A book signature is a sheet of paper consisting of four or more printed pages and folded one or more times to the approximate size of one page of a future book or other printed product. It folds in a way that puts the pages in the correct order. A whole sheet of paper 70x100cm, 64x90cm, or another size can have a different number of signatures. The number of signatures in a whole sheet is determined by how many pages there are in each signature, and the number of pages depends on the size, type of paper, paperweight, and the type of binding.

Book with 16 signatures with no spine

Also known as a book block, the book body consists of sheets or book signatures that can be bound. This does not include the front and back pages, which are additionally glued to the body, like the endpapers.

The outer part of the book, which surrounds the book block to protect it during use and storage, and, of course, serves as a way to communicate with the client after graphic design, printing, and decoration. The two main types of binding of modern books are hard and softcover:

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Flexible and thick paper (thickness over 0.30 mm) is used to make the cover of a paperback book. The paper body is fastened to the cover by gluing (usually or PUR).

To make the cover of a hardcover book, cardboard with a thickness of 1.5 mm to 3 mm is used. The bulkier the body, the greater the thickness of the cardboard.

The flaps are a continuation of the paperback, folded to the inside of the book. They can perform the same function as the hardcover cover, providing more space for presentation and marketing, a summary or additional layout. Of course, you can leave all this space free or add just a little emphasis. The flaps have a functional value that allows the reader to use them as a divider. You can choose to have two flaps or just one.

Covering/Cloth covering is the material used to cover the cardboard. The cardboard should be covered to have a better aesthetic appearance of the hard cover. It is usually covered in paper, cloth, leather or imitation leather. There is also a possibility for a mixed option: the cover of the cardboard could be made of paper, and only the spine – left as is. Some artists leave the cardboard without covering it in paper or cloth. Between the cardboard and the covering paper/cloth you can add foam, which gives extra volume and softness. Cloth covering does not allow standard offset printing and requires the use of techniques such as embossing, hot stamping or screen printing.

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Cloth

Faux leather

This is the part of the book where the cover material hides the set of book signatures. It is the part that is visible when the book is placed on the shelf. Usually the name of the work is written, and the name of the author, and the number of the book in the series (if it is a part of a series). The spine of the hard cover can be straight or rounded. The rounded back is preferred especially for a larger number of pages of the book, as it gives it elegance.

Spine with cloth and cardboard debossed

Straight spine

Round spine

Spine in blue and chrome paper cover with print

Foam rubber

These are the pages, usually white, that are always glued to a hard cover. Their purpose is to make the binding between the book body and the cover stronger. Usually one endpaper consists of 2 sheets (4 pages). The front endpaper is glued with its first page to the back of the front cover, the back with its fourth page to the inside of the back cover. Logically, the pages of the endpapers, which are glued to the covers, are left white. At your request, the other pages of the endpapers can have a print with text, illustration or image. They can be without printing, but instead with colored paper (such as offset) in different colors to match the design of the book.

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Endpapers with print

Head and tail band is a small piece of canvas added at the top and bottom of the spine of the book, between the body and the cover. It is glued to strengthen the spine and eliminate the gap between the book body and the hardcover, when the book is closed. It also has a decorative, aesthetic significance. It can be in different colors. The head and tail band must be added for spines exceeding 10 mm.

Represents the place where the back passes into the cover. Its shape is not straight, but slightly concave – like a gutter.

It is a more elegant version of the classic paper divider. It is a thin piece of cloth glued under the head-band and serves to mark the pages read. For more sophistication, there may be two bookmarks in different colors instead of one. The rbbon bookmark is completely suitable in works of art, and the possibilities for numerous color shades combine the useful with the sophisticated.

Ribbons in different colours

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Pulsio Print is just such a company. Our workforce constitutes your bespoke printing and binding specialists. Our wide range of printing techniques and binding methods ensure that all possible premium options are available for whatever extra touches of luxury you might require. Experience, expertise and advanced technology make Pulsio Print’s craftsmen experts in the production of high-end premium-quality printed end products.

Find the ideal combination of sophistication and finish in your print project with specialist materials and presentation, such as suede and cotton card stocks, white ink on black paper, coloured foil, edge painting, holographic effects, and much more.

We are a creative studio and print factory of 150 people, all with a passion to offer you a unique service and make you and your clients feel special. Museums, art galleries, renowned photographers, fine art publishers, design and creative studios, literary authors – these are our demanding customers, and we take pride in giving them masterpieces. In the world of luxury printing, making an immediate and lasting impression is crucially important, and our goal here at Pulsio Print is to surprise our clients with just how good the finished products that we deliver are.

The secret to a great bespoke product is doubling down on the quality and uniqueness. Standing out from the crowd can give you an edge over your competition. Create hardcover or paperback books, catalogues, custom notebooks, and other high-quality print products, all tailored exactly to your needs and with attention to the smallest detail.

The making of luxury illustrated editions can be expensive, but we guarantee you the most competitive possible price for the quality that such a project needs. Remember, you are in full control of your budget, and you have all the information that can help you to make the right decision. Check it out yourself by getting an online quote, using our user-friendly online calculator, or simply request a personal quotation.

Here is a brief presentation of the printing techniques we provide. You can choose between a wide range of printing methods among which you can find the perfect one for your product, starting with traditional Offset lithography printing, digital printing but also direct UV printing via UV-LED printer, large format printing, volume stickers, direct / UV printing, pad printing, solvent printing, transfer printing, flex, flock, DYE sublimation printing, heat transfer, direct to garment printing (DTG), screen printing. At Pulsio Print, we aim to offer you a 100% quality end product. This means that we work with the best hardware and software to give you consistent colour accuracy (read the full story about consistent, repeatable colour accuracy), the quality materials and the most passionate professionals to deliver the perfect product for you.

First, we present you the offset printing and the new H-UV luxury offset printing technology. We use the latest Komori H-UV offset printer to ensure consistent colour accuracy and more upscale feel of the final product. This printing technology provides an impeccable rendering and superior brightness and sharpness compared to conventional offset printing.

Traditionally, the offset printing is suitable for larger runs, specialty ink, paper or larger paper size and if you don’t need your printed projects right away.

On the other hand, if you need a small number of copies, need your printed projects quickly, and special features like color, ink, paper size, and paper type don’t really matter, you should opt for digital printing for which we use 2019 Xerox B&W and Color printers.

If you want to know more about the differences between Offset and Digital printing, you can consult our article.

This technique is known by many names – screen printing, serigraphy, silk printing. They all refer to the same thing – a millenary method that consists of using screens to transfer colours. It offers good clarity of details, vivid colours, and exceptional coverage of the print. You can print on materials of any shape, thickness and size. The price lowers in the long run prints.

There are different types of screen printing, depending on your project. This technique is most commonly associated with different goods like T-Shirts, lanyards, balloons, bags and others.

This method specializes in highly detailed short production run prints on cotton fabrics. DTG has many benefits over other traditional printing techniques. Its large range of colour options means that you don’t have to compromise as with other printing methods. It is perfect for one-time production runs. The process is entirely eco-friendly, which can be a huge factor when advertising to specific audiences. DTG can also be associated with other printing, cutting and finishing techniques.

Heat transfer can be done using either screen or digital printing, and in specific cases even using both. This is one of the best-known ways of fabric decoration. The process is fast for bulk quantities and becomes inexpensive with the long runs. Heat-transfer printing adapts well on paper, but it is also perfect for applying images to a range of materials including garments, textiles, physically hard objects like mugs. Heat-transferred images are durable, heat and water-resistant.

Sublimation printing is characterized by a process in which a substance is converted from solid to gaseous state without passing through a liquid phase. Changing the solid ink particles into a gaseous state, it is a fun and cost-effective way of personalizing your products. The high-quality end products of this printing method have seen their popularity increased due to their thickness and robustness. You can choose between a full range of colours for your project. You can use the sublimation printing technique on a number of materials such as poly cotton and polyester textile, polymer, ceramic, PVC, coated aluminum, polymer-coated metal and plastic and more. However, it is not suitable for 100% cotton materials or other natural materials.

Flock printing or also called flocking, is a printing method in which short fibers of natural or synthetic material are applied to an adhesive-coated surface. This is one of the only screen-printing methods that alter the texture of the print itself, adding a velvet or suede-like texture to the surface in bright and vivid colours that won’t get washed out. Due to the way flock is printed, the finished printed design is slightly elevated from the garment that shows off an air of professionalism and style. It comes in a basic range of colors that you can combine together.

With flex printing, the design is cut from a colored foil and then pressed onto the surface under high temperature. The possible colors are limited, but are very vivid and don’t get washed out. Flex printing is perfect on thick fabrics and materials. It adapts well on natural and synthetic materials. This method has the best result on big printing surfaces. Detailed designs are not possible with flex printing. It is suitable for small runs.

Transfer printing can reproduce high quality and complex images. It consists of printing your design in full colour, after which it is transferred to the desired surface. This is one of the best methods to use for full-colour prints. This is why it’s more interesting to use it for designs with 4 or more colours, including designs with a photograph.
This printing method adapts perfectly on glass surfaces and synthetic materials such as promotional bags, backpacks, umbrellas, hats, etc.

Solvent printing is perfect for your project if you need vivid colors and pixel-sharp image reproduction. At a microscopic level, solvent actually bites into the print media, ensuring an exceptionally strong, wear-resistant bond. You can choose to print on wood, glass, metal, plastic, fabric, ceramics and many other materials.
This printing technique offers photorealistic print quality, and offers features like glow effects, gradients and others that cannot be achieved with other more traditional methods.

Pad printing, tampography or tampo printing, is an indirect offset printing process. This technique works on the principle of gravure printing, meaning that the printing surface is embossed. It offers the possibility to print on some of the most unprintable products imaginable, turning the pad printing process into a well-established technology. This printing technique is excellent for delicate products. It provides perfect clarity on detailed designs or smaller surfaces such as barcodes and labels.

UV printing is a type of digital printing that uses ultraviolet lights to dry the ink as it is printed. Because there is no absorption on to the printing medium, the dots of wet ink do not get a chance to spread out once printed, resulting in much finer detail and sharper colours. What is more, UV dried inks offer increased resistance to fading. This type of printing is eco-friendly because no solvents are being released into the air. You can print on a number of materials including nonporous materials like plastic, glass and metals.

Sticker printing is a cost-efficient way to promote your business and boost brand recognition. They have a wide range of applications, as the customer can mount them on various surfaces such as metal, wood, leather, plastic, glass and more. Doming stickers are UV resistant and do not turn yellow. The polyurethane coating preserves the brightness of the colors so they will remain bright and vivid. Thanks to their exceptional flexibility and elasticity, they can also adhere to slightly rounded and contoured surfaces. A three-dimensional sticker will be noticed much faster than a simple, flat sticker. It will give your offer a much more upscale feel.

Large format printing is used to produce large graphics for marketing, branding, and advertising purposes. It can take many forms, but things such as construction site hoarding graphics, fleet and vehicle vinyl wraps, and printed retail graphics and displays tend to be some of the most common uses for the format. It involves the use of specialized equipment, and much bigger printers than standard commercial modules. You can choose to print in small or bigger quantities. This technique offers the possibility to print on different types of materials such as paper, PVC, self-adhesive foil, vinyl, canvas, fabrics and many others.

UV-LED printing is an easy way to create your customizable products. Cost-effective, it offers an outstanding image quality, higher customer margins on finished goods and high resistance to external weather conditions. UV inks are highly resistant to scratches, wear and tear, and sun exposure than the other traditional printing methods, ensuring a long life of printed images.

UV-LED printing is a one-step process where the ink is directly applied to an object and instantly cured by UV light. It offers the possibility to print on items with texture and dimension, including ADA-compliant signage with Braille, PVC, plexiglass, glass, wood, metal, leather, carpets and other non-standard materials.

There are many beautiful examples of the very finest paper available. You are sure to get incredible results with our range of specialty papers. There are several factors to consider when choosing paper, such as the product type and the printing technology being used, as well as the feel of the paper, its transparency, and its weight. To help you with your selection, here are the features of the most commonly used papers:

We offer the widest range of art designer papers such as Fabriano/ Fedrigoni, Arctic Paper/ Munken, Antalis/ Arjowiggins, Sirio Black Black/ Fedrigoni, Mirage suede/ Ratchford, Century cotton wove/ Fedrigoni, Imitlin/ Fedrigoni, Murillo/ Fedrigoni, Splendorlux mirror/ Fedrigoni, Symbol pearl/ Fedrigoni, Aquerello/ Fedrigoni, Cocktail/ Fedrigoni, Constellation Jade/ Fedrigoni, Ispira/ Fedrigoni and much more. Popular choices are a pearlescent luxury texture or highly tactile printing paper with a hammer effect felt mark; either way, you won’t believe the incredible results you obtain with high-quality paper and our luxury printing solutions. However, if you want to double the creativity you can opt for different printing materials: cloth, textile, plastic, ceramics, metal, wood, etc.

Black paper
Black paper is available with Spot UV, colored foil, or even white ink, printed in either matte or glossy finish. This is a bold choice compared to regular white and off-white colored paper that will surely leave a lasting impression.

Suede paper
Hard suede paper is one of the best kinds available pushing the limits of how soft and luxurious a print can be. It is unique in every way. With a suede print you are sure that your clients will remember you. The suede is soft and luxurious to the touch and at the same time rigid and robust for durability. The textured paper has a soft, raised matte finish providing a strong appearance similar to velvet. It is available in a wide range of colours and patterns. An edge painting could be a very nice addition to the final product.

Cotton paper
Cotton paper gives a simple white paper stock a touch of elegance. It consists of pulp paper with cotton fiber creating a pillowy texture that reacts perfectly to 3D details. For an incredibly beautiful finished product, we can print either digitally or with letterpress stamping. Cotton paper is known for its purity, durability and permanence. It lasts longer and holds up better under repeated handling conditions making it less likely to discolour than some other types of paper. This product is perfect for artists who want to create a fine work of art that will last.

Recycled paper
To contribute to protecting the environment, Pulsio Print offers a wide range of recycled paper such as Arjowiggins, Cocoon and others. These papers are made with 100% recycled fibre, and have a natural design and authentic texture. Recycled papers are strongly opaque, with matt lamination without uncomfortable glare, ideal for printing high quality text and images.

Metalized paper
Silver/Gold: This type of finish is elegant and pleasing to the eye. It can be applied to any size and weight of paper, making sure your print job matches the high quality of your product.
Hologram/ fluorescent: Besides the classic solutions in gold and silver, we produce our own metalized paper and holograms.
Metalized hologram transparent film: We offer an almost endless variety that might make your choice very difficult: crystals, sequins, bubbles, water drops, hearts, flowers, diamonds…
3D Metalized paper: Give more boldness to your printed materials by using this impressive effect. The geometric shapes stand out with the contrasts of matt/gloss and shadow/light, combined with a metallic glint.
Metalized paper with glitter film: This technique adds a brilliant effect to your product for a daring printing solution.

The quality of the cover reflects the overall quality of the printed product. All of our available options for covers and bindings are designed with three things in mind: easy handling and storage of the printed product, optimal comfort while reading and protection from damage during use. Our binding facility is fully equipped for a range of different techniques and focused on improving the efficiency of order completion. Our aim is to offer you a variety of options that meet the purpose of your printed product, 100% of the time.

Depending on the type of product, which may be portrait or landscape, the binding can be done at the top or left in a range of standard or custom sizes. Products that can lie flat or fold fully right around when opened is extremely important in many contexts.

The main binding methods are glued (perfect bound), sewn, stapled (for low page counts), spiral, Japanese stab binding, screw binding and case binding.

Add more value to your printed products. Make them more attractive by choosing from the various laminates, varnishes or special finishes we offer! Take advantage of the unique expertise and creative technology that we have developed through years of producing art books, catalogues and graphic novels. These are some of the finishes you can opt for when printing your premium products:

Die-cutting gives your book a completely unique look and makes it stand out from any other product. The process is used to cut shapes out of the inside section of the material, rather than trimming the edges. Laser cutting is a similar technology, used for the same purposes, but with even finer results, and is a non-contact method of paper-cutting. Pulsio Print offers both methods of cutting depending on your project, budget and preferences. Read more about this technique.

Different types of varnish offer a more economical alternative to lamination, or as a compliment to it. Varnishes increase the strength and durability of the printed product, while also adding an aesthetic sheen. There are UV, UV spot, raised, glitter and micro relief varnishes.

This is a flexible process using foil that allows you to mark a variety of different materials including plastics, rubber, leather, fabrics, paper and others. It gives your product a luxurious finish. With the possibility of being printed on stocks of dark color such as black paper, coloured foil will give your artwork a shimmer and glow, which is perfect for logos and bold fonts.

Edge painting gives life to your prints on all edges with different colours. This technique gives the perfect touch of elegance and helps your products stand out from the rest. The surest way to give it an out-of-the-ordinary look is to make its outer edges different from those of other books, either by colouring, by gilding, or with a pattern. Popular choices include business cards with painted edges.

Embossing and debossing are two techniques that create a three-dimensional image which is either impressed onto or depressed into the paper. These fashionable print options are ideal for giving a new, contemporary look to your print. They can be combined with other effects, like foil stamping, to transform a great product into a luxury one.

Embroidery doesn’t require any printing. Instead, a design is stitched into the fabric by a machine, achieving a 3D effect. This is one of the most popular methods for long-lasting garment branding due to how professional it looks. It resists very well to cleaning and sunlight.

You have an unlimited choice of colors and combinations. Possibility to work on ready-made clothes, hats, bags, gloves and other products made out of cotton, polyester, viscose, lamella.

In addition, you can provide us your logo, which can be additionally sewn or glued to the desired item. It is suitable for small quantity orders.

Laser cutting and engraving open up unlimited possibilities for paper finishing. Cut out and make bespoke items with our laser cutting machines. Pulsio Print is able to cut and engrave complex contours and designs, fast and with extreme precision.

From spot varnishing, intricate cut-outs and letterpress to silkscreen, hot foiling and embossing there is a range of solutions to help your prints stand out from the crowd. The combinatorial options available for luxury printing create an exponential number of effects that can be generated for all kinds of applications. We offer a full range of luxury printing solutions, plus you can choose between a number of materials and finishes to further enhance your product. Our professional approach allows us to give each of our clients detailed personal attention. We are able to achieve efficiency and speed using the latest technology combined with time-honoured printing methods. Our print works can be delivered all over the world!

For your unique product with your personal artistic vision you need the perfect execution: impeccable printing on a high-quality material accompanied with flawless binding…

Our dedicated team will work together with you to come up with a unique design tailored only for you, to outline your individuality and elegance. Start creating today!

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Their primary function is to join the inside to the cover and to do so efficiently.

The first of the front endpapers and the last of the back endpapers are always clear because of their lamination onto the second and third of the hardcover.

Their number is unchangeable, with four (4) pages at the front and another four (4) pages at the end.

The thickness may be 1.5mm – 2mm – 2.2mm – 2.5mm – 3mm, 15/10 – 20/10, etc. It often depends on the thickness of the interior. The principle is that the thicker the interior volume is, the more weight is added to the card. The most common thicknesses are 2, 2.5, and 3mm.

Usually covered with 150 GSM coated paper, the cover allows offset printing.

Other offset-type papers are available for complex production. The chosen offset paper must be sufficiently flexible not to crack in the corners. We recommend Olin Smooth, Olin Rough, Popset, Cotton Laid, Buckram, Via Felt, and Via Linen.

Instead of paper, you can opt for cloth fabric, leather, or fake leather.

A wide choice is available, and we invite you to check our fabric catalog in the online viewer. You can also visit our manufacturer website, Winter and Company, which offers fabrics such as Skivertex, Novalite, Wibalin, Peltouch, Geltex, Napura, Toile du Marais, Pellaq, Synth3, and Leos Nachfolger. Fabric covers are unprintable, but embossing, relief printing, hot stamping, or screen printing will be applied instead.

Fake leather

You can also opt for a hybrid option with fabric on the spine and paper on the covering. A beautiful compromise, the choice of color also adds an original touch to the design. 

One option also is leaving the card to its raw and natural look without covering it. It is a trend in the world of art and alternative graphic novels.

You can add foam between the card and the paper on the top. It gives volume and a pleasant sensation at the touch. This option is ideal for younger readers or users because it also protects the book.

Foam

The spine of a hardcover book can be straight or round. There needs to be a minimum thickness of 15mm for a round back. It holds large book pages together to mitigate their thickness.

Round spine

They are small pieces of fabric glued to the head and the tail of the hardcover book, which is usually black or white but can be of different colors, adding to the style and aesthetics of the product. They are integral parts of the cover card when the back exceeds 10 mm.

Black endband

The bookmark is another version of a page marker, a little cloth ribbon glued under the headband at the head of the book. It makes it easier to find a specific page in the book. For greater sophistication, choose two bookmarks in different colors. The bookmark has a rightful place in a beautiful publication and a blend of practicality and elegance.

Bookmarks of different colours

Spiral bound binds the interior and the cover without glue. In this case, you will have both the solidity of the rigid card and the 360⁰ opening of the spiral. It is a binding choice often found in diaries, textbooks, and cookbooks.

Possible choices for each element of your bound book according to its page count:

In the following, you will see the possible choices for each element of your hardcover book according to its page count:

Choosing between a soft cover and a hard cover is not always evident.

Budget: a hardcover indeed represents a more expensive solution. In the case of low page counts, the cost of manufacturing the cover may be greater than the cost of production of the whole inner block.

Specifications: A4 size, 96 pages + (8 non-printed endpapers), matte lamination, four-sided recto verso printing on coated paper 130 GSM, 1,000 copies, delivery included.

Rates:

• Softcover, perfect bound: £2158
• Softcover, tread sewn bound: £2337
• Hardcover, case-bound, 2mm (20/10): £4115
  

Content: Some book contents deserve a hardcover. When we find ourselves in the realm of beautiful books, a hardcover is a must.

Target market: depending on the intended use for the work, its strength is a primary factor. For example, the best option for children’s books is hardcover. It guarantees the durability of the book.

Commercial strategy: Everything you need to embellish a printed product is available with a hardcover. The visual impact of a product remains crucial today. A book in hardcover can make all the difference.

Pulsio Print advisors are available to answer your questions and give you all the support you need.

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