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From the most basic trim to the most complex folds, the binding is the perfect bow to tie up any book or publishing project. But did you know that each binding technique has its pros and cons, too?  

Here are the pros and cons of the three (3) most commonly used binding techniques: the saddle stitch bind, the perfect bound, and the spiral bind to make it easier to choose the most suitable for your project. 

THE SADDLE STITCH BINDING

The saddle stitch bind is usually done by binding a bunch of pages together using two stitches on the side. This binding technique is ideal for projects with images that flow across the bind on the center or gutter jumps.

Pros: It is also the least expensive and most efficient bind. The stitches in this binding type look neat and concise, and materials bound using the saddle stitch are light and easy to distribute. 

Cons: You can only use it for materials up to 80 pages; otherwise, the book will bulge and open up. We recommend using the perfect bound if you should go beyond 80 pages.

THE PERFECT BOUND

Otherwise known as the softcover book binding technique, the perfect bound uses durable thermal glue to bind the covers and pages of a book into a pleasant and sturdy spine. 

Pros: You can use the perfect bound for any amount of pages, even beyond the 80-pages limit of a saddle stitch. The ideal bound can also make a book look nicer with its spine, which you can label with the title and details of the book, making them easy to identify when stacked neatly on a shelf.

Cons: It is a bit more expensive and takes more time for printers to do the perfect bound. It is also a little harder for the artist to layout because they need to be mindful of the spine and binding space at the gutter. The gutter jumps may also not look as neat with the ideal bound as with saddle stitches because it requires space for the spine binding the pages.

THE SPIRAL BINDING OR DOUBLE COIL BINDING

Spiral binding and double coil binding only differ in material and look. But the two have the same functionality, so they belong to the same group of binding techniques. The spiral bind is best for binding pages you want to turn readily and lay completely flat when you open them. 

Pros: They make the book or published material easier to use since a spiral bind lets the book stay open and lay flat as you flip through. For example, they are ideal for cookbooks because you want to keep the page open and turn quickly while going through the recipe when cooking. Or for binding notebooks and calendars for which you can even add a coil to hang.

Cons: It is a little more expensive and doesn’t allow you to have gutter jumps for your layout. 

For graphic design, printing services, and binding project requirements, please check our website or contact us to get all the help you need for your printing jobs.