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| Parts of a Book from Future of Publishing |
Most of us who love to read books take the actual physical embodiment of the book for granted. We assume that it will be light enough and durable enough to carry, and able to be opened and closed hundreds of times without falling apart. In reality, a well made book is a mechanical marvel that requires each of the components to be precisely sized and positioned.
Since most people have never made a book, I am planning to put together several posts on the materials and processes required to make a high quality book. To begin, take a look at the diagram above and let's discuss the most important pieces.
Hard cover books are assembled in two sections. The inside pages are bound together to form the book block and the edge where the pages are bound together is the spine. At the front and back of book block, end papers or end sheets are bound with the book block. The end papers are usually thicker and stronger than the rest of the pages and will be used to adhere the block to the cover.
The cover, or case, is made by wrapping cloth, leather or a laminated print around stiffening material, usually chipboard, There is a stiffening board for the front, one for the back and usually one for the spine. The spine board is the width of the thickness of the book block and there is a gap of a few millimeters between the spine board and the front and back boards to create the hinge that allows the book book to open. The wrapping material is glued to the boards, wrapped around the boards and turned in so the edges will not be visible when the cover is attached to the book,
Once the book block and case are completed they need to be brought together. This is done by applying an adhesive to the front and back end papers then positioning the case around the block so that the spacing at the fore edge, top edge and bottom edge are the same. One the books are assembled, they are usually put under pressure to ensure a good attachment when the glue dries or cures.
Headbands are often added at the top and bottom of the spine to provide a decorative touch.
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