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Perfect Bound Books

4.8 - based on 10,000 + successful jobs

Also known as 'soft back books' or 'paperback books' this is the classic style of book that everyone knows and loves but no-one does better than Flexpress.

  • Guaranteed highest quality printing
  • Wide choice of environmentally responsible materials
  • All common publishing sizes
  • Superior strength and flexibility
  • Optional luxury cover enhancements
  • Large-scale professional finish for even low volume production
  • On demand book publishing
FREE Delivery with allocated time
FREE downloadable templates
FREE File-check for 10 common print problems
Please check for dispatch deadlines
Products
Format
No. of Pages (incl. 4 page cover)
Material
Cover Material
Cover Printing
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Printing
Laminating
Spot UV Gloss
Foil Printing
Foil Colour
Proof Copy
Dispatch Time
The countdown timer displays the actual date this specification could be dispatched. Change this option if you need it faster or cheaper.
Quantity (1 - 2000)
File Copies
Deliver the job directly to your client and have file copies sent to you
Quantity (1 - 2000)

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Perfect Bound Books - More Info

Summary
Perfect binding is the style of binding used to create the flat, square spine you'd expect to see on most paperback books or soft-back books. It is best suited to books thick enough to have a printed spine, so ideally 4mm thick or more. Here you can calculate prices for Perfect Bound Books of between 36 and 364 pages in all popular book sizes, and order when you are ready.

Prepress
Whether or not you request a proof, all supplied artwork files undertake our FREE comprehensive 10-point file check to ensure your printed job turns out exactly as you intend. If you have requested a proof, a link will be emailed to you for approval and we will not proceed without your further authority. Files are then automatically imposed, ready for printing, in a way which maximises available space on the printed sheet and minimises waste.

Material
Choose from coated and uncoated materials for both the covers and inner pages of your books, or mix and match as you see fit. All of the materials we use are FSC accredited, and come from sustainable sources.

High Definition Printing
Every job at Flexpress is printed using the finest technology available. You won't receive any products printed on beefed-up photocopiers from us - another reason we back everything with our total satisfaction guarantee. Perfect-bound books are printed using either HP Indigo Offset or Lithographically, depending on number of pages and quantity.

Cover Lamination
Lamination adheres a protective plastic film over the book cover and is always recommended for perfect bound books using coated board covers to enhance the look and feel of the book as well as protect the print and increase the lifespan. We currently offer 4 different lamination options for PUR Book Covers.

Cover Enhancement
If you want to make your book cover quite literally stand out, you have the option to add a luxury embellishment - just as you'd see on the latest best seller! Choose our extra thick spot UV gloss to really add a nice tactile finish to your book cover, or for a real classy look why not try our 3D raised foil which is available in eight striking metallic colours. Both our raised Spot UV and Raised Foil can be sampled completely FREE prior to you deciding.

Polyolifin Glue Binding
Flexpress have upgraded to a new binding glue called polyolefin hot melt adhesive. This offers many of the benefits of PUR glue over EVA glue such as stronger pull resistance, increased flexibility and improved temperature resistance, but also benefits from lower maintenance requirements and is far less wasteful and environmentally friendly than when using PUR glues. During the binding process, the cover is creased and hinged before being drawn onto the spine. To see the process and understand just how strong the finished bind is see our demonstration video.

Precision Finishing
Perfect Bound Books are trimmed down to the precise finished size using our fully automated three-side book trimmer and carefully packed in super-strong, double-walled corrugated boxes to withstand the rigours of carriage. All of our packaging: boxes, reinforced tape and void fill, is environmentally friendly and completely recyclable for your peace of mind.

Dispatch time
The dispatch time for PUR Perfect Bound books varies according to the quantity and number of pages but can be as little as two days*. Check the timer to see how quickly we can dispatch your order and choose our express service, for just a little extra cost, if you need it faster.

*If ordered before 3.00pm. Allow one extra day if ordered after 3.00pm.

All orders are dispatched by reputable national carriers on a next working day service. This will usually arrive by 5pm although please be aware once goods have left our premises, we have no influence on when they are delivered. If you would like to upgrade to timed or Saturday delivery, you can do this at checkout.

UK company with a reliable track record
Flexpress started life back in 1989 and are UK based keeping British people in jobs. Everything we offer is printed and finished in-house by us as at our 11,000 square foot premises in Leicestershire. We're proud of our facilities and welcome visitors by appointment.

Your satisfaction guaranteed
We take quality and customer service very seriously. Our right-first-time approach coupled with cutting edge technology and professional team mean we're confident enough to offer a total satisfaction guarantee. If through any fault of ours, there's an issue with your printing, we'll always arrive at a solution to leave you 100% happy.

FAQs - Perfect Bound Books

How strong is your Perfect binding?

Very strong. Polyolefin hot melt adhesive is a hybrid glue designed to virtually equal the pull resistance of PUR adhesive but with faster drying times and far less waste.

Does it stay strong in very warm climates?

Yes. Unlike traditional EVA hot-melt adhesive, Polyolefin has a much better tolerance to both hot and cold conditions.

Will the spine crack or break?

Only with extreme abuse. We have bound thousands upon thousands of books with this adhesive and not had a single complaint.

Why is it best to laminate covers?

In printing terms, book covers take a lot of punishment. When they are folded, the fibres of the paper crack causing unsightly white lines in the print and weak spots in the material. Adding a layer of plastic laminate to the cover makes the book much more durable and capable of being handled over and over again.

What is the best paper to use for pages?

Novels and colouring books are generally on uncoated paper whereas catalogues, brochures and books containing important photographic images tend to be best on coated papers such as silk or gloss. We'd generally recommend silk over gloss, simply because the less reflection a page has, the easier it is to read.

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File Check

All files supplied go through our 10 point file check

Quality

We use only high quality, responsibly sourced papers

Dispatch

Express, Standard or Saver dispatch options available

Delivery

Completely FREE delivery to all mainland UK addresses