Catalog Printing

Fold the impression (cut or uncut) into several folds according to page number and sequence. The fold with multi-pages is called a signature of book-block. After collocating the folded signatures into volumes by order and combine them, it is called saddle stitching.

Impression→folding→collating→wrappering→saddle stitching→cutting



Saddle stitching is when a project with a page count divisible by 4 is laid flat on the saddle. Staples are usually placed inside the spine (the crease in this case), also known as the gutter, to hold the pages together. Often times a saddle stitched booklet only requires 2 staples. This technique is not to be confused with side stitching or side staple where the staples are placed a ¼" from the spine on the front of the piece as opposed to inside the spine, which prevents the project from opening flat as it would with saddle stitching. Saddle Stitching is best used with smaller page counts because as the page count goes up so does the amount of creeping which can occur.

Creeping is when the inside pages "creep" out beyond the outside pages. This can be fixed by trimming the inner pages. However, this can result in ruined margins or cut off text. Trimming can be accounted for by the designer making the inside pages slightly smaller to accommodate the trimming, but this can be incredibly time consuming (and costly). The best way to avoid creeping is to leave saddle stitching to smaller projects such as low page count magazines, calendars, zines, comic books or small pamphlets.

Perfect Binding Process


Sewn Binding Process

Perfect binding is often used, and gives a result similar to paperback books. National Geographic is one example of this type. Paperback or soft cover books are also normally bound using perfect binding. They usually consist of various sections with a cover made from heavier paper, glued together at the spine with a strong glue. The sections are milled in the back and notches are applied into the spine to allow hot glue to penetrate into the spine of the book. The other three sides are then face trimmed. This is what allows the magazine or paperback book to be opened. Mass market paperbacks (pulp paperbacks) are small (16mo size), cheaply made with each sheet fully cut and glued at the spine; these are likely to fall apart or lose sheets after much handling or several years. Trade paperbacks are more sturdily made, with traditional gatherings or sections of bifolios, usually larger, and more expensive. The difference between the two can usually easily be seen by looking for the sections in the top or bottom sides of the book.

The video shows why the press can print rich colors in CMYK 4 colors. By stacking the four colors of transparencies step by step, the complete color image seen is formed.