Print Binding: Choosing Between Spiral And Wire Binding

When it comes to binding of print products, the two most common forms of binding techniques are spiral and wire. At first thought, you might think that these are the same. However, there are differences between the two and it can make all the difference in the quality of the final product. Read on to learn more about spiral and wire binding.

What Exactly Is Spiral Binding?

Spiral binding usually makes use of a plastic coil that is inserted into pre-punched holes along the paper edges. This is a popular form of binding for manuals and cookbooks that need to lay flat and be referred back to frequently. It is also one of the more popular binding methods used for school journals. Although durable, spiral binding is not as professional looking as other binding options, such as wire. However, spiral binding offers a full 360 degree rotation that allows the user to photocopy pages and take notes easily and efficiently.

What Exactly Is Wire Binding?

Wire binding tends to lend more of a professional, higher quality look than spiral binding. For that reason, it is a very popular type of binding technique for company internal documents, such as training materials and presentations. This type of binding usually comes in two styles, which include wire comb and double loop wire binding. Wire binding, like spiral binding, will permit 360-degree flat rotation for easy photocopying and note-taking.

What Does It All Boil Down to?

Spiral and wire binding can both handle a larger number of pages as opposed to others types of binding, such as saddle or loop stitching. Lengths can vary for both the spiral coil and the wire, as do colors options. This helps to ensure that you can customize the look of your entire project. However, the primary differences between the two are appearance and the type of material used for the binding.

When it really comes down to it, you should choose wire binding for formal, professional use and spiral binding for informal, everyday use. However, if you are still uncertain as to what type of binding would work best for your print material, speak to a print specialist first. He or she can gather all the facts, including number of pages to be bound, regarding the material and make an informed decision on the best type of binding material and method to make sure that you have a high-quality final product to deliver to clients, customers, employees, etc.