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Three common methods of binding your book

11 February 2019

Martin Carpenter

If you are getting a book printed, you are probably more concerned with the contents than with the methods used to bind the pages. But the binding method can have an enormous effect on the look of the finished product. Here are some of the more common methods of bookbinding that you might like to consider.

Perfect bound

This is the kind of binding used for paperbacks and other softcover books, and it produces a professional finish to your book. The pages of the book are assembled in the correct order and stacked so they are level along the spine edge. They are then glued into the cover using a strong adhesive. As long as the book is big enough, this has the advantage that the title can be printed on the spine. The drawback to this method is that the book will not lie flat, and they can be prone to the spine breaking and the signatures falling out, particularly if the adhesive was not strong enough.

Section sewn

This is a more traditional type of bookbinding and is a typical way to produce a hardback book. In this method, the pages are folded into sections, usually of sixteen or twenty-four pages, known as signatures. Each section is then sewn into the next to form a block. The spine of this block will then be glued to make it stronger, usually to a piece of linen, before being glued into the cover. This method has the benefit that the book will lie flat and also produces a highly durable book that can survive years of wear and tear.

Spiral binding

This is the kind of wire binding used for the classic reporter's notebook and can be an attractive method of bookbinding which provides a book that will lie flat. The pages have holes punched along the sides, and a wire or plastic spiral is then threaded through them. It is similar to wire binding, in which a coiled spine is closed over the holes in the pages. This method can be used for both hardcover and softcover books; the coils can also be hidden from view using a technique known as casing in.

There are only the most popular methods of bookbinding. It is worth taking time to decide which is the right one for you; if you are in any doubt, your printer will be happy to advise you.

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