Binding Documents and Books
eclipsePRINT offers several options for binding documents and books. Choices depend on the service required (quantity of documents, cost, speed) and the binder features (convenient handling, durability, re-entry, appearance and professionalism).
Combined with the bind, different cover options are available. Clarify what covers are to be used when discussing binding, and ensure that all costs are included in quotations.
Short run document binding is offered as an instant, while-you-wait service. Do feel welcome to bring is your own documents for binding, and even for re-binding (for example, if you need to add or remove a few pages, or to freshen-up a shabby document).
We define 3 categories of binding:
A. Document: Plastic comb, coil, wire and finally, staple and tape.
B. Book: Perfect and book.
C. Other: Fold and saddle stitch; and ring / lever arch files
1. Plastic Comb
The binding “element” is made of fairly soft plastic.
Colours: black or white. (Some sizes are available in blue and red.)
Size up to 50mm / 480 pages.
Recommended for: general purpose office and personal binding, and low-cost training material.
Advantages: low cost; fast binding time; the bound document is easy to handle and lies flat when opened; pages can be added or removed, and the same the same element is re-used; larger sizes have a D-shaped ring, as opposed the circular ring with medium and smaller sizes.
Disadvantages: has a utility / cheap appearance; does not fold back on itself entirely; the element tends to lose shape under heat e.g. hot car interior
2. Coil
Also known as “continuous” coil, it does not require clamping to close the binding element - the element is turned onto the document with a rotating action.
Colours: black, white and clear.
Size up to 18mm / 170 pages
Recommended for: presentation quality documents and documents used frequently, for example sales proposals and executive training material, catalogues and instruction manuals, and restaurant menus.
Advantages: modest cost; quick binding time; the element appears integral to the document, as opposed to appearing as an “add-on”; the bound document is easy to handle and lies flat when opened; folds back on itself entirely; the element is resilient to being crushed and regains its shape after mistreatment; pages can be added or removed, and the same the same element is re-used.
Disadvantages: when opened, you may not appreciate the left and right halves of the document not lining up exactly.
This is not usually seen as a problem, but rather as a detraction from an otherwise amazing bind.
3. Wire
Sometimes referred to as “wiro” binding, or “twin-wire”binding. The binding element is clamped onto to the pre-punched document.
Usually perceived to be more “classy” than comb binders, but challenged by coil binders as a better choice.
Colours: black, white and silver.
Size up to 32mm / 300 pages. 3:1 pith holes for sizes up to 14mm, and 2:1 pitch for greater than 14mm documents.
Recommended for: presentation quality documents and documents used frequently but carefully, for example sales proposals, catalogues and instruction manuals.
Advantages: modest cost; quick binding time; looks good, but nevertheless has that retro-fitted appearance; folds back on itself.
Disadvantages: the binding element remains deformed after rough treatment; a new element is required when pages are added to, or removed from a bound document.
4. Staple and Tape
The document is stapled along the side, and binding tape covers the staples and the spine.
Recommended for: low cost needs
Advantages: cheap; quick; has element of “security” - it is often possible to see if the bind has been opened covertly.
Disadvantages: when opened, the document will not easily lie flat, or remain open
5. Perfect Binding
This is the way in which paper-back books are bound. Perfect binding has a printed soft cover, glued to the spine.
Recommended for: books and manuals from about 50 to 400 pages.
Advantages: attractive; strong bind
Disadvantages: drying of the glue takes a few hours.
6. Hard Cover
This is a traditional bind, used to reflect that the content of the book has great value, or that it is to be nurtured and treasured.
Recommended for: reflecting great value
Advantages: Professional and appealing
Disadvantages: Higher cost; longer production time
7. Fold and Staple
Alternatively known as “fold and saddle stitch”, a more technical description. Pages are folded in half and stapled in two places on the fold. Up to 25 sheets of paper can be stapled.
Recommended for: education material, tourist guides, instruction manuals, catalogues
Advantages: very cost effective and quick to assemble, simple and robust.
Disadvantages: does not easily lie flat when still new.
8. Ring and Lever Arch File
Pages are punched with 2, 3 or 4 holes, for fitting to ring or lever arch files. Files are supplied either by ourselves or yourself.
Colours: many
Size: from 20 to 70 mm
Recommended for: education material, catalogues, quality management handbooks.
Advantages: pages can be added, removed and changed about very easily; available in different sizes; insert front and spine covers into protective sleeves.
Disadvantages: bulky - until eventually filled.
Combined with the bind, different cover options are available. Clarify what covers are to be used when discussing binding, and ensure that all costs are included in quotations.
Short run document binding is offered as an instant, while-you-wait service. Do feel welcome to bring is your own documents for binding, and even for re-binding (for example, if you need to add or remove a few pages, or to freshen-up a shabby document).
We define 3 categories of binding:
A. Document: Plastic comb, coil, wire and finally, staple and tape.
B. Book: Perfect and book.
C. Other: Fold and saddle stitch; and ring / lever arch files
1. Plastic Comb
The binding “element” is made of fairly soft plastic.
Colours: black or white. (Some sizes are available in blue and red.)
Size up to 50mm / 480 pages.
Recommended for: general purpose office and personal binding, and low-cost training material.
Advantages: low cost; fast binding time; the bound document is easy to handle and lies flat when opened; pages can be added or removed, and the same the same element is re-used; larger sizes have a D-shaped ring, as opposed the circular ring with medium and smaller sizes.
Disadvantages: has a utility / cheap appearance; does not fold back on itself entirely; the element tends to lose shape under heat e.g. hot car interior
2. Coil
Also known as “continuous” coil, it does not require clamping to close the binding element - the element is turned onto the document with a rotating action.
Colours: black, white and clear.
Size up to 18mm / 170 pages
Recommended for: presentation quality documents and documents used frequently, for example sales proposals and executive training material, catalogues and instruction manuals, and restaurant menus.
Advantages: modest cost; quick binding time; the element appears integral to the document, as opposed to appearing as an “add-on”; the bound document is easy to handle and lies flat when opened; folds back on itself entirely; the element is resilient to being crushed and regains its shape after mistreatment; pages can be added or removed, and the same the same element is re-used.
Disadvantages: when opened, you may not appreciate the left and right halves of the document not lining up exactly.
This is not usually seen as a problem, but rather as a detraction from an otherwise amazing bind.
3. Wire
Sometimes referred to as “wiro” binding, or “twin-wire”binding. The binding element is clamped onto to the pre-punched document.
Usually perceived to be more “classy” than comb binders, but challenged by coil binders as a better choice.
Colours: black, white and silver.
Size up to 32mm / 300 pages. 3:1 pith holes for sizes up to 14mm, and 2:1 pitch for greater than 14mm documents.
Recommended for: presentation quality documents and documents used frequently but carefully, for example sales proposals, catalogues and instruction manuals.
Advantages: modest cost; quick binding time; looks good, but nevertheless has that retro-fitted appearance; folds back on itself.
Disadvantages: the binding element remains deformed after rough treatment; a new element is required when pages are added to, or removed from a bound document.
4. Staple and Tape
The document is stapled along the side, and binding tape covers the staples and the spine.
Recommended for: low cost needs
Advantages: cheap; quick; has element of “security” - it is often possible to see if the bind has been opened covertly.
Disadvantages: when opened, the document will not easily lie flat, or remain open
5. Perfect Binding
This is the way in which paper-back books are bound. Perfect binding has a printed soft cover, glued to the spine.
Recommended for: books and manuals from about 50 to 400 pages.
Advantages: attractive; strong bind
Disadvantages: drying of the glue takes a few hours.
6. Hard Cover
This is a traditional bind, used to reflect that the content of the book has great value, or that it is to be nurtured and treasured.
Recommended for: reflecting great value
Advantages: Professional and appealing
Disadvantages: Higher cost; longer production time
7. Fold and Staple
Alternatively known as “fold and saddle stitch”, a more technical description. Pages are folded in half and stapled in two places on the fold. Up to 25 sheets of paper can be stapled.
Recommended for: education material, tourist guides, instruction manuals, catalogues
Advantages: very cost effective and quick to assemble, simple and robust.
Disadvantages: does not easily lie flat when still new.
8. Ring and Lever Arch File
Pages are punched with 2, 3 or 4 holes, for fitting to ring or lever arch files. Files are supplied either by ourselves or yourself.
Colours: many
Size: from 20 to 70 mm
Recommended for: education material, catalogues, quality management handbooks.
Advantages: pages can be added, removed and changed about very easily; available in different sizes; insert front and spine covers into protective sleeves.
Disadvantages: bulky - until eventually filled.
