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How to bind your own Hardback Book

by KaptinScarlet on August 29, 2007

Table of Contents

How to bind your own Hardback Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Intro: How to bind your own Hardback Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 1: Stack your paper neatly in (at least 4) piles of 8 sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Step 2: Fold each stack in half . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Step 3: Unfold the paper and turn over . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Step 4: Staple the pages together . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Step 5: Glue the binding onto the folios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Step 6: Trim the bound folios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Step 7: Mark and cut out the cover boards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Step 8: Make the book spine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Step 9: Mark and cut the material . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Step 10: Glue the cover board and spine in place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Step 11: Finish the edges of the cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Step 12: Glue the paper into the covers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Step 13: Cut out your lining paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Step 14: Glue the lining in place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Step 15: Experiment and make loads of different books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-bind-your-own-Hardback-Book/
 Author:KaptinScarlet dadcando
Eldest of five, son of two doctors, 10 years in Graphic Design and marketing, then retrained as a Biomedical Materials Engineer, don't ask me why, I think it
was because I had always wanted to design artificial limbs (still haven't done that though). I have four beautiful children and although I have been divorced
twice I am now very happy. I love Instructables, its ethos and the quality of people who populate its shores, and I am proud to be a member.

Intro: How to bind your own Hardback Book

The art of book binding is an ancient craft, but actually it is not very difficult to do and with almost no practice you can get really awesome results. If you are on the look
out for fun craft projects or quick ways of making nice presents and gifts, then this could be the project for you.

I know that there are other instructables on the art of book binding but this project is meant to be a simple quick project that will give a very acceptable finish and a book
that looks like it has been professional made, yet without the need for any special equipment.

All you will need is:

Some paper
minimum really is about 32 A4 or US Letter sized sheets, to make a half A4 (half US Letter sized book), although small books can be made as can ones with more
pages. You can use tracing paper, thick or thin paper and of course colored or even preprinted or written on paper.

Some glue
You will need PVA (Elmer's White glue) or a rubber fabric adhesive (in the UK that is called Copydex, perhaps someone could tell me what it's called in the US), (a glue
gun if you have it, would help with one of the stages, but is not mandatory)

Some stiff cardboard or corrugated (fluted) cardboard

Some fabric or leather

Any old stuff will do for the cover. I have used the fabric from some old pairs of trousers that were being thrown out (actually nothing gets thrown out in my house, just put
to one side for later use). But you could use a bit of leather, some old curtains, cushion covers...etc etc, I'm sure you get the idea.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-bind-your-own-Hardback-Book/
Step 1: Stack your paper neatly in (at least 4) piles of 8 sheets
You are going to be binding your paper in 8 sheet folios. Of course you could do more or less. I have found 8 sheets to be a good number. because you are folding it in
half each sheet is going to make 4 pages of your book, so this 8 sheet stack is going to make 32 pages.

Your book should have at least 4 or these 8 sheet folios which will therefore make 128 pages. (apologies to all the maths wizards out there).

You can use just plain paper or paper upon which you have already printed a header and footer (remember to get this the right way round and remember that there will
be 4 headers and four footers per sheet of paper.

If you want to mix in different papers then remember that they will appear further into the book as well. (don't worry, this all becomes obvious as we go through the
project).

Step 2: Fold each stack in half

As neatly as possible and keeping the paper as lined up as possible, fold each pile of 8 sheets in half cross wise.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-bind-your-own-Hardback-Book/
Step 3: Unfold the paper and turn over
Making sure you keep the paper nice and straight, unfold each stack of 8 sheets and turn over.

Step 4: Staple the pages together

I have a long arm stapler ("bully for you", I hear you say), but if you don't have one of those, then no worries, just do the following:

Open out your stapler

Place the upturned paper stack on top of an eraser (positioned where you want to staple) (which will be about 2 inches from the edge of the page exactly on the crease)
and slowly but firmly push down on the stapler until you have stapled the pages.

Turn over the pages and pull off the eraser and then fold over the staple ends with the blunt end of a dinner knife or your thumb nail being careful not to break it / stab
yourself.

Repeat at the other end of the crease so that each page has just 2 staples in it.

If you, like me have a long arm stapler, simply staple the 8 sheet stack in two places... I knew there was a good reason for borrowing that thing from work.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-bind-your-own-Hardback-Book/
Step 5: Glue the binding onto the folios
You are now going to make the heart of the book. You have made at least 4 of the 8 sheet / 32 page folios and they need to be stuck together.

Firstly , cut a piece of thin fabric to the same length as the page height and about 5 times the thickness of all the folios held together.

Hold the folios tightly together and all lined up. Either get a friend to help or clip the folios together using giant paper clips or bull dog clips (or even a rubber band I
guess).

When they are all nicely aligned apply glue to just the spines of the folios. You can use White glue for this (this was what white glue was originally made for) but you must
be careful not to let it drip down in to the gaps between the folios (maybe painting the fabric would be better.) Alternatively you can use hot melt for this part. Again, hot
melt is used in industry for book binding, so it is perfect for the job.

Befroe it has a chance to set quickly turn over the wad of folios and glue them to the piece of fabric so that some fabric sticks out each side (i.e. that is not glue to the
pages)

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-bind-your-own-Hardback-Book/
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-bind-your-own-Hardback-Book/
Step 6: Trim the bound folios
As Fugazzi has pointed out, you may be able to get your bound pages trimmed by a proper guillotine at your local one stop print or copy shop. Failing that read on...

If you want (and you don't have to) you can trim the folios a tiny bit. Beware that the first time you do this you might end up making more of a mess of the edge of the
paper than if you just left it. It takes a bit of practice and a sharp craft knife or scalpel (definitely NOT something for children to do on their own).

If you want to trim, then the most important edge to trim is the edge opposite the binding, because when the paper is folded over all the pages get to be slightly different
lengths depending on where they are in the folio stack.

The trick is to hold the rule very steady and take many repeated cuts being careful to cut in the same groove and try to make sure that at each cut the paper on at least
one layer is cut from edge to edge. (BTW I know that the drawing I have done to illustrate this step does not show this method of trimming multiple sheets, but it is meant
to be a bit figurative anyway).

If you have access to a proper guillotine that can cut through paper stacks (i.e. at work or at school) then this is the time to use that, it will give you the most awesome
finish).

Trimming is by no means necessary.

Trimming or not, you have now finished the paper part of the book and it's time to move on to the cover...

Step 7: Mark and cut out the cover boards

place the bound folios on a piece of stiff card so that the bound edge lines up with one straight edge and then draw round the paper allowing about a quarter of an inch /
5mm border on the three other edges.

Cut the card out and then cut a duplicate.

Corrugated card is fine as the cover, as is thin foam core (foamboard), but the best kind of card is the stiff card that is used as the backing for drawing and sketching
pads.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-bind-your-own-Hardback-Book/
Step 8: Make the book spine
Loosely assemble the bound paper and the covers. Pressing them together, measure their combined thickness and mark off on a piece of scrap card.

Cut the spine so that it is the thickness of the covers and the paper together and the same length as the height of the book covers.

Step 9: Mark and cut the material

Position the book covers and the spine on the reverse of your chosen fabric or leather and mark out so that there is a border of about 1 inch / 25mm all round.

Cut out the material.

As already mentioned, you can use any material you want really, although very thick material will be difficult to fold and glue (although, who knows how patient you are?).

Actually, I used material from a pair of my ex-wife's linen (Toast) trousers, thought I might give her the book as a Christmas present in an ironic sort of way... don't worry
only joking and she had thrown them out anyway...

Step 10: Glue the cover board and spine in place

Using White glue or rubber solution glue, smear an even coating over the boards and place face down on the wrong side of the material (i.e. the side of the material that
you don't normally see, which has the pattern the wrong way round etc etc).

Make sure you stick them neatly in a row so that they are aligned with each other and straight and that there is a gap of about 1 or two thicknesses of the card you are
using between the spine and each of the cover boards.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-bind-your-own-Hardback-Book/
Step 11: Finish the edges of the cover
Smear an even layer of White or rubber glue round the edge of the boards and fold over the material to cover the edge work on one edge at a time. Do opposite ends first
and then fold the other ends over on top so that all the folds go the same way. Make a neat job of the corners. If you are using thick material, you may well have to cut
away some of the material that is going to be hidden under the fold over to stop the corners getting too bulky.

Step 12: Glue the paper into the covers

Things are starting to shape up now.

Smear some white glue (or rubber solution glue) in two stripes down the middle edges of the cover boards being careful not to get any glue on the spine board.

Then place the bound paper wad so that it is centrally resting on the spine board and ONLY the thing cotton "wings" are glued to the cover boards.

The spine should NOT be glued to the bound paper wad, although you should make sure that it IS glued to the cover boards right up to their edges, because this is the
join that makes the book strong and stops the page block falling out of the cover.

It is best if you wait for this part to dry before moving on to the next step. It is probably a good idea to leave the book lying on its back with the paper was supported by to
food cans while it dries, because, if you leave it to dry closed, bits of it might stick together that you don't want sticking together.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-bind-your-own-Hardback-Book/
Step 13: Cut out your lining paper
Your book is nearly finished. Functionally it is already a hard back book, however the next step will make it look like a real book and cover up all the bits of folded over
material.

For the lining paper you can use almost any type of paper. Traditionally Marbled Paper was used. Now you can make this yourself (hey, I feel another Instructable coming
on already) or buy it in sheet form from most good craft shops, or download a sheet of marbled paper from my site (where you'll see loads of other projects just like this).
Or alternatively you can use a bit of old gift wrapping paper, or even just plain old brown packing paper. be as creative as you can here, the lining paper is like the lining
of an expensive suit... hidden until it is revealed by someone opening it...

Ideally you want the lining paper to be a fraction smaller than the paper wad's height so that you can line it up neatly and twice as long as the paper wad's width so that it
covers the inside of the hard cover. (see next step).

Step 14: Glue the lining in place

Fold the lining paper sheet in half crosswise.

Smear the inside of the cover and the first page with white glue or rubber solution glue.

Carefully place one half of the folded lining paper on the glued first page so that it lines up neatly with the edge of the paper. Then Making sure that it goes in to the
corner of the join between the paper and the cover fold the liner out and glue it to the inside of the cover so that it covers up all the folded over material and the inside of
the cardboard covers.

Repeat for the back of the book.

That's it... you're done.

If the first paper goes a bit wrinkly as it dries out, wait for at least a day for it to dry really thoroughly and then iron over the page using a medium iron. It won't get all the
wrinkles out but it will make the page a whole lot flatter and just try to use a bit less glue for the next book.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-bind-your-own-Hardback-Book/
Step 15: Experiment and make loads of different books
Make books as presents, make them for school, make them for friends. Keep a pictorial journal, you never know, one day you might be famous, then think, how cool
would it be when they unearth your journal, which is not only full of angst and perceptive youthful insights into the unfairness of it all, but is also embodied in a book that
you yourself made and not some cheap (or expensive) note book / diary that you bought from the store like millions of other people.

I have made a couple more so far. I made the jeans one with a pocket after my niece, Josie suggested that I use the pockets from the trousers for pens and stuff... neat I
thought, and it seems to work rather well.

See what you can come up with and if you make something you like, why not post the images here or email them to me and I will put them up on line on dadcando

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-bind-your-own-Hardback-Book/
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-bind-your-own-Hardback-Book/
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Comments
50 comments Add Comment view all 228 comments

aku88 says: Mar 12, 2011. 3:16 AM REPLY

Hi, I'm planning to make this for a friend. Just wondering, so I'm supposed to staple the spine in 2 places for every single page (assuming i'm using a normal
stapler) ? Would that make the outcome overly bulky?

njenkins says: Mar 9, 2011. 3:25 PM REPLY

I recently made my own hardbound book without the help of this tutorial (I wish I had known about it!), and I found that using a spray glue for the cover, be it
fabric or otherwise, works waaaay better and you don't have to worry about using too much and the covers looking wrinkled! The spray glue itself is pretty
inexpensive, about $5 at my local craft store, and you can use it for tons of other projects too!

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-bind-your-own-Hardback-Book/
 KaptinScarlet says: Mar 11, 2011. 12:32 PM REPLY
Good call, spray glue or rubber cement (we call it copydex in the UK) would be good. Spray glue (or Spraymount) can be very messy though and the
glue tends to get on the front of the book too, which is not good.

ainedhel says: Nov 3, 2010. 2:04 PM REPLY

You could also potentially use the cardboard inserts from those cheapy 3 ring binders. Just remove the plastic wrapping that forms the cover and pockets on
the inside and viola! Perfect for the job because it's so sturdy!

KaptinScarlet says: Mar 11, 2011. 12:30 PM REPLY

Cool idea, perfect for the job

chibiusa says: Dec 23, 2010. 12:12 PM REPLY

It looks so great!! I'm gonna steal the idea of a book with a pocket for a pen (^_^) i just have to!! it's brilliant :)

KaptinScarlet says: Mar 11, 2011. 12:30 PM REPLY

cool, that's what the idea is there for!

hermionegranger says: Jan 15, 2011. 10:23 PM REPLY

Wonderful instructable. Finished making it this afernoon, just cant think of what to fill its pages with. Really easy to follow!

KaptinScarlet says: Mar 11, 2011. 12:29 PM REPLY

Thx, sure you will think of something good to write, or not, it doesn't really matter because you can always make another book if you fill this one with
rubbish.

cmacmeehan11 says: Feb 5, 2011. 9:11 AM REPLY

Quality––absolute quality. And created purely for the benefit of fellow Macgyver craftsmen (and women)? You've uploaded a glimmer of hope to the human
nation, mi amigo.

KaptinScarlet says: Mar 11, 2011. 12:29 PM REPLY

Thank you so much. I had wanted to do this project since I spent time as a designer far from home and met a person who's family were book binders. he
told me how he did it and this is my remembered version.

truthlikegold says: Feb 12, 2011. 8:25 PM REPLY

Depending on the material, you might want to use a very thin layer of the glue, as the fabric I used for my first book had bleed-through issues when I was too
(unknowingly) liberal with the white glue.

KaptinScarlet says: Mar 11, 2011. 12:27 PM REPLY

yes good point

btoast says: Mar 11, 2011. 11:48 AM REPLY

I just wanted to say thank you for a great instructable. I completed my book a few days ago. I did some minor changes, but for the most part followed your
instructions. I used Pig Leather instead of fabric, and cut the corners at 45 degrees to form a 90 degree inseam (although I wish it came out better). I also
used recycled banana leaf paper for fun, and created a raised letter effect for the books title. There are some issues with my book, as one would expect for a
first attempt, but I think it came out well all things considered. I have attached images below.

Again. Thanks for such a great instructable.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-bind-your-own-Hardback-Book/
 KaptinScarlet says: Mar 11, 2011. 12:26 PM REPLY
lovely, really nice. I think that is an amazing first go.

icarol6 says: Dec 24, 2010. 9:04 PM REPLY

in the us its called a hot glue gun :-)

h8rade says: Jan 11, 2011. 2:14 PM REPLY

he's talking about rubber cement i think, not the hot glue gun.

zero72595 says: May 24, 2009. 10:42 AM REPLY

how about paper can you use that

lunius says: Dec 19, 2010. 4:19 PM REPLY

I'm making mine using paper, and there seems to be no problem with it, and I'm at the point where I glue the cover to the book..

Blofish says: Sep 11, 2010. 8:00 PM REPLY

Very nice work. thanks for posting it!
I commend you on the drawings, how were they made?

KaptinScarlet says: Oct 30, 2010. 8:29 AM REPLY

thx, I used a vector drawing package and I explained the process here: http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-illustrate-your-own-Instructable/

nutsandbolts_64 says: Oct 30, 2010. 12:57 AM REPLY

I'm giving this my "Best illustrated instructable" award. And no, I'm not one of the staff, just a commendation on the overall quality of the instructable. How did
you make those illustrations?

KaptinScarlet says: Oct 30, 2010. 8:28 AM REPLY

Thanks that's really kind of you. I drew it in a simple vector package called Freehand, but I also did an instructable showing how it was done.
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-illustrate-your-own-Instructable/

thx

Daydreamer-x says: Aug 14, 2010. 8:00 AM REPLY

which material do you use for this cover boards?

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-bind-your-own-Hardback-Book/
 Lesenthe says: May 14, 2010. 3:43 AM REPLY
Wow. This is the simplest method I've seen for this type of binding. I'm really impressed.

I make books, too, using a slightly different method, and it's great to see that there are so many different ways of producing quality work.

KaptinScarlet says: May 14, 2010. 4:33 AM REPLY

thanks

faint says: Feb 27, 2010. 10:10 AM REPLY

Can you use something other than fabric/leather for the cover? Like wrapping paper or wallpaper or is it best just to use fabric?

KaptinScarlet says: Apr 3, 2010. 1:53 AM REPLY

I think you can use anything because the body of the book is held to the cover by the fabric glued from the spine to the hard covers. Wall paper is a great
idea, but make sure you wet it out with water and even watered down white glue becuase it can be quite stiff / thick. You could even use embossed
paper then if you sprayed the cover and treated it with gold rubbing paste it could look a bit like this:
http://www.dadcando.com/default_MAKING.asp?project=SecretBoxBook&catagory=TheDragonry&lhs=TheDragonry which is another project of mine on
dadcando.

Whales says: Mar 30, 2010. 4:08 PM REPLY

WEll i guess thats why you can experiment and tll us! but i guess if it wasnt just amazingly thin you could work it. If nothing else tape the wrappingpaper
to another sheet of paper. then glue it on.

Whales says: Mar 30, 2010. 4:14 PM REPLY

i have finished mine. I made the cover from a canvas tot bag and used scrapbooking paper for the marbled.

i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab352/MrWhales/SANY0031.jpg

KaptinScarlet says: Apr 3, 2010. 1:45 AM REPLY

that's nice well done.

Whales says: Mar 22, 2010. 7:51 PM REPLY

That is amaaaazing, i have been having amazing difficulty with the other book 'ibles, so when i saw the thing about the backing for sketch pads i knew i
found the right guy.

KaptinScarlet says: Mar 23, 2010. 8:32 AM REPLY

thanks, glad you like it

Whales says: Mar 23, 2010. 6:48 PM REPLY

Yeah, i have Everythin ready, just need to et a stapler.. why don't i have one i can use. All mine are like the staple-firing ones, they don't open up..

jashuad says: Mar 22, 2010. 1:22 PM REPLY

can anybody show me how to change a hardbook into a leather binding without losing its own end papers?

KaptinScarlet says: Mar 22, 2010. 7:15 PM REPLY

I would say that that is going to be difficult, because the end papers are designed to cover up the folded over binding cover material. If you use very thin
leather and fold it over and glue it extremely neatly, then you might just about be able to do it, but I would think that youi are better off searcing for a
handmade paper merchant and sourcing similar endpapers, or if they are very old, finding an old book in a junk store that is bigger tyhan the one you
want to make and soaking the end papers off of that and using them. If there is an inscription on the end papers or the book that you are trying to recover
is of sentimental or real value, I would not atempt to recover it.

0000012181120 says: Mar 16, 2010. 7:49 PM REPLY

Great instructible! it's exactly like a real book-binding class!

CellyOneill says: Mar 13, 2010. 3:08 PM REPLY

Thanks so much for this great instructable !

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-bind-your-own-Hardback-Book/
 biblicalgeek says: Mar 10, 2010. 8:59 PM REPLY
This is a really awesome instructable. I can't wait to try it and there are some many possibilities as far as the design goes. Thanks a lot!

kingbirdy says: Mar 9, 2010. 7:34 PM REPLY

If anyone needs help with setting this up in word( I use 2000, but it should be similar all round):
1. go to File>Page Setup and in the Margins tab and check "2 pages per sheet"
2. go to Paper Size tab and chose the Landscape layout.
3. (this step is optional, but it makes it cooler) go on to the layout tab and chose "different odd and even" under headers and footers. this will make it
alternate like in most books, usually with the authors name and the name of the book or chapter. you can configure these in the under View>Header and
Footer. In the Header put whatever you like. (typically your name/pen name on the left(odd pages)) then go to the footer and under "insert AutoText" and
chose "- PAGE -" then center them both. now click in the main body of your book. the header and footer will grey out, don't worry about it. It's just to let you
know you can't edit it. then press enter until you get to a new page. Repeat, putting the "-PAGE-" in the footer again and whatever you like in the
header.(typically the book title or chapter title on the even pages/right)Remember to center these. You can, of course, change the font, color, and size on all
of these. If you want it to be the chapter title, you will also need to Google how to make it change without resetting the whole thing as I cant seem to find the
option and I don't want to screw up my book. I know you can do it though, you just have to make it reset every line break or something like that. Or if you
have lots of time you can put in each header manually per page. It'll probably take you a couple days for a novel, but whatever.
4. IMPORTANT!!! You need to set the margins right so you don't have words close to or in the binding space. These might be slightly different for you. Here
they are:
Top: 1.25 - 31.75
Bottom: 1.25 - 31.75
Outside: 1.1 - 27.95
Inside: 0.75 - 17.05
Gutter: 0 - 0
Header: 0.5 - 12.7
Footer: 0.5 - 12.7
and there they are. On the left is inches and on the right is millimetres. You may have to fiddle with this to get it right. Maybe try a few test runs with scrap
paper. the only thing you should need to change is the outside measurement.
5. you might need to set up the double sided printing for this. Not sure how.

P.S.Sorry if it's kinda long.

Amkii says: Feb 21, 2010. 9:27 AM REPLY

Dumb question, but... where can I get nice, large, flat pieces of cardboard? Craft stores, like Hobby Lobby or Michael's, do you think? I'll have to check.
Where has everyone gotten theirs?

KaptinScarlet says: Feb 21, 2010. 10:44 AM REPLY

Art shops, Craft stores, Pictures framers (it is the mounting board), on line craft and art supplies websites (again look for mounting board) or I just used
the back of one of my old art pads, which seems to be about right for thickness and strength, and... it's free!

Amkii says: Feb 21, 2010. 11:40 AM REPLY

Ah, excellent point! I totally forgot about the framing section of places like Hobby Lobby and Michael's! I know they definitely have it... I've bought it
before for other reasons. Haha whoops! Thank you! :)

stephensmat says: Feb 20, 2010. 10:41 PM REPLY

I've made two now, and I plant to make more.

One problem though. I could never get the stapling right, so I tried the binding technique. FYI, fishing twine works great for that! Pre-drilled holes and you
don't even need a sewing needle.

But one problem I have is that when the book is open, the binding is visible. I have no idea how to fix that, or even if it matters. i cannot get the holes any
closer to the spine without breaking through the end. Any ideas?

Or for that matter, does anybody care if the binding is visible?

KaptinScarlet says: Feb 21, 2010. 10:29 AM REPLY

Seeing the stitching looks nice if it is in the inside of the pages and is neat. I think that this is a great way of doing it and much better than staples (called
wire stitching in the printing trade), but I wanted to make the project as accessible as possible, so staples seems the quickest and easiest way to go.

cliff110 says: Feb 3, 2010. 10:00 AM REPLY

What do I need, to print gold foil on the spine of a hardback book?

Can I even do that once a book has been complete put together?

shanon heart says: Feb 18, 2010. 6:00 AM REPLY

Hi Cliff,
In art or craft supply stores gold leaf is sold prepackaged. It is relatively easy to adhese to most surfaces. It woud look quite nice on a book binding.
Great idea!

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-bind-your-own-Hardback-Book/
 TechDante says: Jan 6, 2010. 5:32 PM REPLY
this Instructable is excellent and I like how you have created drawings for your instruction picture. I have a project in mind for this method and was wondering
if you knew how to apply embbosed lettering onto the spine of the book

superitchy says: Dec 30, 2009. 8:22 PM REPLY

You can also use a mousepad for this step.

KaptinScarlet says: Dec 31, 2009. 12:44 AM REPLY

good point

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http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-bind-your-own-Hardback-Book/