Binding Styles

Cased and limp books may be unsewn, notched or sewn (unsewn and notched binding are the same price, but notched binding is not available for books printed on our digital presses). A sewn book is more durable and expensive, than an unsewn book and is only usually necessary for publications referred to regularly, such as dictionaries or high extent titles, where the sewing adds additional strength to the binding.

Limp binding – also called softback or paperback binding.

Cased binding – (also called hardback or cloth binding) There are two main case binding styles: i) With a printed paper cover pasted down to the boards (also known as PPC binding) or ii) with cases made from imitation or real cloth and embossed. A jacket is optional.

Loose-leaf binding – is common for reference work where text may need to be easily updated. Pages are drilled for insertion into a ring-binder.

Wiro binding – is useful for reference books that are designed to lay flat (e.g. cookery books and workshop reference manuals).

Wire stitching – (also called saddle stitching) is used for magazines or low extent titles where the text bulk is insufficient to limp bind.