Ring Binders
Custom ring binders are popular choices for a broad variety of uses, ranging from employee training handbooks produced in-house to professionally published software manuals. Ring binders have remained a favourite for many years because they are versatile, easy to use, and easy to update.
In the age of high-tech wizardry, custom ring binders are refreshingly simple. However, self evident as they may seem, ring binders are not without their own particular rules and guidelines. Ring binder projects still require good planning.
Binder Basics
Let's outline the details that you need to know in order to purchase or sell binders. Other than such things as quantity, or shipping location, you basically only need to know the following seven specifications to "spec" a binder order. To ease confusion and have everyone thinking in the same terms, we should all follow the same order of events when specifying what the client requires. The correct order of details is listed below:
1. Capacity
What is the capacity of a ring binder - how do you measure it? There is only one method of measuring the capacity of a binder: The diameter of the ring. Measuring the capacity of a binder using the width of the spine is absolutely wrong! Of all the mistakes we see regularly in the manufacturing of binders, measuring the capacity of a binder using the width of the spine is by far the most common problem and almost always the most expensive mistake to "fix". Depending upon a number of variables, three different binders, all with the same ring capacity, have three different sized spines. Always, always, always, measure the inside of the ring. There are basically three styles of rings. The images on page 7 illustrate how to measure a ring size, namely:
It is imperative that you confirm the sheet size that your customer wants to put into a binder. There are two sheet sizes that are most commonly used.
The vast portion of the binder market calls for (a) round rings, (b) 'D' rings (most) or (c) slant 'D' (least common of the three). Rings can have either two 'triggers' or no triggers. Triggers are the roundish dime sized 'buttons' at the top and bottom of the rings. Round rings can be riveted on either the spine or back of the binders; other styles of rings are riveted on the back only. Rings with triggers are available with a locking feature.
4. Vinyl
The binder cover or material needs to be carefully considered. The binder industry's standard is junior gauge vinyl. Its 'microfine' surface facilitates superb results in various 'printing' or decorating techniques available to designers, and manufacturers. Although junior gauge vinyl has a 'cold crack' protection of about -10 degrees Fahrenheit, we strongly urge shipping heated freight during the winter. 'Cold crack' means simply that there is a very real possibility that 'cold' binders will crack or split solely because of the cold. Especially if they are dropped. There are literally hundreds of vinyl colours and textures available. If a custom or 'corporate' colour is required, a mill run of vinyl specifically colour matched for your needs can be ordered with the minimum amount of 2,000 to 2,500 yards of vinyl to produce approximately 6,000 binders.
5. Pockets
Vinyl pockets are available in any size. The most popular types are:
6. Additional Options
Card Holder
Add this feature on your binder in which to place a business card or other information cards. Please see page 8 diagrams "N' and "B" for different card holder styles. Card holders are in clear vinyl with two-sided seal or three-sided seal.
Concealed Rivets
For the look of a flat backbone, a concealed rivet is the best option. This option means that the rivets of the metal cannot be seen on the spine of the binder.
Flexible Cover
Flexible covers allow the front and back cover to bend easily.
Foil Stamping
Foil stamping is literally stamping coloured foil onto vinyl with heated dies.
Label Holder on Spine
Similar to the card holder the label holder on the spine will hold title cards and can be sealed two-sided or three-sided. Please see the left hand column, diagrams "G" to "I" for different label holder styles.
Padded Cover
Padding can add a touch of class to any binder. It adds to the cost but the end product is much more appealing than an unpadded binder. The foam (padding) is glued or laminated to the pasted chipboard inside the binder before the vinyl is sealed.
Pockets
5" deep either horizontal or vertical pockets on either inside cover. Please see page 8 and 9 for diagrams.
Sheedifters
Sheetlifters help guide the contents over the ring in a smooth manner to reduce binding on the rings.
Special Metals
If you need a special type of ring mechanism, such as locking rings, multi-rings or square rings or any other available mechanism, we can provide it. Metals can be coated any colour for a more attractive binder.
Easel Binders
Easel binders are great for sales tools, workbooks etc., but like so many great things, they are expensive. There are four different styles of easels, some more complicated than others and the overall delivery from the binder manufacturer is longer.
7. Decoration
Well executed graphics will complement any size or colour of binder.
Silk Screening
Silk screening is by far the most popular and versatile technique (and usually the most cost effective). The silk screen process is done with special ink in one of many colours forced through a special stencil, made from any design onto the vinyl surface. No dies or printing plates are used. You can't always reproduce by silkscreening what you may easily produce by lithography. Vinyl is less porous than paper and therefore, it tends to spread or bleed more easily. When possible, use large letters to allow the ink to spread. If large area ink coverage is used, then ink may have a tendency to rub off more easily than a comparable lithographed sheet. A UV ink allows for a more concise screen.
Foil Stamping
Foil stamping is a very cost effective method of printing when small coverage is called for. There is an increasingly wider range of colours and the metallic surface can be very attractive.
Vinyl Appliqué
Appliqué adds dimension and class to any binder. The effect of three· dimensions is accomplished by electronically sealing or welding vinyl on top of vinyl. This technique is costly but effectively projects a superb image.
Embossing or Debossing
Embossing or debossing are most effective on dull surface (swade) binders. Embossing, by depressing the area around the logo creates the illusion that the logo is elevated; making it stand out. Debossing actually depresses the logo into the material.
Artwork
Artwork is required for all of the above imprinting methods. It must come as camera ready art (colour separated) or on disk.
Clear Overlay
A layer of clear vinyl on the outside of a product into which a printed 10 pt. sheet can be inserted by the customer.
Binder Basics
Let's outline the details that you need to know in order to purchase or sell binders. Other than such things as quantity, or shipping location, you basically only need to know the following seven specifications to "spec" a binder order. To ease confusion and have everyone thinking in the same terms, we should all follow the same order of events when specifying what the client requires. The correct order of details is listed below:
- Capacity
- Sheet size
- Ring Fitting
- Vinyl/Poly/Casemade
- Pockets
- Options (padding, easels, lifters)
- Decoration
1. Capacity
What is the capacity of a ring binder - how do you measure it? There is only one method of measuring the capacity of a binder: The diameter of the ring. Measuring the capacity of a binder using the width of the spine is absolutely wrong! Of all the mistakes we see regularly in the manufacturing of binders, measuring the capacity of a binder using the width of the spine is by far the most common problem and almost always the most expensive mistake to "fix". Depending upon a number of variables, three different binders, all with the same ring capacity, have three different sized spines. Always, always, always, measure the inside of the ring. There are basically three styles of rings. The images on page 7 illustrate how to measure a ring size, namely:
- Round ring
- 'D' Ring
- Slant ring
It is imperative that you confirm the sheet size that your customer wants to put into a binder. There are two sheet sizes that are most commonly used.
- 8.50" x 5.50" - used most often for computer software packaging and employee benefits manuals.
- 9.50" x 6.50" - less popular than 8.50" x 5.50".
- 11" x 8.50" - called imperial, usually with 3 rings, by far the most co~mon sheet size used.
- 11.75" x 8.25" - called A-4 metric this 'European' size is being used less and less in Canada. Can be usually recognized by its '4' rings.
- 14" x 8.50" is a legal size which is the least used of all five sizes.
The vast portion of the binder market calls for (a) round rings, (b) 'D' rings (most) or (c) slant 'D' (least common of the three). Rings can have either two 'triggers' or no triggers. Triggers are the roundish dime sized 'buttons' at the top and bottom of the rings. Round rings can be riveted on either the spine or back of the binders; other styles of rings are riveted on the back only. Rings with triggers are available with a locking feature.
4. Vinyl
The binder cover or material needs to be carefully considered. The binder industry's standard is junior gauge vinyl. Its 'microfine' surface facilitates superb results in various 'printing' or decorating techniques available to designers, and manufacturers. Although junior gauge vinyl has a 'cold crack' protection of about -10 degrees Fahrenheit, we strongly urge shipping heated freight during the winter. 'Cold crack' means simply that there is a very real possibility that 'cold' binders will crack or split solely because of the cold. Especially if they are dropped. There are literally hundreds of vinyl colours and textures available. If a custom or 'corporate' colour is required, a mill run of vinyl specifically colour matched for your needs can be ordered with the minimum amount of 2,000 to 2,500 yards of vinyl to produce approximately 6,000 binders.
5. Pockets
Vinyl pockets are available in any size. The most popular types are:
a.) Weld-in pockets which are welded or sealed onto the binder in the same operation as the rest of the binder (see following 'pocket' diagrams, all the letters excluding 'A' and 'G').Pockets can make a binder versatile. Each one can be customized by pockets with different inserts etc. If a client has graphics which reproduce poorly through silk screening, you can print an appropriate sheet and have it 'trapped' inside a clear pocket on the front spine and back of the binder.
b) Weld-on pockets are much more expensive because they require an additional operation. They are bar welded three sides (e.g. standard business card pocket). (See following 'pocket' diagrams, 'A' and 'G').
6. Additional Options
Card Holder
Add this feature on your binder in which to place a business card or other information cards. Please see page 8 diagrams "N' and "B" for different card holder styles. Card holders are in clear vinyl with two-sided seal or three-sided seal.
Concealed Rivets
For the look of a flat backbone, a concealed rivet is the best option. This option means that the rivets of the metal cannot be seen on the spine of the binder.
Flexible Cover
Flexible covers allow the front and back cover to bend easily.
Foil Stamping
Foil stamping is literally stamping coloured foil onto vinyl with heated dies.
Label Holder on Spine
Similar to the card holder the label holder on the spine will hold title cards and can be sealed two-sided or three-sided. Please see the left hand column, diagrams "G" to "I" for different label holder styles.
Padded Cover
Padding can add a touch of class to any binder. It adds to the cost but the end product is much more appealing than an unpadded binder. The foam (padding) is glued or laminated to the pasted chipboard inside the binder before the vinyl is sealed.
Pockets
5" deep either horizontal or vertical pockets on either inside cover. Please see page 8 and 9 for diagrams.
Sheedifters
Sheetlifters help guide the contents over the ring in a smooth manner to reduce binding on the rings.
Special Metals
If you need a special type of ring mechanism, such as locking rings, multi-rings or square rings or any other available mechanism, we can provide it. Metals can be coated any colour for a more attractive binder.
Easel Binders
Easel binders are great for sales tools, workbooks etc., but like so many great things, they are expensive. There are four different styles of easels, some more complicated than others and the overall delivery from the binder manufacturer is longer.
7. Decoration
Well executed graphics will complement any size or colour of binder.
Silk Screening
Silk screening is by far the most popular and versatile technique (and usually the most cost effective). The silk screen process is done with special ink in one of many colours forced through a special stencil, made from any design onto the vinyl surface. No dies or printing plates are used. You can't always reproduce by silkscreening what you may easily produce by lithography. Vinyl is less porous than paper and therefore, it tends to spread or bleed more easily. When possible, use large letters to allow the ink to spread. If large area ink coverage is used, then ink may have a tendency to rub off more easily than a comparable lithographed sheet. A UV ink allows for a more concise screen.
Foil Stamping
Foil stamping is a very cost effective method of printing when small coverage is called for. There is an increasingly wider range of colours and the metallic surface can be very attractive.
Vinyl Appliqué
Appliqué adds dimension and class to any binder. The effect of three· dimensions is accomplished by electronically sealing or welding vinyl on top of vinyl. This technique is costly but effectively projects a superb image.
Embossing or Debossing
Embossing or debossing are most effective on dull surface (swade) binders. Embossing, by depressing the area around the logo creates the illusion that the logo is elevated; making it stand out. Debossing actually depresses the logo into the material.
Artwork
Artwork is required for all of the above imprinting methods. It must come as camera ready art (colour separated) or on disk.
Clear Overlay
A layer of clear vinyl on the outside of a product into which a printed 10 pt. sheet can be inserted by the customer.