Are you getting ready to print a book, program or catalog? If so, you may have considered different methods of binding your book. In our blog post 5 Tips for Digital Book Printing Success we provided a list of things to consider when self-publishing a book. In this blog post we will review 3 of the more popular binding methods that we offer at TPI Solutions Ink and we'll give you some things to keep in mind when laying out and designing your book.

There are many different options for binding, three of the more common methods are Saddle Stitching, Perfect Binding & Spiral Binding. So let's get into the details of each one.

TIP:  When sending your book to print, be sure to send it as single pages, not as spreads.
We prepare your book for print in house and single pages are preferred.
For steps on creating a print ready file download our resource: How to Create A Print Ready PDF

SADDLE STITCHING

Saddle stitched books are a set of folded, collated pages that are held together with staples. This kind of binding is perfect for printed pieces such as theater programs, zines, comic books, and magazines. It is also the least expensive method of binding.

When designing a saddle stitched book your pages will need to be in multiples of four in order to be folded in half, collated and stitched into the book.

TIP:  1 page = 1 side of a sheet of paper               1 sheet = 2 pages 

One drawback of a saddle stitched book is that there is a limit to the number of pages you can bind this way. Once the number of pages exceeds 72, including the cover,  you may want to consider perfect binding or spiral binding for your book. 

TIP: What type of stock will you use for your saddle stitched book? Will it be a self-cover booklet, all of the paper the same weight throughout? Or, do you want a heavier cover on your booklet? When requesting a quote be sure to specify, i.e.; a 24 page self-cover booklet or a 20 page + cover booklet.

PERFECT BINDING

A Perfect bound book uses glue to secure a stack of pages to the cover on the binding edge. This kind of binding is very popular and is used for paperback and some hardcover books

You can have as many pages as you would like (well with in reason) in a perfect bound book. Unlike saddle stitch binding, you do not have to keep your pages in multiples of 4.

With a perfect bound book you do need to keep in mind the size of the spine. A 100 page book is going to have a different spine size than an 500 page book. Ask your print provider to measure out a spine size for you to consider when designing your cover.

TIP: Keep an eye on your page numbers! Make sure that they alternate correctly, or they all might end up on the wrong side of the binding!

SPIRAL BINDING

Spiral binding is achieved by punching small holes on the binding edge of the pages and inserting a coil into them. This type of binding is perfect for manuals and reports or for any type of book that you would like to lay flat when opened. For spiral binding you have a choice of a wire coil or a plastic coil and many choices of color, contact your print provider to see what options they have for you.

TIP: Watch your margins. Be sure to give yourself a wider margin on the binding side of your design to allow for the punch and coil. You wouldn't want to have type or images punched right out of your book!

Have you figured out which binding will work best for your next book project? If you are still not sure get in touch, we'll help you determine what will work best and fit within your specific budget.