Listed below are some common bindings and their definitions. Saddle stitching - Signatures inserted into each other and stapled through the spine. Side stitching - Stapled through stack, parallel to spine. Perfect binding - Perfect bound books are made from signatures that are stacked. On the left side the folds are trimmed away.
Hot glue is applied to the spine and the cover is pressed against it.
Then the other sides of the book are trimmed away. If your printed project is going to be die-cut, coated or finished in any of the ways mentioned above, note that the mechanical requirements for these processes must be built into the design of the printed piece. For instance, aqueous and UV coatings are spectacular, but certain ink colors do not take coatings as well as others. Always consult with your printer about your finishing plans, even if the printer is not coordinating the whole project.