Bookbinding is a Short Run Press speciality. We offer a wide range of styles from a simple saddle stitch to a fine leather case. We have the craft skills to give you sound advice and to produce whatever best suits your requirements and budget. All of the options below are suitable for publications printed using lithographic or digital printing technologies, or even a combination of the two.

Paperback styles

Case / Hardback binding -

There are two main styles of case binding, both requiring a gathered book block (which can be sewn, perfect or notch bound). Once a block has been formed, a flexi-line is applied to the spine and trimmed to size. The cases are made from grey board with either cloth / leather or the printed cover attached. Many extras can be added to cased books; for example, head and tail bands or ribbon markers, but the main options are as follows:

Case:

Cloth or leather is drawn on to grey board, embossing can then be applied to the spine, front and back.

Jacketed case:

As case, but a jacket is folded and wrapped around the finished book block. The printed paper case is the cheapest option but it is nevertheless hardwearing and very durable. Most cased books will be sewn but it is possible to produce a budget-cased book by either perfect or notch binding the book block.

Printed paper case (PPC):

The cover is drawn on to the grey board.

Perfect binding 

This form gathers the folded sections and mills 3mm from the spine where the hot melt glue and cover are applied; an economical solution widely used in both litho and digital printing.

Saddle stitched -

After folding the sections they are inserted into the cover for twin wires to be stapled through the centre of the booklet. Best suited to shorter extent publications where the bulk is less than 3mm.

Sewn binding -

After folding and gathering, each section is thread-sewn to the next to create a sewn book block. This book block then has a hot melt glue and its cover applied. A more costly solution but the strongest - and generally considered the best.

Slot or notch binding -

Like perfect binding it gathers folded sections, but while they are being folded notches/ slots are cut into the spine. The gathered sections have hot melt glue and cover applied, so keeping the folded sheet in tact. Considered by some to be stronger than perfect binding for much the same price.

Wiro binding -

Collated and trimmed book blocks are bound using a coil like wire. Good for opening and laying flat, e.g. music books or publications for photocopying, there are also other options such as Half-Canadian and Full-Canadian binding.

Associations

BPIF -

Short Run Press has been an active member of the British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF) for many years. This enables us to stay up to date with the latest developments, regulations and standards within the printing industry.

We are a member of the BPIF’s Special Interest Group for Book Production.

Click on the logo below to visit their website.

IPG -

We are proud members of the Independent Publishers Guild (IPG) and take an active role in the Digital Special Interest Group. As a supplier to many IPG members, we feel it important to support the organisation, have a constant communication and stay relevant to the requirements of publishers. Click on the logo below to visit their website.

Soil Association -

Short Run Press has worked with the Soil Association to achieve and maintain FSC and PEFC Chain of Custody certification. Our certification gives both peace of mind and proves FSC and PEFC paper used by SRP is globally certified and originates from well managed forests. Click on the logos below to visit their websites.

FSC -

DEBI -

We recently joined the Devon Environmental Business Initiative (DEBI) to support the sustainability of Devon and local environmental issues. Click on the logo below to visit their website.