In this final our 10-part series, I’ll look at questions that must be answered when commercial printers are asked to produce a quality hardback book or case-bound book. Some basic information that will obviously be needed includes the quantity, number of pages, stock weight, book size, and if the book has any foldouts. Referring to the diagram below, I want to point out at least seven important questions that every bindery will likely ask you in the quoting stage.
- All hardback or case-bound books have endpapers. Are the endpapers white – and will they be supplied by the bindery or coloured or printed by you?
- Some books have no headbands and some may have one or two headbands. Your bindery will ask you how many headbands there should be.
- Will the material wrapping the board be litho-printed by you, or will the wrap cloth or other material be supplied by the bindery? If the litho wrap is supplied by you, it must come to the bindery laminated with a film that can be glued. Measure the thickness of the cover carefully, as it could be anywhere from 40-point to 140-point board.
- Are you shipping the pages to the bindery folded, or do you want the bindery to fold them?
- How are the pages held together – by thread sewing or perfect-bound by glue?
- Does the hardback or case-bound book have a flat spine or a rounded spine?
- Does the book have a loose, removable printed jacket?
Bottom line: Crystal clear two-way communication between your shop and your bindery of choice will help to avoid costly errors and ensure satisfied customers.
