"Perfect Bound or Spiral Bound?" Topic

Do you prefer perfect bound or spiral bound rule books? Why?

With the upcoming release of three games, Black Knight Games is considering publishing either perfect bound or spiral bound versions of the rules.

Personally, I like the idea of spiral bound. Although a bit more expensive, I can lay the rules flat and don't have to worry about losing my place because the book flips shut.

I am hoping to get feedback from the gaming community.

I printed a couple of PDF rules at my local Staples using the spiral bound version. Very nice, especially with the plastic end covers. I like it. Why do they call the other way "perfect" anyway?

I prefer spiral. That way the pages lay flat, and you don't break the spine of the book.

Spiral please! lays flat on table, uses less space folded under.

Yes, why is it called perfect; perfect for whom?

Spiral for me, for the same reasons you've already mentioned.

I actually prefer rules that are bound with a staple (or two) through the crease. Anything so thick that you can't bind with staples is IMHO too thick!!

I prefer spiral bound also.
BWW

Spiral.

Perfect.

Spiral is a bitch to keep neat on a shelf, and is more likely to lose pages faster.

As a kicker, I'll bet that this may also be a cultural thing- US people tend to prefer spiral, while the rest of the world prefers perfect or staple.

Spiral because it can be laid flat.

Rich

spriral costs more to produce. So, you're likely to see more perfect bound items.

Spiral for all the reasons already given.

Culturalist !!!

I'm in the rest of the world and I prefer spiral.

I do like traditional books with a central binding but you have to have space for an A3 sheet to lay them out – pretty rare on a wargames table. Spiral lies flat in A4 footprint and glued spine (or perfect bound) won't lay flat at all.

In small quantities the price difference isn't great but, as quantity increases, glued spine gets cheaper while spiral stays much the same.

I agree. Pros and cons to both. I prefer perfect, but spiral is more useful.

Spiral!

Perfect sounds so good, and spiral sounds like "4 spiral crash". I prefer Perfect but I am not bad at remembering rules and don't tend to want the rules flat on the table. Plus why make lawyering easier? (just kidding!)

Unless the game revolves around a lot of check lists, I prefer perfect.

Someday they will come out with Spiritually Enlightened and Righteous binding. It's all marketing.

Ideally, stitched with a Moroccan leather binding and gold-block lettering.

Failing that, staples.

Spiral-bound fourth.

"Perfect" dead last, apart from not lying flat it often has a tendency to fall to bits after a bit of use.

Then again, there's a lot to be said for writing rules so simple they fit on two sides of A4, at which point binding becomes otiose.

All the best,

John.

At the EMA I consult on a lot of printing projects. The cheapest to print in my area is saddle stich (two-three center stables. Our costs on printing calendar quotesare almost half when compared to a spiral bound.

Spiral bound wit hthe coil as compared to the teeth is better at holding the booklet intact. teh teeth will uncoil is overheated (like in a car window).

Over time perfect bound will unhinge. The amount of time depends on both the glue used and the number of pages in the project. The more pages the shorter the holding time.

A minor consideration is whether you will require additional (revision, errata, or supplemental pages to be added to the work.

"Why do they call the other way "perfect" anyway?"

There's an interesting question for a slow work day…

My best google-fu only tells me, "The papers of the book are always flush with the binding." Therefore, the pages are 'perfectly' lined up.

link

Perfect binding was invented in 1895, but was little used for bookbinding until 1931, when the German publisher, Albatross Books, introduced the first paperback books as an experiment. In England, Penguin Books adopted the format in 1935 with their popular line of classic books. In 1939, Pocket Books in America started producing popular titles in paperback versions, which quickly caught on and soon everyone was reading paperback books. Early perfect binding was done with cold glues, which became brittle over time. In the 1940s the DuPont Company developed a hot-melt adhesive binding process, which made for more durable and longer lasting books, and improved the binding process.

link

Perfect Binding
Perfect binding, was invented in 1895 and used cold emulsion or animal-based adhesive. In book publishing, this method was first used for mass market paper books and phone directories; it uses adhesives instead of thread or wire to keep pages together. The major breakthrough came in the 1940s when DuPont developed hot melt adhesives which were much more durable and easier to apply. Perfect binding is quick and inexpensive, but not nearly as durable as sewn binding. As adhesive technology has improved, the binding has become more durable. Today, it is used on many hard cover books.

First, the binding side (spine) is shaved by about 1/8 of an inch and roughened or notched so glue can penetrate each page. Adhesive is then applied to the spine and the covers are wrapped around the glued spines. The glue dries in seconds. The 3-knife then trims the top, fore-edge and foot of the pages to give it straight, clean edges. Only the glue on the spine keeps the pages together.

staples or spiral

Just as long as it doesn't fall apart, I don't mind.

If you are going to be carried in stores you should go with perfect.

Just as it was pointed out above for shelving reasons, and you can't put a title on the spiral binding.

you can't put a title on the spiral binding.

Yes you can. If use use a comb rather than a true spiral you can print onto the combs.

Spiral because it can be laid flat.

you can't put a title on the spiral binding

you can have a wrap around hard cover that goes over the spiral.
I have 2 cook books that have bindings/ covers like this.
made kind of like a 3 ring binder.

And to be different, I prefer a third option: punched for a three ring binder. This works best for the thicker rules (or ones with lots of supplements). If you worry about the pages tearing out, you can buy protector sheets at most office supply stores. You insert the page (which doesn't have to be punched for this option) into the sleeve of the protector sheet and then place the protector sheet in the binder.

What I like about this is you can lay the binder flat, remove pages to pass to another player who wants to look at a specific rule, replace pages when supplements or errata become available, and you can place several sets of rules into one binder.

If I have to pick between those lesser choices of perfect binding versus spiral, I'll take the spiral (even though I find it more difficult to keep in a bookcase).

Brandlin, Combs are what we also call teeth spirals. They have problems as well as I listed.

But the comment is right about the putting of a title on a spine . It is easier with prefect. Some stores like myself always display with the product face up for visability but some stores do not have the fixtures or space to do that.

Not a personal taste, but perfect bound books will sell better. It's like color pages and coffee table book style presentation; It's more expensive, makes the book less useful as a gaming aid, and gamers like them better because they are prettier and look less "cheaply made".

Never listen to gamers if you want to succeed, follow the example of the more successful companies. Cynicism for the win! :)

The comb binding I never like, it always seems to break or damage pages, etc. I prefer either wire spiral and perfect, depending on the intended use. As mentioned above, it's a lot easier to store perfect bound books on a shelf, however.

I prefer a good [heavy duty metal or plastic] spiral, with the paper perforations being slots vice holes.

Very durable.

But I note that many rules are going hardbound, perfect bound and in full color. I believe the LaSalle, & Napoleon rules are that type.

I prefer spiral, but apparently China can do the sexy full color hardback perfect bound designs that appeals to authors vice rule books in wraps and limited color.

Spiral

Here is a question – spiral costs a few bucks more per book. From what I see above that would be worth the price for many. What is your opinion?

I'll throw in my sense of irony that "Perfect" bound books look more professional, even though Spiral bound are must more practical…

Spiral

"In the 1940s the DuPont Company developed a hot-melt adhesive binding process, which made for more durable and longer lasting books, and improved the binding process."

I recall my industrial placement year in 1987 at Granada TV Rental in Bedford. Production versions of programs had to be printed and bound. We had prepared covers with glue down the inside of the spine, we'd slot them in the heater and drop the code listing inside then switch on to melt the glue!! Remove from heat and allow to cool.

Steve P

Hi

I prefer the comb or spiral. Not from "I gots to look up my killer rule" but because I often read rules in bits.

I really dislike the current hard back stiched with lots of expensive art approach to rules. "All sizzle and no steak".

I like reading rules, but I almost never actually rever them as literature. Just state the thing, let me decide if I want to play. This ain't shakespere.

Rocky

you can have a wrap around hard cover that goes over the spiral.
I have 2 cook books that have bindings/ covers like this.

And that would be even more expensive! Of course if you buy the rules as a pdf then you can print them out and bind them which ever way you want!

Spiral is more practical but is a marketing disaster.

Spiral, for the above listed reasons.

Spiral doesn't last and for pete's sake don't use a comb binding!

Better to make the rules intuitive enough and the QRS good enough the book doesn't have to be left open on the table.

Books should be perfect: rules should lay open and flat. They are not the same kind of animal….

The customers have spoken: They want Spiral. So you should definitely offer that as an option, particularly if you are going to sell directly to them.

However, if you are planning to sell to retailers, you need to ask them what they want. Spiral rules tend to snag on other spiral rules, take up more shelf space, and can be a pain to display and pack. When we interviewed retailers about how to bind Gutshot, they were unanimous in asking us for perfect bound. Likewise, comic/game store combos were very particular about asking for perfect binding.

I suggest you poll the stores, also, and see what they want.

Best of luck, and have you considered offering both binding options?

I worked in the music industry for 30 years and we had this dilema as well. We had musicians that needed the books to stay open on a music stand without the use of some sort of clip. This came into play especially with a thicker book. Obviously for the buying public, there is that balance between cost and features that you need to take into consideration. We heard it from both directions: Perfect Binding = Less expensive vs Spiral Binding/Easier to use = More expensive. As far as retailers, we did not hear too many complaints about shipping, storing or displaying spiral material. One other option to consider is to simply print the sheets loose with a nice front and back cover. If you 3-hole punch it the purchaser can stick it in a 3-ring binder. Just food for thought.

perfect for cost and storage, but for use, wire spiral bound, if good quality wire

I'd prefer a set of rules that didn't require constant references to the rulebook, then the binding becomes irrelevant.