Saddle Stitch Printing

Name: Saddle Stitch Printing | Publishing Xpress
SKU: SS
Availability: InStock

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The Publishing Xpress 9 Point Book Printing Offer

Why should you print your book with Publishing Xpress? Like all great printers, you’ll get outstanding print quality printed to your exact specs (we offer LOTS of options) at a reasonable price. But we go way above most printers’ standards with our 9 point printing offer:

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At Publishing Xpress, we specialize in printing multipage documents from 8 pages to over 600 pages for a wide range of clients, including companies, individuals, nonprofit organizations, and schools. We print a large assortment of products, including books, catalogs, art books, annual reports, association directories, calendars, children’s books, church directories, college journals, college textbooks, yearbooks, comic books, convention workbooks, cookbooks, family history books, journals, magazines, literary magazines, manuals, membership directors, memory books, newsletters, motivational books, novels, photo books, poetry books, product manuals, program booklets, seminar workbooks, souvenir books, special event fundraising booklets, team sports books, training manuals, and workbooks.

Please check out our Book Printing Ideas page for more information. With our numerous options, including three standard finished sizes and any number of custom sizes, four binding styles, many paper choices, UV coating on covers, fast turnaround, and low printing prices, we hope you’ll consider Publishing Xpress for your next printing project.

Top Tips for Effective Saddle Stitch Printing

Saddle stitch printing is a popular binding technique where folded sheets are stapled together along the spine. It’s a cost-effective and professional option for many types of printed materials like booklets and magazines. This article will cover everything you need to know about saddle stitch printing, from its benefits to its various applications.

Key Takeaways

Saddle stitch printing is an affordable, efficient binding method ideal for various projects like booklets and brochures.
Key components include the front and back covers, inside pages, and understanding dimensions and page count, which must be multiples of four.
Publishing Xpress offers a customer-friendly service with a low minimum order, quick production times, and a satisfaction guarantee for quality assurance.

What Is Saddle Stitch Printing?

Saddle stitch printing is a popular binding technique where folded sheets are gathered together and stapled through their fold line, typically using wire staples. The method derives its name from the way sheets are draped over a saddle-like apparatus during the binding process. This approach is widely favored for its simplicity, efficiency, and the professional look it imparts to finished products.

Common applications of saddle stitching include booklets, programs, calendars, newsletters, pamphlets, and even comic books. The process involves folding each sheet in half, which means a standard sheet size of 11 x 17 inches will yield four pages when folded. Typically, saddle-stitched booklets range from a minimum of 8 pages to a maximum of 80 pages, although this can vary depending on the size and thickness of the paper.

Saddle stitch booklets are versatile, making them ideal for various projects such as corporate brochures, school yearbooks, or colorful magazines. This binding method offers both effectiveness and visual appeal.

Benefits of Saddle Stitch Binding

Saddle stitch binding stands out for its affordability. Compared to other methods like case or coil binding, it’s often more cost-effective, making it perfect for large-scale projects with budget constraints.

Saddle stitch binding is not only budget-friendly but also yields a professional look, ideal for high-quality publications like magazines. It preserves the overall aesthetics by avoiding visible holes, unlike some other binding types.

Saddle stitching is eco-friendly, using minimal materials like paper and wire staples. It’s highly versatile, accommodating various production runs with little setup. Whether for small batches of newsletters or large runs of booklets, it offers both flexibility and efficiency.

Key Components of Saddle Stitched Booklets

Saddle stitched booklets are practical due to their straightforward and effective structure. Key components include the front cover, back cover, and inside pages. Each part is crucial for the booklet’s look and functionality. Designing with a reader’s spread visualizes the intended page order, while a printer’s spread arranges pages for printing and folding.

Understanding these components is key to creating a cohesive and appealing product. Here’s a breakdown of each element and their contributions to the booklet’s success.

Front Cover and Back Cover

The front cover is the first thing readers see, making it crucial for capturing attention and communicating the booklet’s theme or message. An eye-catching cover significantly enhances the booklet’s appeal, attracting potential readers.

The back cover provides space for additional information, such as a summary or contact details, enhancing the booklet’s utility. A visually appealing front and back cover together significantly enhance the overall impression, making the booklet more engaging.

Inside Pages

For the inside pages, customers can choose between black-only or full-color printing, which greatly influences the booklet’s appearance and reader engagement. Quality control ensures uniform page sizes and proper staple placement.

Addressing issues like page misalignment or uneven trimming is crucial for maintaining high production standards. High-quality inside pages result in a professional and polished final product.

Self Cover vs. Separate Cover

A self-cover booklet uses the same paper for both the cover and inside pages, reducing production costs. This means the cover is usually less durable but more economical.

A plus-cover booklet uses a different, usually thicker stock for the cover, offering greater durability and a more premium feel. This option enhances the booklet’s look and feel, making it more attractive for high-end publications.

Page Count and Dimensions

Saddle stitched booklets have a unique page count range from 8 to 80 pages. Practically, most booklets contain about 64 pages or fewer to maintain a neat appearance.

Standard sizes include 5.5 x 8.5 inches, 6 x 9 inches, 8.5 x 11 inches, and 9 x 12 inches. The page count must be a multiple of four to avoid unplanned blank pages and ensure proper binding.

The Saddle Stitching Process

Saddle stitching combines simplicity and precision. It binds collated sheets using a wire spool pierced through the pages, creating a durable stitch. This method securely attaches pages along the spine, making it a favored choice for booklets and magazines.

A key aspect of this process is that the total page count must be divisible by four to ensure proper binding. Most booklets use a multiple of four pages to maintain consistent formatting.

Folding and Binding

In saddle binding, large sheets are typically folded in half, creating multiple pages in one fold. During folding, cardstock covers are creased along the spine to reduce cracking. Staples are inserted along the spine to secure the folded sheets that are bound together.

This method ensures the booklet remains intact and pages are properly aligned, resulting in a professional and polished product.

Adjusting Margins and Bleed

Proper margin settings are crucial to avoid cutting off text or images during printing. Margins should be wide enough to keep text and images clear of the trimming edge for a professional finish.

Adjusting the bleed area prevents unprinted edges after trimming. Bleed margins should extend beyond the page’s edge, ensuring colors and images reach the very edge.

Adjustments in margins and bleed are essential for a polished look, especially for designs extending to the page edges.

Quality Control

Quality control in saddle stitch printing ensures every printed booklet meets the expected standard. Publishing Xpress offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee, letting customers return products for reprints or refunds if unsatisfied.

This guarantee encourages manufacturers to uphold high production standards, ensuring customers receive beautiful and functional products.

Design Tips for Saddle Stitch Booklets

The design of a saddle stitched booklet is crucial, influencing first impressions and reader engagement. A well-designed front and back cover significantly enhances the booklet’s appeal and professionalism.

A well-designed saddle stitched booklet attracts attention with vibrant colors and quality paper. Proper alignment during folding and binding is essential for a neat appearance.

Creating Effective Artwork

Effective artwork is crucial for your booklet’s success. It should be visually engaging and aligned with the content to enhance overall appeal.

A double spread at the center ensures color consistency and alignment after printing. A separate cover made from different paper stock offers greater design flexibility, enhancing the booklet’s overall look.

File Submission Guidelines

For file submissions, PDF is the preferred format for compatibility with printing processes. Files should be exported as Adobe PDF (Print) to ensure proper formatting for saddle stitch printing.

Adobe InDesign is popular for designing saddle stitch booklets due to its layout capabilities and ability to export print-ready PDFs. Ensure the file format is set to ‘Adobe PDF (Print)’ when exporting your design for print.

Ordering and Printing with Publishing Xpress

Publishing Xpress offers various services for ordering and printing saddle stitched booklets. With a minimum order of just 25 copies, it’s easier to order smaller quantities without compromising quality.

Saddle stitching keeps shipping costs low due to its lightweight nature. Additionally, Publishing Xpress offers a customer-friendly ordering process and a satisfaction guarantee for a positive experience.

Minimum Print Quantity

Publishing Xpress requires a minimum order of 25 copies. This low quantity makes it accessible for various projects, regardless of scale.

Production Time and Shipping

Production typically takes four to six business days after proof approval. Free UPS ground shipping is offered for orders exceeding $399.

This free shipping policy contrasts with other companies that often charge significant fees.

Customer Satisfaction Guarantee

Publishing Xpress offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If dissatisfied, customers can return their order for reprints or refunds, depending on conditions. This commitment encourages customer confidence.

Additional Resources

For those interested in saddle stitch printing, additional resources can greatly enhance your understanding and quality. Publishing Xpress offers a free book titled ‘The Ultimate Guide to Printing Your Book, Booklet, Catalog, or Magazine’. Free sample packages are also available, including binding styles and various paper stocks to help visualize options.

Leveraging these free resources can significantly benefit those looking to create professional-quality saddle stitched materials. Here’s a detailed look at these resources.

Free Guide to Printing

Publishing Xpress offers a free book titled ‘The Ultimate Guide to Printing Your Book, Booklet, Catalog, or Magazine’. This guide provides valuable insights and tips for navigating the printing process and achieving high-quality results.

Sample Packages

Free sample packages from Publishing Xpress include various binding styles and paper stocks. These samples allow customers to evaluate options before making a decision, ensuring the best materials for their project.

Summary

In summary, saddle stitch printing is a versatile and cost-effective binding method ideal for various publications, from booklets and newsletters to magazines and catalogs. Its simple yet professional look, combined with minimal material use, makes it an attractive option for many printing projects. Understanding the key components—from the front and back covers to the inside pages—helps in designing a cohesive and engaging booklet.

The process of saddle stitching involves precise folding, binding, and attention to details like margins and bleed to ensure a polished final product. Employing quality control measures and leveraging design tips can significantly enhance the appeal and functionality of your saddle stitched booklets. With the additional resources provided by Publishing Xpress, including a free printing guide and sample packages, you have everything you need to produce high-quality, professionally bound publications.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum print quantity for saddle stitch printing at Publishing Xpress?

You’ve got to print at least 25 copies for saddle stitch printing at Publishing Xpress. So, just keep that in mind when planning your project!

What guarantee does Publishing Xpress offer for customer satisfaction?

Publishing Xpress has your back with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, so if you’re not happy with your order, you can get a reprint or a full refund. No stress!

What types of products does Publishing Xpress print?

Publishing Xpress prints a bunch of products like books, catalogs, and magazines. So, whatever your project is, they’ve got you covered!

What free resource does Publishing Xpress provide to help clients with printing?

Publishing Xpress offers a free book called “The Ultimate Guide to Printing Your Book, Booklet, Catalog, or Magazine” to help you with your printing needs. It’s a solid resource to get you started!

How can customers receive a sample of the binding styles and paper stocks?

You can easily get a free sample package that includes various binding styles and paper stocks by simply requesting it. It’s a great way to check out your options!

Sizes

At Publishing Xpress, we offer four standard finished sizes: 9 x 12, 8½ x 11, 6 x 9, 5½ x 8½ But we can print custom sizes as well. We have printed books and catalogs ranging from 3 inches x 3 inches all the way to 11 inches x 17 inches.

When pricing a nonstandard sizes up to 9 x 12, simply select our price calculator for the next largest size. For instance, if you want to print a 5 x 5 book, select the 5 ½ x 8 ½ calculator. Or, if you want a 7 x 10 magazine, just select the 8 ½ x 11 calculator.

Binding

At Publishing Xpress, we offer four binding styles for multipage documents:

Saddle stitching: Saddle stitching can be used for documents from 8 to 80 pages. Two pages are printed on each side of a large sheet of paper. The sheets are then collated and folded in half, with two staples on the binding edge. Saddle stitching is a good option for catalogs, program booklets, etc. Due to the way they are printed, saddle stitched booklets must be set up in increments of 4 pages. Saddle stitching costs 20 cents per book.
Perfect binding: Perfect binding can be used for documents from 8 pages to over 300 pages. Glue is placed in the center of the inside cover and then the inside pages adhere to the glue. Perfect binding is popular for paperback novels and larger magazines. This binding costs 50 cents per book.
Plastic coil binding: Plastic coil binding can be used for documents from 8 pages to over 300 pages. This binding is similar to a school notebook, except the binding is covered in black plastic instead of metal. Plastic coil binding is a great option for documents that are heavily used or where the document needs to lay flat. Plastic coil binding costs 95 cents per book.
Wire-o binding: Wire-o binding can also be used for documents from 8 pages to over 300 pages. Wire-o binding is similar to plastic coil binding, except the binding is light black wire. Many feel it is more sophisticated looking than plastic coil binding. Wire-o binding is also a good option for documents that are heavily used or where the document needs to lay flat. Wire-o binding costs 80 cents per book.

Paper

At Publishing Xpress, we have numerous paper options for the inside pages of your document as well as special papers for covers. All of our papers come in white only.

For inside pages, we offer:

60 lb. uncoated text
70 lb. uncoated text
70 lb. matte text
70 lb. gloss text
80 lb. unocoated text
80 lb. matte text
80 lb. gloss text
100 lb. matte text
100 lb. gloss text

For covers, you can use the same paper as the inside pages or these paper stocks:

80 lb. matte cover
80 lb. gloss cover
100 lb. matte cover
100 lb. gloss cover
120 lb. gloss cover (only available with plastic coil and wire-o bindings)
120 lb. matte cover (only available with plastic coil and wire-o bindings)
16 pt cover (only available with plastic coil and wire-o bindings)

When selecting paper stock for saddle stitch binding or perfect binding, we often recommend an 80# cover stock for the cover with 80# text stock for the inside pages or 100# cover stock for the cover with 100# text stock for the inside pages. These combinations work very well together.

For plastic coil and wire-o binding, we recommend the heaviest cover stock (16 pt or 120# gloss or matte cover) with at least 70# uncoated text stock or 80# coated text stock on the inside pages.

If you are not sure what paper stocks to use, order our printing sample package. That package contains a plastic coil bound book with sample of all of our paper stocks.

Turnaround

Our normal turnaround time is 4-6 business days after proof approval. We also offer expedited turnaround times:

3 business days after proof approval costs 15% extra
2 business days after proof approval costs 25% extra
1 business day after proof approval costs 40% extra
Same day as proof approval costs 100% extra. However, before ordering, please check with us to make sure that we are able to print the same day.

Unlike other printing companies, we provide you with an exact number of production days. We do not give you a range of days, because we do not think that is very helpful for you to schedule jobs. However, please keep in mind that our turnaround times are our production times only and do not include UPS shipping times to deliver your order. Shipping times with the United States can vary from 1 to 4 business days. Please see our shipping page to determine how many shipping days you are from our location. You can also expedite shipping, but you will need to pay for this service. Ground UPS shipping is free for orders over $399. UPS offers overnight, 2nd day, and 3-day shipping in addition to standard ground shipping.

Lamination

At Publishing Xpress, we offer lamination for the covers of perfect bound, plastic coil, and wire-o books. We do not offer lamination for saddle stitch books. We currently offer gloss, soft touch, leather, and linen lamination. The cost is:

35 cents per book for one sided gloss lamination
70 cents per book for two sided gloss lamination (available only for plastic coil and wire-o books)
40 cents per book for one sided soft touch lamination
80 cents per book for two sided soft touch lamination (available only for plastic coil and wire-o books)
50 cents per book for one sided matte lamination
$1 per book for two sided matte lamination (available only for plastic coil and wire-o books)
50 cents per book for one sided leather lamination
$1 per book for two sided leather lamination (available only for plastic coil and wire-o books)
50 cents per book for one sided linen lamination
$1 per book for two sided linen lamination (available only for plastic coil and wire-o books)

File Setup

At Publishing Xpress, we only accept PDF files for your printing files. The PDF file must be high resolution, which will embed all fonts and graphics, so that no elements are moved or displaced on your pages. Please review every page of your PDF before uploading it to us. You are the only one who can judge whether all of the pages are correct and that nothing has shifted or moved.

Our customer service reps review every job before it is shipped. In many cases, they will notice things like low-resolution graphics, layering issues, and sometimes even typos. If they notice something, they will bring it to your attention so that you can correct it. However, we cannot guarantee that we will notice everything that may be wrong with a particular job.

Templates

Templates for Blank Lined Pages

These templates are perfect for journals and note pages in other documents. The templates are PDFs with bleeds:

Lined Pages 5.5×8.5 with Bleeds

Lined Pages 6×9 with Bleeds

Lined Pages 8.5×11 with Bleeds

01Our prices are really reasonable, but we’ll also give you an additional 20% off your first order.

Most printers don’t offer any discounts and many of those that do will cap the discount at a maximum dollar value, usually around $200 or so. We don’t cap the discount — you get a full 20% off your total order value. If your order totals $5,000, you get $1,000 off. And we frequently run sales where you can save on any additional orders. Just fill in your name and email address below to get the 20$ discount code.
02UPS ground shipping is FREE for orders over $399.

A couple of online printers also offer free shipping, but most printers charge anywhere from 7% to 20% of your order value just for ground shipping. Just points 1 and 2 will save you 30% to 40%!
03You’ll be assigned to your own LIVE customer service rep

Our CSRs have years of experience in the book printing industry and will look at your project with a critical eye to make sure you’ll be happy with your project. If your CSR thinks your project will look better with different specs or notices something that doesn’t look quite right, she’ll let you know before we start printing. And the best part? Our CSRs are available Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST via phone, email, and chat. You’ll be able to talk to a live person when you call in.
04We take your deadlines seriously.

You’ll be asked when you need to receive your order when the order is placed. One of the first things your CSR will do is make sure that your order will get there in time based on the processing speed and delivery method you selected. If not, you will be contacted with options and the cost to get it there on time. Maybe you’ll need to select rush processing (our normal turnaround time is 4 to 6 business days, but we also offer 3 day, 2 day, 1 day, and same day processing) or expedited shipping. Your CSR will let you know the best options to get your order on time. Other printers won’t even bother to ask when you need your order and then will just process your order based on their normal schedule. We take every client’s deadline seriously.
05Once your order is printed, we’ll post a free digital flipbook of your book and send a link and QR code to you.

You can use the flipbook to promote your book on your website or social media. If you wanted to prepare a flipbook of this quality yourself, you would spend $100 or more. Only a couple of other printers provide flipbooks. Click here to see an example.
06Our free sample package contains a sample or each binding style and a plastic coil book with all of our paper stocks.

We can show you pictures of our four binding styles (perfect bound, plastic coil, saddle stich, and wire-o) and talk about all of the papers we offer, but do you know what’s even better? Actually holding samples in your hand to decide for yourself what you like. Our free sample package contains a sample of each binding style and a plastic coil book with a sample of each of our paper stocks. It’s an incredible resource when making your printing decisions. A lot of printers don’t offer a sample package or charge a fee. Not Publishing Xpress. Just click here and get our sample package for free.
07We know our clients aren’t printing experts, but they want an expertly printed book.

A lot depends on the files we receive, so we help by offering a free book, The Ultimate Guide to Printing Your Book, Booklet, Catalog, or Magazine. The book contains lots of tips on getting great print quality, how to design your book, and our recommendations on binding styles and whether to print in color or black only. Most printers don’t provide this information or it’s scattered around their website. We put everything in one convenient guide. Click here to download a free copy of the guide.
08For your book to be taken seriously, it needs to look like it was professionally designed.

But if you’re like most self-published authors, you’re probably handling the layout and design in additional to writing your book. That’s why you’ll love our free book design checklist. Everything you should consider to make your book look professional is on the checklist. You’ll be amazed at how much better your book looks after following our checklist. We don’t know of any printer providing this free resource. Click here to download this valuable resource for free.
09We hope you see all of the advantages of working with Publishing Xpress.

But just in case you need a little more reassurance, we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not totally happy with your order, just return it to us and we’ll either reprint your order or issue a full refund, at our discretion. We are often asked how we can give such a generous guarantee. The answer is simple — our quality and service are so exceptional that we rarely have to refund or reprint an order. Check out our full guarantee here.

You can’t select a better printing partner for your book printing. But don’t take our word for it. Check out our over 120 5-star Google reviews.

“I’ve done business with Publishing Xpress MULTIPLE times at this point AND EVERY time the SERVICE, QUALITY and COMMUNICATION is SUPERB! STOP looking for another company for your Printing Needs, you literally just found the BEST Option!” Connor Sullivan