Hard cover

A hard cover or hardback is generally defined by a solid, hard cover, edges on three sides and a book cover with spine stiffener.

Paperback

In this kind of binding, the cover is made of paper. Only stable, tough and robust types of paper are suitable for covers, as there is real strain on the book at the hinge - e.g. dyed natural papers or printed, laminated papers. Laminating reinforces the coated paper and creates different effects (gloss, matt, soft touch, embossing and other effects).

Hardcover book with a brown cloth cover titled Bahnhofstrasse Zürich, showing a black and white illustration of buildings along a street on the front cover.

Cloth binding

The cover of these hard cover books is made from a book binding cloth. Depending on the structure and surface composition, the material can be printed using offset or screen printing methods before the cover is produced.

Flat hardcover book with a turquoise cloth cover and white printed icons and text visible on the front. The spine and the book block show a neat flush finish.

Artificial leather binding

For artificial leather binding, a support material coated with plastic is used instead of paper or cloth. The support materials are paper, non-woven fabric or cloth. Here, too, titles or decorative elements can be printed on using screen printing or embossed.

Hardcover book with bright orange cloth cover and white printed text on front reading "Jean-Marc Bustamante -beautifuldays-".

Half cloth/leather/parchment binding

With half-binding, a higher quality material is used around the spine, e.g. cloth, leather or parchment. The paper cover is glued over the spine strip.

Hardcover book with a spine covered in cream-coloured material and blue cloth cover decorated with gold fleur-de-lis patterns, showing yellowed page edges.

Flexible binding

The cover material for this hard cover type should preferably be flexible cloth. The "soft" and bendy cover is achieved by using a thin or three-ply, non-glued cover.

A hand lifting the cover of a softcover book or brochure, showing the flexible grey cover and the first pages inside.

Quilted binding

Quilted binding can be used for a wide range of binding types. Before processing, the cardboard cover is coated with foam, giving it a soft, malleable surface.