A publication has a number of different books and magazines being printed daily. All these books and magazines come in different size and have a design of their own. Some are thick, while others are comparatively thin. It often becomes difficult to figure out the perfect binding option for these different kinds of publication products. All these products have usabilities and features that are quite different from each other. So the requirements for publishing these products will obviously be different. These products are also published using different binding options.
Two of the most common binding options are Perfect Binding and Saddle Stitch binding. It is important to know which kind of binding option a book or a magazine will require. This is because the rules for printing for all the publication products depend on a lot of factors like thickness of page, colors to be used etc. Here in this article you will find which one is better from Perfect bound and saddle stitch.
What is Perfect Bound?
Perfect bound is one of the most common techniques often used in order to bind soft cover books. It is commonly used to bind print media like books, journals, magazines etc. The perfect bound technique of binding makes use of glue for making the pages stick to the spine. The spine is a part of the front cover and is created by bending the front cover. The pages are then glued to this inner area of the bent front cover. There is no other layer or joint between the front cover and the spine. This helps in creating a smoother and a more aesthetic front edge. With perfect bound booklet, you also get the advantage of a better wrap-around printing.
Advantages of Perfect Binding
- The overall look and appeal of a perfect bound brochure is great.
- Perfect Binding has a printable spine.
- Perfect Binding offers longevity. It is especially recommended for books with a heavy usage.
- It is quite easy to creatively interleaf page in perfect binding.
Limitations of Perfect Binding
- Perfect Binding doesn’t lie flat at all. This makes you lose the design space.
- Perfect Binding is especially recommended for books that have thick pages.
- The binding process here is quite similar to others, but you will always have to allow an extra day in order to produce a perfect bound brochure.
When to choose Perfect Binding?
Publications that produce books with a larger page count make use of perfect binding technique. Any publication that has more than 68 pages attached to it must make use of this technique. The production cost of a publication using perfect binding technique might be slightly higher than producing a saddle stitch brochure publication.
What is Saddle Stitch?
Saddle stitch binding is usually preferred for books with a limited number of pages. It is great for for creating pamphlets and magazines that have less than a 100 pages. Also, the page count has to be in multiples of 4. But Saddle Stitch has its own limitations.
The binding technique of saddle stitch requires full sheets of paper. These pages are then stapled together in the center. After doing this, the book, along with the cover, is folded along the line of the paper in two halves. This technique proves to be cost-effective as there is no use of glue anywhere in the process. The production of saddle stitch books is quick and efficient. Because it doesn’t waste paper or require glue, it is also considered as an eco-friendly process.
Advantages of Saddle Stitching
- Saddle stitch binding is the least expensive binding option available out there.
- Producing a saddle stitch book is quick.
- Most printers produce saddle stitch books in-house, so it is quite popular and also widely available.
- It lies flat in comparison to other binding options.
- It allows you to create special gatefold and foldouts.
- A saddle stitch book can make use of a separate cover or even a self cover.
Disadvantages of Saddle Stitching
- The wire stitching eventually affects the paper. Saddle stitch binding is not recommended to books that have a heavy usage. So there is not enough longevity.
- The amount of paper variations offered in saddle stitch binding is quite limited. What happens on the front side of the page will also affect the back side of it.
- It doesn’t offer a printable spine.
- If the documents you are trying to print together are thick, saddle stitch binding wouldn’t be a good option then.
- A saddle stitch book might also require specific design adjustments for the creep. This is often needed in small formats with high number of page counts.
When to use Saddle Stitch?
Saddle stitch is suitable when there are multiple pages bound together is folds of 2 or 3. This fold is known as the spine. Any booklet that has 8 or more than 8 pages can be produced using saddle stitch binding technique. This technique is more budget friendly compared to the perfect binding technique. It is perfect for magazines or pamphlets that are produced on a regular basis. The limitation caused here on the number of pages is because of the creep. Page creep is when the inner sheets stick out farther than the other pages.
Which binding technique to use?
In a situation where you have too many alternatives available in front of you, it is great to work with a print vendor who can help you choose the right binding technique for your publication products be it a book, a magazine, or a pamphlet. Having support of a good print vendor is crucial for producing good quality publications. Working with a print vendor will help you find solutions to problems you might not have even imagined yourself.
If you are looking for a more traditional approach which is also less expensive, you should go for saddle stitch. But the product needs to be of 8 or more pages. But if you are producing books that have a heavy usage, along with a printable spine and a beautiful look to it, then you should opt for perfect binding. Remember, perfect bound book printing is an expensive option, compared to saddle stitch binding.
