What are Edge Cut Books? Simply, they are the open edges of a bound book (can be perfect-bound, saddle stitched or case bound styles) that are die-cut or “roughed” or roughly “SAWN” or roughly “slit”. The first two pictures are of a book that was PMC die-cut on all three sides. The next image shows the same PMC style die-cut…
Read moreWhat do Ribbons have to do with books? In our shop, we see a lot of Ribbons; they’re used as bookmarks. As you can see from the following three images, Ribbon Bookmarks have widths ranging from 1/4” to 3/4” wide and come in thousands of textures, colours and patterns. Ribbon Bookmark ends can be angle cut as the image below…
Read moreWhat is Remoistenable Glue? Traditionally, it is the glue that you lick (or remoisten) on an envelope flap. The vast majority of Remoistenable Glue applications are done by envelope manufacturers and by printers for multi-coloured pieces that are printed on a full web press. The type of glue used in these applications is a cold glue Remoistenable Glue that is…
Read moreWhat are Exposed Board Covers on casebound books? They are covers on a casebound/hard back book that are not wrapped with cloth, leather or lithowrap but are left exposed as plain board. These books are the same as regular case bound/hard back books in that they are Smythe sewn, have end-papers and possible extras like headbands, ribbon book marks, gilded…
Read moreWhat are Hubs (Hubbed Spine) in the context of book binding context? Hubs are raised, horizontal bands/ribs/ridges on the outside spine (binding edge) of a case bound book. This is another binding process that can only be fully explained by showing you pictures! In past centuries, up until maybe the 1850s, the Hub on a book’s spine was a thread…
Read moreWhat is Book Staining? It’s simply the application of stain or paint to the trimmed edges of bound books. We apply the paint using sponges, brushes or spray, depending on various factors like the type of stock used. In perfecting the Book Staining process, we overcame several difficulties by doing extensive experimentation and testing. We are experts on knowing what…
Read moreWhat are endpapers? An endpaper, traditionally, is the white paper inside the front and back covers of all hardback books. I said “traditionally” because today, designers can choose from almost any colour of stock for endpapers, the most common being red, blue, green, etc. Endpapers also used to be only uncoated stock. Now, we’re seeing coated and even shiny endpapers,…
Read moreTubes What have Tubes got to do with a bindery like ours? Well, as you will see in the following images, we are the guys who apply/wrap the litho sheets around the tubes and fill the Tubes! Tubes used to be used exclusively to mail wall calendars. Now, manufacturers produce 100,000s of Tubes to hold maps, artwork, socks, kids toys,…
Read moreWhat is a Chicago Screw? (I readily admit that I’m not the person who comes up with these names). A Chicago Screw is a hollow “pipe-like” tube that goes through a hole in a cover and paper to hold the paper together. At the top of the “tube” there is a small “slot style” screw head & the bottom of…
Read moreMetal Corners What do metal corners have to do with binding? Well, see the following pictures. We attach metal corners to ring binders, hard back books, soft covered books, and easel stands. The corners are actually metal. The corners come in literally 100’s of different sizes, shapes and surfaces. Most corners are square; some are rounded. Surfaces can be shiny,…
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