Binding Basics

Use cases for spiral, Wire-O and comb binding With these binding methods, one of the largest benefits is the ability to lay completely flat. For instructional guidebooks or reference materials, this makes it easy to flip through pages quickly and stay in place so they can be referenced without the reader needing to hold pages open.

Because each page is separate on the coil, wire or comb spine, single pages need to be submitted instead of spreads. Unlike saddle stitching or perfect binding, crossover images are not possible for these binding types, and there also needs to be at least a 0.125” bleed on all four sides of each document page. An inside page margin of 0.5” should also be taken into account in order to avoid any content getting obscured by the slots or filaments in the binding edge. Since each page in a spiral, Wire-O or comb-bound publication is separate, there are abundant possibilities for paper types, finishes, foldouts and inserts. With these options, a cookbook could be laminated to be spill resistant or a student workbook could have foldouts for large diagrams. With these binding methods, printed works can also have indexing tabs for referencing and customizability. Weighing the options Spiral, Wire-O and comb binding methods are popular, reasonably affordable ways to create durable and versatile publications. Although these binding methods are not typical for standard distribution and retail channels, they are ideal for publications requiring frequent use or referencing, such as manuals, cookbooks, directories, calendars and planners.

Spiral, Wire-O and comb binding are popular, affordable methods for publications that need to lay flat and undergo frequent use without damaging the binding.

While comb-bound products can be opened fully flat, spiral and Wire-O-bound products have the added flexibility to double over on themselves. These 360 degrees of mobility provide full visibility of content and hands-free reading without causing any damage to the binding. It also makes it easier for publications to fit onto smaller work areas and provides a better writing surface for notebooks or workbooks. The wires, coils and combs used for binding come in various diameters to accommodate for a wide range of page counts. Wire-O binding has a recommended maximum of 200 pages, but spiral binding is a great option for larger page counts, as the coils usually range from about 0.25 to two inches in diameter and can be up to 24 inches long. Comb binding can contain a higher page count than spiral and Wire-O binding, as the diameter of combs can be as large as three inches.

Add Style To Your Next Publication Add some fun to your next print project by customizing the color of the spiral, Wire-O or comb used in the binding process

Binding Basics

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