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All Sewn

July 15th, 2010 admin No comments

All Sewn

Smyth Sewn Binding Perks

Are you investigating printing options for your self-published manuscript? You may have seen publisher websites referring to Smyth Sewn binding. Smyth Sewn is a high-quality process, but how do you know if it's right for you? This article will walk you through the pros and cons of the Smyth Sewn binding process.

Smyth Sewn bindings are virtually the highest quality bindings available in today's publishing market. To create a Smyth Sewn book, a publisher converts your text into smaller pamphlets, called signatures, of 8, 12, or 24 pages. If your book has an odd number of pages, the final signature will contain enough blank pages to balance out the book.

Each signature is sewn together using thread, and then all the signatures are sewn together to create the whole of the book. Finally, the collated signatures are then bound to the book's spine and cover as one solid piece. The book's spine is usually backed with flannel, for even greater durability. As you can imagine, the multiple sewing steps create an extremely sturdy book that's tough to damage.

In addition to being so durable, the flannel strip in a Smyth Sewn spine allows a book to lie flat while open, which makes text significantly easier to read and peruse. As a result, Smyth Sewn bindings frequently appear in books that are meant to be used again and again for years or even decades, like Bibles and textbooks. The Smyth Sewn binding process is time-consuming but relatively uncomplicated, so most reputable printers can utilize it for quite small print runs. Therefore, many printers can offer this process to create premium wedding albums and scrapbooks as well.

There are two basic downsides to the Smyth Sewn binding process. First, a premium binding commands a premium cost. You may be alienating or pricing out parts of your readership by the high costs of your book, and you should consider that before committing to a Smyth Sewn binding. Secondly, the Smyth Sewn process is almost exclusively used for hardcover books, since the weight of the assembled signatures could tear a more fragile paper cover. If portability is a concern (for example, your book will be traveled with), the Smyth Sewn process may not be an appropriate choice for you.

The basic key to deciding on a Smyth Sewn binding is to carefully consider your book's audience. If you believe your readers will use your book over and over again, and can afford the premium charge, a Smyth Sewn binding may be ideal for you.

About the Author

Jay has been interested in family, finance and health issues for many years now. Please visit his latest website on how to choose the best
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