You will be surprised by the number of people who take a book spine for granted. Notably, the spine is perhaps the most critical part of a book because it determines durability and functionality. Thus, it protects a book and makes it available to generations of readers. In this regard, authors need to find bookbinders who can produce quality work. That said, bookbinding is not a one-size-fits-all technique because it comes in various shapes and sizes. This article highlights common types of bookbinding techniques.
Case Binding
Case binding is arguably the best bookbinding technique an author can pick, owing to its strength. In fact, the spine features in some of the most significant books in history. Also known as hardcover binding, case binding involves sewing pages together in sections. The sections are first glued against each other and then to the cover spine. The most notable attribute of a case-bound book is that it lays flat on a table when opened. Besides strength, case binding gives a book an aura of quality artistry. Most importantly, hardcover binding makes books more durable, with most attracting a premium price. Because of the benefits, case binding is expensive, but it is worth the investment.
Perfect Binding
The technique is also known as softcover binding. Notably, it is the complete opposite of case binding and is used to bind softcover books. In most cases, a soft cover is made of heavyweight cardstock, which is then laminated for protection. Perfect binding involves gluing all pages with a strong adhesive then pressing them onto a cardstock cover. Compared to case binding, perfect binding is an economical alternative, particularly when producing numerous book copies. Additionally, the binding is not bulky, meaning you can pack many copies in single batches to keep shipping costs low. Although not at the same level as case binding, perfect binding still produces high-quality book spines.
Saddle Stitch Binding
Another common technique is saddle stitch binding. It is also one of the easiest to implement because it does not require gluing together pages. Therefore, it is suitable for binding books with only a couple of pages. For instance, most notebooks, manuals, newsletters, and periodicals are saddle stitched, making them easy to carry around. Saddle stitch binding is also cost-effective if you do not have a huge budget. Besides, saddle stitch binding also allows a book to lay flat for easy reading. Furthermore, the technique has a quick turnaround and is ideal when dealing with tight schedules.
