Book Printing FAQs

PUR (Polyurethane Reactive) perfect binding is an advanced form of perfect binding that uses a special adhesive to create incredibly strong and flexible bonds. Unlike traditional EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) adhesives, PUR adhesive forms a chemical bond with the paper, resulting in a more durable and resilient binding. This method is ideal for publications that need to withstand heavy use, such as catalogs, manuals, and high-end books.

Because perfect-bound books cannot lay flat without breaking, a portion of each inside page will lose visibility into the spine. This inside gutter can take between ¼" and 3/8" of each page. Be mindful of this while designing and add an extra ½ "cushion to the binding-side margins of each page of your perfect-bound book.

A unique feature of perfect bound books is the ability to design the spine if it is more significant than 1/8th inch. You can keep it a solid color, add text, or have one continuous image covering the front cover across the back cover. Determining your spine width depends on the number of pages and the paper stock you have selected.

You can choose how quickly you need your books when you fill out the quote request. Timing can take anywhere from 3-14 business days or more, depending on what you select.

The minimum number of pages for a perfect bound book is 28, and the maximum is a 2" spine. The final maximum page count can vary depending on what paper you've chosen. Page count must be in increments of 2.

Crossovers are images that span two adjacent pages. They are not recommended inside a perfect-bound book due to gutters.

PUR perfect binding is an excellent choice for a variety of publication types, including:

• High-End Books: Ideal for art books, photo books, and other premium publications where both appearance and durability are paramount.
• Catalogs and Brochures: Perfect for product catalogs and brochures that need to endure repeated handling while maintaining a sleek, professional look.
• Manuals and Directories: Great for technical manuals, directories, and other reference materials that are frequently consulted and need to stand up to heavy use.
• Magazines: Especially suited for magazines printed on glossy or coated paper that require a strong, flexible binding.

PDF (Portable Document Format) is the most common and preferred file format for submitting digital documents. With the installation of a PDF print driver on your computer, virtually any program can generate a PDF file suitable for printing. Both commercial and free PDF print drivers are available online for download from different sources.