Leather Cloth binding

Also known as imitation leather or artificial leather, leather cloth is a material used in bookbinding as a cost-effective and durable alternative to real leather. It is typically made from a fabric base coated with a flexible plastic layer, designed to mimic the look and feel of genuine leather.

Leather cloth-bound books are less expensive than genuine leather-bound books and are more resistant to certain types of wear, like cracking and drying out. leather cloth remains a popular choice for practical, everyday use books, hardcover books,and softcover books where the appearance of leather is desired without the associated cost. Finally, leather cloth binding will provide a rich, unique and durable appearance to all publications.

Get the best bindery for your print project with leather cloth binding!

As a trade printing expert, we take each binding process very seriously, so that your clients’ demands go beyond their expectations. Here’s an general overview of the leather cloth binding production process:

Selection of leather cloth: The first step is choosing the appropriate leather cloth. This material comes in various colors and textures, some of which closely resemble different types of real leather.
Preparing the book block: As with traditional binding, the book block (the stack of individual sheets or signatures) is prepared by folding, gathering, and sewing the sheets together. The edges of the book block might be trimmed, and the spine is shaped and prepared to be attached to the cover.
Attaching endpapers: Endpapers are attached to the first and last pages of the book block. These serve both as a decorative element and to provide a better surface for attaching the book block to the cover.
Preparing the cover: The cover is made using stiff boards, usually cardboard, cut to the size of the book block. These boards will be covered with leather cloth.
Applying the leather cloth: The leather cloth is cut to size, allowing extra material to wrap around the edges of the boards. It is then glued to the boards. The material is carefully positioned and smoothed out to ensure there are no air bubbles or wrinkles.
Assembling the book: The book block is then attached to the cover. This usually involves gluing the endpapers to the inside of the cover. The leather cloth may also be glued down at the spine, and the material might be folded and tucked around the edges for a neat finish.
Finishing touches: The book can be further decorated with titles or designs, often using foil stamping or embossing to give the appearance of traditional leather-bound books. Additional elements like headbands or bookmarks may also be added.
Drying and Pressing: The finished book is often left under pressure in a book press to ensure a strong, even bond and a flat, professional appearance.