Perfect Bound Books

Perfect bound books: the paperback finish

Perfect binding is the method used for paperback novels. The page edges are glued into a wraparound cover, which creates a flat, square spine that you can print a title on. It gives reports, catalogues, annual reviews, poetry collections, family histories and self-published books a polished feel, and it is suited to short-run printing, including a handful of copies.

When to choose perfect binding

It suits documents of roughly 40 pages or more, once there is enough thickness to form a proper spine. Thin documents are better stapled. Page count does not have to be a multiple of four, although an even number of sides is needed since each sheet has two.

The main drawback is that perfect bound books do not lie fully flat. If people need to read with both hands free, such as with a workbook, a manual or a recipe book, consider wire binding. For a book that will be used hard over years, look at thread sewing.

Self-publishing short runs

Many first-time authors want a few copies for family, friends and local events rather than thousands in a warehouse. A short run lets you check how a book feels and correct any errors before you invest further. Here are a few practical points:

• Trim size: A5 is an easy and affordable choice for fiction and memoir. Other sizes are available on request.
• ISBN: you only need one to sell through bookshops and retailers. In the UK, ISBNs are issued by Nielsen.
• Legal deposit: UK publishers are required to send one copy to the British Library, with further copies on request. Check the current guidance if you publish commercially.
• Spine width: this depends on page count and paper, so we confirm it before you finalise the cover.

Preparing your files

We normally need two separate PDFs: one for the inside pages and one for the cover. The cover file is a single wide spread, showing the back cover, spine and front cover. Set the inside text with generous margins on the spine edge, because glued pages curve into the binding. A margin of at least 15 mm is a good starting point for an A5 book. Page numbering and blank left-hand pages need planning too, since chapters traditionally begin on the right.

Cover finishes

A matt or gloss lamination protects the cover and gives it a more finished look. Matt looks understated and suits literary and corporate work, while gloss gives bright photography more punch. Dark covers can show scuffing at the spine, so lamination is particularly useful for them.

Getting started

Send us your page count, size, quantity and when you need it. We will quote, and we can check your files first. We can also lay out your text and cover design free of charge when we print the job. Because the glue must set properly before trimming, perfect binding usually takes longer than stapling, so please allow extra time.