Adhesive is the binding of a leaflet or book by gluing 16 or 8-page signatures on the back of the book (e.g. school books are bound this way). However, this type of binding is not very solid. There is a quite powerful glue that can make them better (PUR) but it’s not widely used in Greece. Common binding machines cannot work with this glue, but buying a brand new machine is extremely hard.
Thread-sealing is the binding of each signature with thread and then gluing it on the cover.
In both binding cases we should be aware of the following:
- The cover must always be created on a separate file and in one piece, adding the back. On the inside of the cover, the back must be white so that the block can be glued on it. For instance, if we make a cover for a 21x29cm magazine which will be printed on both sides, on our page make-up program we should create a 21+21+backx29cm file. The size of the back depends on the number of pages and the thickness of the paper. Before creating the cover, it’s best to ask the binder on the size of the back. For example, in the previous case, if the back is 0.5cm, then our file should be 42.5x29cm. The half centimeter in the middle usually mentions the name of the magazine, the number of the issue and the month of publication on the outside. On the inside it should be white and we should make sure that advertisements are placed on its left and right side. (On some future post, we’ll talk about the different types of covers and how they should be created.)
Cover
Inside of cover
- We have to make sure that the page number is a multiple of 16, 8 or 4 (when talking about common book or magazine sizes: 21×29, 17×24, 14×21, 24×34). When the shape is square we usually refer to 12-page signatures. Each 16-pages form one signature. The first signature consists of the first 16 pages etc. The last signature could be 8 or even 4 pages. However, the binding of 4 or 8 pages cost the same as that of 16. So, if possible, it’s best to finish with a full signature.
- We never foliate the white pages of books.
- We create the pages as a body blank, so we can see exactly what the reader will receive.
- In the case of books, it’s best to leave two white pages – one in the front and one in the back – and many edges around the page. It’s even better to leave wider edges blank on the right side of right pages and the left side of left pages, so that the readers’ fingers will not prevent them from reading.
Adhesive binding\ thread sealing binding