Binding

Binding

Binding is the art of putting pages together and attaching them to a cover. There are many types of binding, and many steps are required in the binding process.

Friesens has the following state-of-the-art binding processes:

Saddle Stitch – A binding process using wire staples most often used in magazines or magazine-type work or books under 96 pages.
Perfect Binding – Also called adhesive binding. Perfect binding requires no staples or thread and uses hot or cold glue. Hot melt is more common because it is economical and dries quickly. Cold glue is an involved process, but has the advantage of allowing the book to open more easily and lie flat.
Sewn Binding - Sews signatures using threads. Signatures are sewn together, and an endsheet is put on the front and back. The book block is then attached to the cover. This is common for all hard cover and some softcover books. Commonly referred to as Smyth sewn.
Library – A stronger binding than that used for trade and educational books, including an endsheet reinforced with woven tape. Either side sewn or saddle sewn, i.e., a ‘reinforced endsheet.’
  Layflat Sewn – Sews the signatures using threads, the cover is bound to the bookblock with no glue down the spine allowing the book to lay flat when opened.
  Layflat Perfect Bound – The book block is perfect bound using glue, the cover is bound to the book block with no glue down the spine to allow the book to lay flat when opened.
Side Sewn - Sews through the signature instead of along the end. The book will not lie flat, but binding is extremely secure.
Quarter Binding – Limited edition books are commonly quarter bound. Quarter bound books historically used genuine leather on the spine, and a good linen material on the front and back case. Quarter binding is popular for two reasons. First, it is considerably more economical to use leather on the spine only, rather than on the entire book. Second, it is possible to achieve an attractive colour combination using two different materials in complementary colours. Genuine and simulated leather come in a variety of colours and grains and many stock combinations can achieve an attractive book.
Cerlox – Used for books which must lie flat when opened. Cookbooks and desk diaries are two common cerlox bound books. Cerlox elements are available in a variety of colours. Spines can be imprinted.
Wire-O – A more durable binding than Cerlox for lay flat books.  Silver Wire-O is standard and most widely used. However, there is a variety of colours to choose from.
Plastic Spiral – A plastic coil run through the pages to allow the book to lay flat when open.