Booklet Printing and Binding
Booklets are versatile as they’re used in many applications from event programs to company brochures, product listings, catalogs, short magazines, annual reports and more. “Booklets” is a broad term used to identify anything that is folded and stapled along the spine, which is called saddle stitching. Booklet printing can be done in various sizes and numerous page signatures.
Booklet Printing: Pages
Thinking about the number of pages, sheets required when flat or after being folded can be very confusing to understand and explain. It is best practice to think of booklets in terms of the number of pages. So if you picked up any published book and looked at each page number then those are the total booklet pages in your booklet.
Booklet Binding
There are 3 most common types of booklet binding:
Saddle Stitch:
Saddle stitched booklets are booklets that are folded and stapled on the spine. Generally, two staples are used to bind a set of 60 pages or less. Saddle stitch is the most inexpensive way to bind booklets for short runs as well as newsletters.
It is important to note that for saddle stitched booklets, all pages have to be in signatures of 4 pages. This is because when one sheet is folded in half, four sections or pages are made: front outside, front inside, back outside and back inside. So booklets have to be in fours, and can be a 4 page, 8 page, 12 page, 16 page, 20 page, 24 page, 32 page, 36 page, 40 page, and so on booklet. An easier way to remember is that the number of pages that you need to form a booklet has to be divisible by 4.
Coil/Wiro Binding:
This refers to the plastic (coil) or metal (wiro) binding along the side of the books. Workshop modules, training programs, study guides, reference manuals, and legal submissions are usually bound using coil binding. Coil or wiro binding booklets can range at a higher page count of 250-400 pages. This method of binding booklets is also good for short-medium runs with its greatest advantage being the paper that lays flat once open as opposed to saddle stitching or perfect binding.
Perfect Binding:
Perfect binding is the method of binding that uses glue along the spine of the book. It is the type of binding used in all soft cover books that you can find at your local bookstore. This method of binding is usually for thicker magazines with higher number of pages as well as for annual reports and all types of self published books.
Booklets come in all sizes, colors, and finishes. Booklet covers can be printed on a thicker paper than the inside sheets, giving them sturdy, professional, and higher-end characteristics. Moreover, booklet covers can be finished with matte lamination, gloss lamination, UV coating and more.
Key Points
Usage: Booklets can be used for newsletters, training materials, event programs, annual reports, etc.
Perfect for: Any business that needs to pass-on information. Booklets are great for any self-published work and event itineraries.
Tip: Pay attention to the binding style here, as it will determine how long your audience will keep it. Coil, wiro, and perfect binding have greater longevity than saddle-stitch.