Perfect Binding Systems

 Hard Cover Binding  Video

Soft Cover Binding Video

Casemaker  Video

 1- What is the maximum size book I can make with the Perfect Binder XT System.

The H32Pro case maker can make CD cases, 3 ring binders and other kinds of hard covers and custom printed book covers up to 13" x 13 ". The Elite XT binder can bind up to SRA3/11 x 17 Portrait in both hard and soft cover, and can bind up to 500 sheets (1000 pages)  in book block width. If you need to bind specialty paper for photo books, then you should consider  our Fastbind Photo Book BooXter binder!

2- Do I need all the items listed in the  Perfect Binder XT System to make photo books?

  No, you may have some machines already (laminator, cover press etc) or you may not need the FB Design software or the Hard Cover tool kit at this time. Call or email us and we can discuss your exact needs and make a recommendation on which configuration is best for you!

3- What if I want to start out slowly and build up as I see my  sales increase, what are my options?

There are several options we have. You can purchase each machine individually and add them as needed. Some customers will opt for the Elite XT Perfect Binder System first, then add the custom cover making H32Pro later. Fastbind offers pre-made hard covers so you can bind and finish books with our ready made covers and soft covers are just cover stock you purchase from your paper vendor.

4- There's a lot of talk in the market, what is the difference between pre-made covers and custom made covers when it comes to competing for new customers?

 Pre-made covers simplify the finishing process and give you a quick and easy product to deliver, however the market for these kinds of photo books is based primarily on cost. Because anyone from big box retailers to corner drug store chains can produce them, your only chance to compete is on price.

 The custom printed cover on the other hand is the fastest growing segment of the custom book market and offers you both the margin you are expecting and the difference from your competitors you need .

5- You have different binding methods, Perfect binding, Stitch/Staple binding and Lay Flat Mounted binding. When would I chose Perfect binding over these other methods and why?

Perfect binding is the standard book binding method in the industry and the major difference it the ability to make soft & hard cover books up to 500 sheets or 1000 printed pages. The versatility of the Fastbind perfect binding process gives you the ability to have multiple process in one single machine. With the Fastbind prefect binder, you can bind soft covers, hard covers, tear off pads and tape binding, all in the same machine! Perfect binding gives you more versatility in a print shop and can bind thick and thin books with ease. As with all perfect binders, you must understand the relationship between paper type, grain, thickness, coatings and glue binding. As long as you understand that most, but not all papers can be bound with this method, then you will not have any problems with perfect binding. If your looking primarily for Photo Book binding, then take a look at our BooXter Photo Book Binder! 

6- What other features should I look for in a Perfect Binder XT  system?

 After the versatility that a perfect binder brings you, the next important process is repeatable quality.  To compete and make the highest margin, you need speed and quality in production. You need to know how much it will cost, how long it will take and as a company, you need to continually put out a high quality product. Because hard & soft cover  book runs are getting shorter and shorter, you need available labor to produce the books. What this means is the system must be easy enough to use so any employee can use it, but the system must produce a high quality professional result no matter the operator. This is what the Fastbind  Perfect Binder XT  System can do for you.

7. Can I get a sample photo book?

We are happy to send you a sample book. Even better, we suggest  that you send us the inside print and we will make your book for you, so you can see it with your print, and most important you can show your customers and they will see the actual quality you can deliver! Just send us your print and if you like an image file for the cover, and we will make it for you.

 8. I keep hearing the term "lay-flat" more and more when it comes to books, but it seems that this term is used for different kinds of books. What does Fastbind offer for "lay-Flat "  books and can the the  Perfect Binder XT system make  books where the paper lays completely flat?

We offer different kinds of papers that will lay flat in the book, or near flat, depending on the look you are going for. We offer "lay flat strips" for the perfect binder that will make a hard cover book lay more flat and have that "Library" book look, where it has a floating spine. As well, you can use the FlexBind lay flat hinge paper in all of Fastbind's perfect binders to create a more impressive and valuable book!

The term "Lay-Flat" in widely used for many different kinds of books, depending on the vendor and their process. Here at Fastbind we try to be specific when using these terms, so first lets explain what we say:

 An explanation of the Terms we use here at FastBindUSA!

Photo Book- While any book with color print could be a photo book, we generally talk about a photo book being a book with a small amount of pages (average 10-20 sheets) with primarily photos and some descriptive text.

Photo Album- We use the term Photo Album for books made using a mounted lay flat, panoramic binding. The best example is a wedding album but not limited too them specifically, where the pages are mounted onto thick boards and are continues one page spreads . You can see this in our FotoMount section.

Yearbook-Generally a type of photo book, but with many more pages and 2 significant sections, the "candid's" small pictures of the students in the front  sorted by age, grade etc, and the "fun" pages of images in the back.

Spread- A print that is continuous from left to right with no gap in between the pages.

Lay Flat Mounted- Continuous spread one sided print mounted onto a thin or thick board.

Lay Flat Hinged-  Paper, printed in a normal digital laser/press that has a hinge built into the paper, so when bound, it lays completely flat.  The important characteristic is any size (up to 12 x 12) can be printed normally and then just trimmed and bound like any other paper. No additional processing is required so it takes no more time or effort than 60lb,80lb or any other paper you chose, it just lays completely flat.

Lay Flat Strip:  A material used in perfect binding of hard coves, it is used to hold the book block together and then hold the book block into the hard cover. The result is a hard cover book where the spine is "floating", like a library book that has an open tunnel under the spine of the book block. This sometime is used because it has a more elegant look, or its practical use is when the bock will lay open and more flat as the book spine "floats" or "flexes" upward when opened, providing less strain on the edge of the printed paper and subsequently laying flatter than if the book block was bound directly to the spine.

Stitch/Staple- Metal is used to penetrate the book block from the side (not saddle stitch from under) to get a 100% secure bind, no matter the paper

 Perfect Bind- Generally perfect binding pertains to soft covers and it is intended to convey that the cover is a continuous piece of paper that wraps completely around the book block which is usually hot melt glued to the cover . Here at Fastbind, Perfect Binding is both Soft and hard covers as our family of perfect binders all bind both soft and hard covers, one of the very few machines that offers both. See them here at: Fastbind Perfect Binders

 Book Block:  The collection of printed paper (with end sheets if its a hard cover) that is bound either before or when its married to the soft or hard cover.

End Papers:  End papers, also called end leaves are special sheets, usually with adhesive, that will both cover the inside of the cardboard on a cover and dress up the inside of the front and back of the book. In perfect binding, they also cover the spine area where the book block and cover meet, so the user can not see the joint, and in staple bind end papers, the end paper also holds the book block into the cover. Also in Staple end sheets, the end sheet has a foam section in the bind area to absorb the metal and keep the metal from cutting through the cover during normal use.

Pre-Made covers: Generally covers made and purchased ready to bind, most but not all with a window. The can come in many colors and sizes, but black is the predominant color chose by customers. You can see our pre made covers at Fastbind Pre- Made covers, or our Hybrid Pre made covers here.

Full Wrap Covers: Full wrap covers is the result of you printing and making a hard cover yourself, with custom graphics printed by you and the placement of the boards and edge wrapping done on the Fastbind Casematic series case maker.

Hybrid Covers: This new entry into the market has some exciting uses. The cover is pre made with a nice black bonded leather wrapped around the cover like a conventional pre made cover, however the material stops 2 inches onto the front cover, which is left  with just bare cardboard remaining. Now you can wrap the front of the cover with a print using Fastbind's tacking sheet cover material. The result is a "Hybrid" between a pre made window cover (not popular) and a full wrap Custom printed cover (the most popular). Perfect for retail or starter systems, this does not require our Casematic case maker but gives you a "custom" printed cover product to sell. See our pre made hybrid covers here!

Check back with us as we will update the FAQ section in the coming months!