06.04.2020 The Art of Bookbinding

Books Have Existed for Centuries
Books have existed for centuries. Over time, they have helped people gain education, kill time during periods without the internet or television, and allowed people to express emotions through poetry. A book is like a key to opening a portal that transports you to a completely different world. Sometimes they help us escape from reality into a fantasy world, while at other times they force us to see our reality in a new way. Books can awaken our imagination while simultaneously showering us with new information.

However, books are not just about content. It is important that the story or the content of the book follows a meaningful progression. This means that a book is not just a pile of scattered papers; it is much more. A book is a collection of written, drawn, or, in modern times, primarily printed pages, bound together and wrapped in covers.

Binding is very important in a book, and it is up to you to choose the type of binding you want. Below, we will describe the difference between glued and sewn books to help make your decision easier.

Glued Book
A glued book is usually a softcover book. Such a book has a cut spine and is glued into a cover, usually made of thick cardboard. It is recommended to laminate or plastify the cover, as this protects the book and extends its lifespan. In English, this type of binding is called "perfect" binding because the book, including the cover, is cut to the same size, hence "perfect".

Advantages of a "Glued" Book

• Cost efficiency - Books with a glued spine, or softcover books, are significantly cheaper than hardcover books.
• Lightweight – If you need to send a large quantity of books via mail, a softcover book is an excellent choice as it reduces postage costs.
• Versatility – A glued book has a wide range of uses; it is used for magazines, portfolios, workbooks, catalogs...
• Excellent presentation of the "book" – While a glued book with a softcover is cheaper, this does not mean it looks cheap. It is simply a more economical alternative to a sewn book with a hardcover.

Book – Sewn with Thread
The book block, or insert, is made up of sets (usually 16 sets or so-called bookbinding sheets). In each set, the sheets are stacked together (usually 4). These sheets are then sewn together at the spine with strong thread. The sewn insert can then be bound in a softcover (brochure, glued) or hardcover.

Advantages of a Sewn Book

• Safer binding – Sewn binding is safer as the pages or sheets do not fall out, as they are secured with strong thread.
• Flexibility – A sewn book is much easier to open, as it is more flexible, and the page stays open where you leave it.
• Variety – With sewn books, there are many options; the spine can be flat or round. You can also add a ribbon marker in various colors...

Because price is an important factor today, a glued book is definitely cheaper compared to a sewn book with a hardcover. However, you can opt for a combination of a sewn book glued into a softcover, giving you a slightly cheaper yet still higher-quality product, as sewn books are much more flexible and durable than glued ones.

With hardcover binding, there are more choices compared to regular glued binding. You can choose the shape of the spine (flat or round), the color of the headband, and you can also add a ribbon marker in a color of your choice... With all these additions, we bring elegance and sophistication to the final product.

As already mentioned, a hardcover book is much more elegant and refined, making it the right choice when a long-lasting publication is required, such as historical books, novels, biographies, encyclopedias...

Of course, we notice that many books in bookstores are sold with glued or softcover bindings because these books are much more practical. For instance, when reading on a plane, you would definitely choose a glued book, as it is lighter and won't increase the weight of your luggage.

Whichever binding you choose, we guarantee that the final product will be of high quality, whether it is a novel, a promotional catalog, a workbook, or a collection of poems.

Petra V.