Brief
The kind of stock you choose will be informed by the nature of the job you’re doing. If you were working commercially, then checking paper quality – the weight and finish of the paper – is something you would do with your client, as paper choices can add both quality and cost to a design job. The advent of high quality digital printing in almost every high street has made high finished standards much more achievable and affordable – although you might be amazed at what can be achieved with a photocopier and coloured 80gsm paper!
Knowing what papers are available and their qualities is an important part of what you might offer as a commercial book designer. One way to do this is by requesting sample books from commercial paper merchants, or talking to your local printers, who can give you a swatch of the papers they recommend for you to share with your client and keep for future reference.
Another way of doing this is by looking at as many different kinds of books as you can and critically start to gauge the weight, grain and finish of the papers.
Do all books keep the same paper choices throughout?
What’s the relationship between the covers and the paper inside?
Which books do you like the feel of, and why?
Analyse the binding style of the books you’ve collected.
How does the book block adhere to the cover?
How does it adhere to the spine? Is it stitched or glued?
You’ll notice that in case-bound or hardback books, the sections, or signatures, are sewn together and glued to the spine.
Paperback books, on the other hand, are more likely to be ’perfect-bound’, where the pages are glued together and then directly onto the covering.
PAPERBACKS
Paths to god - Ram Dass
Weight, grain and finish of the papers.
A very thin paper, I'd say probably 90-80 gsm, have a very nice grainy texture.
What’s the relationship between the covers and the paper inside?
The cover is thick (probably 250-350gsm) it gives a nice contrast to the inside paper, and protects it.
Do you like the feel of, and why?
I like feeling the grainy texture, in Israel most paper of books are not grainy at all so it brings to my mind a very old or old school feel.
How does the book block adhere to the cover? How does it adhere to the spine? Is it stitched or glued? sewn together and glued to the spine? or perfect-bound?
It seems like it is a perfect-bound to the spine and cover.
And what if they told you to choose a heart of a lion or the hair of a panther? - Rotem Biksenshefner
Weight, grain and finish of the papers.
This is a book from Israel, to give an example of the paper we are used to on most of our books. I'm not sure how to call it, I think it is called 'chromo' paper, it has almost no grain and it is very smooth to touch. I would guess again this is about 80gsm, thicker than a normal photocopier paper but not quite 100gsm.
What’s the relationship between the covers and the paper inside?
The cover again is probably 250-350 gsm and protects the pages nicely.
Do you like the feel of, and why?
The slick paper inside with the slick outside cover gives a nice modern feel.
How does the book block adhere to the cover? How does it adhere to the spine? Is it stitched or glued? sewn together and glued to the spine? or perfect-bound?
It seems like it is a perfect-bound to the spine and cover.
Western Astrology & Chinese Medicine - Jonathan Clogstoun-Willmott
Weight, grain and finish of the papers.
Similar to Ram Dass's book, it is a very thin paper, I'd say probably 90-80 gsm, have a very nice grainy texture.
What’s the relationship between the covers and the paper inside?
Same again, the cover is thick (probably 250-350gsm) it gives a nice contrast to the inside paper, and protects it.
Do you like the feel of, and why?
Same like Ram Dass's book, I like feeling the grainy texture, in Israel most paper of books are not grainy at all so it brings to my mind a very old or old school feel.
How does the book block adhere to the cover? How does it adhere to the spine? Is it stitched or glued? sewn together and glued to the spine? or perfect-bound?
It seems like it is a perfect-bound to the spine and cover.
HARDCOVERS
LOVER HER WILD - ATTICUS
Weight, grain and finish of the papers.
The paper is thick, probbaly around 100gsm, it has a very fine grain on it.
What’s the relationship between the covers and the paper inside?
the hard cover is really nice, and it has a jacket. I really like the relationship of the jacket having a picture and a glossy coating on the titles and the girl's drawing, while the cover underneath is bare, and only the spine has the name of the book, the author and the logo of the publishing house.
Do you like the feel of, and why?
I love the feel of it. Thick paper and hard cover are one of my favourite book feelings.
How does the book block adhere to the cover? How does it adhere to the spine? Is it stitched or glued? sewn together and glued to the spine? or perfect-bound?
The book is not attached to the spine, and the sections are stitched, but there is no head and tail bands.
Nowhere is Far Away - Rebbe Nachman of Breslev
Weight, grain and finish of the papers.
The paper is not so thick, I'd say around 90-80 gsm, however it has a glossy finishing and no grain.
What’s the relationship between the covers and the paper inside?
The cover is hard, and feels very polished, as well as the pages inside. it feels very nice.
Do you like the feel of, and why?
It is a wisdom book written by a Rebbe many years ago, and the brown color of the cover and the almost gray or light blue color of the paper along with the glossy finishing of the paper and some shiny blue mirroring effect on the name of the book, creates a feel of a mystery or a mysticism and wisdom.
How does the book block adhere to the cover? How does it adhere to the spine? Is it stitched or glued? sewn together and glued to the spine? or perfect-bound?
The book is not attached to the spine, and the sections are stitched, there are head and tail bands in yellow and red colors.
Magic of i. Planner
Weight, grain and finish of the papers.
The paper is probably a tiny bit thicker than a photocopy paper, so probably about 90 gsm. it feels like there is a very fine grain
What’s the relationship between the covers and the paper inside?
The cover is a vegan leather, and the paper inside has golden and rounded edges, the paper block is a tiny bit shorter than the cover, which feels very nice.
Do you like the feel of, and why?
The feel of the vegan leather is so beautiful and smooth. I love this planner and it gives me a sense of peace.
How does the book block adhere to the cover? How does it adhere to the spine? Is it stitched or glued? sewn together and glued to the spine? or perfect-bound?
The book is not attached to the spine, and the sections are stitched, but there is no head and tail bands.