I planned to get one of my books sent off to be printed, with plans for it to be perfect bound.
However, I needed to consider how I will bind my reference book. As a reminder, this is the book which will include a selection of the prints I have produced.
One difficulty I can see with binding this book, is that each page is separate. This eliminates the use of binding with folds in, eg. Coptic Stitching.
1. Saddle-Stitching is a method of securing loose printed pages with staples down the middle of a folded sheaf of papers. Many booklets are saddled-stitched. Side-stitching is a similar method where the pages are stapled about 1/4″ from the spine. This is a cost effective way to attach up to 40 pages and can save quite a bit. Pros: cheap! Cons – not for bigger presentations.
Unfortunately, this is something I cannot use. Saddle Stitching involves folded sheets, which won't work due to my prints being on single sheets.
2. Comb Binding : is the most common binding style used in North America and has been around for more than 40 years, is simple and readily available. Plastic comb binding books have the ability to open flat for easy copying and can be easily opened and closed with a comb binding machine for editing purposes. Plastic comb bindings are available in several colors and in sizes up to 2”. Comb binding is the most economical outside of Saddle Stitching. Pros: inexpensive step up from saddle stitching. Cons: not as sturdy as coil or twin loop wire binding and if your presentation is for repeated use, may not hold up long term because the teeth break off.
Comb Binding
3. Coil Binding: Spiral coil binding is a great option for individuals searching for a different look for their presentations and proposals. Spiral coil binding involves winding a single piece of pre-coiled plastic binding onto the edge of your book. Spiral coil binding is available in more than 60 different colors making it ideal for marketing firms and designers that are looking to match unique colors with company logos or report covers. Coil bound documents can open flat and can also wrap around for easy copying and reading. Documents bound with coil binding are ideal for documents that need to be mailed since the spines are flexible and retain their shape exceptionally well. Although spiral coil binding is available in sizes up to 2”, coil binding documents that are larger than 1” can be very difficult. Binding supplies for coil binding are more expensive than plastic comb bindings but are still reasonably priced and readily available. Pros: These are usually the most economical and sturdy for documents that you need to last. Cons: cost a little more than plastic combs.
This seems like a very simple way to bind my reference book. It works using single sheets, meaning I could use it easily. Coil binding seems highly functional. It also gives the user of my reference book a chance to rip a page out (if needed to show).
My book may be larger than an inch thick, meaning the book may not function very easily. I intend on picking which sheets I intend on including, and measure the thickness. I also think this method of binding isn't very aesthetically pleasing. The size of the coil also makes distribution more difficult, due to complications in stacking.
4. Twin Loop Wire Binding: Twin Loop Wire binding is a popular binding style available for individuals who want a professional and durable bind. Twin loop wire binding comes out of the package in a C shape and a wire binding machine is used to close the wire binding so that it is round. Twin loop wire binding provides an elegant look and feel but is slightly more expensive than coil binding or wire binding. Depending on the use, this is often worth the extra cost. Twin loop wire binding has all of the advantages of coil binding above. Pros – slick and sturdy look. Cons – don’t lay heavy loads on top of your presentations, you might bend the wire which makes the pages harder to turn.
I feel that this method is much more complicated and time consuming than the previous method. There is also the risk of the wires bending when weight is placed on the book.The size of the coil also makes distribution more difficult, due to complications in stacking.
5. Velo Binding - Have a document that you want to make difficult to copy? Want a compact, book-like bind for your presentation so it stacks easy? Velo binding is for you. Velo binding involves punching 11 small holes along the edge of an unbound book. A strip of plastic with rigid tines is inserted into the holes from the top of the book, and a strip with corresponding holes is placed on the back with the tines protruding through. The book is then placed in a machine that holds the book tightly while the excess length of the tines is cut and the tips heated and melted to seal the bind. Velo binding is great if you want a permanent bind that makes it difficult to remove pages from. Pros: near impossible to copy! Safe and secure – the best option if you desire this. Stacks easy on a shelf. Con: doesn’t lay flat, not good for conference presentations and not designed to take apart and put back together.
A complicated way of binding, which will also cause fold in the page, effecting functionality. I also feel that this method gives an ugly finish.
6. Perfect Binding - Perfect binding is book binding – the type you see on paperback books. This type of binding looks awesome and is available for presentations and books. Well kept secret: you can perfect bind anything is you use a digital print shop. You can even self-publish a book and make it look really professional! Pros: stacks nice and neat, looks awesome and great for larger presentations. Cons: Permanant – no removing pages and doesn’t lay flat, not as sturdy as other options.
I'm unsure as to whether this works well with single sheets, or if the sheets will fall out. I intend on researching this further, to find out how strong the binding would be.
Reference: http://prnashville.com/types-of-binding-for-documents-professional-reprographics-nashville
Further Research
Out of all the above binding methods, I feel that tape binding seems the most interesting. I intend on looking at this further, possibly finding a publication which actually uses it, for primary research.
Reference: http://www.designersinsights.com/designer-resources/choosing-the-right-binding-type
The Democratic Lecture - Craig Oldham
Having looked at a large variety of binding methods, I think I have found my favourite.
Last year, Craid Oldham delivered a lecture to the Graphic Design course at LCA. I was lucky enough to purchase a signed book, which you can see below:
As you can see, this book uses a very effective method of binding. It is vibrant and matches in colour to the rest of the book. It also seems very simple, but I intend on finding out it its as simple as applying a piece of tape down the side. You can also see that most of the book is composed of mount board, which would stick well, whereas my book is composed of sheets of paper. I am interested to find out how well pages would stick to this tape. You can see from the first image that a few sheets of paper have been stuck in the book, which seems to hold. This method of binding will only work well with a thick book, which my reference book will seem to be. I intend on seeing exactly how thick my book will be, by choosing the exact prints I intend on using.