Publications

Did you know that the oldest preserved book was created in China in 868? For each of its pages, a wooden block or plate was carved with a mirrored text. By rubbing it, they imprinted the text into the paper. The first woodcut books, known as xylographic books, spread mainly in the 14th century. They were made of folded and protected sheets.

The development continued, and Johannes Gansfleisch, known as Gutenberg, began using movable type and a printing press in the 15th century. With this invention, the first printed books—incunabula—were created (printed by the end of 1499). The print runs of books and their binding increased. Through 500 years of development, we arrived at the book as we know it today.

Binding techniques have changed throughout history in accordance with the development of technology. Until the first half of the 19th century, book printing and binding processes were done by hand. We know several types of binding depending on the cover material (hardcover and softcover), sewing techniques, and the use of binding materials (cloth, leather, metal…). In the past, luxurious and expensive bindings were important, well-known, and highly valued. These bookbinding products are true masterpieces of manual labor and design, and part of the artistic craftsmanship tradition.

How to Decide Which Binding to Choose?

The most important factor when choosing binding is the number of sheets or pages in the book block. If the book block has fewer than 24 pages, only binding with a metal spiral is available, which can bind a minimum of two sheets or four pages, and wire stitching or a staple can bind two sheets or eight pages. Let's also mention net binding, which can bind from two sheets onwards.

When the book block exceeds 80 pages or the thickness of the spine is more than about 4 mm, wire binding is technically impossible due to the excessive thickness of the spine. Even with spiral binding, the spine thickness is limited to a maximum of 22 mm.

For larger publications starting from 32 pages, soft binding is available. There are two methods for creating soft binding. In the first method, the spine of the book block is trimmed and glued into the cover, while in the second method, which ensures a more durable binding, the book block is first sewn with thread and then glued into the cover.

Both methods of soft binding are available from approximately 32 pages upwards, up to 800 pages or more, with a maximum spine thickness of 50 mm.

If the publication is intended for rare or occasional reading, then choose soft binding with trimming and gluing. If the publication is expected to be frequently used and needs to be more durable, we recommend binding in which the book block is sewn with thread. Finally, choose a cover, which can be made of cardboard (soft binding) or chipboard (hardcover).

 

Sadle stitching is a technological process in which a stitching machine connects several sheets with metal wire and stitches them in the spine with two staples, folds them in half, and trims the front side to the final format. The product created through this binding method is called a catalog, booklet, notebook, etc.

Wire stitching allows binding publications with a range of 8-80 pages, or 4-20 sheets. Catalogs with a range of 8-24 pages are typically printed on thinner paper, while for publications with more than 28 pages, we recommend choosing a thicker cover, usually protected with a laminating film, for greater compactness. The total number of pages for catalog printing must always be divisible by 4 (16, 20, 24, 28 pages, etc.)!

Catalogs are available in standard formats, and they are most often printed in color, with black and white printing being less common. To make ordering easier, catalogs are divided into four categories.

In the Catalogues - Standard category, you can choose from standard coated and uncoated papers, with an option for a thicker cover, which can also be laminated.

In the Catalogues - Eco category, you will find uncoated, natural, 100% recycled papers (Impact Natural). Papers with weights ranging from 80-300 g/m2 are made from used paper, without optical brighteners, and they are an environmentally friendly choice!

If you choose the Catalogues - 3D UV Spot category, you will have the option to order catalogs with covers printed on thicker cardboard and then laminated with a matte film. The process follows with partial UV varnish printing, which is inherently glossy and creates an incredible visual effect on the matte surface. Since the thickness of the UV varnish layer is typically 40 microns, it gives a raised surface that can be easily felt with your fingers.

In the Catalogues - 3D Metallic Foil category, you can choose to enhance the cover with metallic foil in various colors. Digital heat printing is a new printing or enhancement technology that, unlike traditional techniques, is significantly faster and cheaper as it does not require expensive plates, making it suitable for small and medium print runs. The luxurious and attractive effects of the raised metallic foil undoubtedly create a unique visual effect that demands attention.

Brochure - Soft Binding / Milled, Glued

Brochure - soft binding (milled, glued) is a binding process in which the stitching machine cuts the spine of the book block on one side and applies hot glue (Hotmelt) while simultaneously folding the cover (4x) and then presses and binds them together. Brochure binding allows the binding of publications ranging from 40 to 800 pages, or up to a maximum spine thickness of 50 mm!

Brochures are printed in color or black and white, with an option for Hi-res (BW) printing suitable for printing photos or more complex graphics.

Technically, the brochure consists of two parts: the book block (content, insert, inside) and the cover (cover, wrapper). The book block is printed in the correct order on thinner papers ranging from 90-130 g/m², while the cover is printed on thicker paper or cardboard with a grammage of 300 g/m², which is then protected with a laminating film on the outside. Due to the flexible cover, this binding method is also called soft binding.

In the Brochures - Standard category, you can choose from standard coated and uncoated papers, with grammage ranging from 90-130 g/m², while the cover is printed on thicker 300 g/m² cardboard, which is laminated on the outside to protect it from mechanical damage.

In the Brochures - Eco category, you will find uncoated, natural, 100% recycled papers made from used paper, without optical brighteners, and they are an environmentally friendly choice! The grammage for the book block paper ranges from 80-135 g/m², and the cover is printed on 300 g/m² with an option for laminating.

In the Brochures - Creative category, you can choose from voluminous, slightly textured papers from Pergraphica, available in three versions.

In the 3D UV Spot and 3D Metallic foil categories, there is an option to enhance the cover with gloss varnish or metallic foil printing, allowing you to highlight specific details.    

Brochure - Soft Binding / Sewn with Thread

 

The advantage of thread-bound binding is the durability of the brochure, as the pages cannot fall out, making it suitable for long-lasting products that are frequently used and often opened. Such products certainly include workbooks, cookbooks, manuals, art books, etc.

In this binding method, printed sheets are machine-folded in half and then sewn together with thread (thread). Typically, 4 sheets (16 pages) are sewn together, though fewer can also be used.

The resulting folded bundles are stacked in the correct order and sewn together in the spine, forming the book block, which is then glued into a cover made of thicker material. The final step involves trimming the three sides to the final format.

This binding is suitable for publications ranging from 32 to approximately 800 pages, provided the spine thickness of the book block does not exceed 50 mm. The total number of pages for a thread-bound brochure must always be divisible by 4 (60, 64, 68, 72 pages, etc.)!

Thread-bound brochures are printed in standard formats, either in color or black and white, with an option for Hi-res (BW) printing, which is an excellent choice for publications that primarily feature photographs or complex graphics.

At Demago Print online printing, you can order brochure printing starting from 10 copies. To simplify ordering, brochures are divided into 5 categories.

In the Brochures - Standard category, you can choose from standard coated and uncoated papers with grammage from 90-170 g/m². The cover or wrapper is printed on thicker 300 g/m² cardboard, which is laminated on the outside.

In the Brochures - Eco category, you can choose from uncoated, natural, 100% recycled papers in grammages ranging from 80-170 g/m², with the cover made from the same material at 300 g/m².

In the Brochures - Creative category, you can choose from voluminous, slightly textured Pergraphica papers, available in three versions.

In the 3D UV Spot and 3D Metallic foil categories, you can opt for cover enhancement with glossy varnish or metallic foil printing in gold or silver colors.

Hardcover Binding

 

Hardcover binding is often used for more durable and prestigious book editions. In this binding, the cover is made from rigid cardboard, which, compared to a soft cover, offers better protection for the book's inner pages, ensuring long-term use.

It is the most complex bookbinding method, involving several technological operations, which consequently increases production time and the cost of the product.

Essentially, a hardbound book consists of the cover and the book block, which is sewn with thread or cord and then glued in the spine with gauze. The basic material for the cover is a rigid cardboard of 2.5 mm thickness, onto which we glue or laminate printed cover material (coated 170 g/m² paper), which is one-sided laminated with a foil of your choice.

Unlike in brochure binding, where the book block is glued into the cover at the spine, in hard binding, the book block is glued into the cover using a connecting or binding sheet (both front and back), allowing for seamless opening of the product. The binding sheets can be printed one-sided or double-sided, and by agreement, instead of white uncoated paper, we can use colored papers. The spine of the book can be flat or round, and there is also an option for choosing a headband, a ribbon marker, and vacuum-sealing the books.

This binding is suitable for publications ranging from 24 to approximately 800 pages, with the spine thickness of the book block not exceeding 50 mm. The number of pages for book printing must always be divisible by 4 (60, 64, 68, 72 pages, etc.)!

Books with hardcovers are available in standard formats, usually printed in color, and rarely in black and white, starting from 10 copies. For easier ordering, books are divided into 5 categories.

In the Books - Standard category, you can choose from standard coated and uncoated papers (90-170 g/m²), in the Books - Eco category, you can choose from uncoated, natural, 100% recycled papers (80-170 g/m²), and if you want printing on creative papers, you can find them in the Books - Creative category.

In the 3D UV Spot and 3D Metallic Foil categories, there is an option to enhance the cover with gloss varnish or metallic foil printing in gold or silver colors.

Wire-O Binding - Soft Cover

 

Spiral binding, or Wire-O binding, is a simple and fast binding method where the book block is punched along the edges and a metal spiral is inserted into the holes to create a solid book block.

The main advantage of spiral binding is the 360° opening of the pages, which is especially useful for anthologies, notebooks, reports, and other documents where easy handling or page turning is important. Another advantage of spiral binding is that it allows the document to open fully and lay flat on a surface.

Spiral binding is suitable for publications ranging from 4 to 240 pages (2 to 120 sheets), with the spine of the book block not exceeding 22 mm in thickness.

We print anthologies in standard formats, either in color or black and white, with the option for black-and-white Hi-res (BW) printing, which is an excellent choice for publications that predominantly feature photographs or complex graphics.

At Demago Print online printing, you can order anthology printing starting from 1 copy. To simplify ordering, anthologies are divided into 4 categories!

In the Anthologies - Standard category, you can choose from standard coated and uncoated papers, with the option to choose a thicker cover or wrapper, which can also be laminated.

In the Anthologies - Eco category, you can choose from uncoated, natural, 100% recycled papers (Impact Natural). Papers with grammages from 80-300 g/m² are made from used paper, without optical brighteners, and are an environmentally friendly choice!

If you select the Anthologies - 3D UV Spot category, you will have the option to order anthologies where the cover is printed on thicker cardboard and then laminated with a matte foil. This is followed by a printing process using partial UV varnish, which is glossy in its basic form and creates an amazing visual effect on the matte surface. Since the thickness of the UV varnish application is approximately 40 microns, it creates a textured surface that can easily be felt with your fingers.

In the Anthologies - 3D Metallic Foil category, you can choose to enhance the cover with metallic foil in various color shades. Digital heat printing is a new technology for printing or enhancing printed materials, which is significantly faster and cheaper than traditional techniques because it does not require the creation of expensive plates, making it ideal for small and medium print runs. The luxurious and attractive effects of relief metallic foil undoubtedly create a unique visual effect that demands attention.

Wire-O Binding - Hard Cover

 

Spiral binding with a hard cover is chosen when a more durable product is needed. The cover, made from rigid cardboard, ensures protection for the inner pages of the book block, significantly extending the product's lifespan while giving it a professional appearance.

The basic material for the cover is a 2.5 mm thick rigid cardboard, onto which we glue or laminate printed cover material (coated 170 g/m² paper), which is one-sided laminated with a foil of your choice. The inner side of the cover is then glued with unprinted coated or uncoated paper, and upon request, we can also print it. The size of the hard cover for spiral binding is always 5 mm larger than the format you select in the online print shop.

Spiral binding is suitable for publications from 20 to 240 pages (10 to 120 sheets), with the spine of the book block not exceeding 22 mm in thickness.

We print planners with hard covers in standard formats, typically in color, rarely in black and white. To simplify ordering, planners are divided into four categories.

In the Planners - Standard category, standard coated and uncoated papers are available for printing the book block, while in the Planners - Eco category, uncoated, natural, 100% recycled papers (Impact Natural) are available.

If you select the Planners - 3D UV Spot category, you will have the option to print with partial UV varnish, which is glossy by default and creates an amazing visual effect on the matte surface. In the Planners - 3D Metallic Foil category, you can choose to enhance the cover with metallic foil in different color shades. The relief effects of metallic foil undoubtedly create a unique visual effect that demands attention. For both cover enhancement options, you can choose printing on the front cover only or on both (front and back outer sides).

When we talk about bookbinding, we often focus on hand-made, traditional, and artistic binding techniques. The main purpose of every binding is to connect the pages into a neat product, keeping them together while allowing for easy opening and long durability.

At Demago Print, we offer so-called alternative bindings with screws or rivets. These types of bindings are particularly suitable for publications that require easy navigation through large amounts of information, such as technical manuals or sample books, as they allow the product to fully open and stay open. Based on the thickness of the book block, you can choose between screw binding or rivet binding.

Screw Binding: An alternative binding method where we drill one, two, or three holes in the book block using a drill and bind the book block with a screw. The thickness of the book block can range from 4 to 70 mm with this binding.

Rivet Binding: An alternative binding method where we drill two holes in the book block using a drill and bind the book block with a rivet or a metal eyelet. The thickness of the book block can be up to 4 mm with this binding!