Binding Styles for Handmade Books
When clients ask us to create a book or portfolio, their book's content usually dictates its binding style. Below are some of the binding styles that we build most often, along with a short explanation of how they function.
Western Case Binding
When you think of a traditional hardcover book, this is the style you're likely thinking of. The spine is encased, the book opens to lie virtually flat, the presentation is traditional. However, photos and ephemera cannot be added to the book, or else it will fan, or "yawn" open.
Long Stitch Binding
We choose to make our product line using this binding style because the books lie flat, but can accommodate added dimensional ephemera and photos. The exposed spine stitching adds a decorative element.
Stab Binding
A traditional Japanese binding style, Stab Binding is useful for binding flat (versus folded) pages into a book. Stab binding can accommodate photos, but only if spacers are added to the spine. This style of book doesn't lie flat when opened, but a longer horizontal dimension can minimize this issue.
Post Binding
Much like stab binding in structure, the difference with Post Binding is that posts can be removed so content can be added to the book. This style is great for portfolios with rotating content.
Accordion Binding
Just like it sounds, pages are folded into an accordion, a cover is added to both ends, and the book can be held closed with a ribbon. A fun binding style, accordions are great for guest books as they can be laid open across a table and multiple people can sign at once. Photos can be added to accordion books, as they have no spine.
Coptic Binding
One of the oldest binding styles, coptic is different in that the signatures (folded page groups) are exposed on the spine of the book. These books open flat, photos cannot be added (or they will yawn), but the knotted sewing threads have a wonderful look to them.
Whew! That's it for now. Coming soon, Handmade Box Structures! (For now, you can check out our post on Clamshell Boxes.)