In book binding, two or more flat layers of stiff paper are placed over a smooth top surface to create a bound manuscript. A book is an effective medium for preserving data in the form of text or illustrations, usually composed of several hundred pages covered together and protected with a leather or wooden cover. The technical term for the physical arrangement of a book is codex. The pages are bound to hold the desired sequence of content, from beginning to end. Most commonly the binding is achieved using a staple or glue.
There are a few ways to bind a book. First, the pages are inserted into a hole at one end, so that the pages cannot be torn before the book is closed. The classic example is the dictionary or legal book, which is closed at the middle with the index page facing out towards the reader. The other method is called getting. Here, the pages are inserted into the hole with the right side facing out towards the reader, so that when the book is closed, the pages are on the right side.
Before binding the book, the text and Illustrations must be arranged. For this, the pages need to be copied onto card or other media so they can be identified later. The text and illustrations are then printed onto regular paper. For this, high quality ink is required. To add to the visual effect, a UV coating is sometimes applied.
Next, the content is inserted into a specially made pocket or flap called a staph. This will be stitched around the edge of the book, undercutting the edges of the pages. If the book is not , a leather or vinyl pocket will do the job. After all the pages are stapled, the cover is attached.
Various types of bindings have been used over the years, depending on the volume of the bound book and the preference of the publisher. For example, historical documents and legal briefs were often published without any visible binding, using simple straps called sprigs. In more modern times, high quality papers, synthetic cloth, and plastic (or metal) was used for binding. All these methods had the advantage of being flexible and easy to clean, but there was one problem. They all produced some paper dust which fell out during the handling or reading of the book.
A new method, known as spiral binding, has been developed in recent decades. It is basically a two-piece form. There is a top sheet that passes through a series of strips, which are twisted together, and a core piece. This forms a tube-shaped binding. A thick paper stock, such as calfskin, is placed inside the tube and bound with strips of thin paper glued to the inside of the tube and to the outside of the spine. The resulting book has a very smooth exterior, free of paper dust.
A more popular method is known as hardback, which means the book is wrapped around a metal frame. The metal may be wood, glass, or even plastic. In hardback books, the pages are bound at the center, so there is no top or bottom sheet. Some books are published in two or three parts, with a first part printed and limited to the first 200 pages, then having the second printed on different colored paper. Hardback covers have the advantage of being more durable, resistant to smudging, and more difficult to break.
Other techniques include foil, sectional, board, saddle, gumbo, Japanese, vinyl, and hardback bindings. You can purchase your book either pressed or flat. Pressed is easier to read, but not as attractive as a flat bound book.