What is a Perfect Binding? Is it a Good Book Binding Technique for Your Printing Projects?

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What is a Perfect Binding? Book Printing Singapore – Is it a Good Book Binding Technique for Your Printing Projects?

 

 

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How Much Does Bookbinding Cost? Types of Binding Method for Your Printed Output

 

There are many different types of printing methods, and one of the most widely used is perfect binding.

 

Perfect Binding is a technique wherein the pages as well as the cover are being glued together using a flexible and strong thermal glue, placed at the spine of the book. And the sides of the book will then be trimmed to create a clean and perfect-looking edges.

 

Have you noticed the bookshelves of bookstores or libraries? The soft covered books that you see are perfect bound. It’s noticeable that these books have printed, rectangular spine and the covers are made of cardstock or a paper that’s heavier than the inner pages. The covers are also durable and attractive because of its clear coating.

 

Perfect binding method is a good option for companies, authors and organizations for their printing projects because it’s cheap and it gives a professional-looking output. It has been used for annual business reports, catalogs, manuals, thick magazines and brochures.

Let’s get to know more details of perfect binding and see if it fits your book binding needs.

 

Perfect Binding Process and Benefits

 

The process involved in perfect binding to assemble a printed project includes:

 

  1. The printer will stack first the inner pages together so that crisp block will be formed.
  2. The block’s spinal edge will be roughed up using abrasives or blades. Doing this will reveal more paper fibers and then boost the glue’s bonding area.
  3. Hot glue will be applied on the roughed up edge (mentioned in step 2) of the inner page block.
  4. The book’s cover will then be wrapped around the pages’ block; it will also stick to the glue placed on the spine.
  5. Once the glue has been cured, the book’s three open pages will be trimmed when needed to achieve clean edges.

 

The use of this method can be beneficial for anyone who is looking forward to achieving the following:

  • Professional-looking output
  • Visual appeal
  • Cheaper than hardcover binding
  • Can stack well.
  • The rectangular spinal edge made by perfect binding will allow you to print on the spine the title of the book or any information. This is something that spiral binding and saddle stitch binding won’t allow you to do.
  • Books for perfect binding can be printed in short runs and also good for on demand printing.
  • Perfect for cost-conscious businesses, organizations and authors.

 

The Difference Between Perfect Binding and Saddle Stitch Binding

 

Two common option in binding are perfect binding and saddle stitch binding. So what are the difference between these two?

 

Firstly, saddle stitch method is binding by organizing the pages together, folded and then stapled along its crease doing it from the outside to create a book. There’s a page count requirement for this method wherein it has to be a multiple of four pages.

 

On the other hand, with perfect binding, the pages doesn’t need folding. The pages are organized and then glued together at the spine along with the cover. The pages will be secured as soon as the adhesive applied has been dry.

 

It also depends on the paper’s weight that you’re going to use. There’s maximum requirement for saddle stitch and it’s about 60 to 64 pp for each booklet. If it’s beyond that, it’s recommended to choose perfect bound.

 

Perfect Binding DIY Guide

 

If you want to experience how it’s done, you can do this simple method at home. Below are the instructions that you can follow.

 

But first, you need the following:

  • TIME: 2 hours to finish plus 1 hour for the book to be completely set and all dried up.
  • For your book’s pages, you can prepare at least 20 pages or more of A4 size paper.
  • 2 pieces of extra A4 paper. It will serve as the endpapers, holding the book cover and text block together.
  • Bone Scorer
  • Penknife
  • Metal rules is preferred.
  • Glue
  • Cutting Mat
  • Pencil
  • Eraser
  • Brush
  • A3 card stock, it will serve as book cover backing.
  • A3 art paper, it will be the book cover.
  • 2 heavy/thick book or 2 clamps or 2 clips.

 

STEPS:

 

  1. Use your bone scorer to fold your A4 paper into two equal halves and then cut along the line that’s been folded. Do this for all the 20 or more pieces of paper you prepared for the pages. Size and thickness of the book may vary.
  2. Make sure to clean the spine of the cuts that are not straight.
  3. Text block assembly – to ensure a straight spine, line up the paper.
  4. Hold the paper block in place by clipping it. However, if you’re using a thick or heavy book, the spine should jut out; it should be facing you. It will help you glue the area easily.
  5. This is an optional process that you can do. You can make cuts on the spine using the penknife so that the glue can sink in deeper and make the binding process stronger.
  6. Spread the glue evenly along the spine of the book.
  7. Wait for it to dry. You can apply at least two layers of glue on the spine. Repeat steps 6 and 7 for two to three times and then let it dry.
  8. Measure the height, length and thickness of the block.
  9. Prepare the backing of the book cover using the measurements you have from step 8. Use the card stock and then cut it into three segments. You need to have two large rectangular segments (backing for front and back) and a narrow rectangular segment that fits your book’s spine.
  • Use the A3 art paper and layout the book cover segments. Make sure to leave 0.3 centimeters space in every segment.
  1. Glue the segments on the art paper.
  2. Fold into half two new a4 paper. Place 1 on the top and 1 on the bottom of the book cover segments.
  • The end papers should be glued on the book cover segment. Let it dry under a heavy big books to prevent it from warping.
  • Use your pencil to mark out the corners and the spine area. (You can check the Internet for the template on where to mark)
  • Cut the marked out lines you made. The excess art paper should be folded using a bone scorer to make it tight.
  • The excess art paper should be glued to one side of the endpaper.
  1. The text block should be glued to the inner part of the book cover card stocks.
  2. Leave the project you just made under a heavy book and wait for it to dry.

 

Would You Do it Yourself?

 

If you are complete with all the materials, and you have extra time to do it on your own, then you can go and do it for your project. However, if you need it right away, you should call a printing company that’s providing perfect binding and other book binding services to make your life easier, pay only for a low price without any hassle.

 

Talk to Alibaba Printing for Your Options

 

Alibaba Printing provides a wide array of printing services in Singapore, operating for more than seven years with local and international clients, offering the cheapest, excellent and trustworthy services. Call us now for your perfect binding inquiries.

 

Call us For Your Binding Needs

 

Tel:  9146 1431

 

Fax: 6250 5122

 

Email: info@alibabaprinting.sg

 

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