Binding brings individual pages together into a usable book or document. Case, perfect, PUR, saddle-stitch, spiral and wire-O binding support different formats and ways of handling pages.
Case binding uses a hard cover. Perfect and PUR binding join pages along the spine with adhesive. Saddle stitching secures a folded booklet with staples. Spiral and wire-O binding hold punched pages along an edge. Page count, stock and intended use help determine the construction.
A closer look at the processes and the details to prepare for your project.
Case binding joins a book block to a separate hard cover. The cover and interior are prepared as distinct components, giving the finished book a structured exterior and a defined spine.
Suited to hardbound books, yearbooks and registers. Include final pagination, finished size, interior paper and separate cover artwork when preparing the book brief.
Perfect binding joins the pages along the spine with adhesive and attaches the cover around the book block. It creates a spine-based publication without exposed wire or coils.
Used for books, reports and manuals. Final pagination, paper and cover choice need to be considered together because they affect the book block and cover layout.
PUR binding is an adhesive binding process using polyurethane reactive adhesive. It is a distinct option within spine-bound publication work and should be discussed against the paper and intended handling.
Share the final book construction and paper choice when comparing PUR with other binding routes. It should be selected for the actual publication rather than assumed to suit every document.
Saddle stitching secures folded sheets with staples through the fold. The fold becomes the booklet spine, so the page arrangement needs to follow the finished reading sequence.
Suited to booklets and shorter publications. Prepare the final pagination and check page order before approval; folded construction is different from assembling loose sheets in a coil.
Spiral binding uses a continuous coil through holes along the bound edge. The page block and covers are punched so the coil can hold them together.
Useful for working manuals and documents that are handled while reading or writing. State the bound edge, final page count and cover requirements in the brief.
Wire-O uses a sequence of wire loops along a punched edge. It is visually different from a continuous spiral coil and forms another option for working documents and calendars.
Include the document orientation, page count and cover choice when discussing wire-O. Make sure content near the bound edge leaves room for the punched area.
Share your artwork or reference, finished dimensions, quantity and intended use. Include your delivery location and required date.