Sometimes the simplest solution is the best, both in life and in book binding.
In the latter case, three little holes check all the boxes for simplicity, flexibility, and affordability.
Copresco offers a plethora of binding styles because no one option is right for all types of books, manuals, or publications.
The correct choice depends upon the intended use of your particular product. Other factors, such as aesthetics, budget, quantity, and physical size also come into play.
Our three most popular binding style groups are perfect binding, which uses glue to hold pages together; coil binding, which uses wire or plastic; and looseleaf.
Today’s focus is on looseleaf binding.
Looseleaf isn’t really a binding in the conventional sense.
Although the pages are organized in order, they can easily be removed, reshuffled, and replaced.
In practice, looseleaf pages are usually punched with holes for insertion into ring binders, from which they can be easily removed.
This provides many unique advantages.
Only looseleaf is practical for updating. You may easily change, revise, correct, or add to your publication.
Why reprint an entire catalog, parts list, or training manual when only a couple pages have been revised?
Many training and education companies grant reproduction rights to their materials.
Digital files may not be in printable format, or may not be furnished at all, in which case copying from the printed piece is the only option.
Looseleaf allows pages to be removed from binders for easy scanning/copying.
Teacher’s editions of textbooks for elementary, secondary, college, or continuing education are a common example.
Other binding styles may claim to lay flat on a desk or a table, but only looseleaf actually does so.
In a ring binder, pages sit completely flat when opened on a desk, conference table, or even in your lap.
One of the greatest attributes of print over digital media is the ability to easily add handwritten notations.
The looseleaf format is especially well suited to any publication that may contain written comments, such as workbooks, training manuals, and technical manuals.
Pages may be easily removed from binders, marked up as desired, and painlessly reinserted.
Left-handers especially appreciate not having binding on the left edge to interfere with their writing!
Sometimes you don’t want users to read ahead. The simplest way to control this is with looseleaf.
Individually shrinkwrap each chapter or section, so on the first day of class a binder containing only day-one materials is handed to attendees.
Successive chapters are parceled out at the beginning of each session to be inserted into their binders by students as class progresses.
When the King James Bible was first published in1611, printer Robert Barker offered two versions.
A bound Bible cost 12 shillings, but the looseleaf version was only 10 shillings.
Economy is one more reason to consider looseleaf!
Examples in which looseleaf may be the best medium include conference and convention materials, workbooks, training materials, technical manuals, catalogs, employee handbooks, directories, teacher editions, and even cookbooks.
So the next time you need printed pages, whether bound or looseleaf, call the company that can help you decide which format is best for you.
Call Copresco.
Copresco will be closed Thursday November 28 and Friday November 29 in observance of Thanksgiving.
We’ll be closed for Christmas Eve on Tuesday December 24 and for Christmas Day on Wednesday December 25.
Copresco will be open New Year’s Eve but closed on Wednesday January 1 for New Year’s Day.
After that, no holiday closures until next May for Memorial Day.
Have a blessed and thankful holiday season!