Bindery Terminology
Some printing, like stationary, or small posters, can be delivered as printed, but most jobs must be converted from printed sheets to a finished work. Here we list some of the terms to describe bindery. This is the process by which printed sheets are put together to form books, magazines, catalogs, or even greeting cards.
Pamphlet Binding
This is a general term for binding folders, booklets, catalogs, etc., as opposed to bookbinding. There are generally five steps in pamphlet binding: scoring, folding, gathering or collating, stitching and trimming. Most printing requires one or more of these.
Scoring
A score is a crease in a sheet of heavyweight or cover paper to facilitate folding.
Folding
There are two kinds of folds: parallel and right angle. In parallel folding, each fold is parallel to the other. An example is a letter which requires two parallel folds for mailing. A right angle fold are folds that are made at right angles to each other.
A four page folder is the simplest folder with only one fold either long or short. Used for instruction sheets, price lists, etc. An example is an 11x17 sheet folded in half to 8-1/2x11.
A six page folder is made with two parallel folds either regular or accordion style creating six pages. Additional folds can be used to create eight, twelve, or sixteen pages, and so on.
Stitching
After the pages are collated, they can be stitched together. The two methods of stitching are the saddle-stitch and the side-stitch. The thickness and bulk of the paper determines which is used. The saddle-stitch is the easiest and least expensive. A booklet is laid down flat, and the stitches are fastened through the spine of the booklet. Side-stitches are used for bulkier projects. The stitches are inserted 1/4†from the back edge of the booklet, so the inside margin must be a bit wider. Side-stitched books can’t be opened flat and usually have glued on covers.
Perfect Binding
Perfect binding is an inexpensive form of bookbinding, eliminating the expense of sewing and case-binding books. The pages are instead held together by a flexible adhesive. A special lining is put over the backbone and a cover is glued on. A paperback book is a good example of this.
Mechanical Binding
Notebooks use this method because they need to open flat. The sheets are punched with round or slotted holes on the binding edge. Then wire or plastic coils or rings are inserted through the holes keeping the notebook together. Examples are Spiral Binding and Coil Binding.