Saddle stitch binding is a popular and cost-effective method for binding printed materials. It involves folding sheets of paper and stitching them together along the fold line, creating a clean and professional appearance. This method is known for its quick turnaround time and versatility, accommodating various sizes and page counts, typically up to 64 pages. Despite its simplicity, saddle stitch binding is durable and sturdy, making it an excellent choice for magazines, catalogs, and booklets. Its affordability and efficiency make it a go-to option for many printing projects.
Multiples of Four
If you look at any magazine, catalog, or brochure, you’re probably looking at an example of saddle stitch binding. It is one of the most popular book binding methods available today. In saddle stitching, folded sheets of paper are nested one within another and attached by staples through the fold. These stacks are placed over a holding apparatus, with each side hanging over like legs on a saddle. Then, long wire staples are threaded, or “stitched” through the paper, giving the method its peculiar name. While two staples is the standard for saddle stitched booklets, larger paper sizes can necessitate more along the spine.
The page count of a saddle stitched booklet must be a multiple of four, including front and back covers. If you fold one sheet of paper in half known as a “signature”, you will naturally end up with 4 different “pages”. Each additional sheet of paper added after this would increase the page count by 4. As a result, the minimum number of pages in a saddle-stitch booklet is 4. The maximum number of pages depends on factors including paper thickness, although 64 pages is considered a reasonable upper limit. With especially thin paper, you can get up to around 100 pages before the book becomes too thick to lie flat naturally.
What are the benefits of saddle stitching?
Today, saddle stitch binding is still the most cost-effective book binding method that still produces quality and professional looking brochures and booklets. Especially in cases of large quantities being shipped long distances, saddle stitching adds a minimal amount of excess bulk and weight, leaving shipping costs relatively low. While saddle stitching is generally best for lower page count projects, the method is extremely versatile and can be used for both long and short runs, as well as projects ranging in size from pocket pamphlet to road map. Depending on the paper thickness, texture and finishing, the end product can be as simple or high end as needed.
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