Each week on Twitter, members of the print community gather together to discuss various aspects of print. Led by Deborah Corn of Print Media Centr, this weekly discussion is held every Wednesday at 1:00pm PST under the hashtag #printchat  and draws everyone from small mom and pop shops to large companies.

We were excited to be asked to cohost yesterday’s #PrintChat and created an interesting twist on a popular game show. We did our best to pick obscure binds in order to stump the players; however, each bind was successfully named. Here is a recap on each of the styles mentioned:

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It’s a well-known fact that binding your documents can make them look more professional. But what if you don’t have a binding machine? If that’s the case, don’t worry because here are three methods you can try:

• Screw posts.  Screw posts are a great choice when you don’t have a binding machine. Just punch holes in your document with a hole punch or paper drill, thread the posts through the holes, and secure them with a flat-head screwdriver. Screw posts can be used with documents up to 5” thick.
• Report covers.  If you’re in a hurry, report covers can be a lifesaver. Using clear report covers will make your work look more professional and it will make your customized title page stand out. Make sure you have some on-hand so you can bind at a moment’s notice.
• GBC ZipBind and ProClick spines.  If you have some pre-punched paper, you can use GBC ZipBind and ProClick spines. All you really need to use these supplies is the zipper-like tool that comes with with the spines to open and close them. Keep in mind that you need 19 holes in your paper for the ProClick spines and 32 holes for ZipBind supplies.

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GBC makes great binding machines and supplies, and some of their most popular products are ZipBind spines. Here are 3 reasons why you should use these supplies when binding your documents:

1. ZipBind spines use the same hole pattern that’s needed for comb binding. Thus, if you already have a comb binding machine, ZipBind spines will give you another great way to bind your documents.
2. If you bind a lot of shorter documents, ZipBind spines are perfect for your needs. These supplies can bind work containing up to 110 pages, so you can use them to assemble marketing materials, financial reports, school assignments, and more.
3. There are times when you might need to edit your work after it’s been bound. It’s possible to do so with GBC ZipBind spines because they can be re-opened at a later date. This will save you a lot of time and hassle.

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Whether you’re new to bookbinding or have been at it for years, there will probably come a time when you need to put together a document that’s 8.5” x 5.5”. This is known as half-letter size since a piece of paper with these dimensions is basically just half of a sheet that measures 8.5” x 11”. Binding documents that are 8.5” x 5.5” can be challenging due to the way some machines are designed and the availability (or lack thereof) of supplies. However, it is possible to do so. This article will fill you in on some tips and tickets you can try.

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Individuals are becoming more ecologically conscious every day in an effort to preserve our environment and save rapidly depleting resources. Businesses face the dilemma of profit versus preservation, since going green often results in a decreased bottom line. These eco-friendly binding supplies offer a way to produce high quality, professional materials without sacrificing the environment.

Binding Machines: Read the rest of this entry »