Which bookbinding solution should you choose?
Posted on: 16 June 2019
Whether you have a single book that needs binding or a production run of 1000's of books you will need to consider the most appropriate bookbinding technique and find a company that can offer the high-quality service you need at a competitive price.
What bookbinding options are available?
There are a wide variety of bookbinding methods for you to choose from. You could opt for a bespoke hand-made leather binding using traditional techniques that have remained unchanged for generations. For a faster, more high-tech solution, you could select the commonly used perfect binding as seen on many paperbacks, or the thread-sewn or saddle-stitched bindings often preferred for smaller publications. If it is a hardback book that needs binding, then case binding is the most suitable choice. Here is a description of the most commonly used bookbinding options and an explanation of how they are generally employed.
Saddle stitching
If you want to create a large number of multi-page leaflets or booklets, then saddle-stitching is likely to be your best option. Saddle-stitching reduces costs by cutting out the adhesive and using staples to attach the various sections to the spine of the publication.
Perfect binding
The majority of paperback books are bound in this way. Using adhesive to hold the book together, this method creates a durable book while remaining cost-effective. Perfect binding is the simplest approach to bookbinding and the most widely used.
Thread-sewn binding
If you need to create a quality publication that must be capable of being opened flat without cracking the spine of the book, then a thread-sewn binding is the ideal solution. This type of binding is widely used for company reports, brochures and similar materials.
Case binding
For high-quality mass-produced books, then case binding is the obvious choice. You can choose whether you want a case created from paper, cloth or leather. Whatever your decision, the result will be a strong, long-lasting book that will survive multiple readings and still look good on a shelf.
Handcrafted binding
Sometimes you don't need a lot of books bound cheaply but one book bound by hand. If you want to have a journal, photograph album, set of reports or anything else bound or rebound by a craftsman, then you need a bespoke bookbinding service. Look for a company that offers a range of bindings options and that is happy to provide important touches such as, gold tooling, foiling, library crests and raised bands as required to match any existing volumes in the set.
If you have any concerns, it is best to talk to your chosen bookbinding service since they will be able to show you examples of their work and to direct you towards the most appropriate bookbinding solution for you.
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