Custom Bound Book Printing

< Back to Printing Services

Printing for your book in a variety of formats & binding options.

Books are great marketing materials and share your business story.
Getting Bookish

Here are some questions we’ll ask to understand book needs.

  • What size do you want printed?
  • Which paper stock?
  • Matte or Glossy finish?
  • Is the book double-sided or single-sided?
  • Is it portrait or landscape?

Let’s get the pages turning.

Questions Cushing Will Ask About Your Book Project
“The flipbooks arrived and they look fantastic! Thank you so much for taking care of this – we love them! Wonderful service! Cushing helped us print & assemble a somewhat unusual project with waterproof paper & carabiner binding, and throughout the entire process from quote to delivery they were very fast, very responsive & helped us research solutions as challenges came up. The product printed beautifully & everyone we interacted with was knowledgeable, helpful & polite.”
Perfect Binding Option
Perfect Bound Book Binding

Perfect Binding, Powerful Results

What is a perfect bound book? A binding style that resembles a paperback book and comes in a variety of sizes. Laminating adds a professional look to stand out from the competition. When it comes to perfect bound binding, clients tend to call ahead even if their book or design is still in the beginning stages (which is great; we love these inquiries). In the design phase? Explore the perfect binding infographic below. Make your presentation perfect with a perfect bound book!

Some Guidelines to Help With Printing and Binding Your Book!

Use these perfect binding guidelines to prepare your files. Click the image to download the guidelines as well.

Perfect Book Print and Binding Guidelines

Download Perfect Binding Guidelines

GBC Binding Option
GBC Plastic Comb Binding

GBC plastic comb books are an inexpensive, low maintenance option for many document types, including financial reports and training guides. We tend to receive a number of requests from architectural and engineering community for this binding option. It can be used with many applications and popular within manufacturing and the engineering printing industries.

Saddle Stich Book Binding

It has nothing to do with horseback riding, but this binding option is offered in response to frequent client requests received by our customer service team: I need a book printed and bound but don’t want it that big?

Or: I need a multipage piece but not bulky, thin in appearance. Sound like your project? Saddle stich is an option for you to consider.

This binding is what you most often see in publications such as magazines using two-to-three staples.
Saddle Stich Binding Option
Wire O Binding Option
Wires Not Required

Wire-O Book Binding

Ideal for shorter presentations, wire-o binding can be used for annual reports, marketing collateral, pricing books, sales reports or ANY other document that needs a special flair. Wire bound books are sturdy, will deliver the impressive results you need and keep the pages flipping. Many marketing directors spec this bind specifically; most likely it will come down to personal preference. Want a sample? Lets talk.

More Options

Coil/Spiral Bound Book Binding

This binding type allows you to lay documents flat when open or turn pages notebook-style. We have a wide selection of classic spiral binding styles and cover options perfect for document printing.  Spiral is strictly a plastic option but a solid choice. Customers request this option because it works well to spruce up a presentation and catches the eye.

Coil Binding Option
“I had a super tight deadline to get a small order of printed books for an important proposal. Somehow, Cushing delivered in time, the books were flawless, and we won the business! The quality of the HP Indigo Digital Press was incredible. Two of the decision makers at the meeting remarked at how professional the proposal books were, and I’m convinced that gave us the edge. I’m very impressed that Cushing treated us with such care and attention even with our last-minute order. No doubt I’ll be coming back to them again.”
Preferred File Types for Perfect Bound Book Binding
Preferred File Types
Guidelines are available for download, and listed here as well!

Adobe InDesign is Cushing’s #1 one choice for file building programs, specifically when packaged to include all files, crop marks, bleeds, links, and fonts. Print-ready PDF files should include crop marks and image bleed. Why do we request sending this way? It helps us incorporate your book spine and ensure the pages are in correct order.

File Setup

Files must be set up as one file with single pages or facing pages. We ask that you not set these up as printer spreads. Why do we prefer the files this way? Perfect bound books are typically two-sided, so spreads can confuse the pagination and require additional work to correct. ready to move forward with your project and have additional questions?

Request Your Quote

Prepping Your Book Spine
Tips for Your Book Spine

Please tell us during setup if the cover of the book has printing on the inside front and inside back cover pages. The glue doesn’t stick to the toner on the inside of the spine, so a white “no print area” will be created, by Cushing, when setting up the cover and should only affect this area. Internally, we’ll set up the cover spread (front/back inside and outside) as a separate file and add the spine to it. The size of the spine is determined by us, according to the number of pages needed, and cannot be smaller than a 1/4” inch. Type and/or graphics can be printed on the spine. Please create a separate file for this named “Spine”.

Size Limitations

On our Konica Minolta, the maximum sheet size we can run is 26” inches x 13” inches. This means that the largest size book that can be produced on this machine is 12” inches x 12” inches.  Another option we offer is the HP Indigo digital press, and the largest book size available is 9” inches x 12” inches.

Paper Stock Limitations
Paper Stock Limitations

While we can print up to 110 lb. cover stock for perfect bound covers, the maximum paper weight for interior pages is a 100# text weight stock.

For a book that has the minimum number of pages, we would only recommend this weight.

Tell a team member about your book project

On the market for a print partner?

We understand not every order is for thousands of pieces, and that’s OK!

Please keep in mind that we do have a $35 minimum – this keeps your material cost down – and the attention to detail up!

Request a Quote

Perfect Bound Book Assortment

Here are some perfect bound books.

Val was so helpful and patient with everything that went into our order. The books turned out great and everybody loved them. Cushing was so wonderful to work with and we will definitely be using them again in the future!”
Build Your Perfect Bound Book

 

Request My Quote

 

Map
Book Printing Beyond Chicago

As part of the growing RMX Network, Cushing can coordinate your book printing needs across the country (and in some international locations.)

Our team will do their best to assist you, wherever the project.

Get in touch with us to learn more!

Proposal Books for Important Project Work

Consider proposal books for your next project pitch or opportunity to close new business.

Cushing client, Wojo Design uses them for important meetings and new client opportunities.

Let us know if we can help with your next project.

Request My Quote

“The personal phone call from Maht put Cushing at the top of the list. The personal touch showed me right away that Cushing was a dedicated and professional service.”
Author Katherine Dove
By The Book

Your custom book is a useful leave behind. Don’t forget to include critical information such as your website and contact details.

Make it easy for your prospects and customers to get back to you.

Ashley from Whittl
“I can’t thank Cushing enough for the incredible work they have done for us. Always able to fit in our often last minute request and always the top quality. Cushing is our go-to for all of our printing needs over at Whittl!”
Proposal Printing and Binding

From event agendas and programs to a syllabus, these can be a simple two-paged staple document or 400 page document. Speaking at a conference or trade show in Chicago? Have a critical sales presentation? We can have all your print ready materials here when you arrive.  We can even have them ready for you in over 200 cities in North America and the UK, right out of Chicago.  Simply want to impress your audience with a high quality, customized document? Consider proposal printing. Not only will your audience be impressed, they’ll be able to reference the information you presented for days and weeks to come.

Our Typical Custom Book Customer?

With so many professionals and businesses in the city of Chicago, no two inquiries are the same. Clients include Chicago-based advertising agencies, writers, business and owners. Custom printed books to additional small format printing, check out our latest digital press, offering incredible quality, by clicking the image below.

ACE-Mentor-Program-Books-With-Indigo-Press

Judge A Book By It’s Cover?

No matter if you are an aspiring author or marketing manager, we take your printed books seriously. Create a custom book that’s as unique as you are. It’s sure to get rave reviews.

Request My Quote