Applications
Thread sewn binding is a classic binding technique that has many advantages. Because the pages are stitched together firmly, it is the most durable type of binding with strong holding power. This high-quality binding method creates products that lie completely flat when placed on a table. In contrast, opening a perfect bound book to its full extent may cause damage to the binding and result in pages falling out in the worst case. For this reason, thread sewn binding is popular for high-quality hardcover publications, such as illustrated books, cook books or scientific papers. Other application examples of thread sewn binding include fiction and non-fiction books, children's books, dictionaries and comic books. Thread sewn binding assures that all pages are firmly held together even when the book gets heavy usage.
Printed products with thread sewn binding have and upscale and sophisticated look. This visual advantage comes in useful especially to add a touch of class to magazines and catalogues. Moreover, many people appreciate thread stitched hard cover notebooks because of their superior look, great strength and longevity. Thread sewn binding is the right choice for high-end publications that really make a statement and inspire with their longevity and top quality.
„Thread sewn binding is of a very high quality. This binding technique is both classy and highly durable for many years. This is why our customers choose it for high-quality publications that are handled and referred to frequently, such as scientific papers, exclusive product catalogues or glossy magazines.“
The details of thread sewn binding
Production technique
Compared to other binding types, thread sewn binding is more time-consuming and expensive but also the most durable and high-quality solution.
Before binding, the sheets are folded in the middle, assembled in the correct order and stitched together. Unlike saddle-stitching, all pages of a book are first divided into several signatures and then sewn together. Usually, four sheets of paper are collated and sewn together along the centre line, producing 16 consecutive (book) pages that form a signature. All signatures of the final product are then stacked and stitched together at the spine and the loose ends are tied off with a knot. The resulting book block assures a firm and durable bond between all pages and is the hallmark of top quality books.
When producing catalogues or magazines, glue is applied to the book spine and the cover is attached in a next step. Subsequently, the book is trimmed on three sides to even out the edges. The adhesive used to glue the cover to the book block is temperature-resistant, flexible and tear-proof. It supports the excellent lie-flat behaviour of the thread sewn products.
In addition to gluing the book block, spine lining fabric (a strip of gauze) is applied to the spine for extra stability. High-quality publications, such as hardcover books, additionally feature two endpapers which connect the book cover with the interior pages. The endpapers are glued to the book block and the cover at the front and back to create a strong and long-lasting product of superior quality.
What to observe with thread sewn binding
Relationship between paper weight and production effort
Paper weights of up to 200 gsm can be processed with thread sewn binding. But: The higher the paper weight and the bulk, the fewer sheets can be assembled to form a signature and the more expensive production of the thread sewn printed products becomes. To produce a catalogue made of 250 gsm paper, for example, perfect binding is the only eligible binding method; thread sewn binding no longer works in this case.
Design tips
Submitting the artwork
The page count of the thread sewn product must always be divisible by four since only spreads can be assembled as sheets and sewn together to yield the required signatures.
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 catalogues with a six-paged cover, i.e. products with a front or back flap, you have to submit the cover artwork as a separate file. Moreover, the cover page with the flap must be 2 mm shorter than the size of the closed product.
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 thread sewn binding. Expected tolerances range between 1 and 2 mm.
Alternatives to thread sewn binding
The choice of the binding technique depends on the properties of and the requirements for the printed products. Thread sewn binding is ideal for printed products with high page counts. It is extremely durable but slightly more time-consuming and expensive to make. Depending on the application and page count of the publication, other binding options may also be eligible. Here are some examples:
- Perfect binding is very popular to create catalogues, magazines as well as thicker booklets and brochures because it is suitable for products with high page counts.
- Saddle stitch binding is a good choice for printed advertising material, brochures or newspapers with low page counts. It is optionally available with loops instead of plain staples to allow the finished pieces to be inserted in a binder or lever arch file.
We offer thread sewn binding for the following products:
To order catalogues with thread sewn binding instead of perfect binding, choose the "thread binding" option under "binding" on the product information page.
