Book Printing: 9 Advantages of Perfect Binding

What is Perfect Binding?

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Perfect Binding is an extremely popular softcover bookbinding method that uses a strong glue to join the book's cover and pages together at the spine.

The perfect binding process starts by collating the book's printed pages into a neat block. Hot melt glue is then applied to the spine edge of this page block, and a printed cover is tightly wrapped over it. After the glue cures, the book is neatly trimmed, creating crisp corners and clean "perfect" edges.

What are the Advantages of Perfect Binding?

1. Offers a Professional Appearance - Because the trimming is both even and precise, perfect bound books are aesthetically pleasing. The crisp corners and straight edges provide a professional and finished look.

2. Available in Any Run Size - Perfect bound books can be produced in short, medium, or long production runs. Whether you need 100 or 10,000 books, perfect binding is a readily available option.

3. Produces a Flat Spine - Perfect binding is the only softcover binding method that creates a flat spine. This flat spine is typically wide enough to accommodate printed text, such as the book's title, author name, or volume number, allowing for easy identification whether the book is lying flat or standing upright on a shelf.

4. Works with Most Page Counts - Perfect binding is suitable for books ranging in thickness from .125" to several inches. This makes it accommodating for most book projects, with very thin books as the only exception.

5. Economically Priced - Perfect binding provides a professionally bound book at a fraction of the cost of hardcover binding. A perfect bound book is also lighter than a comparable hardcover book, helping save on shipping costs.

6. Suitable for a Variety of Applications - Perfect binding works well for virtually all types of printed book projects, including manuals, handbooks, novels, directories, and journals. It is also ideal for thicker comic books, magazines, and catalogs.

7. Lies Perfectly Flat for Stacking - Since the perfect binding method creates books with a uniform thickness, these books stack perfectly on a desk, table, or shelf. Unlike some other softcover binding styles, there is no asymmetry in a stack of perfect bound books.

8. Durable and Long Lasting - The glued spine of a perfect bound book remains firm and resilient, holding up well during handling and transit. The cover can also have an optional clear coat or laminate applied to resist scuffs, moisture, and stains.

9. Can Be Made with Mixed Page Stocks - Perfect bound books can be made using various paper stocks for the pages. For instance, pages with images could be printed on a gloss-coated stock while the text pages are printed on an uncoated stock. Additionally, a section of the pages could be printed on colored stock to differentiate it from other pages.

If you have an upcoming need for perfect bound book printing, give Color Vision a call at 800-543-. If you already know your specifications and would like a quote, click here to submit our quote request form.

By the way, Color Vision uses Polyurethane Reactive (PUR) glue on all perfect bound book projects. PUR is a superior adhesive that offers exceptional strength and flexibility, which is why we use it exclusively.

We look forward to assisting you with your next book project!