People may say “you can't judge a book by its cover,” but what about binding? Often overshadowed and given less attention by authors (especially compared to a vibrant, glossy cover design), how your book is bound can make all the difference in how readers experience your book. Whether it's a pocket-sized softcover novel or an elegant hardcover art book, the binding style should perfectly match your book's style, tone, and needs. Here's what to know about the different types of book binding, plus how to choose the one that's right for you.
Perfect binding
Perfect binding is the default choice for most softcover books. With perfect binding, the pages of the book and the cover are glued together at the spine. The glue is made with a strong adhesive and the pages are then trimmed to give it a crisp, professional edge.
Perfect binding can be used for books that range from 30-200 pages, which means it's perfect for:
- Novels
- Memoirs
- Cookbooks
- Business guides
- And much more
It's popular, affordable, and a great choice to give your book a polished look without spending much.
Hardcover binding
Hardcover binding is an excellent way to give your book a more premium feel. The binding itself is a rigid board made of 80lb enamel stock. Here at OnPress Book Printing, we offer two options:
Adhesive case wrap
Your cover artwork is printed directly on durable enamel material and then wrapped around the boards. Your book will need to be at least 24 pages to benefit from this type of binding and this option is only available for hardcover books.
Dust jacket
You can combine your case wrap with a full-color dust jacket for added design flexibility and protection against scuffs, scratches and smudges. Dust jackets are ideal for literary fiction, library editions and gift books. We offer a variety of trim sizes and other options. See details and turnaround times for hardcover book printing.
Smyth sewn binding
The team at OnPress Book Printing is delighted to offer Smyth sewn binding, a major enhancement available for authors. Smyth sewn binding is also known as section-sewn binding and is made possible by stitching folded signatures together with durable thread, then gluing reinforced fabric tape along the spine. This creates a “book block” that lays perfectly flat. It's designed for heavy use and is perfect for workbooks, textbooks, and art portfolios.
Smyth sewn binding is rare for short-run printing, but we're proud to offer this option to our customers who demand superior strength and lasting longevity and durability from their books.
What to consider when choosing the right book binding
When deciding on the right type of binding for your book, you'll want to consider several options, ranging from page count to budget, turnaround time to artwork. Here are some of the most important points to keep in mind:
Page count
Perfect binding is best for mid-length books of 30-200 pages, while adhesive case wraps and Smyth sewn books are able to handle higher page counts.
Durability
Whether you need bulk printing and binding options like spiral binding or saddle-stitching, or you want to take advantage of our Smyth sewn binding, we can help you decide the right type of binding for your specific needs.
Extra features
The aesthetic of your book is another important component to keep in mind. A softcover book with perfect binding is a modern, stylish way to present your book, whereas hardcover books with soft-touch lamination or dust jackets add a layer of sophistication and elegance. Smyth sewn binding adds an even more luxurious artisan touch to the final work.
Book use
It's also important to consider your audience and how they'll be handling your book. If you're printing a textbook for classroom wear-and-tear, or a dust-jacketed hardcover for display on a coffee table, you'll want different binding options to keep up with use and handling while still keeping cost in mind.
Artwork
Your book's artwork and layout also have a lot to do with which binding you'll need. For example, two-page spreads in art and photo books look best with Smyth sewn binding so that images don't disappear into the gutter. Plain text books are fine with perfect binding.
Turnaround time
If you need your book quickly, short-run digital presses can handle perfect binding and case binding with a short turnaround time. Smyth sewn books may add a few days, but this process also adds unparalleled durability and higher perceived value to your book.
Budget
Set aside 10%-20% more per unit for Smyth sewn or dust jacketed hardcovers versus perfect binding.
If you'd like to see and feel the difference yourself, you can order sample books in each binding style to evaluate the stiffness of the binding, the book's ability to lay flat, and the finishes of each type. Contact our print specialists directly at 1-866-285-3155 to order samples.
OnPress Book Printing: a binding solution for every need
Choosing the right type of book binding brings you one step closer to launching your book to an eager audience. Whether you prefer the sleek, simple style of perfect binding or you're like premium-grade resilience with Smyth sewn hardcover editions, OnPress Book Printing is here to provide you with the premium printing and binding quality you need for a flawless result.
We invite you to browse all our binding styles for yourself or order samples to discover the tactile differences between bindings, finishings, cover durability, and more. When you're ready for custom book printing, get started with a free, no-obligation quote. If you have any questions about the book binding process, our printing experts are here to help, every step of the way. We're ready to deliver any quantity of books you need printed, quickly, professionally, and efficiently. Get started with your project today!