When you need to group a large amount
of pages together into one book, you have many options on how to bind
the pages. Each style has its own pros and cons, and understanding
these differences will help you make the best choice for your
particular project.
So, what should you know about your
binding options? Here are the four most common bindings to choose
from.
1. Plastic Coil
Most business people and students are
familiar with plastic coil binding. This method places a coil made of
plastic through holes punched in the documents. The coil keep
everything together simply and easily, and there is often a wide
plastic edging (referred to as a comb) that makes the finished
product look nice on the shelf.
One of the main advantages of coil
binding is its simplicity and relatively inexpensive nature. It's a
quick solution to keep many pages together in a way that looks
reasonably professional and won't cause problems for the user. It
also helps the book lie flat - a feature making it useful when users
need to make notes or use it for reference.
2. Wire Binding
Wire binding is a little more upscale
than plastic coils. It employs a similar method to keep things
together: a coiled product that winds through holes punched in the
documents. However, the wire materials look a little more
professional than plastic, so it can be a good choice for documents
used to sell products or provide long-term company materials.
Wire binding may also be particularly
useful if you might need to add or remove pages later on. There are
tools you can purchase that allow you to remove the binding and make
alterations to the documents before replacing the binding.
3. Slide Binding
Coil-based binding methods require
permanent holes in each page. If you don't want to put holes in your
documents, a slide binding might be the answer.
In this case, pages are kept together
by pinching them in between two slides that are solidly closed and
locked. Slide binding (also called a plastic grip) won't damage the
papers and it can generally be easily opened and closed if you want
to make changes or apply the binding later.
Unfortunately, this flexibility means
that the binding prevents the book from laying flat on a table. If
users plan to make notes in the margins or information is printed
close to the edges, you may have some trouble.
4. Perfect Binding
Perfect binding is more of a book-like
method of keeping things in place. With this process, the edges of
papers are sliced off and roughed up so as to create a good
foundation for adhesive. A glue product is then placed across the
inner edge as a whole and a finished cover is placed over the
outside.
Perfect binding is obviously more
expensive than most types of temporary binding, but it creates the
most professional appearance. It is also permanent and cannot be
altered after adhesive and covers are employed. If you need marketing
documents for high-end products, materials to impress potential
investors or bankers, or a book that will be shown to customers, this
may be the product for you.
The right type of binding finishes your
printing job in the right way. But the choice of method depends on
many factors - your budget, the purpose of the materials, your
timeline, and how much flexibility you need.
For help making the right decision,
consult with an experienced printing service. At InkSpot
Printing
, our print professionals can help guide you through the
process. Call today to learn more.
