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The way a publication is bound will impact on its look, its durability and its affordability. Selecting the right binding technique will help you to create a piece that’s stylish, long lasting and cost effective.
One of the most popular techniques for binding a paperback book, magazine or catalogue is perfect binding. Cost effective and aesthetically pleasing, it could be the perfect choice for your next printed publication.
What is perfect binding?
Perfect binding is a process, commonly used by printers and bookmakers, where groups of pages are bound together using adhesive to create a clean, crisp and professional printed product. It involves printing one or more sheets containing sets of pages which are then laid out so that once the sheet is folded, they create a group of pages known as signatures. These signatures are stacked together and the edges, which will form the spine, are roughened to improve adhesion. An adhesive is then applied to the spine before a cover is wrapped around them. Once the glue has dried, three of the sides are trimmed to create the finished publication.
When to Bind As Perfect Binding
Perfect binding is most popularly found in those books that you read during your long flights or while you are on a train. It is one of the most popular binding styles used for books, magazines, and catalogs, as it not only economical but also takes less time for production. Being a very versatile method of binding, it can be used in a variety of places.
- Choosing thinner interior paper, whether you are making a catalog with several hundred pages or simply a magazine with about 48 pages, this method is no doubt the best you can opt for.
- When you do a disposable promotion booklet, this is also a good choice.
The benefits of perfect binding
Perfect binding has a number of compelling benefits. Firstly, and most importantly for many, it’s very affordable. Not only are perfectly bound books more cost effective than hardcover binding methods, perfect binding can be used on relatively small print runs, allowing customers to create high quality printed products on a budget.
Another benefit of perfect binding is that it creates a flat spine that can then be printed on. This allows information such as the title of the publication and author to appear on the spine.
Tips for Perfect Bound Book Design
In common, the perfect bound book spine thickness is more than 3mm. If the spine thickness is less than 3mm, after binding, the spine looks not straight on each corner. When you start a design, please check the page count, paper and calculate the book spine thickness.
There should be 3mm bleed on all edges and a 12mm margin on the binding edge. Aesthetically perfect and budget-friendly, this method of binding is definitely going to benefit you in several ways. Softcover books that are available in bookstores are made by using the perfect binding method. Groups of paper are bound to give you a crisp and clean finished product and these pages are bound together with the help of an adhesive.
Because of glued binding, the interior pages are thinner paper would be better. We recommend 80gsm offset paper, 80gsm art paper, 105gsm art paper and 128gsm art paper for interior paper. If the interior paper is thicker than them, we suggest doing with sewn and perfect binding. For example, 100gsm offset paper, 157gsm and 200gsm art paper are better for the sewn and perfect bound book.
Sewn Perfect Binding vs Glued Binding
As mentioned, perfect binding is glued binding. The sewn perfect binding, we also call thread sewn. Glued binding and thread sewn are very similar binding method. But they have different characteristics as well.
- Perfect binding is a short production time. In common, the glued binding production time is shorter around 3-7 days than sewn perfect binding production time.
- Cost-effective and affordable is another main point of the glued binding.
- Perfect bound book’s margin on left and right is larger around 2-3mm than sewn perfect bound book’s margin.
- The thinner interior paper is better for doing perfect bound book.
- Sewn and perfect bound book can be opened flatter. It is better for the book’s image across two pages.