Do you need to print a book, catalog or magazine and are not sure which binding to choose?
You have come to the right place!
In this article we explain well what is the meaning of unsewn paperback and floss binding–the two most common and widely used techniques for binding books.
Wire bind, book paperback, greased, milled… for those who are not experts in the field, all these terms can rightly lead to some confusion. Therefore, we will explain, as simply as possible and by points:
- what is the meaning of paperback
- what is the meaning of milled paperback and its characteristics
- what is the meaning of wire binding and its characteristics
- which binding is best to choose to package the publication you want to print
Once you get to the bottom of the article, we are sure you will know how to choose which type of binding is best for your publication! Ready? Go!
First of all: what does paperback book mean?
Let us first explain what the meaning of paperback is. A paperback is a type of binding that packages the book by joining the cover-usually made of paper or cardstock-to the signatures, which are the set of sheets that make up the publication.
Like any type of binding, the paperback not only serves to unite the pages you have printed, but also gives accomplished form to the product, ensures its durability over time, and facilitates usability for the reader. Now that we’ve clarified what paperback means, let’s also say that there are different types of paperback: greased or milled paperback, stitched or sewn paperback, staple and metal spiral!
The diversity of these types is all in how the set of sheets are processed once printed and joined to the cover. Let’s see in summary:
- If the sheets are glued directly to the cover, it is called a blank or milled paperback
- If the sheets are first bound together with a wire and then glued to the cover, it is called wire bound paperback
- If metal staples are used to join the sheets to the cover, it is called staple binding
- If rings are used to join the sheets to the cover, it is called metal spiral binding
The two bindings for your books: milled paperback and thread binding
We have seen that the meaning of paperback and the different types of paperback. In this article, however, we want to focus on the meaning of milled paperback and spool thread-these are in fact the two most commonly used types of paperbacks!
Remember: if you want to bind a book or any publication with more than 50 pages and present it to the public in a good and formal appearance you must refer to these two types of paperbacks!
Milled paperback: what is it?
Milled paperback, rough binding, glue binding: basically they are all synonyms! It is one of the most widely used bindings for books, is fast and inexpensive, and is recommended indicatively for books containing up to 150 pages.
Milled paperback is made by gluing a cardboard cover onto the spine of the sheets. Prior to gluing, however, the signatures-that is, the sheets of the publication folded into fourths, eighths, sixteenths, and thirty-second parts-are milled on the side to which the cover will be glued. There are two types of processing in this case: the sheets can be trimmed or grooved (the latter processing is what is properly called roughing).
The goal is one: to make the backs of the sheets irregular, so the glue will be able to penetrate the material more easily and thus last longer!
In the Pixartprinting catalog you can choose different types of paper for your milled paperback. An ideal paper for this type of binding is a lightweight, porous paper (you can find our brief guide to the characteristics of the most common papers here).
Wire stitched paperback: what is it?
Wire stitched paperback is a more advanced binding method than milled paperback because it requires an extra step: the signatures-that is, the pages of your publication-are stitched together before being glued to the cover so that you have a single block.
A thread made of cotton, hemp, linen or synthetic material is used for stitching. Stitching provides better durability and greater resistance to wear and tear than milled paperback, and also costs more and takes longer to make.
flickr/Horia Varlan
[CC BY 2.0].
Although more expensive and slower to make, this technique is particularly suitable for durable items where the quality of the finished product must be particularly appreciated. Compared to the unsewn paperback it adds an extra touch of craftsmanship and quality and is suitable for even bulkier books that exceed 150 pages and use heavier papers.
As with the unsewn or milled paperback, the sheets are glued to the cover. But before gluing, they are sewn in the center together.
When to choose milled paperback
We recommend that you choose milled paperback if your publication has fewer than 150 pages, if you have a smaller budget available, and if you want to bind your work quickly.
The book is definitely the most common destination for this binding method. You can also keep it in mind if you plan to print:
- school texts
- brochures that are particularly rich in content
- magazines
- dissertations
- catalogs
- yearbooks
Binding with this technique therefore is an especially economical and fast choice–Pixartprinting offers online printing and milled paperback bindings in 24-48 hours.
When to choose the stitched wirebound paperback
We recommend that you choose wire-stitched paperback if your publication has more than 150 pages, if you have a higher budget available, or if you want to have a more elegant product to present.
Compared to the milled paperback, the wirebound paperback is definitely the more professional one, particularly if we are dealing with readers or users who can appreciate its workmanship. Therefore, it is the most suitable binding technique if you want to make:
- a particularly valuable book
- an illustrator’s sketchbook
- a graphic designer’s or designer’s portfolio
- a particularly meaty corporate catalog
- a graphic novel
Compared to previous bindings, however, lead times are longer. Pixartprinting delivers products made in stitched wirebound paperback in 7 days.
How will you bind your next publication? Wirebound or milled paperback?