Binding
> slipcases
This is a box structure that protects the book inside. It is usually made from a hard and durable material, and can also be used to group several books or disks in one place. It is naturally slightly bigger than its contents, but should be design so that the contents fit snugly inside.
> edition binding
This binding has a rigid cover, usually stitched to the spine. Signatures, or bundles of printed sheets sewn together, are sewn together and then sewn into the spine of the cover. It is a strong binding, but expensive, due to the labour-intensive process.
> japanese
This method is highly decorative, but not very practical. The pages are sewn together using one long thread, forming an upright spine. This means that the pages do not open very flat.
> Canadian
This technique combines wire binding and a type of perfect binding, in which a cover is wrapped around the book, and the spine of the cover is glued to the spine of the wire binding. This method makes the book more hardwearing, is neat and allows the book to open flat, without cracking the spine.
> perfect binding
Is often used for paperback books and magazines, the binding consists of two types of paper, one soft and one more rigid for the cover. It is glued down the spine, and the pages are embedded in the glue. The spine is heated, and the glue cools, holding all the pages in place. The sides are trimmed to form a neat book.
> saddle stitching
This is similar to hardcover books, in that the pages are stitched together through the centrefold (this is called saddle stitching). This type just lacks the hard covers, but is just as durable.
> wiro
In wiro binding (spiral binding) the holes are punched through all the sheets together, and a comb-type binder is fed through pre-punched holes. This binding allows the pages to bend back on themselves, without breaking the binding.
> hard cover
This type of binding has a rigid, board cover, and is usually stitched to the spine of the cover. Typically, this involves stitching together sections of printed sheets into bundles known as ‘signatures’. These ‘signatures’ are then stitched together, and sewn into the cover.