What do “Shopping Bags” have to do with a bindery? It’s simple…we make them! I feel the production of custom designed “Shopping Bags” has potential for future business for graphic designers and printers. As you can see from these pictures “Shopping Bags” come in very conceivable size; narrow, square, odd shaped, some are sewn (see pictures #1, 2, 3), some…
Read moreWe find that we are producing books and boxes with a wider range of materials. In no particular order of frequency the following pictures display unusual, durable, effective and creative ways to use unusual materials. Picture #1 is a “Sheeted cork.” It can be a flat “cover” sheet as pictured or as pictured in #8. Cork can be made into…
Read moreWhat are Acco Fasteners (sometimes called “Acco prong paper fasteners” or “Acco 2-piece prong fasteners” or “Acco 2 hole fasteners”)? All Acco fasteners consists of two pieces of metal (almost always shiny silver). Two flat “prongs” are slid through 2 round holes drilled in paper. The second metal piece called a “slider” has both prongs inserted through; bent and two…
Read moreWhat is pin-hole perforating? Pin-hole perforating is perforating but with a difference. Round “holes” of paper are actually removed. You’ll recall that (Postage stamps are minimally used) were pin-hole perforated. The commonest uses are for “postage-stamps” as pictured in #1,3,4,6,8,9,10 and 11. Other application for “pin-hole perforating,” would be for coupons (picture #7), wraps (picture #13), tear-off panels (picture #14)…
Read moreWhat do clipboards have to do with a bindery; more than you might think! Clipboards can be a marketing/sales tool. The “board” can be made of metal (see picture #22), plastic, wood or slate. As you can see from these pictures the “clip” portion can be metal or plastic; various colours, various styles, various surface textures and various opening mechanism…let…
Read moreWhat is “plasticoil” binding. Plasticoil binding is a plastic spring which is inserted into PUNCHED paper that has a line of punched holes. Ninety-nine percent of the holes are round. Sometimes (only rarely) there are holes that are flat on 2 sides and rounded at the ends. Plasticoil is one of four styles of binding called “Mechanical binding” that are…
Read moreWhat are sunken labels (or embossed position)? Labels that are “sunken” or labels in a “debossed position” are labels (of any shape) that are glued into the cover of a book at the “bottom” of a embossed “valley” which has been embossed “stamped” previously into the cover. The following pictures show various sizes and shapes of labels. If for instance…
Read moreThis project required creative input, a very fast turnaround and tremendous attention to detail. The image below shows a fabric casewrapped, casebound book that is housed inside the box. The next image shows a long black satin ribbon, which is positioned under the book. The client requested that the book fit tightly inside the box. How can the user get…
Read moreAbout a year ago, I did a blog posting on Side Sewing. I’m repeating the topic but not the details! For the past year, we have (as we always do) responded to market demands and we have added 5 new improvements and, in addition, solved a problem! The image below is a Side Sewn book that is 1) thicker than…
Read moreWhat are Exposed Smythe Sewn Books? This style of binding has no cover on the spine. One the spine, all you see is folded sections, thread and glue. The image below is the first we ever bound in this style for a major Toronto printer. Since then, we have done several. I’ve said before that I’m not smart enough to…
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