Saddle stitching is one of the most versatile and widely used binding methods available and is a common application for booklets, brochures, pamphlets, newsletters and magazines. If your project is thicker than 1/4", you’ll need to consider an alternative bindery method.
Apply the Formula
To determine whether your thick book project qualifies for saddle stitching: Take the page count, divide it by two, then multiply that number by the caliper (thickness) of the stock. For example, an 96-page book divided by two is 48. Next, if you’re using 4.5-point stock, multiply by .0045 and then add in the cover stock. As long as the final number remains under a quarter of an inch, your project is a saddle stitching candidate.
Account for “Shingling”
Shingling, or creep, is a result of paper’s third dimension: thickness. As a saddle stitched book gets thicker, the inner pages are actually progressively narrower than the outer ones. To compensate for this “shingling” effect, the copy on each page must be moved back from the face. This is done incrementally on each successive page, and if done properly, results in an even appearance of copy placement throughout the book. To make sure your copy is properly located on each page, follow this guideline: The type on each successive page inside a saddle stitched booklet needs to be moved back the same amount as the thickness of the stock itself.
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Chipping is Normal
Once the book exits the stitching section of a saddle stitching production line and enters the trimmer, clamps are lowered, holding the book in place. Since the spine edge is slightly curved at the backbone, it isn't fully supported throughout the cut. This means the trimming knives cut cleanly through the top and bottom pages, but at the backbone, where there isn't any support, a slight tearing or "chip" occurs. This small "chip" tends to be more noticeable on thicker books than thin ones.
Single Pass is Preferred
Your saddle stitching partner has a finite number of pockets on their saddle stitching machinery. Some company’s stitchers top out at four or six pockets, more have eight and the occasional bindery has a dozen or more. One of the worst planning mistakes is to be short by one pocket, because this requires a second pass, greatly increasing production costs. If you’re short one pocket on a machine, perhaps you can adjust your signature layouts.
The Rickard Advantage
With five saddle stitching lines (up to 12 pockets) and a friendly team of planning and production experts, Rickard Bindery is available to help determine your project needs and deliver on deadline. Our capabilities include saddle stitching, oversized and undersized stitching, loop stitching, Z-fold stitching designs and much more. Contact us anytime to discuss your project parameters and to put our experience to work for you.
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