April 2006: Concealed Covers for Mechanically-Bound Books

Many designers and publishers choose adhesive binding for its ability to print on the spine, which is a must for retail applications. With several available concealed cover styles, mechanical binding should enter the discussion for these projects, especially if they require lay-flat capabilities. Here are a few you may want to consider:

Cased-in concealed Wire-O books such as this can be designed to allow the first and last leaves of the book block to insert into sleeves in the case for easy removal.

Semi-Concealed vs. Fully-Concealed

Two of the most popular concealed softcover styles are semi-concealed and fully-concealed. A semi-concealed cover is constructed of a single piece of cover material, which is typically punched near the back cover hinge score to adhere it to the binding loops. The punched holes can also be placed on the front cover or spine; regardless, the binding elements will show on the finished product, hence the term “semi-concealed”.

A fully-concealed cover is similar in construction to a semi-concealed cover in that it’s also formed from a single sheet of material and punched to allow for insertion of the binding elements. However, fully-concealed (or “wraparound”) cover designs call for extra material to wrap around the book and hide the binding elements. The wraparound portion can be designed to cover the spine or face of the book.

Hardcover Designs

Not all concealed covers have to be soft. A mechanically-bound book can be inserted into a turned-edge case to create a sturdy, user-friendly book. For this type of project, the first and last leaves of the book block are either glued to the inside covers of the case, or tucked into pockets inside the case. The latter style allows the book block to be swapped out, which may prolong the life of the hardcover case for some applications.

Design and Planning Tips

Plan score locations carefully: The locations of scores on a semi- or fully-concealed cover is essential to the overall appearance and functionality of the finished book. In particular, each panel of a wraparound cover must be properly sized to fit easily around the binding elements and book block. For best results, let The Riverside Group provide you with a concealed cover layout customized for your project.

Not just paper: From a creative standpoint, an advantage of mechanical binding is its ability to seamlessly include many non-paper substrates for both text pages and cover. For example, vinyl or polyethylene/polypropylene plastics can be converted into tough, moisture-resistant semi- or fully-concealed covers.

The Riverside Advantage

At The Riverside Group, we can help you create unique, attractive and durable concealed covers for your mechanically-bound books. We can also perform all of the production for your applications: Scoring, punching and folding of soft covers; case making for hard covers; Wire-O, plastic spiral and spiral wire binding; and complete finishing services, including die cutting, foil stamping, embossing, UV coating and film laminating. If your next project would benefit from a custom-designed, expertly-manufactured concealed cover, give The Riverside Group a call to get started.