Perfect Binding Tutorial - VCUarts GOlab

Perfect binding is a type of bookbinding in which the pages of the book are bound together by gluing rather than sewing, stapling, or with wire.

The perfect binding machine in the Golab uses thermal activated binding, like hot glue.

Once bound, a book has a spine and a fore-edge. The fore-edge is the outer vertical edge of the pages of a book, where you turn the page. The spine is the part of a book’s cover that encloses the inner edge of the pages.

The perfect-binding process requires you to have a cover for your book, a bone folder, a craft knife, a pencil, pages for your book, and a ruler.

1) Trim the pages of your book to the desired dimensions. The open lab has a guillotine available for use.

2) Measure your spine, if you are creating a cover for your book and printing it, incorporate the measurement into your file. If your cover is blank include it when trimming.

3) Trim your cover to size. Your paper should be a moderately heavy weight.

4) Fold one of the folds for your spine. The machine will take care of the other.

5) Place the cover in the machine at the same angle of the machine. The front cover should hang out and the inside cover should be facing up towards you.

6) Place your pages into the machine with the spine side going down on top of your cover. Clamp the book and use the lever to flip the spine up and expose it. Double check that your pages are even!

7) Using the scoring mechanism, score the spine. It should be visible scored, but not excessively. Flip the book back down and compress the spine to ensure the scoring does not increase the width of your spine. Flip the book back up.

8) Apply the glue using the hot glue mechanism until the spine is fully coated. As you bring the glued spine down to the cover, hold the cover with your other hand and bring it up to meet the spine before it comes into contact with the machine. Compress for about 30 seconds. Release the clamp and gently remove the book.

9) If necessary, trim the book. Only the fore-edge should be trimmed. Trimming the top and bottom edges of the book could cause the spine to break.

The construction of your book is now finished. It’s advised to give the book a decent amount of time for the glue to settle, we recommend one to two hours.

This tutorial is presented to you by The VCUarts GOlab! Thanks for watching!