Not all soft bindings are created equal. Know the standard options of the publisher. If the standard offerings don’ already do so, can they include elements that you are interested in? This should be a factor in choosing your publisher/binder.
August 2009, V8#8: Production Wednesday, Aug 5 2009
Book Production binding, book, choice, option, soft binding, softbound 2:47 pm
April 2009, V8#4: Design Monday, Apr 6 2009
Book Design clipart, design, endpaper, format, frontice piece, guide, hardbound, hybrid, photography, rule, softbound, stock 8:44 pm
There is no “silver bullet” for proper publication design or format. However, there are some very basic rules to get you ready to go:
Some basic ideas to make your publication special (some ideas for Hardbound {HB} or Sofbound {SB} only)
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Use colored paper (to match cover) as section dividers.
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Use clipart or stock photography to liven up pages where you don’t have personal items.
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Do add other things besides text.
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Place information you might otherwise place on the endpapers (HB) or inside of cover (SB) as the frontice piece and the last printed page in the book for economy.
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Add a CD or DVD of extra material – even color photos for printed b/w in book.
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HB: Match your end papers to the cover (main) color.
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HB: Use custom printed end sheets (end papers).
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HB: If offered, use stock pre-printed end papers such as marbleized, etc.
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HB: Consider dust jackets versus color covers.
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SB: Print on the inside of the cover.
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Post Publication: Hand number (or stamp) each book.
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This section is drawn from
http://www.gregathcompany.com/publish/design
March 2006, V5#3: Production Thursday, Jan 29 2009
Book Production and Electronic Magazine acidity, ascetic, book, cloth tape, fastback, method, rust, side stitch, soft binding, soft bound, softbinding, softbound, stitch, tape and staple, wire 4:47 pm
There are those who like the ascetic look of a finished side stitch (tape and staple) book. For those, we now also offer, upon request, the fastback cloth tape method to eliminate the acidity/rust factor of the wire stitch through the years.
February 2006, V5#2: Production Thursday, Jan 29 2009
Book Production and Electronic Magazine binder, binding, durability, hard binding, hardbinding, material, soft binding, softbinding, softbound, three ring, type 4:39 pm
Among the various types of soft bindings, material placed in a three ring binder is considered softbound. Some might consider it hard binding however, due to it’s low durability, it is generally considered soft binding.
September 2005, V4#9: Design Thursday, Jan 29 2009
Book Design and Electronic Magazine binding, collector, color, deluxe, edition, family book, gift, hard bound, hard cover, hardbound, printing, publishing, soft bound, soft cover, softbound, special order, split, standard, text block, type 3:34 pm
Splitting binding types for economy: Final book publishing costs can be reduced by the types of bindings that are chosen. While a full project of hardbound books (standard, deluxe, or color) may not be affordable, a publishing of softbound books are. Depending on the project, it may be possible to hard bind a few of these special to accommodate special paid pre-orders, special gift and family books, collector editions, etc. By printing the text blocks at the same time, offset orders even saves on printing, versus publishing a hand full of hardbound books separately.
May 2005, V4#5: Design Wednesday, Jan 28 2009
Definitions and Electronic Magazine binding, choice, color, element, family crest, hard bound, hardbound, publisher, sceme, service, soft bound, softbound, tartan 5:57 pm
Too many choices to decide? Consider choosing a color (scheme) that matches a favorite color, allow the publisher to select something, or take the color (scheme) from family crest or tartan.
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This section is drawn from information online at http://www.gregathcompany.com/bindings.html
January 2005, V4#1: Production Wednesday, Jan 28 2009
Book Production and Electronic Magazine binding, binding tape, cloth tape, cover, fastback, glued, perfect binding, perfect bound, reinforcement, side stitch, soft binding, soft bound, softbinding, softbound, tape and staple 5:24 pm
Binding: A new standard soft binding possibility, especially with small quantities is the Fastback cloth tape method which is a bridge between tape and staple and perfect binding: The block of the book is glued like it would be for a perfect binding with front and back covers attached. Then to cover the glued edges and for further reinforcement a strip of cloth binding tape is used for the spine.
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This section is drawn from information online at http://www.gregathcompany.com/sb/index.html
January 2005, V4#1: Design Wednesday, Jan 28 2009
Uncategorized fastback, imprint, method, publishing, soft binding, soft bound, soft cover, softbinding, softbound, spine 5:14 pm
Fastback suggestions: With the fastback method, a spine imprint may be added, but not very economical on small publishings. It may also be possible to use a wider variety of specialty covers economically. With the fastback method there are a limited number of fabric colors available for the spine – one can design their cover to either contrast or match the spine.
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This section is drawn from information online at http://www.gregathcompany.com/sb/index.html
November 2004, V3#11: Production Wednesday, Jan 28 2009
Book Production and Electronic Magazine book, bound, CD, CD sleeve, core, envelope page, hard bound, hardbound, hybrid book, mixed media, soft bound, softbound, spindle 3:25 pm
If a CD is to be included with your book, work with your publisher for the best way to do so. If producing a soft bound book, a special envelope page bound in the spine might be best for holding a CD. With a large hardbound book one might choose to glue a CD sleeve onto the end sheet, or a spindle core – if neither are available as part of the end sheet. Of course, a CD can also be included in a book purchase without attaching it to the book – it’s own sleeve/jewel case, etc. sent along with the cover letter for mail order and explained at point of purchase.
