How to Print & Bind Booklets

Booklet binding can be achieved through cut and paste.

Various desktop publishing software provides templates for creating content for booklets. The process will vary (Microsoft Office and Adobe have templates free for download). Once the content is finished and arranged in pages, printing and binding booklets will depend on paper size, number of pages, paper-type (copy paper or card stock) and whether your booklet content is double-sided. To process simple booklets at home, use standard letter paper (8.5 inches x 11 inches) or legal-sized paper (8.5 x 14). These paper sizes can be managed by most desktop printers. Booklets of fewer pages can be saddle-stitched with regular or even heavy-duty staples. More pages or thicker paper will require glue and covers created with heavier stock paper than the interior pages.

Things You'll Need

• document created with a booklet template
• printer
• paper (letter or legal)
• paper cutter
• paper weight
• worktable
• booklets less than half an inch:
• stapler (with extended arms)
• booklets half-inch thick or more:
• one box heavy-duty binder clips
• rubber cement or Gorilla Glue
• cover stock paper the same width and height of your interior pages
• ruler

Instructions

Booklets Less Than a Half Inch

1. Open your content document on your computer. Select and open the program's print options (instructions vary by program).

2. Modify print options to print pages on the size and type of paper your content requires and select the booklet printing option even if your printer does not have duplex printing. The booklet printing option will direct you to print one side of the pages and then to re-feed the pages into your printer for the second side.

3. Trim the printed pages to size with a paper cutter along the outside height and width of the pages. Do not cut pages along the centerline or fold.

4. Arrange the pages in order and then fold the booklet at the center line. Optional: smooth the pages and press closed with a paper weight for a half hour.

5. Open the booklet and staple the pages twice, vertically along the fold, with the staples pushing from the outside into the center of the booklet.

Booklets Half-Inch Thick or More

1. Open your content document. Make sure that your document allows for binding space on the left or right side of the booklet page. Select and open the program's print options (instructions vary by program).

2. Modify print options to print pages on the size and type of paper your content requires and select the booklet printing option even if your printer does not have duplex printing. The booklet printing option will direct you to print one side of the pages and then to re-feed the pages into your printer for the second side. Print the cover of the booklet on card stock, reserving a few extra sheets of the stock for later use. Include a back cover, though this can be blank if you wish.

3. Measure the width of your binding edge. Take the reserve pieces of cover stock and cut into vertical strips twice the width of your booklet's binding edge. On each strip, use a pencil to mark the width of the booklet in the center of the strip, leaving equal amounts of room on either side to fold over the binding edge.

4. Spread a generous coat of rubber cement or Gorilla Glue along the binding edge of the booklet.

   Press a cover stock strip from Step 3 to the binding edge, carefully following the marks you created to allow room to fold the strips on either side of the binding. Spread a thin coat of glue on the over-hanging edges of the strips. Fold the edges over and press them securely to the covers.

5. Secure the strips with two evenly-spaced binding clips, carefully wiping away excess glue with a damp cloth. Allow to dry for 24 hours before removing the clips.

Tips & Warnings

• To prevent the clips from biting into the cover stock and leaving marks, place a small scrap piece of cover stock between the clips and the covers.

• If single pages feel slightly loose in some places when you open the booklets, use a toothpick to spread small beads of glue along the inside of the pages as close to the binding as possible.

• Wipe away excess glue as soon as you see it.

References

• DIYbookbinding.com: A Simple Way to Create a Paperback Book
• UniqueBindery.com: Image of Bound Book