Printing Resources
Learn about printing, proofing, and finishing operations, the ins-and-outs of paper, and find conversion charts useful to the graphic arts and printing industries.
Printing 101
Bindery
Bindery is a post-press process that involves assembling printed material and fashioning it into a finished piece with multiple pages.
Each bindery process has different considerations for look, cost, and durability. While Whitley offers the most popular bindery operations, we have relationships with "trade binderies" to offer virtually any type to meet your specific needs.
Saddle Stitch Binding
Covers are scored, folded, and laid on top nested signatures. One, or more, wire staple (stitching) is applied, passing through the spine to the book’s middle, which is then trimmed.
Perfect Binding
Signatures are stacked, and the stack’s spine side is milled to remove the folds. Then melted adhesive is applied along the spine, the cover is applied, and folded around the book. Which, is then trimmed to create a flat, square spine.
Case Binding
Signatures are stacked and sewn together (Smyth sewn) or glued (perfect case), then trimmed on three sides. An outer cover (case) is manufactured separately, then attached to the sewn "book block" by gluing the inside of the front and back covers to the first and last pages or end sheets.
Screw and Post Binding
Cover and pages are stacked and trimmed on all sides. Holes are drilled on one edge and fasteners are inserted from both sides and screwed together. Posts can be unscrewed to add or remove pages as needed.
Mechanical
Plastic Comb Binding
Trimmed covers and pages are assembled and drilled. A plastic “comb” is opened, inserted through the holes, then closed. Comb can be opened for addition or removal of pages as needed.
Mechanical
Spiral and Double-Loop Wire Binding
Trimmed covers and pages are assembled and punched. A spiral plastic wire, or doubled wire piece is fed through the holes holding the book together.