Booklet Printing: Finishes, Binding, and Print Strategy
Design done. Paper chosen. Files ready. Now it’s time to elevate your booklet with the right finishes, embellishments, and binding—you’ve got options!
Is your brochure a print-on-demand project, or can you save money by printing in larger quantities and storing it to have on hand when you need it in the future? We’ll help you decide…
Finishes & Embellishments: Beyond Basic Printing
The right finish transforms a standard booklet into a premium brand experience. Choices affect both aesthetics and durability.
Coating Options
Gloss UV Coating - delivers a vibrant, high-gloss shine that gives a high-end feel and creates eye-catching effects. Perfect for marketing booklets, theater playbills, and product catalogs where you want maximum impact.
Matte Coating - delivers sophisticated elegance with a smooth, non-reflective surface. Feels premium to the touch and conveys quality. Ideal for high-end brand materials, annual reports.
Spot UV - combines both worlds. Consider a matte base with glossy highlights on specific design elements, such as logos, headlines, or images. The contrast draws the eye to engage, adding tactile interest.
Embellishments That Command Attention
Foil Stamping - metallic or holographic foil to create luxurious accents. Gold, silver, copper, or specialty foils on covers or section dividers signal upscale quality.
Embossing/Debossing - raised or recessed impressions that add texture and dimension.
Die-Cutting - the use of dies to cut, shape, or form materials into specific shapes, window cutouts to preview interior content, or shaped covers that break from traditional rectangles.
Binding Options
Your binding choice affects both aesthetics and usability. Match the binding method to how people will actually use your booklet.
Saddle-Stitch Binding (wire staples down the center) - the most economical option and works well for booklets up to 48 pages. Catalogs, event programs, newsletters, and marketing materials.
Perfect Binding - creates a square spine like a paperback book, allowing you to print your title and logo on the spine. Training manuals, product guides, and any booklet over 28 pages.
Coil or Spiral Binding - allows booklets to open completely flat—even fold back on themselves. Perfect for manuals, calendars, and presentations.
Singer Sewn – stitches pages and covers together with a single, visible thread along the spine, creating a lay-flat book with a touch of uniqueness for high-end brochures.
Print-on-Demand vs. Holding Inventory
Here's one of the most common questions we get: "Should I print everything at once (print-on-demand), or can you print and store them for me? What would save me the most money?”
Choose Print-on-Demand when:
Content changes or updates frequently (price lists, product specs, presentations, manuals)
You need multiple versions for specific audiences
Order quantities are under 500 units
Print for Inventory when:
Your content remains static for 12+ months or a series of repeatable events
You need guaranteed stock for events, trade shows, or distribution
Per-unit cost is critical due to high-volume distribution
Quantity discounts make it advantageous (typically 1,000+ units)
Many of our clients ask if we can store their printed booklets and ship them as needed. Yes, we offer fulfillment services as an add-on to your project. We'll keep your inventory here and send quantities to you (or directly to your customers/locations) on demand.
Helping You Make Smart Choices
You don't have to figure this out alone. This is literally what we do all day—matching the right finishes, binding, and print approach to your specific goals, audience, and budget.
Contact AV Graphics today to discuss your next booklet project—we'll help you make choices that look great and work within your budget.