New Markets in Hardcover Binding Part 1 Electronic Devices

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1 Formerly The New Library Scene a PUBLICaTION from HBI and THe LIBrary BINdINg INsTITUTe VOLUME 5 ISSUE PGA Blvd. Ste. 600 Palm Beach Gardens, FL New Markets in Hardcover Binding Part 1 Electronic Devices While it may be true that many consumers are opting to merge into the digital world of the e- book, some have found a way to take advantage of this popular trend. Binders have taken things a step forward by creating hardcover portfolios for the increasingly popular dedicated e-readers. Portfolios, created for e-readers come in all styles, colors, and interests. A look at the Covers webpage on the Barnes and Nobles website will lead the consumer to find dozens of covers in different styles and colors. Some hardcovers have been designed for the e-reader and are featured on the website but are less plenteous than the soft covers. Amazon has its own line of covers that are sold on their website as well as those sold by third parties. Most of the covers sold on Amazon and Barnes and Nobles are either soft covers or leather covers made to fit the Kindle and Nook, respectively, in regards to size and shape. Marketed as having exceptional hardcover binding quality are new portfolio case designs for the e-reader s counterpart, the tablet PC. This edition of ShelfLife printed compliments of Bridgeport National Bindery A tablet PC is a laptop PC equipped with a stylus and/or a touch screen and is made to be more portable in use and travel than traditional laptops (Wikipedia). Two companies in particular have taken advantage of the trend with the tablet PC. With the popularity of Apple s ipad as a powerful addition to the e-reader/tablet PC industry, companies Twelve South and DODO have created hardcover support cases specifically for the ipad with the look and feel (and support and protection) of a real book. Craig Dalton with DODOCase noted that their product launched in April 2010 and has already sold more than 15,000 units to consumers all over the world. In the process, they have also been fortunate to create many new jobs in the San Francisco area, where the company is based. As we saw society begin to shift from ink and paper to pixels, we feared that the art of book binding might disappear. As the ipad was announced, we saw an opportunity to create a product using traditional book binding techniques that would transform the ipad from an aluminum electronic device to something more personal and familiar, Dalton shared. DODO also revealed future plans of additional cases for the ipad as well as creating cases for other tablet PCs. SPRING

2 New Markets in Hardcover Binding - Part I (continued from page 1) For the hardcover binder who seeks to utilize their current resources and join the market, the questions then become what e-readers/tablet PCs are on the market and which ones are the top choices for consumers? Currently, the Amazon Kindle (which comes in two sizes) and the Barnes and Noble Nook are very popular choices with consumers. The Be-Book Neo, The Sony Reader and the Alex e-reader are also well-liked choices. With the exception of the Kindle DX, each of the e-reader specifications is relatively the same, averaging at about the same size as a paperback book. The weights of the e-readers vary between 6-12 ounces. Although the styles are different, all have an exposed front screen and need some sort of cover and protection. Concerning the ipad, at this year s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, companies unveiled their versions of competition to the ipad, which either has been recently or will be soon released. The HP Slate, Dell Streak, Asus Eee Tablet, Compal Tablet, Notion Ink Adam, MSI, Quanta, and ICD Vega are among notable options. Each range in size and dimensions respective to the brand but provide good alternatives in the tablet PC community. For more information, see Even the smartphone giant RIM, the company that produces the Blackberry, has developed its own version of the tablet PC. The Blackberry Playbook has come on the scene with much excitement and anticipation and could be a chief player in the tablet PC industry. na.blackberry.com/eng/. It is notable that there has been an increase in popularity with e-books and e-readers and more companies have been migrating into this world of electronics. As with the tablet PCs, hardcover binders have the opportunity to engage in and join this market given the increasing demand for these devices. The library binding/ hardcover binding industry has, for 75 years, demonstrated an ability to progress, adapt, and be resilient. As individuals change the way they consume the written word, opportunities for new products exist. Read more in the next issue of ShelfLife about how one university is making good use of the new markets in print on demand. HBI and the Library Binding Institute (LBI), publisher of ShelfLife, reserves the right to refuse copy which is not in accordance with HBI/LBI s established policies. Specifically, HBI/LBI endorses no machinery, equipment, material or supply or supplier thereof; other than the ANSI/ NISO/LBI Z Library Binding Standard, HBI/LBI endorses no method of binding. Copyright 2007 by HBI and the Library Binding Institute. Subscriptions to ShelfLife are available through most subscription agencies or you may write directly to HBI/LBI, 4440 PGA Boulevard, Suite 600, Palm Beach Gardens, FL ShelfLife is published quarterly in Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. Annual subscription rates are $29.00 for domestic subscribers, $31.00 for Canadian subscribers, and $36.00 for international subscribers. Subscribers must submit a missing issue claim within 90 days from each specific issue s date of publication. If these terms are not adhered to, the publisher will be unable to fill the request. All manuscripts are welcomed for publication review. ShelfLife is indexed in Library Literature and Information Science Abstracts, ISSN

3 Photo Book Binding Structures By Werner Rebsamen On the Internet, look-up Photo Books. You will be swamped and inspired with ideas, how to design and create your personalized photo books. Treasured heirlooms such as photos and prints deserve to be preserved. There are advertising slogans like Unleash your creative genius! That was one slogan I was ready to forward to Andy Rooney at CBS for comments. What does it mean? The same company then continued with Full creative control, professional, book-store quality printing, binding and covers. What is a bookstore quality? Do they sell personalized photo books? This writer used to make a living testing bindings and served as an expert witness in many court-cases, all because some unfortunate poor bindings did come apart in the bookstores! Oh well, let those PR people stay creative with their slogans. After all, their jobs are to prepare lucrative bait with the hope that someone will go for them. The purpose of this article is to analyze some of the binding styles for photo books being offered. In-depth coverage is impossible, there are simply too many binding styles and options. Photo Books Have Come a Long Way As bookbinders, many of us have restored antique keepsakes called photo albums. Most of them, being family memories, which are priceless. With the first uses of photography, people collected their pictures and inserted them into fancy albums. Those albums often did feature covers, which were very thick, embossed and elaborately decorated. I do recall many with a velvety textured cloth and metal adornments. Some even had locks and keys for privacy! Edges were often gilded or colored with gold or silver paints. The insides did feature die-cut panels with printed frames. Being relatively stiff, they all are hinged with strips of cloth to assure that the sheets to lay flat. To prevent the photos from sticking together under certain, that is often very humid storage conditions, a so-called spider-web embossed parchment paper was used between each of the sheets. My bookbinding colleagues all will agree, that those die-cut album sheets, which turned yellow and brittle, are no easy task to repair. Worse, occasionally we have to restore covers where some of the covers are splitting, the padding material showing. But those are challenges for us bookbinding crafts people and often, when we return a repaired, antique photo album to our clients, they may call us magicians. Actual photos/prints, no matter if they are glued onto the sheets, if photo-corners are used, or if the prints are inserted into corner slots, these photo prints do build-up a bulk. For this reason, we must provide for an additional space in the spine. This is often done with bound-in paper strips. There are many different techniques being used. Some of the first ones originated in the 1870 s. A special wire-stitching machine stitched the individual four-page signatures through the fold and onto a cloth or paper. On some of these stitching machines, with each cycle, the heavy paper was folded downwards, creating a 1 cm (3/8) lap. This strip then acted as a filler. Later, in the 1950 s as we started to use the double fan 3

4 (continued from page 3) adhesive binding processes, we slit and scored the sheets. The tabs were folded over. But on all of those albums, the actual photo prints had to be mounted onto the sheets. Then came those sheets covered with small strips of a sticky adhesive, the entire sheet being covered with a transparent foil. No longer did we have to mount the prints. We could position them anywhere, the prints did stay in place. But then, over time, those adhesive strips turned brown or Old photo album bindings used die-cut sheets. Photo prints were inserted. Note the lay-flat outright failed. Some damaged the prints and with characteristics. (Internet picture - it, precious family memories. Permanence with those memories of exotic trips. Galapagos those sticky photo albums are a very questionable item. That is why, these days, we must be Fond memories from trips around the World! Islands, Nepal, Kilimanjaro. Machu Picchu etc.. concerned with pressure sensitive materials being used on photo books. Although we switched our cameras from film to digital, those procedures have not changed How Times and Technologies have much. I still have the best images printed and changed preserving our Memories placed into personalized photo albums. Digital photography allows us to shoot as many Remember when we purchased rolls of film by the dozen, then took off onto some exotic pictures as we want, then select only the best vacations? Processing often took a week and on the computer and/or make or edit some then, what do we do with hundreds of prints, not changes. But, as it is with so many other technologies, with it, we also generated new oppor- all being masterpieces? As for us bookbinders, this is an easy question, we just create our own tunities digital printing. The first Indigo digital albums. My collection of such photos are all press was introduced in It took perhaps mounted onto cloth-hinged sheets of heavy papers, then sewn through the fold and bound into print technology. But these days, we could no another decade to fine-tune this new digital leather. Gold-stamping on the spine does identify longer be without it. That new print technology 4

5 (continued from page 4) Photo Album manufacture in China. The build-up in the spine created special challenges when casing-in. Photo by Werner Rebsamen. allows us to economically produce one photo book at a time. As a fact, a technical article recently reported of a comparison of two leading photo book printing services and concluded that the traditional photo album as we did know it is dead. Long live the Printed Photo Book! The two comparisons were digital Indigo printing on paper and the other transferring images, using the pure Photo photographic paper process. Both techniques were presented as bound hardcover books. The bottom line stated was, that a printed photo book costs actually less than a traditional photo album. Prints vs. Digital Printed Photo Books As we now shoot many more pictures than ever before, it would be interesting to learn if actual prints have declined, stayed the same or even increased. But searches for that answer on the Internet all ended up with research reports costing $ and up. Sorry! Great are those Photo Print Kiosks like those from Kodak. On the Internet, look up a news release from HP. Prints as fast as in 5 seconds, they will not fade for 50 years. In other words, conventional photo albums may stay, I do not believe they are dead as others predicted. To preserve our precious images, we just enhanced our possibilities adding digital printed photo books in various forms and structures. It is, these days, big business. Recently, I did visit a library binder in Germany. When the trend with photo books started, they expanded and purchased a HP Indigo press. Now they have eight presses and produce in season, every day as many as 17,000 photo books! In other words, this traditional library binder did become a digital printer and is now Germany s largest supplier of printed photo books! A Swiss company, Imaging Solutions, successfully launched printing/converting the images onto real photo papers. Although somewhat more expensive, the enhanced differences in image quality are stressed in their publications. 5

6 (continued from page 5) Example of an oversewn FlexBindR lay-flat binding. The tapes act as fillers. Photo supplied by FlexBindR. Side-stitching (metal wires)/side-sewing For writing this article and out of a professional interest, I evaluated over twenty hardcover bound photo books. These printed photo books have accumulated in my bookbinding workshop over the last few years, the results of on-site consulting or book-testing endeavors. Most likely, each one of the books printed and bound at a different place. The purpose of this personal investigation was, to analyze the various binding techniques used and to generate critical remarks for improvements. As for the results, I had only one word copycats! These relatively thin books chosen for this project were either side-stitched, side-sewn or adhesive bound. All had square backs. Digital printed papers represent unusual challenges for binders. Those inks and toners do not adhere to any conventional adhesives. And if they do, longevity may becomes an issue. Side-stitching and side-sewing secures digital printed papers forever. Sewing is the preferred option, side stitching is a cheap way out. Why? For example, take the manufacture of school text-books. First the book blocks are side-stitched, then they must be side-sewn! If anyone has any experiences with the performances of bound books, it s the school-book administrators. In this regards, they did write stringent standards for binding. Only one of the books examined was side-stitched. Interesting were the various endpaper structures 6

7 (continued from page 6) used. Some lacked reinforcements! We need to discuss minimum standards for binding photo books, an international effort that this writer believes is under way. Photo books using screws through the covers and the book blocks may also fall into this category. But as we virtually never see such bindings, we exempt them from this article. Adhesive Binding As stated above, conventional adhesive binding techniques with EVA hotmelts can be problematic. Too many binders have experienced problems with sheets coming out of a binding. Luckily, just about the same time we introduced digital printing, a new generation of an adhesive surfaced. PUR (Poly Urethane Reactive) is stronger and somewhat more flexible than a standard EVA hotmelt. PUR adhesives cure by creating a chemical reaction with moisture in the paper stock and atmosphere. When exposed to the air s humidity and/or paper moisture, a cross-linking takes place. PUR is unique in that it will bond to lacquer and UV-cured coatings. Best of all, books bound with PUR will not fail under extreme temperatures. They can take-on heat over 200 F or cold to under - 40 F. In other words, you can use your photo books in the summer heat in Las Vegas or in the Yukon in the winter and they will not come apart. PUR bindings are now present and available at virtually all the major photo book production shops. Earlier concerns with PUR applications and micro-emissions of monomeric isocyanates have all been eliminated. The same could be said with the curing times. It used to take 24 to 36 hours for a PUR to crosslink, now, thanks to new UV radiation, it is a matter of minutes to achieve 80% of its curing time. Example of Panorama Photo Books. Photo supplied by Kurt Richter of Photo Book Switzerland. New developments are on the horizon and already described in a previous issue of ShelfLife. (Fall 2009) Under the title Natures Secret this writer had the privilege to introduce a World s first, an all new technology with a unique primer and cold-emulsion adhesive. Once the necessary hardware is available, this technology is expected to again change our industry. It is 7

8 (continued from page 7) a combination of unusual strength and flexibility which will result into true lay-flat photo book bindings, giving the ones described next some genuine competition. Special Lay-flat Structures Many buyers of photo books do not want to use both hands to keep a book open. Remember the first chapter when I introduced those old photo albums hinged with cloth strips? Those stiff paper sheets all did lay flat! Times have past. These days, we again are privileged to use a similar technology called FlexBind. It features an Cut windows are popular on Photo Books - a Peek-a-boo of the content. Photo - Unknown resource; from author s files integrated hinge, which allows for an enhanced viewing experience by allowing the technique results into a full panoramic photo sheets to lay completely flat. You are able to print that can be placed over two pages without uninterrupted spreads across the spine of the losing parts of the image in the gutter. Best of binding. FlexBind is a pre-assembled sheet for all, these type of structures always open flat digital printing. Available in different base stocks so that each page is completely visible without and sizes, the sheets have an integrated, flexible hinge that allows even the heaviest weight of pages to be built-up into a book block are annoying interruptions. Although the amount sheets to lay completely flat when bound. Virtually any type of binding structure can be used very popular photo book structures. limited, these types of bindings have become ( Panorama books can be made from digital printed sheets or with using the purephoto process. Photobook Technology ( is using the Mitamax system. In both and similar processes by other companies, the sheets are printed only on one side. The book blocks are built with any number of quarter-folded four-page sections which then are glued together. The final results are panoramic views without interruptions from the left to the right. In other words, this Wire-bound books also result into lay-flat books but as we see such methods of bindings virtually seldom being used in conjunction with photo books. Therefore, we will void that topic in this discussion. Cases and Hardcover Bindings for Photo Books Cases for photo books are no longer as elaborate and fancy as described earlier under antique photo album covers. Our cases are pretty 8

9 (continued from page 8) ativity and skill which do go into a very personal photo book! Endpaper structures do vary, all in accordance to the method of binding used. For side-sewn structures, endpapers should be reinforced with either an exposed or concealed muslin strip. Different endpaper structures can be used for adhesive binding, all depending on the type of adhesive binder used. On some, like the allnew Ribler 420i (www. RiblerAmericas.com), The author s acrylic cover photo book design. Rivets bind the book block and at the same time do secure the clamp does open it to the cover. Photo by Werner Rebsamen. Picture in book supplied by LBI - members convention in up after spine preparation and four-page Palm Springs, CA. common. As with the books in my workshop endsheets can be added. Perfect alignment with examined, they are all virtually the same. Some the binding edge is most important! On other covers are bound in cloth over paper boards, models, a four-page endsheet with an extending others use laminated images as a covering (stiff) paper tab must be used. After trimming the material, some cloth-bound covers feature cutout windows. Seldom do we see hot-stamped building-in and joint-forming follows. In other bound book blocks on all three sides, casing-in, covers and I must wonder why? People love to words, these are relative simple processes, similar to conventional hardcover production in book see their names in gold! We have the technology to imprint and personalize these covers at manufacture, the differences being, each photo low cost ( book is often one of a kind, a personal treasure. There are exceptions to the rule. This writer did visit a photo book manufacturer who is working together with a wood worker. Together they create elaborate, exotic wooden photo book covers ( Amazing the cre- A New Idea to Consider As stated earlier, this writer, a bookbinder with extensive experiences and a U.S. patent for layflat bindings, recently challenged himself to think about new and better ways to produce photo 9

10 (continued from page 9) books. I m sure my friends at Apple would like me to think and study about completely different ways to produce photo books. As a fan of Apple all my life, and having had the privilege while employed in the academia (RIT) to consult on a 5 million dollar project for Apple, I took it upon myself to come up with an all-new idea for photo book bindings. Here are some of my thoughts. In a conventional way, we first have to bind the book blocks. We need endpapers, side-sewing or adhesive binding machines. We need covering materials, paper boards, case-making, casing-in and building-in machines. We spend a lot of money to print and laminate images for the covers and or jackets. Extra steps are needed to cut windows, sort out customized cover and match them with the photo-book blocks. There must be an easier way! I wondered how to eliminate most of these operations and materials described and come up with a generic cover which would make obsolete case-making, printing covers/jackets, eliminate side-sewing and/or adhesive binding, endpapers, casing-in, building-in, windowcutting? As a former sample maker for a large book manufacturer, I went to work. An 8 x 10 acrylic panel was selected as the front cover. Three thin, small strips of paper board were used as a hinge. Those strips, and using approx. ½ inch of the cover panels were hinged together with a strip of cloth, turned-in top and bottom and lined-up on the inside. So much for case-making. The photo book blocks were inserted into a padding device and after the water-based adhesive dried, the blocks were simply sliced apart. No expensive binding machines needed! Then the book blocks were trimmed and inserted into the cover. A riveting device then secured the book block into the cover. Riveting did bind the book block and at the same time secured it into the cover. Voilà, the photo book was done! Such a binding style virtually eliminated all the conventional operations and materials! The front cover could be a clear sheet of acrylic, the back a smoke color or black. Of course, on the back, we could also use a conventionally covered paper-board. That is all a matter of price. This writer is a crafts designer and did not look into the price of acrylic sheets and compare the costs with conventional methods. An HBI supplier is invited and can pick-up on this idea, do further R&D on acrylic panels and patent this simple method of photo book binding. Best of all, they then could offer to the trade various dimensions of such premade acrylic covers, the spine covered with a generic black cloth or imitation leather. My book shelves at home contain many acrylic CD cases. This is why we must ask ourselves, why not have photo books made with acrylic covers as well? The virtually no tools needed option is most encouraging for someone to get started in the photo book business. Well, it is just an idea to consider. That is what a trade association is all about. Share your knowledge and with it grow your business. Werner Rebsamen is Professor Emeritus at the Rochester Institute of Technology and the technical consultant to HBI and the Library Binding Institute. He can be reached at wtrebs@metrocast.net. 10

11 LIBRARY BINDING TOOLKIT ORDER FORM Institution: Shipping Address: City: State: Zip: Country: Phone: Fax: Contact Person: Contact TABLE OF CONTENTS Section 1: About LBI Mission Statement About LBI/ What is a Certified Library Binder Section 2: Literature What s the Payoff of Library Binding? Guide to the Library Binding Standard 3 Library Scene issues o v.22 no Superior materials used in library binding make the difference o v.21 no Why books fail o v.4 no Music...A binding challenge Library Binding Bibliography Section 3: Binding Information Leaf Attachments - Quick Guide Binding Specifications - Sample Binding Policy - Sample Glossary - Quick Guide Binding Problems to Watch For Twelve Steps Toward Improving Your Library Binding Program Payment Method Please check one of the following; Check (Please make payable to Hardcover Binders International) MasterCard VISA AMEX Card Number: Exp. Date: Billing Address: 3-4 Digit Code on Card: Print Name: Date: Signature: 4440 PGA Boulevard, Suite 600 Palm Beach Gardens, FL PH: FAX: Section 4: Internal Documents Documents you add! Section 5: Material Samples Cotton spine lining Hollow Buckram Pricing Information $25 Members $75 Non-Members C1 Cloth Board Endsheet Thank you to the HF Group and LBS for their contributions towards this. 11

12 membership application Company: Mailing Address: City: State: Zip: Country: Phone: Fax: Website: Contact Person: Contact Membership Category Select One ACTIVE MEMBER An Active Member shall be any individual, company or organization residing within or outside of the United States whose interest lies in the hardcover binding of books. This includes those engaged in various types of book manufacturing including soft cover binding, edition binding, trade binding, photo books, yearbooks, print on demand, and ultra short runs. This also includes publishers. Dues: $350 for every $250,000 in total book binding* revenue; $995 min/$3,500 maximum * Revenue should be included for all book market related services including pre-press, digital archiving, printing, binding, fulfillment and distribution, etc. ACTIVE INTERNATIONAL MEMBER An Active International Member shall be any individual, company or organization located outside Continental North America whose interest lies in the hard cover and/or soft cover binding of books. This includes those engaged in various types of book manufacturing including edition binding, trade binding, photo books, yearbooks, print on demand, and ultra short runs. This also includes publishers. Dues: $395 ASSOCIATE MEMBER An Industry Partner (Supplier) shall be any company which supplies a product or service related to the production of hardcover bound books. A member in this category is automatically a member of both the hardcover binder and certified library binder divisions. Dues: $500 NONPROFIT MEMBER A non-production Nonprofit Member shall be any 501(c)(6) or 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is related to the hardcover binding of books. Dues: $500 *Dues Amount Owed Please indicate here. $ I attest to the accuracy of the information provided including calculation of dues. Signature: Print Name: Date: Payment Method Select One o Check- Please make checks payable to Hardcover Binders International. o MasterCard o VISA o AMEX Card Number: Name on Card: Exp. Date: Billing Address: Code: 4440 PGA Boulevard, Suite 600 Palm Beach Gardens, FL PH: FAX: *Dues are deductible as a necessary business expense but not as a charitable deduction. MEMBEr SHi P BENEF its Benefits of MeMBership include: Park City, UtaH u Subscription to ShelfLife, HBI/LBI s quarterly publication u Subscription to Endpaper, HBI/LBI s monthly newsletter u Member discounts on conferences, seminars, and publications u A company listing on the HBI/LBI website and in the membership directory u Access to members only information on the website which includes back issues of ShelfLife, Endpaper, and Werner Rebsamen articles u A membership certificate reflecting your membership in good standing For more information, contact Debra Nolan, CAE, at , dnolan@hardcoverbinders.org.