June 2005: Distinctive Book Cover Materials

The combination of foil stamping with a rich bonded leather gives this book cover a subtle yet distinctive appearance.

They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but we know that’s not possible. Book covers are the face of your project, and require a look that fits your overall design and theme of the book. When considering the design and materials to be used for a case-bound book cover, begin by determining the end use of the product and its expected life span. With that information in mind, here are a few options to consider:

Preprinted Cover Wraps – Preprinted paper cover wraps are both less expensive and less durable than most other materials. However, some high-end papers have rich textures and can be made more durable with laminates and other coatings. Preprinted cover wraps lend themselves well to decorative touches such as foil stamping, debossing, UV coating and other finishing techniques.

Paper-based Wraps - Unprinted paper isn't simply stock paper. A wide range of colors, thicknesses and embossing patterns are available to complement your designs. Some papers include special features - some heat-reactive materials contain plastic elements that cause the paper to change shades slightly when heat and pressure is applied.

Book Cloth – A classic look, book cloth provides more longevity and durability than paper covers. Book cloth is available in a variety of colors, thicknesses and feels. Though it is always an option, book cloth generally does not accept foil stamping as well as some substrates.

Bonded Leather – When you need the look, feel and even the smell of leather at a fraction of the cost, bonded leather can often do the job. Bonded leather is very durable and can be dyed in a wide range of colors or debossed with a variety of finishes.

Genuine Leather – A high-quality and impressive cover option, genuine leather is expensive and can be time-consuming to produce. Leather is very durable and can be stamped or debossed without difficulty.

Materials tip: When supplying a printed cover wrap, be sure it has sufficient opacity to obscure the binder’s boards completely. Gray binder’s boards can be seen through thinner stocks and alter the appearance of text, graphics and the cover material itself.

Planning tip: If your project calls for a cover material that will require a special order from your binder, be sure to build ample lead time into your project schedule. Many papers, bonded leathers and other materials are international or custom-produced, and can take anywhere from two days to three weeks to deliver.

The Riverside Advantage
At the Riverside Group, we’ll work with you to determine what cover materials work best on your next project, and continue protecting your project through the plant with our full-time quality department. Following your project end-to-end is one more way the Riverside Group helps you sleep at night. Give us a call today to begin putting our complete binding and finishing services to work for your next masterpiece.

In August 2004, The Riverside Group began selecting one lucky graphic arts company every month to win a hand-delivered six-foot Subway sandwich - perfect for feeding the entire office!

Qualifying for our monthly drawing is easy - simply go to our website and register to receive these great tips each month! We'll never misuse your email and you can opt out at any time. Existing customers who have already signed up for our monthly tips will be automatically entered.