Applications
Saddle stitch binding is a fast and low-priced binding technique which uses wire staples to secure folded sheets of paper. It is a sturdy and durable binding option that works well with a wide variety of product configurations and sizes. Saddle stitch binding is the perfect solution for many different publications, such as advertising leaflets, brochures, menus and newspapers. This is because saddle stitched products open flat when the page count is not too high (unlike perfect bound products). This assures that no content is lost in the gutter which is especially important for food and drink menus, for example. Saddle stitch binding works best with low page counts and requires a publication to have a minimum of eight pages. There is a limitation on the number of pages this binding type can accommodate despite using a longer wire since staples can only hold so many pages. Moreover, higher page counts can impair the opening behaviour. If it is too bulky, a saddle-stitched product will not lie flat and will be inclined to spring open. Moreover, saddle stitching does not allow the spine to be printed.
Different paper types can easily be mixed with this technique. For example, you may use a thicker paper for the cover of the publication than for the inner section. But paper type variations are also possible for the inside pages of your printed product (per sheet). Saddle stitching is a great way to incorporate smaller formats, e.g. for specially themed inserts or registration forms, within a larger publication. A variety of finishing options can also be implemented without difficulty, such as different coatings and film lamination types for the cover (e.g. of brochures).
"Saddle stitching is a very popular binding method. It holds all pages and the cover together securely and makes sure that the printed product is easy to open and read. Optional loops make it a breeze to archive printed material. This is why saddle stitch binding is so popular for image brochures, magazines, direct mail and more."
The details of saddle stitch binding
Production technique
With saddle stitch binding, multiple folded sheets of paper are nested one inside the other. Then they are stapled together along the spine edge in one workflow using a long spool of metal wire which is cut and folded to resemble a staple. The spine is the crease along which the sheets are folded in half to produce four pages. The stitching machine passes the staples through the folded crease from the outside which are then clinched between the innermost pages to create a durable bond between the wire staples and the printed product.
The ends of the wire staples are located on the inside of the printed product. The staple length depends on the page number and the paper weight of the product. The more bulk the printed product has, the longer are the wire staples. Usually, two staples are used to securely fasten the sheets of paper together. Four staples may be required to bind very large formats. After binding, the product is (usually) trimmed on three sides.
Optional loop stitch binding
Loop stitch binding is a variant of saddle stitching which uses loop-shaped staples on the spine outside that allow the product to be clipped into a ring binder or lever arch file, eliminating the need for punched holes. We offer the loop stitch option for many of our saddle stitched products.
What to observe with saddle stitching
The relationship between paper weight and page count
Paper weights of up to 350 gsm can be processed with saddle stitch binding. But: The higher the paper weight and the bulk, the fewer pages can be incorporated. For comparison: Up to 40 interior pages are possible when using 250 gsm art paper whereas up to 128 pages can be included with 90 gsm art paper. The page count must be in multiples of four. Single pages cannot be processed with saddle stitch and loop stitch binding.
Stacking saddle stitched publications
Saddle stitched products are somewhat difficult to stack. This is because the side along which the staples are applied through the center fold is always thicker than the opposite side where the product opens. Due to this circumstance, saddle stitched products are not easy to stack.
Bundzuwachs
Page creep of saddle stitched prints
When the sheets are collated and folded in half, the pages closest to the centre spread will "creep" or extend out further than the pages closer to the cover. To account for this, the product will be trimmed after folding to even out the edge. But this also means that the inner pages are shorter than the outer pages, which is referred to as the creep.
The creep must be accounted for when setting up the artwork for the printed product or else elements near the edge may be cut off. The creep can be calculated as follows: Creep = page count of the inner section : 4 x paper weight: 1000
For more information on calculating the creep of brochures, see our FAQs.
Design tips
Submitting the artwork
Please note that the page count of saddle stitched products must be in multiples of four because they are printed on sheets that are folded in half.
Imposition
We impose the inside pages of your printed product. Imposing consists of the arrangement of the pages of the catalogues, brochures and other printed products on the sheet. Therefore, please set up single pages in the artwork file instead of spreads or export consecutive singles pages to a PDF file if you have worked with spreads.
Cover
For brochures with an additional six-paged cover, i.e. brochures with a front or back flap, you have to submit the cover artwork as a separate file.
Avoid designs across two facing pages
Designs running across two facing pages should be avoided because the exact alignment of the sheets (and hence the designs) cannot be guaranteed with saddle stitch binding. Expected tolerances range between 1.0 and 2.0 mm.
Alternatives to saddle stitch binding
The choice of the binding technique depends on the properties of and the requirements for the printed products. Saddle stitch binding is the right choice of binding for brochures, menus, advertising circulars as well as magazines and catalogues with lower page counts. Depending on the application and page count of the publication, other binding options may also be eligible. Here are some examples:
- Perfect binding is the ideal choice for products with higher page counts such as catalogues, magazines, paperback books and brochures.
- Thread sewn binding is a superior and very long-lasting method of joining pages. What is more, this binding techniques allows processing products with high page counts, such as books, elegant magazines or brochures.
- Binding techniques that allow the printed product to open flat, such as wire-o binding, are recommended for training documents as well as bachelor's theses, master's thesis or other graduation papers.
