adding extra for wrapping around the edges. Carefully trim along the marked lines to create precise covers for your hardback project. This step is crucial for achieving a professional and polished look for your finished book.
To secure the cover material to the boards, apply a thin, even layer of adhesive using a brush or roller for a smooth finish. Carefully position the cover material over the boards, starting from one edge, to prevent wrinkles or bubbles. Press firmly to ensure proper adhesion, especially around the edges and spine. Trim any excess material for a clean look. Allow sufficient drying time before proceeding to the next step in the hardback binding process.
To wrap the edges of a hardback binding, carefully fold the cover material over the boards' edges. Ensure a snug fit without bunching or overstretching. Use a bone folder to create crisp, neat folds for a professional finish. Secure the material by applying adhesive along the edges before neatly folding it in place. This step not only reinforces the durability of the binding but also adds a polished look to the overall presentation of the hardback book. Mastering this technique elevates your hardback binding project's aesthetic appeal and longevity.
Now that we have our prepared book block and cover, it's time to combine them. This step involves attaching the book block to the cover, ensuring a strong and durable bond. We'll guide you through the process of glueing and pressing the book to achieve a professional finish.
To create endpapers, select a durable paper that complements your hardback binding. Endpapers provide a strong foundation and aesthetic appeal to your book. They are crucial for reinforcing the front and back covers, ensuring a professional finish. Carefully glue the endpapers to the book block, aligning them neatly for a seamless look. This step enhances the overall durability and presentation of your hardbound masterpiece. Choose quality endpapers that elevate the visual appeal and longevity of your project.
To secure the endpapers to the book block, carefully apply a thin layer of adhesive on the trimmed endpaper edges. Position the pasted side of the endpapers against the first and last pages, ensuring a smooth attachment without any creases. Gently press the endpapers onto the pages to guarantee a firm bond, taking care not to affect the paper quality. This process contributes significantly to the hardback binding's overall stability and aesthetic appeal.
Carefully align the book block with the prepared cover. Securely attach the book block by glueing the endpapers to it, ensuring a tight bond. Press gently to set the binding in place and allow adequate drying time. Monitor the alignment and binding security to guarantee a professional finish. Add any final embellishments or trim excess material for a polished look. This step is critical in ensuring the durability and quality of the hardback binding. Success lies in meticulous attention to detail.
After carefully assembling the book, pivotal step involves pressing the hardback to set the adhesive and allow it to dry thoroughly and firmly. This crucial step ensures that all components bond seamlessly, enhancing the finished product's durability. Patience is key here; allowing ample time for the book to dry naturally guarantees a professional outcome. A well-pressed and dried hardback speaks volumes about the precision and care invested in the binding process.
The final step in the hardback binding process involves adding those finishing touches that elevate your book from good to great. We'll explore techniques like headbands, endpapers, and edge gilding to enhance the aesthetic appeal and durability of your book.
Inspecting alignment and binding security is crucial in hardback binding. Ensure the book spine aligns correctly with the front and back cover. Verify that all pages are secure and evenly bound within the cover. Additionally, check for any loose pages or potential weak spots in the binding. This attention to detail guarantees a professionally finished hardback book that looks appealing and stands the test of time. Quality checks in alignment and binding security are vital for a durable and aesthetically pleasing final product.
Take your hardback binding to the next level by adding elegant finishing touches. For a sophisticated touch, consider incorporating foil stamping or embossing on the front cover. Round off the look with a dust jacket for that extra layer of protection and style. These final details can elevate your hardcover book's aesthetic appeal, making it stand out on any shelf. Make sure to carefully inspect the alignment and overall quality before finalising your project. Finish strong with these expert touches.
Removing excess material is crucial to give your hardback binding a professional finish. Using a sharp blade, carefully trim any protruding edges from the cover boards and book block to ensure a clean and neat appearance. Pay close attention to the corners and edges to maintain a consistent look. Precision in trimming excess material is key to enhancing the overall aesthetics and durability of your hardback-bound project. Always strive for a polished final product with no loose ends.
There are several types of hardback binding, each with its unique characteristics. The common types include Case-Bound Binding, Smyth-Sewn Binding, Perfect Binding, Library Binding, and Board Binding. Each type functions to cater to different requirements and purposes, offering a variety of aesthetics, durability, and functionality factors. Let's delve deeper into understanding these types.
To help you make informed print choices when you embark on your hardback book printing journey, we have curated, analysed and dissected a series of recent hardback book projects to show you what can be achieved.
Case-bound binding, also known as hardcover binding, is a popular method for creating durable and professional-looking books. This technique involves attaching the book block to a sturdy cover made of rigid boards, typically wrapped with decorative materials like cloth or leather. Case binding ensures the book's longevity and enhances its aesthetic appeal, making it a preferred choice for high-quality publications such as novels, reference books, and art books. The process demands precision and attention to detail to achieve a flawless final product.
Smyth-Sewn Binding is a durable and high-quality bookbinding method. It involves sewing together the gathered signatures of a book before attaching them to the cover. This technique ensures a strong and long-lasting binding that is commonly used for reference books and any publication requiring frequent use. The Smyth-Sewn Binding provides a professional finish, making it a preferred choice for those seeking a top-quality hardback binding solution.
When opting for perfect binding, the pages are glued to a cover along the spine, creating a clean and professional finish. This method is commonly used for paperback books, magazines, and catalogues, providing a sharp and modern look. Perfect binding offers a cost-effective solution for various printing projects, ensuring durability and a polished appearance. With its versatility in accommodating different paper weights and sizes, perfect binding is a popular choice for projects requiring a sleek and uniform finish.
Library Binding involves a durable, high-quality hardcover, making it ideal for reference books and dissertations. Typically seen in libraries, this method prioritises longevity and sturdiness. The process includes sturdy case binding that ensures the book's resilience. For reliable library binding, consider leveraging professional services that offer various delivery options. When opting for library binding, durability is key, guaranteeing that your content remains intact for an extended period.
For board binding, rigid boards like chipboard or binder board are utilised for the cover. This method is sturdy and commonly used for hardback books, especially for reference materials and photo albums. The cover boards provide strong support and protection for the book's content. Board binding ensures durability and a professional finish, making it a preferred choice for high-quality publications that require robust construction. This type of binding is ideal for projects that necessitate a solid and long-lasting hardcover solution.
Professional binding service providers offer a valuable solution for individuals and businesses seeking high-quality results in their hardback binding projects. Utilising these professionals' expertise, specialised tools, and experience can save time and ensure a flawless finish that exudes durability and professionalism.
One of the key benefits of engaging in a professional binding service is their ability to handle various types of binding techniques, such as perfect binding, saddle stitching, spiral binding, or case binding. These experts have in-depth knowledge of different materials and methods required for each type of project, ensuring that your final product meets the highest standards.
Moreover, professional binders can offer customisation options to suit your specific needs, whether it involves embossing, foil stamping, debossing, or other finishing touches. This level of personalisation adds a unique and professional touch to your bound documents or books.
Additionally, working with a professional binding service provider allows you access to a wide range of paper stocks, covers, colours, and textures to enhance your project's overall look and feel. Whether you are binding high quality annual reports, presentations, manuscripts, portfolios, or any other document, these experts can guide you in selecting the most suitable materials for your desired outcome.
Hence, opting for a professional binding service provider not only ensures high-quality results but also saves you time and effort in achieving a polished and professional finish for your hardback binding projects.
For those wanting a professional finish to their hardback binding projects, look no further than Ex Why Zed for top-quality hardback binding services. With a reputation for excellence and precision, Ex Why Zed offers a wide range of paper coatings to ensure the best results for your hardback book printing. Our online ordering system is user-friendly, allowing for maximum file uploads and efficient processing.
We have a customer service team with print experts who can guide you through every step of the process, from selecting the correct number of pages to ensuring the clearest printed text. Choose Ex Why Zed for a premium hardback binding that exceeds expectations.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please reach out to our customer services team via at or us at .
To help you make informed print choices when you embark on your hardback book printing journey, we have curated, analysed and dissected a series of recent projects to show you what can be achieved.
Creating a hardbound book is an experience in itself. It requires attention to detail, practice, and the correct materials and tools. The sophistication, durability, and quality that a well-bound hardback book provides are unparalleled. Whether you are looking to collate your thesis, create a memorable yearbook, or publish a novel, hardback binding can set your work apart.
By being mindful of the common mistakes and adopting measures to ensure longevity, you can successfully create a hardback project that stands the test of time. After all, a book is not just a collection of single pages held together; it's a seamless blend of information, creativity, hard work, experience, and a testament to the writer's dedication.
The choice of material chiefly depends upon the type of project and its intended usage. Use durable materials while opting for a classy, delicate appearance for special projects or books.
Yes, you can bind your work with various types of bindings, such as perfect binding, saddle stitching, wire-o binding, spiral binding, and hardcover binding. The best binding method depends on the specific requirements of your project, such as the number of pages, the desired look, and the intended use of the document.
The time frame varies depending on the type of binding, number of books, size, the service provider's capacity, and other factors. At Ex Why Zed, we aim to deliver hardback books in 7 working days if you are ordering up to 500 copies. For larger orders, litho printing the books will be most cost-effective and maximum quality. Rome wasn't built in a day so allow 4-6 weeks for this but in October to December we get super busy and turnaround on long run hardback books (700 copies+) can drift to 2-3 months. So, plan early!
Yes, companies like Ex Why Zed offer an online printing system that allows you to upload your PDF file and have your books printed and delivered, offering maximum convenience without compromising on quality. Plus, they offer very competitive prices, so you can get your project printed without breaking the bank.
The cost varies greatly depending on the type of binding, size, page count, cover finish, and other features. However, companies like Ex Why Zed offer competitive, cost-effective pricing based on your specifications.
If you’re thinking about self-publishing books or have a large order of books or booklets coming up the pipeline, you’re probably wondering about bookbinding. Before even designing your next project, you definitely want to consider all of the binding choices. Some factors to consider are page count and the purpose of your book. Does it have a lot of pages? Do you need your book to last a long time? Are you ordering in bulk? Who is your audience?
When considering which bookbinding option is right for you, you also need to consider your budget and design style. If you’re struggling with any of these questions or still aren’t sure the differences between our popular bookbinding types (hardcover, perfect, saddle-stitch, wire-o, or spiral), then you’ve come to the right place! Let’s dive into our ultimate bookbinding guide so you can print your next order or books or booklets with confidence.
Book Binding is defined as the process of taking printed inside pages and assembling and securing them within a cover. We offer several types of bound book options: hardcover, saddle stitch, perfect bound, spiral, wire-o, and hardcover book printing and binding. We will also explain the terms: How to bind a book, how are books made, softcover, self-cover, hardcover, and page count. Our bookbinding company is fast, easy, and affordable
A SOFTCOVER BOOK printing is like a paperback novel, catalog, or magazine. The pages are bound within a pliable cardstock cover. Whereas a hardcover book has a cover made from thick, rigid paperboard (like an elementary school textbook).
SOFTCOVER BOOKS are printed on a more durable heavier-weight cardstock paper to give your book a little more thickness and heft. We recommend 80# or 100# gloss or matte cardstock for the cover and 80# or 100# gloss or matte text for the inside pages. 70# gloss text is available when weight becomes an issue, for example, mailing.
We offer 4 types of softcover binding: Perfect bound, saddle-stitched are our most popular binding types. We also offer spiral bound and wire-o binding.
Self-cover Books have the same paperweight for the front and back cover and the inside pages. We only offer self-cover for Saddle Stitched Books. Our best value suggestion when producing a self-cover booklet is to use 100# Text (Gloss or Matte) for both the inside and cover papers. Your final product will look and feel professional.
Browse each of the binding styles and keep in mind which stands out to you most and which would align with your business, brand, or idea. At PrintingCenterUSA we offer Saddle Stich, Hardcover, Perfect Bound, wire-O and Spiral bound books. From sizes, finishes, and paper types we have many options to explore and experiment with. Order one of our free sample packs to feel each and every sample we have to offer.
Saddle stitch printing is the most popular form of binding, inexpensive, simple to make, and offers the fastest turn-around time yet very professional looking. We offer saddle stitch self-cover and softcover booklets and calendars with smaller page counts between 8 and 92 pages.
Saddle stitching is basically single sheets of paper, printed on both sides, collated in page number order, folded in half, then stapled through the fold along the left edge or top edge, securing the sheets together and then trimming the 3 sides to the desired, finished size. They can lay flat and stay open when you are flipping through the pages, which makes them easier to read. Commonly used for booklets, magazines, comic books, and coloring books.
You must have a page count that is evenly divisible by 4. Each sheet of paper will contain 4 of the booklet’s numbered pages. For example, if you are printing an 8.5” x 11” saddle stitch book, its pages and cover would be made from 11” x 17” sheets that are folded in half to the size of 8.5” x 11.” The cover page counts as page 1.
For more Hardback Book Binding Serviceinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.
We can print saddle stitch orders that are 8 – 92 pages. In other words, your document (counting the front and back cover) should be one of the following page counts:8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 40 | 44 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 76 | 80 | 84 | 88 | 92
For books over 92 pages, perfect binding, spiral binding, and wire-o binding are recommended.
A hardcover book, also known as hardbound, casebound, or hardback, is a book that is bound with a rigid paper board for a more protective cover. It usually has a flexible hinge near the spine which allows the book to lie flat on a surface when it’s opened. Hardcover books are available in a variety of cover options including, but not limited to paper stock, leather, cloth, or leatherette.
Hardcover books are often the number one choice for when people are making coffee table books, art books, yearbooks, textbooks, bibles, and cookbooks. Not only because they are seen as more expensive, but they look nicer and more professional because hardcovers are a lot more durable than paperback books. Collector items, gifts, keepsakes, are prioritized as high-value items for hardcovers to convey this value and longevity.
The hardcover book is meticulously crafted, comprising two main parts: the outer cover and the book block or interior pages. The covers are printed on thin sheets, laminated, and then carefully cut, glued, and folded onto a dense, thick board, resulting in a high-quality, long-lasting book. The book blocks are bound with glue to provide a reliable and durable binding. Once the covers and book blocks are created, they are combined to produce your final printed book, ensuring a product of exceptional quality.
For hardcover books we can print them with 30-400 inside pages that will be counted the same as saddle stitch for the inside pages only. For the cover you will upload it as two cover pages and a spine or as one big spread. You will not have to submit an additional inside cover page because it will be covered with a white paper that helps bind your book together.
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Perfect bound is the most popular type of softcover binding. Perfect bound books are inexpensive to make and provide a durable, high-quality attractive square spine look that can’t be matched. A paperback book, catalog, or magazine is a familiar example.
Perfect binding book printing is single sheets (text weight) paper printed on both sides and collated in page number order, one on top of the other, and gathered into a book block. The spine edge is ground off. The softcover (a thicker cardstock) is placed over and around the book block (interior pages) and attached by the application of a strong yet flexible PUR glue along the binding edge, creating a professional-looking square spine that can be printed on. The other three sides of the booklet are then trimmed to the desired finished size to give them that clean “perfect” edge, thus the name “perfect” bound. An open perfect bound book does not lay flat like a saddle stitch, wire-o, or spiral-bound book.
Gutters: because perfect bound books cannot lay completely flat without breaking, there is a portion of each inside page that will lose visibility into the spine. This inside gutter can take up between ¼” and 3/8” of each page. Be mindful of this while designing and add an extra ½” cushion to the binding-side margins of each page of your perfect bound book.
Crossovers or images that span two adjacent pages, inside of perfect bound books are not recommended.
Spine Width: A unique feature of perfect bound books is the ability to design the spine if it is larger than 1/8th inch (2″ thick maximum). You can keep it a solid color, add text or have one continuous image covering the front cover across to the back cover. Determining your spine width depends on the number of pages and the paper stock you have selected.
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Perfect bound book printing is the ideal choice for publications with higher page counts. The minimum number of pages is 28 pages to 2” thick maximum. 2-page increments are required when ordering.
We can print spiral and wire-o orders that have 8 pages – 800 pages (or up to 1 ¼ inch thick) and we require them to be in 2-page increments.
Spiral bookbinding is more durable than wire-o binding but does not have the professional look of a wire-o bound book. A spiral bound book uses a durable plastic coil which makes it an ideal option for everyday use as reference material. The plastic coil allows for frequent use that will not damage the bookbinding coil. The spiral-bound printing allows books to lie flat and fold or wrap back around themselves (360 degrees).
Coil-bound books are great for instruction and repair manuals, cookbooks, directories, workbooks, handbooks, guides, annual reports, and other reference materials. Plastic spiral binding is also excellent for wall calendars and planners that hang flat against the wall.
Spiral-bound booklet printing offers different coil colors, sizes, and diameters to accommodate a higher page count (8 pages – 800 pages) up to 2 3/4” thick. You cannot print on the spine or add or remove pages. Crossovers or images that span two adjacent pages, inside of perfect bound books are not recommended. Available only in the black coil.
Spiral-bound printing is single sheets of paper printed on both sides, cut down to trim size, and collated in page number order. Then a continuous plastic coil loop shaped like a long spring pass through a row of punched holes at the edge of the printed piece the binding can be on the left or top of the project depending on how the project is designed
Wire o binding is similar to the spiral binding. Wire-o binding uses a looped metal wire which makes it an ideal option when the product is for a more formal use with an organized and professional look such as a presentation. It uses a black metal wire and offers a lower page count than spiral binding. Great for workbooks, annual reports, instructional books, manuals, calendars, reports, presentation booklets, and more!
Wire o binding is single sheets of paper printed on both sides, cut down to trim size, and collated in page number order. The wire often referred to as a wire comb or twin-loop / double-loop binding, has pre-formed pairs of two small loops of wire that run along a C-shaped spine that looks like a comb. These wire loops are inserted through each of the square holes that have been punched through the edge of the printed book’s cover and pages which allow the pages of your book to line up precisely. A wire closer squeezes the spine until it is round securing the cover and pages. the binding can be on the left or top of the project depending on how the project is designed.
Wire-o binding will generally have a lower page count than spiral up to 1¼ “thick. The wire is available in different lengths for your bound books and calendars. The color of the standard wire we offer is black. You cannot print on the spine, add or remove pages. Crossovers or images that span two adjacent pages are not recommended.
We can print spiral and wire-o orders that have 8 pages – 800 pages (or up to 1 ¼ inch thick) and we require them to be in 2-page increments. They may cost a little more.
Lookbooks and portfolios are a great way to showcase your work and professionally display your photos or products. Different types of books work better with other bindings. Here are a few popular book styles that coincide with our available binding:
Popular Saddle Stitch Books:
Popular Perfect Bound Books:
Popular Spiral Bound Books:
Popular Wire-O Bound Books:
Regardless of the style of look book or portfolio booklet you want to create, we have the tools you need and the binding options to make your project look amazing.
Most online printing centers offer a variety of printing sizing for various projects. Here we go over some of the standard sizes so you can choose the most cost-effective option for your next book. When you order online with PCUSA, we automatically fill in our pricing calculator with the most popular and inexpensive options for books and booklets.
Portrait Sizes
Landscape Sizes
Square Sizes
Though these are just the most commonly ordered and the easiest for our machines to print, we also offer the option to order custom-sized books. All we ask is that the height of your custom size book is between 4” and 9” and the width should be between 5” and 12.”
The number of pages your booklet project can have will depend on which binding type you choose. Here’s what you need to know:
Saddle Stitch: You can have a page quantity anywhere between 8-92 for Saddle Stitch Binding.
Perfect Bound: You must have a minimum of 28 pages to print a perfect-bound book. Page counts can go up to 2 inches thick, depending on the thickness of the inside pages.
Spiral: 2 inches is the max with this form of binding.
Wire-O: 1.25 inches thick is the max.
A softbound book, also known as a paperback, softback, or softcover, is characterized by the paper cover, often held together with glue rather than stitches or staples. In contrast, hardbound or hardback books are bound with cardboard covered with cloth, plastic, or leather. The pages on the inside of a paperback are made of paper different from the material on the cover.
Softbound books are usually much less expensive, as they are easier to make and more flexible than hardbound books. However, though hard-bound books are more expensive, they are more durable, last longer, and are much more equipped to protect the paper content.
Choosing the correct binding for what you want your book to be will help you set a budget and decide the other details for your book printing.
At PrintingCenterUSA, we have two types of printing; full-color CMYK (also known as 4-color process or 4/4) and black and white printing (black only, 1-color process, or 1/1).
For full-color CMYK printing, we use four colors of ink: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and blacK to create millions of colors. Of course, we also have digital RGB printing, but CMYK printing creates a quality finish that stands out from digital printing.
Black and white or black-only printing only uses one color of ink, black or K. Black and white printing is more cost-effective since it requires less setup and materials. However, it’s important to note that the black produced using only K is not as deep as the color Rich Black, which is made using all four colors of CMYK.
When you’re self-publishing a book or looking for help with your next printing project, there are lots of exciting design choices to make. From the type of book, format, size, paper choices, binding options, and more, all of these play a big part in your publication’s overall look and feel. Take a look at some of your favorite books and booklets and consider how all of these decisions contribute to the book and why you love it.
The cover of the book might be the most important part of the process, so consider the binding that will work best for the purpose of your project. The choice of book cover comes down to your personal style and aesthetic preferences and the reading experience you hope to create.
Though soft covers or paper covers are more affordable, they don’t last as long. Hardcovers are more expensive, but they last longer and often look more professional than self-covers.
While describing the book binding options above, we mentioned softcover and self-cover. Here is a brief look at soft cover and self-cover to give you a better grasp.
A SOFTCOVER BOOK is like a paperback novel, catalog or magazine. The soft covers are printed on a more durable heavier weight cover cardstock paper to give your book a little more thickness and heft. We recommend 80# or 100# gloss or matte cover cardstock for the cover and 80# or 100# gloss or matte text for the inside pages. 70# gloss text is available when weight becomes an issue, for example, mailing. Below is a saddle stitch example of softcover (the darker colored cover in the example is a heavier weight than the inside pages).
SELF-COVER BOOKS have the same paper weight for the front and back cover and the inside pages. 100# Text (Gloss or Matte) is recommended. We only offer self-cover for Saddle Stitched Books. Below is a saddle stitch example of self-cover (the cover and inside pages are the same paper weight).
Some of the most common book sizes are as follows:
A bound book is a collection of printed pages that have been assembled within a cover. In many cases, the cover is either thicker than the interior pages or made of a different material to provide durability to the finished book.
Like we mentioned earlier, there are different types of binding, the most popular being perfect binding, saddle-stitched, wire-o, and spiral bound.
When most people think of a “bound book,” they think of perfect binding. Read on as we describe the process of printing a perfect-bound book.
Our customers love perfect bound books because they are pretty inexpensive and provide a durable and professional book that looks high quality. Perfect bound is the ideal choice for books and paper collections that have a higher page count. The minimum page count is 28 pages, and your book can be up to 2 inches thick! With perfect binding, you get a softcover bound to the individual inside pages using flexible glue, which gives you a printable square spine that looks clean and sophisticated.
During the binding process, your printed sheets are gathered into a book, one right on top of the other, and the edges are trimmed to perfection. Then your book is glued into a wraparound cover and then cut again for size. This gluing process creates a beautiful square spine, but because of this, the pages will not lay flat while you are flipping through them.
Perfect bound book printing is ideal for novels, directories, magazines, manuals, yearbooks, catalogs, and really any book that has a lot of pages. If you want your book to feel professional, you want to choose a bound book printer like PrintingCenterUSA for the best possible quality.
There are so many possibilities when it comes to ordering custom books or booklets. Here are some of the most popular book types we see come through every day at PrintingCenterUSA:
Now that you’ve read our ultimate bookbinding guide, you’re ready to order your amazing books. Choose your size, style, size, and binding options, and place your order online today. Still, have questions? Get in touch with one of our expert customer service representatives who can answer your questions, help you figure out all the details, and walk you through the process.
The company is the world’s best Wholesale Hardcover Book Printing supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.