Bookbinding Resources & Instructions
GENERAL
Bookbinding Tools and Materials List
Cutting Mat
X-Acto Knife
Metal Ruler (with cork on underside preferred for safety)
Precise ruler for measuring (thin and/or translucent ones best)
Pencil
Bone Folder (For scoring. We have these for your use at school.)
Paper Tape from Pharmacy or 3M > 3M 1530-1 Micropore Tape (Pack of 12) – Amazon
Small and/or Medium synthetic brushes. (We have these for your use at school.)
Bookbinding glue such as Lineco (We have glue for your use at school.)
BINDING
A. Accordion-fold Binding (for test print and Editorial critique only)
• Bind pages together by taping on back with paper tape, and attaching all pages together, as I demonstrated in class. (If you need a blank somewhere, this needs to be bound in as well.)
Accordion-fold Binding Video Tutorials:
Accordion-Fold Book Instructions
B. Perfect Binding with Liquid Glue (for final Editorial binding)
1. Assemble your book block (single pages stacked together). There are two different options for how you prepare these pages:
• Print your pages individually (with crop marks and “bleed”), 2-sided.
You can use thinner/text weight paper or the heavier weight paper but choose based on the look-and-feel you are aiming for.
2. Gather all pages in order and carefully adjust to make sure all are aligned to one another.
3. Have two or more binder clips to help keep your book block organized and together while binding Clamp opposite edge of pages with binder clips so that the “spine” end is free and ready to be glued.
4. Use 3-4 heavy books to make a DIY “book press” that you will use to hold your book during the gluing process (As I demonstrated in class.)
See schematic drawings and instructions for this method (PDF) >
Stack books and “sandwich” your book block (all interior pages) with the “spine” edge hanging out. (See image below.)
5. Glue book edge using bookbinding glue in thin layers. Carefully coat the “spine” edge with glue and then let it dry for 15-20 minutes before you put on the next layer. Do 5-6 layers of glue, letting each dry between applications.
HOW TO ATTACH COVER TO BOOK BLOCK
Order of operations:
– once you have perfect bound your Editorial, measure the width of your spine so you know how much spine you need on your InDesign Cover document
– cut cover out using bleed edge (not crops) all sides – slightly “in” so no white edge
– place finished book block down on top of cover and figure out how wide the spine will be (closing book around it to check overall book width and height)
– measure for where spine score should be on “inside cover” side
If 1/8” spine, then measure in from right edge 10+1/8” for first score, then flip book around and do the same from other side to figure out where second score goes
– score spine using the blunt edge of a metal paperclip or edge of metal binder clip (or a bone folder).
To score, carefully run the edge of the paperclip or binder clip where you want the “score” to fall, approximately 5-6x pushing down/exerting pressure on the paperclip/binderclip.
– fold spine scores carefully from the “outside cover” side, working along score using your fingers, teasing it into folded position little by little
– put book block in to check fit of spine and finalize where to cut cover height and width
– [VERY IMPORTANT]: add the 2 additional scores on both Front and Back covers (.5”-1″ from first scores) Fold these in opposite direction, teasing along score as you did above. (These are the scores that help the book open better, and give more locations for glue to be added to adhere cover to spine.)
– fold the additional scores (these will allow book to open when book is closed)
– put glue on book block edge AND inside entire “u” of spine
– place book block inside and clamp with binder clips facing down towards book spine
– stand up to dry using reams of paper
– let dry 40 min minimum
– check edges and trim open long edge, cutting through covers and pages carefully. Must use sharp/new x-acto blade and go slowly and carefully. Many strokes to cut.
– repeat this on short edge top/bottom only if necc.
SEE Handout for how to Score and Attach Covers here >
SEE Video reference which covers adding extra scores,” gluing, and attaching Cover by watching this video, start at 2:49 in the timecode >
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BOOKBINDING MATERIALS LIST
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Perfect Binding Video Tutorial:
Perfect Bookbinding Tutorial by Sea Lemon
Handout
bookbindingschematic PDF
This handout describes how to do a perfect-bound binding, and how to attach a cover to either a perfect bound book or accordion-fold bound book.
The only difference is that for the perfect-bind you would not be folding sheets for the “French fold” method because of the size of the Editorial and printing – they will be single pages.
Misc Bookbinding Links
http://badgerandchirp.blogspot.com/p/tutorials_12.html
Book Binding Tools by Sea Lemon
How To Choose Paper and Cover Stock
All About Bookbinding, including Materials and Master List of Tutorials
Buy Bookbinding Materials Online (Blick Art Materials)
Buy Bookbinding Materials Online (Talas)