One of the most interesting parts of printing and copying is binding and all its choices. As a finishing service, binding is a process that can be labor intensive, so it comes as no surprise that most businesses outsource this task.

To make this post as straight to the point as possible, I have listed the most common binding options here:

Coil Binding

Comb Binding

Hard Cover Binding

Perfect Binding

Saddle Stitching

Spiral Binding

Tape Binding

Velo Binding

Wire Binding

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ProjectCenter is a single-source service company providing marketing and document solutions to small, medium and large-sized businesses in the U.S. area. ProjectCenter is based in Phoenix, Arizona and its services include graphic design, web design, printing, copying, scanning and mailing. For more information, please call (602) 252-6655 or visit www.makepapereasy.com or follow us at Twitter.

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Prefect Binding is the type of binding you would find on a paperback book. It looks clean and you can print on the spine. In order to print on the spine, you want to have enough thickness in the book so that the printed text is readable. It is suggested to have enough pages to make at least a 1/4″ spine thickness. The number of pages will be dependent on the type of paper stock being used.

ABOUT PROJECTCENTER:

ProjectCenter is a single-source service company providing marketing and document solutions to small, medium and large-sized businesses in the U.S. area. ProjectCenter is based in Phoenix, Arizona and its services include graphic design, web design, printing, copying, scanning and mailing. For more information, please call (602) 252-6655 or visit  www.makepapereasy.com.

Hand Work is sometimes referenced in relation to die-cutting, packaging, binding, book making, etc. It means that actual hands need to complete a project, as opposed to a project being completed soley by machinery. These services raise the cost of a project, mainly because of salaries that are being payed, and the longer length of time that a project takes. Keep in mind though, that Handwork is sometimes not avoidable.

Check out ProjectCenter’s services at www.makepapereasy.com.

There are many types of folding, some of which have more than one name. Here is a good cheat-sheet to help understand the basic folds:

Accordian Fold or Z-Fold: Both are similar, but the Accordian fold is typically referenced when there is more than 2 folds per page.

Half Fold: Simply stated, this is folding a page in half.

Trifold or Letter Fold: This has two folds with the panels folded towards the same side of the page.

French Fold or Cross Fold: This is basically two Half Folds.

Double Parallel Fold: This is a way folding the page within itself.

Gate Fold: As the name would suggest, this fold allows a person to open a page like two gates.

Barrel Fold: This is like a Letter Fold, but with three folds.

Then there’s Ben Folds…..just kidding.

ABOUT PROJECTCENTER:

ProjectCenter is a single-source service company providing marketing and document solutions to small, medium and large-sized businesses in the U.S. area. ProjectCenter is based in Phoenix, Arizona and its services include graphic design, web design, printing, copying, scanning and mailing. For more information, please call (602) 252-6655 or visit  www.makepapereasy.com.

Reprographics is the reproduction and duplication of documents, written materials, drawings, designs, etc., by any process making use of light rays or photographic means, including offset printing, microfilming, photography, office duplicating, and the like (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=reprography).

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It is very common for clients to push for sooner-than-expected project completions. This can be directly correlated to insufficient planning, which can be directly correlated to an unintended lack of printing awareness.

Let it be known that, as a general rule of thumb, simple offset print jobs take 3-5 days to process. This 3-5 days would include the printing process and delivery, but does not include designing, prepress designing, mailing, or finishing services such as folding, binding, foiling, embossing, etc.

As for designing, there can be no general estimated time given. Each project is treated separately and requires an individual estimate. Prepress designing, which includes the proofing process, can take as little as 1 day if the proof is approved in an immediate manner.

For each finishing service provided, it is suggested to add 2 more days to the project.

For mailing services, if the mailing list is provided in a prompt manner, adding 2-3 days to your project is customary.

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Some folks are in search of folders that have the reenforced edges, where the sides are scored, folded and glued. This doubles the material  resulting in a sturdier product.

There is a cost associated to this process. First, unless the die-cutter already has a premade die, there will be a charge to create a custom die. Next, this process requires what a die-cutter calls “handwork”. Handwork refers to manual labor, where a person needs to guide and/or fully process the job, rather than a machine doing it unattended.

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Clients sometimes request their booklets or flyer packets to be corner stapled. For the purposes of cost, this is a fine option. For purposes of presentation, corner stapling is not suggested.

For a more professional looking piece, a client should consider other binding methods, such as tape binding, spiral binding, hard cover binding, perfect binding, comb binding, velo binding, coil binding, saddle stitch, wire binding, etc. These options offer a more presentable look for marketing materials.

Here are some images of each option: