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Advantage

The Nation's Leader in Quality Book Binding
& Post Press Services Since 1985

410-760-0008
2 Nashua Court, Baltimore, MD 21221

What designers and end users ultimately want is to create the perfect printed piece. But what does that really mean? How is that achieved? Is it expensive? All of those questions can be answered by the phrase “Adding Value after it is printed,” which is what Advantage Book Binding can provide.

Some people look at a finished printed piece of work as no big deal. However, it has the potential to become more than that. It can be elevated to a work to be proud of…a work of art. Hours upon hours can go into the design of that printed piece. The finishing should be no exception.

In today’s digital era it has become more important try to create something that will grab the attention of the end user and instill a sense of permanence, something that becomes a keepsake to hold on to.

The traditional finishes such as saddle stitching, perfect binding, mechanical binding, die cutting, and case binding are always great choices. Who doesn’t like the feel of those printed pages, the smell of the ink, and the durability of a book? So how can we kick them up?

There are many things that can add that extra value. Let’s take a look at a few of them.

Foil stamping, die cutting, and embossing have always had that eye catching edge. They give the feel and glitz of color to the finished work. Taking these traditional finishes and adding some special touches to the binding, like center sewing or side sewing essentially adds another dimension, the effect of depth of touch. That stitching on the book gives it character and style. Different color thread can be used to work with the design. Although it may look expensive it can be an affordable addition. You cannot feel that on a tablet.

Lamination or UV coating has always been a big player to add value. There are different surfaces now available to use other than the standard gloss or matte sheens. There are even colored laminations that can be printed on to even more enhance the look. The idea of printing on a silver metallic sheet is very intriguing.

Another example to add some value could be the addition of a cloth taped spine. The effect of taking a perfect bound book and giving it a three piece case look definitely brings the wow factor. There are so many different colors of material to use that can really improve the piece. It can also give you the option of using different stocks for the front cover and back covers.

Deckled edges are another finishing attribute that often fall under the radar. People have no idea how to generate it but, it can be done affordably on some parts. A torn edge does give it that rustic feel.

The ultimate value is a hard cover case bound. It takes a book to the highest level. A coffee table book, law book, text book or history book. The combinations are endless. Think of a cloth cover with foil stamping, debossing, with a laminated picture attached. Then add in a ribbon marker with gold gilded edges. On top of that wrap it in a beautiful dust jacket that has been laminated, foil stamped and spot UV. The next thing you know you have created that piece that you can be proud of.

The next time you are designing a printed piece that needs to have value after it is printed, get your finisher or binder involved. The possibilities are limitless. Imagine someone holding that book or brochure and saying this is too nice to throw away. That is what we are trying to achieve. Having that person hold on and remember what that “work of art” is really for is what “adding value after it is printed” is all about.

 

 book binding additions

 

Advantage Book Binding has been in the book binding business since 1985, when we were founded on the principle “we do a quality book on time.” Since then we’ve seen plenty of changes both in and out of the industry. While some have sounded the death knell for books and other physical media, we believe that the fact that we continue to be an industry leader into the 21st century is a testament not only to our longevity as a company but to that of our craft. We think it’s important to keep books and physical media on the shelves, which is why we dedicate ourselves to providing you with the highest quality book binding and post press services available.

Keep up with us on FacebookGoogle +Twitter, and LinkedIn, and feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments.

While the number of e-book users has risen in recent years, Americans still prefer their books in print form by a wide margin. According to a report released by the Pew Center for Research, 69% of Americans read at least one print book last year, compared to 28% who read an e-book. In fact, the number of Americans who read a print book actually increased by 4 percentage points from 2012-2013.

In addition, while 32% of Americans own an e-reader device, only 4% do all of their reading exclusively on these devices. Just over half (57%) of e-reader owners use their device for reading, and about the same number of tablet owners (55%) use their tablet for reading. All in all, 76% of Americans read a book at some point in the past 12 months, which was a slight jump from 2012, when 74% read at least one book. According to the report, “Though e-books are rising in popularity, print remains the foundation of Americans’ reading habits.”

 

ereader vs book

 

Advantage Book Binding has been in the book binding business since 1985, when we were founded on the principle “we do a quality book on time.” Since then we’ve seen plenty of changes both in and out of the industry. While some have sounded the death knell for books and other physical media, we believe that the fact that we continue to be an industry leader into the 21st century is a testament not only to our longevity as a company but to that of our craft. We think it’s important to keep books and physical media on the shelves, which is why we dedicate ourselves to providing you with the highest quality book binding and post press services available.

Keep up with us on FacebookGoogle +Twitter, and LinkedIn, and feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments.

Source

http://pewinternet.org/~/media//Files/Reports/2014/PIP_E-reading%202014.pdf

Hard cover binding, also known as case binding, is used for all kinds of books. From children’s books and coffee table books, to law books and medical books, hard cover binding is widely used. This is in no small part due to the strength of the various case binding techniques, which makes hard cover books the most durable and long-lasting books available. The ability to customize hard cover books is another reason case binding is so popular. Everything from the cover’s material (leather, fabric, etc.) to finishing techniques (embossing, foil stamping, printed dust jackets) is customizable, making hard cover books great for just about any application.

So how does case binding work. Basically, a block of pre-collated, pre-cut loose sheets can be either adhesive bound into a book block or gathered and sewn together along the spine. We offer the following case binding techniques:

Smyth sewn hard cover books

This case binding technique involves sewing thread through the backfold of a signature at the spine and repeating this individually for each signature. This is the strongest and most durable of any book binding technique, and also results in a book that lays flat.

Adhesive bound hard cover books

This technique also involves perfect binding. Signatures or loose leaves book blocks are cased with a hard cover and bound with a strong adhesive.

Fully concealed wire-bound hardback books

This takes the Wire-O binding technique and hides the wire in a hard case binding. Because the wire is protected in the binding, it results in a much more durable book.

 

Check out our additional services page for more information on all of the customization options for hard cover books!

 

hard cover binding

 

 

Advantage Book Binding has been in the book binding business since 1985, when we were founded on the principle “we do a quality book on time.” Since then we’ve seen plenty of changes both in and out of the industry. While some have sounded the death knell for books and other physical media, we believe that the fact that we continue to be an industry leader into the 21st century is a testament not only to our longevity as a company but to that of our craft. We think it’s important to keep books and physical media on the shelves, which is why we dedicate ourselves to providing you with the highest quality book binding and post press services available.

 

Keep up with us on FacebookGoogle +Twitter, and LinkedIn, and feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments.

 

You might be surprised to learn that Kevin Kelly’s latest project was not an online exclusive. Kelly is the founding executive editor of the online magazine Wired, which is now one of the leading online tech magazines. However, instead of uploading new content to Wired, his new venture is about downloading and offloading content from the virtual world and into the real world. And it’s been a huge success.

Kelly is the owner of website Cool Tools, which features reviews of tools and makes its money by referring readers to these tools on Amazon and receiving a small portion of the profit if the readers go on to buy the product. Cool Tools is a classic example of the ability of the internet to aggregate useful information in one easy to use website. After 10 years of running Cool Tools, however, Kelly thought he’d shake things up. He compiled the thousands of reviews on the site and assembled them in a print catalog which he self-published and sold for $39.99.

Who would pay that much for something they had free access to online? Plenty of people, as it turned out. His first printing of 10,000 copies sold out, and second and third printings of 12,000 and 20,000 copies respectively are on their way. Kelly was surprised by the immediate success of the book, but saw the demand for a physical version of the online content of his website. Quoted in the New York Times, Kelly said:

 

There is something about having that large expanse of real estate in your lap, something about the format, that is extremely satisfying,’ he said. ‘Having many different things you may be interested in on a page, as opposed to a single thing surrounded by ads as it is on the web, leads to the formation of different connections and leads to a different experience.’”

 

Cool Tools book

 

 

Advantage Book Binding has been in the book binding business since 1985, when we were founded on the principle “we do a quality book on time.” Since then we’ve seen plenty of changes both in and out of the industry. While some have sounded the death knell for books and other physical media, we believe that the fact that we continue to be an industry leader into the 21st century is a testament not only to our longevity as a company but to that of our craft. We think it’s important to keep books and physical media on the shelves, which is why we dedicate ourselves to providing you with the highest quality book binding and post press services available.

Keep up with us on FacebookGoogle +Twitter, and LinkedIn, and feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments.

Source

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/01/06/business/media/print-starts-to-settle-into-its-niches.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&smid=tw-nytimes

As a book binder, you might think we deal exclusively with publishing companies. While we do work with plenty of publishers, Advantage Book Binding also offers plenty of products and services that might be of interest to you, even if you’re not a publishing house. Let’s say you are:

 

A Designer

If you’re a designer working on a project, chances are you want full creative control of your project from start to finish. Advantage Book Binding gives you the creative hands on edge to finish your project with services like book die cutting, which allow you to create a unique one of a kind book with decorative patterns, designs, and die-cut windows.

In the Pharmaceutical Industry

Do you need brochures, pamphlets, or small wire-bound books for advertising or informational purposes? We can help you design custom products that are both professional and eye catching. We also offer individual shrink wrapping and custom packaging for these products.

A Family Member

Looking for a great gift for a family member who has everything? Get them a customized gift book box for their favorite book. Or a shadowbox to preserve their favorite memory. If they have an old treasured book that has seen better days, our book repair services can get restore it to its former luster.

A Self-Publisher

If you’re a self-publisher looking for someone who can both print and bind in house, we can help. Large or small, we work with lots of self-publishers to meet their binding and printing needs.

 

custom binding

 

 

Advantage Book Binding has been in the book binding business since 1985, when we were founded on the principle “we do a quality book on time.” Since then we’ve seen plenty of changes both in and out of the industry. While some have sounded the death knell for books and other physical media, we believe that the fact that we continue to be an industry leader into the 21st century is a testament not only to our longevity as a company but to that of our craft. We think it’s important to keep books and physical media on the shelves, which is why we dedicate ourselves to providing you with the highest quality book binding and post press services available.

Keep up with us on FacebookGoogle +Twitter, and LinkedIn, and feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments.

A trade bindery serves the commercial printing industry with various post press and binding services. While many commercial printers can perform some product finishing in house, a trade bindery can help your commercial printing operation expand its product line by offering different binding techniques. Advantage Book Binding offers a number of different binding services including case binding, perfect binding, and glue folding among others. By taking advantage of different binding services, you can increase your sales and increase your appeal to clients.

 

Because a trade bindery is an extension of the commercial printer, it’s important to find one that is concerned with quality. It’s also important that the printer keep its quality level high when sending work to the bindery. Communication between both parties regarding layouts and job schedules will ensure that products meet standards for quality, are delivered on time, and satisfy the needs of the clients. Advantage Book Binding can provide your printing company with the binding services and customer service to satisfy both you and your clients. Browse our website or contact us today for more information about our trade bindery services.

 

trade bindery

 

Advantage Book Binding has been in the book binding business since 1985, when we were founded on the principle “we do a quality book on time.” Since then we’ve seen plenty of changes both in and out of the industry. While some have sounded the death knell for books and other physical media, we believe that the fact that we continue to be an industry leader into the 21st century is a testament not only to our longevity as a company but to that of our craft. We think it’s important to keep books and physical media on the shelves, which is why we dedicate ourselves to providing you with the highest quality book binding and post press services available.

Keep up with us on FacebookGoogle +Twitter, and LinkedIn, and feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments.

 

You probably know mechanical binding best in the form of a spiral bound notebook. The ubiquitous classroom staple, spiral bound notebooks are just one type of book that falls under the category of mechanical binding. Basically, mechanical binding uses a metal or plastic filament to bind the pages of a book together. Mechanical binding works well for manuals, cookbooks, calendars, and of course, school notebooks and agendas. Here are the different options for mechanical binding.

Wire-O Binding

This binding technique uses a double wire to spiral bind a book. It’s versatile, lays flat, and is very cost-efficient. In addition, it looks more finished when folded over onto itself because the ends of the connectors and hinges are hidden on the inside back cover.

Plastic Coil Spiral Binding

This mechanical binding technique is very versatile in that it offers lots of options for color, size, and pitch options for the plastic coil.

Fully Concealed Wire-Bound Hardback Books

This book uses the wire-O technique and encases the coil in a hard case binding, which gives the book added durability and strength.

Plastic Comb Binding

Plastic comb binding uses a plastic filament with teeth that are inserted into punched holes that close to secure the binding. This mechanical binding technique is very economical for short runs and can have an imprinting on the spine.

 

mechanical binding

 

Advantage Book Binding has been in the book binding business since 1985, when we were founded on the principle “we do a quality book on time.” Since then we’ve seen plenty of changes both in and out of the industry. While some have sounded the death knell for books and other physical media, we believe that the fact that we continue to be an industry leader into the 21st century is a testament not only to our longevity as a company but to that of our craft. We think it’s important to keep books and physical media on the shelves, which is why we dedicate ourselves to providing you with the highest quality book binding and post press services available.

Keep up with us on Facebook, Google +, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments.

Soft cover binding, also known as perfect binding, is the process by which softcover/paperback books are bound. There are a variety of soft cover binding techniques which can be used for lots of different applications including fiction and non-fiction books, graphic novels, brochures, manuals, corporate annual reports, directories, cookbooks, and more. The process of binding a soft cover book is less expensive and faster than certain other binding methods, making it a very cost-efficient option for clients who require a large quantity of well-bound books in a short period of time.

Advantage Books Binding employs several different binding techniques for our soft cover products. They are:

Perfect Binding

Perfect binding involves adding an EVA adhesive to the roughened spine of a book block of collected single leaves or folded signatures. The glue bonds with the paper along the spine, and then a printable cover is glued in place.

PUR Binding

Another adhesive binding, PUR binding is ideal for digital printing because it is able to handle a variety of printed stocks and inks. Its design also makes it resistant to spine cracking, page pulls, and extreme temperatures.

Lay Flat Binding

Lay flat binding is a soft cover binding technique that allows the book to lay flat when opened. It expands on the PUR binding technique by using a free-floating cap on the PUR bound signatures which allows the book to lay flat.

Notch Perfect Binding

This soft cover binding method is used for certain book designs to make a stronger perfect binding. In this technique, glue penetrates through notch folded signatures which creates a stronger bond.

Smyth Sewn Blue-On Cover Binding

This book binding technique is useful for soft cover books that will be used frequently, bent back on a copy machine, and need to lay flat.

 

soft cover binding

 

Advantage Book Binding has been in the book binding business since 1985, when we were founded on the principle “we do a quality book on time.” Since then we’ve seen plenty of changes both in and out of the industry. While some have sounded the death knell for books and other physical media, we believe that the fact that we continue to be an industry leader into the 21st century is a testament not only to our longevity as a company but to that of our craft. We think it’s important to keep books and physical media on the shelves, which is why we dedicate ourselves to providing you with the highest quality book binding and post press services available.

Keep up with us on Facebook, Google +, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments.

Looking for a great gift for the magazine collector in your life. How about a volume binding from Advantage Book Binding? A volume binding is a collection of magazines bound together into one case bound book. There are lots of great projects that volume binding can be used for. You can take a group of magazine from a certain time period and bind them together to make a great piece of memorabilia. Sports magazines, arts magazines, news, photography, foreign…anything works well in volume binding. Not only that, but you can choose the binding material and personalize it with a name stamp. Volume bindings are a great way to keep a collection together and protect it from damage. Check out this photo for an example of a volume binding project we did.

magazine volume binding

Advantage Book Binding also has plenty of other great gift book options for the holidays that will be perfect for your favorite book-lover. Custom book boxes protect old books with sentimental value, and custom journals are great for writers. Family tree books are a great place to document your family’s history with old photos, documents, and personal histories in a customized book. For those with an old Bible which has seen better days, we offer Bible repair services which ensure that it will last for many more years to come. In addition to books, we also do photo albums and shadowboxes, both of which make for great gifts with a personal touch.

volume binding

 

Advantage Book Binding has been in the book binding business since 1985, when we were founded on the principle “we do a quality book on time.” Since then we’ve seen plenty of changes both in and out of the industry. While some have sounded the death knell for books and other physical media, we believe that the fact that we continue to be an industry leader into the 21st century is a testament not only to our longevity as a company but to that of our craft. We think it’s important to keep books and physical media on the shelves, which is why we dedicate ourselves to providing you with the highest quality book binding and post press services available.

 

Keep up with us on FacebookGoogle +Twitter, and LinkedIn, and feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments.

 

 

Two ancient Bibles, written in Greek on parchment in the 3rd and 4th centuries, are on display now at The Freer Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. The Bibles are rarely displayed due to their age and sensitivity to light. Recently brought out from the gallery’s archives, the two Bibles will be on display through February 16, 2014.

Aside from their historical significance, one of the Bibles, known as the “Washington Codex” contains an additional passage in the Gospel of Mark not found in any other known Biblical manuscript. The passage describes how Jesus, after rising from death, declared the reign of Satan to be over on earth. While this phrase caused significant controversy among scholars when the Codex was first translated in 1912, though Freer and a team of experts determined the manuscript to be authentic.

Charles Lang Freer was a 19th and 20th century business mogul who built his fortune manufacturing railroad cars in Detroit. Freer was also an avid art collector, and amassed a substantial collection of pottery, along with other pieces, which he later donated to the Smithsonian. Freer obtained the two Bibles from Al Arabi, an antiques dealer in Giza.

The Peacock Room at The Freer Gallery of Art is normally open on the third Thursday of every month. The room was designed by James Whistler and is usually filled with natural light. However, it has been shuttered to preserve the integrity of the Bibles while they’re on display.

Freer Bibles

 

Advantage Book Binding has been in the book binding business since 1985, when we were founded on the principle “we do a quality book on time.” Since then we’ve seen plenty of changes both in and out of the industry. While some have sounded the death knell for books and other physical media, we believe that the fact that we continue to be an industry leader into the 21st century is a testament not only to our longevity as a company but to that of our craft. We think it’s important to keep books and physical media on the shelves, which is why we dedicate ourselves to providing you with the highest quality book binding and post press services available.

Keep up with us on FacebookGoogle +Twitter, and LinkedIn, and feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments.

Sources

http://www.kansascity.com/2013/11/27/4653839/dcs-freer-gallery-displays-two.html

http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/aroundthemall/2013/11/the-man-who-viewed-the-bible-as-art/

http://www.asia.si.edu/exhibitions/current/freer-bibles.asp