Typical products
- Perfect-bound books: Soft-cover books with glued spine — novels, guides, product books
- Saddle-stitched magazines: Folded and stapled booklets — up to ~80 pages
- Wire-bound (spiral) manuals: Lay-flat binding for technical manuals and workbooks
- Case-bound (hardcover) books: Premium hard-cover binding for presentations and special editions
- Product catalogs: Multi-page catalogs with cover and interior specifications
- Annual reports: High-quality corporate publications with complex layouts
- Event programs: Short-run perfect-bound or saddle-stitched programs
- Academic and institutional publications: Theses, dissertations, institutional books
Binding methods
| Method | Max pages | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Saddle-stitch | ~80 pp | Magazines, brochures, short manuals |
| Perfect binding | Up to ~500 pp | Books, catalogs, thick manuals |
| Wire / spiral binding | Any | Technical manuals, notebooks, cookbooks |
| Case binding (hardcover) | Any | Premium editions, corporate gifts |
| PUR binding | Any | Lay-flat books, heavy coated stock |
Finishing equipment
Binding and finishing operations are performed on Horizon equipment — an industry-standard brand for precision folding, stitching, and perfect-binding lines. Horizon finishing ensures accurate spine-gluing, consistent folio trim, and minimal sheet deviation across long runs.File preparation for publications
Publication files have specific requirements beyond standard flat print. Prepare files carefully to avoid remounting costs.Cover vs. interior
Always prepare cover and interior as separate PDF files:- Cover file: Includes front cover, spine, and back cover as a single flat spread. Spine width depends on page count and paper weight — confirm the spine width calculation with our team before preparing the cover.
- Interior file: All interior pages in sequential order, starting from page 1. Include blank pages where applicable to maintain correct imposition.
Page imposition
Spine width calculation
Spine width depends on the number of pages and the bulk of the chosen paper. As a rough guide:- 80 gsm uncoated: approximately 0.10mm per page
- 90 gsm coated gloss: approximately 0.06mm per page
- 150 gsm coated gloss: approximately 0.10mm per page
General file specs
- Format: PDF — separate files for cover and interior
- Color mode: CMYK; embed ICC profile if supplied
- Bleed: 3mm on all sides (cover and interior pages)
- Safety zone: 5mm inside all trim edges — especially critical near the spine and outer edges
- Resolution: 300 ppi for all images at final size
- Fonts: Convert to outlines or fully embed in the PDF
- Transparency: Flatten all transparencies before export
- Page size: Match exactly to the trim size (not the spread size, unless instructed)
Request a quote
Request a Publication Quote
Share the page count, trim size, paper specification, binding method, quantity, and any finishing details. We’ll come back with pricing and a production timeline.