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What is saddle stitch binding?
Saddle stitch binding is one of the most popular book binding methods available today. In saddle stitching, folded sheets of paper are nested one within another and attached by staples through the fold. These stacks are placed over a holding apparatus, with each side hanging over like legs on a saddle. Then, long wire staples are threaded, or “stitched” through the paper, giving the method its peculiar name. While two staples is the standard for saddle stitched booklets, larger paper sizes can necessitate more along the spine. Saddle stitch is also called stapled binding.
How many pages can I have in a saddle stitch booklet?
The page count of a saddle stitched booklet must be a multiple of four, including front and back covers. If you fold one sheet of paper in half, you will naturally end up with 4 different “pages”. Each additional sheet of paper added after this would increase the page count by 4. As a result, the minimum number of pages in a saddle-stitch booklet is 4. The maximum number of pages depends on factors including paper thickness, although 64 pages is considered a reasonable upper limit. With especially thin paper, you can get up to around 100 pages before the book becomes too thick to lie flat naturally. So we recommend the maximum book thickness is less than 0.1″. Click here to know more about the paper thickness.
What are the benefits of saddle stitching?
Saddle stitch binding is the most cost effective book binding method that still produces quality and professional looking brochures and booklets. Especially in cases of large quantities being shipped long distances, saddle stitching adds a minimal amount of excess bulk and weight, leaving shipping costs relatively low. While saddle stitching is generally best for lower page count projects, the method is extremely versatile and can be used for both long and short runs, as well as projects ranging in size from pocket pamphlet to road map.
- It is a cost-effective, affordable and most suitable binding method for booklets, magazines, and brochures.
- It has a short production time.
- A book with saddle stitch binding can be opened flat. If the images or photos are across two pages, the images can be connected well after doing a saddle stitch.
- You can use this method even if you have a very short production run.
- You can make books or booklets in which the cover is made of a paper that is of the same thickness as the papers inside. These books are known as self-cover books.
- With this method, you can make books of a variety of size options.
- No bulk will be added to the printing. It is good for fewer pages booklet. Especially, the page count from 8 pages to 64 pages.
- You can print with any color of your choice.
- Easy to mail and take anywhere.
What Is the Difference Between Perfect Bound and Saddle Stitch?
Saddle stitch and perfect bound both are the popular binding options for a multi-page booklet, magazine or catalog.
- Saddle stitch spine is a “folding line”. You can’t put any information on the spine. Perfect bound has a square spine. You may design book title, author name or LOGO on it.
- In common, saddle stitch booklet page count is from 8-64 pages. Perfect bound book page count can be from 32 pages to 1000 pages. It is a large range of page count. If you like a thinner booklet or thick book, you may choose different paper to balance your item size and thickness.
- Saddle stitch production time is shorter around 3 days than perfect bound production time.
- Saddle stitch prices are cheaper than perfect bound prices.
- Most books are perfect bound. To make safe, don’t choose saddle stitch for child books.
Tips for use Saddle Stitch Binding Method
Saddle stitching method is the best type of binding method that is meant for printed magazines and booklets. But if you are currently at the design stage, then here are some tips that you should keep in mind in order to get the best out of this method.
Always try to spread the design - One of the prime advantages of a saddle stitch is that you can layout the document or booklet flat. This gives you the opportunity to come up with a full-spread of illustration and graphics that will increase aesthetics. You will have the freedom of coming up with striking visuals that will catch the eye of your audience.
Choose the size correctly - Firstly, you need to decide whether you want it in the landscape format or the portrait format and then choose the paper size. You can perform saddle stitch binding on papers ranging from A6 to A4 but we can also come up with some special options for you if that is necessary.
You can get creative with paper - The choice of paper is very important as well when it comes to getting the perfect outcome from binding. We can offer you a huge range of paperweights, types, and textures. The best thing about this binding method is that you are free to choose either a heavier cover paper or something that has the same weight as the ones you use inside. If you want booklet or magazine to be much more stable, you can also opt for laminating the cover. Our stunning range of papers will truly make your booklet stand out.
Your page count has to be a multiple of 4 – The process of saddle stitch binding method involves taking sheets and folding them to form the pages. Thus, your total page count always has to be in the multiple of 4.
Generally, the page count for this binding must be between 8-64 pages, but if you use this binding method for a higher page count, the cover paper on the spine line will break after cutting. At QINPrinting, we recommend using 16, 32 or 48 pages set with 4 pages cover, in terms of both functionality and affordable pricing. We understand the needs of our customers and ensure that the binding is at par with their requirements. With quite an experience in this field, we can give you the best binding experience.