Saddle-stitch binding is a popular and affordable method commonly used for Comic Books, Zines and other items with low page counts. We slot folded printed sheets inside each other, and at the fold line, we secure them from the outside with metal staples. 

Important Page Setup Information

Paperback Books and Magazines are usually perfect bound. This option is available when you select a certain number of pages or reach a particular paper density. It's ideal for reinforcing your inner pages as they are glued together and attached to the spine before the cover is added.

If you choose this binding method, you can print a spine. We calculate the spine length for you, and you can find it in your Shopping Cart. If you choose not to supply a spine print file, no print work will appear in this area.

One difference you should be aware of is PUR-bound items. This binding type is more hard-wearing than standard Perfect Binding. The difference is in the adhesive. Perfect binding uses Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA), an efficient and fast-setting adhesive. In contrast, PUR uses Polyurethane Reactive (PUR), which provides greater flexibility, and makes it tougher to pull pages out from your book. 

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For wire-O binding, we punch holes along one side of your printed pages before fastening them with a coated, metal coil binding. This option is a popular choice for Booklets, for example. The main advantage of wire-O is that your prints will lie flat when opened or can easily fold back on themselves. 

Important Page Setup Information

Like Wire-O binding, spiral binding or coil binding involves threading a spiral coil into holes along the binding edge to join pages together. It's a cost-effective option for small and large print runs and can accommodate a range of page counts. The ease of movement spiral binding provides means pages can open freely at 360 degrees, lay flat and allow you to locate specific pages faster. It also prevents information or design features from becoming lost or obscured by the binding edge.

Important Page Setup Information

Layflat Binding lets you print seamless double-page spreads; every page will lie flat when opened. It's a great alternative to Perfect Binding. We'll fold single-sided printed pages in half, then glue the blank side to the next blank side of the next spread and continue until it forms a book block (folded inner pages gathered ready for binding). 

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Interior Pages (Hardcover)

Cover (Hardcover)

Hardcover Bookbinding, or Casebound Bookbinding, is used on books with higher page counts to ensure they're durable. The cover is a non-flexible cover supported by a backboard, making it incredibly sturdy.

When ordering a Hardcover Book, note that the artwork setup is different from our other products. Most covers need four-page design files (front page, inside front page, back page, and inside back page). But Hardcovers only need a front cover, back cover and a spine.

Thread-sewn binding is also available. Besides glueing your pages together, thread-sewn binding adds extra strength to your book. Mixam uses Smyth Sewing, whereby groups of pages are stitched together with a binder thread. The sewing allows books to lay flat when open.

Mixam also offers binding from left to right on products like Hardcover Books. Left-handed writers and languages like Hebrew and Arabic particularly favor right-to-left book printing. After you've uploaded your files, click the text direction icon, and you can switch your binding to the opposite side.

Important Page Setup Information

Interior Pages

Cover