As with any industry, there are a number of terms used in the print industry that may seem alien to those that do not have much interaction with printers, designers or the industry as a whole. What is Aqueous Coating? What is the difference between c-folding and z-folding? Does Saddle Stitching involve a saddle or a Horse? Well, we can definitely answer the last one, and the answer is...yes and no.
Saddle Stitching is the method whereby books are bound by placing wire staples through sheets of paper. The name comes from the saddle-like piece of apparatus the collated sheets are draped over during the process. The reason it is known as stitching (given no stitches are used) is that in the printing industry, the process of stapling is commonly known as Stitching.
Much like other forms of binding and finishing, there are certain constraints and uses for saddle-stitching. If you are hoping to have a book printed and finished using saddle stitching, then you cannot have a printed spine as the document will not be flat. Also, saddle stitching requires the page count to be a multiple of four to (roughly) 64 pages to ensure a flat fold and so it doesn't keep springing open. There are ways to increase this (using a thinner paper for example) but stick to the rule of 4!
Saddle stitching is most often used to bind brochures, manuals, or programs together but there are so many other uses - it is generally one of the most cost-effective methods of binding a document, so if you are looking for a professional result but are looking to keep the cost down then it is a solid choice.
If you are considering Saddle Stitching for your work, or if you are looking for advice on what result would work best for your project then give us a call on 01903 812373 or email us and we'll be more than happy to advise you.
