Examples of Binding

Reference to: The Production Manual, a graphic design handbook- Ambrose/Harris

Comb Binding

A spine (comb) of plastic rings that bind and allow a document open flat.

Spiral Binding

A spiral of metal wire that winds through punched holes allowing the publication to open flat.

Wiro Binding

A spine of metal (wiro) rings that bind and allow a document to open flat.

Open Bind

A book bound without a cover to leave an exposed spine. 

Belly Band

A printed band that wraps around a publication, typically used with magazines.

Singer Stitch

A binding method whereby the pages are sewn together with one continual thread. 

Elastic Band

An informal binding whereby an elastic band holds the pages together and nasties in the centre fold. 

Clips and Bolts

A fastening device that holds loose pages together. This Usually requires the insertion of a punched or  drilled hole for the bolt or clip to pass through.

Perfect Bound

The backs of the sections are removed and held together with a flexible adhesive, which also attaches a paper cover to the spine, and the fore edge trimmed flat. Commonly used for paperback books. 

Case or edition binding

A common hard cover book binding method that sews signatures together, flattens the spine, applies bedsheets and head and tailwinds to the spine. Hard covers are attached, the spine is usually rounded and grooves along the cover edge act as hinges. 

Canadian

A wiro- bound publication with a wrap-around cover and an enclosed spine. A complete wrap -around cover is a full Canadian and a partial wrap-around is a half Canadian.