UPMSP Intermediate Book Craft key terms

The alignment of paper fibres, which makes a sheet fold and tear more easily along one axis than the other. Matching grain to a book's spine prevents warping and stiff pages.

A quick check for fibre alignment: fold a sheet both ways, or watch which way a dampened strip curls. The easier fold and the curl indicate the grain direction.

Folding paper so the crease runs parallel to the fibres. This gives a clean, strong fold, while folding across the grain cracks the coating and weakens the sheet.

Bowing or rippling of pages or boards caused by uneven moisture absorption or by gluing materials whose grain or expansion directions conflict. Correct grain alignment and thin, even adhesive reduce it.

Grams per square metre, the standard measure of paper weight. Heavier gsm means thicker, stiffer stock: text papers are often 70-100 gsm, while covers and boards run far higher.

The measured thickness of a sheet, usually expressed in micrometres or thousandths of an inch. Caliper affects bulk, foldability and how well a spine accommodates the text block.

The ratio of a paper's thickness to its weight, describing how much volume a given weight produces. High-bulk paper makes a thicker book from the same number of sheets.

The lighter stock used for the reading pages of a book. It is chosen for opacity, smoothness or texture, and colour so that printing remains legible and show-through is limited.

The folded sheet pasted to the inside of a cover and the first or last page of the text block. It hides the board edge and hinges the cover to the pages.

Rigid sheet material, usually strawboard, greyboard or millboard, used to stiffen book covers. Its thickness is chosen to suit the book's size and weight.

Any substance used to bond book materials, such as PVA, starch paste, animal glue or hot melt. Choice depends on flexibility, drying time, reversibility and the materials being joined.

Polyvinyl acetate, a synthetic white glue widely used in binding for its strong, flexible, fast-drying bond. It is not easily reversible, so conservators avoid it on historic material.

A traditional adhesive cooked from wheat or rice starch and water. It is slow-setting, flexible when dry and water-reversible, which makes it favoured for conservation work and paper repair.

The principle that a repair or adhesive should be removable later without harming the original material. It guides conservation choices such as using paste rather than strong synthetic glue.

A smooth, rounded tool of bone, Teflon or plastic used to crease folds, burnish joins and press paper flat. It compresses fibres without cutting them, unlike a metal edge.

A sharp, pointed hand tool used to pierce sewing holes in a text block or to start screw holes. It must be kept sharp and handled with care because it can cause puncture injuries.

A group of folded sheets nested together and sewn or stapled as one unit. Signatures are gathered in order to build a text block and are numbered for correct collation.

The assembled body of a book: all signatures or leaves, trimmed and held together by sewing or gluing, before the cover is attached. Its thickness sets the spine width.

Checking that all signatures or pages are present and in the correct order before binding or after repair. Collation marks and page numbers are used to confirm completeness.

Joining signatures by passing thread through holes along the fold and linking each section to the next. It produces a flexible, durable spine suitable for books that must open flat.

A binding method in which the trimmed page edges are glued into a flexible cover, with no sewing. It suits paperbacks and high-volume production but opens less flat than sewn bindings.

A hardcover construction where a separately made case of boards and covering material is attached to a sewn or glued text block via endpapers. It is the classic hardback format.

The rigid cover assembly of boards covered with cloth, paper or leather, made before being attached to the text block. It includes the spine piece and turn-ins.

The thickness the spine must cover, calculated from the bulk of the text block plus board thickness and covering material. An incorrect figure makes the case too tight or too loose.

The small overhang of the cover boards beyond the trimmed page edges, usually a few millimetres. It protects the pages and gives a hardcover its finished appearance.

The covering material folded over the edge of the board to the inside of the case. Neat, evenly wide turn-ins are a mark of careful cover work.

The flexible joint area where the cover board meets the spine, allowing the cover to open. It is formed by the endpaper and the covering material and is a common point of wear.

The groove or gap between the spine and the cover board that acts as the pivot when the book opens. A crushed or torn joint is a frequent repair case.

Cutting the edges of the text block to make them even and clean, done with a guillotine or plough. Trimming must follow collation and is done before casing in.

A heavy cutting machine with a straight blade that slices stacks of paper or trimmed books. Its blade and clamp are serious hazards, so guards and safe operating rules are essential.

Mending tears, losses and weak areas in paper using thin tissue and reversible paste. The aim is to restore strength while keeping the repair inconspicuous and undoable.

Work that stabilises and protects original book material with minimal intervention, respecting its history and structure. It favours reversible, documented treatments over cosmetic restoration.

Returning a damaged book toward its original appearance, sometimes replacing missing parts. It may be less reversible than conservation and must be justified and recorded.

Reddish-brown spots on old paper caused by mould activity, metal particles or impurities in the pulp, often worsened by damp. It stains but does not always weaken the sheet.

Fungal growth that stains and weakens paper and board, thriving in humid, poorly ventilated storage. Affected items need isolation, drying and protective equipment during handling.

Holding glued or repaired work under even pressure while it dries, using boards, weights or a nipping press. It prevents warping and ensures flat, firm joins.

A small screw press with flat jaws used to hold books and boards firmly during gluing, drying or repair. Even pressure keeps work square and flat.

A sturdy frame with adjustable cords or tapes that holds signatures while they are sewn. Tension and cord spacing determine the strength and shape of the spine.

The cloth, paper, leather or synthetic sheet used to cover the boards of a case. It must be flexible, strong at the joint and suitable for the chosen adhesive.

Impressing a design into a cover with heated metal dies, often with gold or coloured foil. It produces titles and decoration that are durable and sharply defined.

Transferring a thin metallic or pigmented foil onto a cover using a heated die and pressure. It is used for titles and ornament and works on cloth, paper and leather.

Decorating paper or cover material by floating pigments on a liquid bath and lifting the pattern onto the sheet. Each pull is unique, making it popular for endpapers and covers.

The practices that prevent injury in a bindery: guarding blades, keeping aisles clear, using eye and hand protection, and handling sharp or heavy tools with care.

Keeping cutting, piercing and pressing tools clean, sharp and correctly adjusted. Sharp blades cut cleanly with less force, while blunt ones slip and cause accidents.

Working out the full cost of a job, including materials, labour, overheads and waste, before setting a price. Accurate costing protects the margin on each book or batch.

The total cost of producing one item, found by dividing all job costs by the number of units made. It is the basis for quoting prices and judging profitability.

Material lost to trimming, spoilage and mistakes during production. It must be allowed for in costing, since paper and board are bought in full sheets.

Setting the amount charged to a customer by adding a profit margin to unit cost and checking it against the market. Underpricing is a common cause of small workshop failure.