Book Printing & Binding

At AlphaGraphics, our self-publishing and book binding services give you the most binding options or methods including spiral/coil, wire-o, comb, hardcover and more!

Tips

Bring in your ready-to-print project, or we’ll help you craft your dream publication.
Enhance your final product with handouts, online tests, and quizzes or CD/DVD study guides.
Pick them up, or have your books shipped directly to their destination.

Book binding options

Finishing options

Aqueous coating
UV Coating
Clear or tinted varnishing

From ideas to solutions, we make that.

Book Fulfillment & Publishing

After successfully publishing and marketing your book, custom online order fulfillment will be necessary to get your book shipped to customers.

Binding Options

Select from our wide variety of book binding options to fit your needs. Some options include; rivet, side sewn, hardcover, three-ring binding, comb binding, wire, coil, and more!

eBooks

AlphaGraphics will help you create a digital eBook version of your printed work for devices like Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, Apple iPad, and more.

Bindery Services In Alexandria

Looking for the perfect place to bind some books? At AlphaGraphics in Alexandria, we provide bindery services that are both affordable and high in quality. Our talented team of printing experts can bind, pad, score, and more! We’ll put the finishing touches on your project to give you the professional look you’ve been wanting. And if you need help designing and laying out your book, we can do that too. Just come in today and we’ll get started on your book and binding project right away.

Binding Selections

Finding the right binding will help to set the tone for your book, and we’re here to make sure you get exactly what you are looking for! At AlphaGraphics, we have a wide selection of bindings available and will explain the benefits of each. Our skilled staff will help you figure out what binding best suits your needs. Some of our professional binding options include:

Soft-bound covers (or perfect bindings
Saddle stitch
Spiral bindings
Wire-O bindings
Three-ring bindings
And more!

Other Bindery Services

If you are working to create a book, chances are you’ll need help with more than just the binding. At AlphaGraphics we have a variety of other bindery services that will totally help when it comes finishing your book. We offer the following services and more:

Cutting
Perforation
Folding
Lamination
Scoring

Speedy, Not Spendy!

We know that nobody has time to wait days on end, and that’s why you can count on us to finish your project quickly. The best part is that, while we’re fast, we also have competitive prices that are pretty hard to beat! Call AlphaGraphics in Alexandria today at (703) 549-2432 to learn more, or click here for your free quote for our bindery services.

Client Project: The Association of Old Crows

The Association of Old Crows needed a booklet printed to advertise their sponsorship opportunities at their upcoming meetings. It was a full color 12 page 8.5 x 11 program printed 100# Silk text paper. As you can see from the cover page down below, it came out looking amazing!

https://www.crows.org/

https://www.facebook.com/aocrows/
https://www.twitter.com/aocrows/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/2483509/

Customer Project: Everton Boxing Club

When the Everton Red Triangle Boxing Club needed a book printed and bound, they turned to AlphaGraphics of Alexandria and Arlington. We used Single Sided, Full Color with bleeds, 12.5 x 9 White 100# House Gloss for the cover that was digitally printed on 1 side, 2 Up.

The perfect binding consisted of gluing / 3-Knife Trimming to Finished Size 8.5 x 11. Finally, we used 16 pages - 8 sheets, 6 x 9 White 100# House Velvet Text, 8 sheets, digitally printed on 2 sides, 4 Up for the inside pages.

As you can see from the pictures below, this 6"x9" perfect bound book looks amazing.

Book Printing In Alexandria, VA

If you're an author and you want to keep all the profits, you can self-publish your book. No longer do you need a big publishing house to help you get your book printed. With the help of the Alexandria AlphaGraphics, you can print your book. Our team can even help you with the marketing and all the other services necessary when you want to publish your book.

The easiest part is getting the book printed. Marketing and distribution isn't as easy, but with the help of our marketing team, you won't have anything to worry about. The traditional route would include contacting publishers until one of them actually tells you they will help. Many authors still use this method, but it's not the only way to go. We can help you with all of the following:

Obtaining an ISBN number
Formatting and Design
Printing
Creating a digital format
Local, domestic and international distribution
Full marketing

You can take control of all the aspects of publishing your book from front cover design to a full marketing plan with our help. This means you keep all the profits and you don't have to pay royalties to anybody. Your story is important and we want to help you share it with the world. With our full service printing options, marketing methods and distribution resources, you can get your story out to the right people in the right markets.

With our expert help, you won't have to worry about anything throughout the process. At AlphaGraphics in Alexandria, we can handle your printing needs, no matter how large or small the projects. We can even help you create DVDs, CDs and digital copies of your book. Our custom printing options give you the necessary flexibility to bring your vision to life and we can help you create a book that will look great on any shelf.

Our expert team is professionally trained and we staff both marketing and design experts to give you the best balance of both areas. This is an exciting process and watching your book go from just pages with words to a full fledge hardcover or paperback book should be an enjoyable experience.

Contact one of our experts today and get the process started. You will work directly with our design and layout team to create the format you prefer before taking any other step. We will make sure to stay within your budget and help you achieve your goals. Our team is at your disposal and we will use every resource we have access to in order to get your book printed and on the shelves.

Client Project: Mick Thomas

Mick Thomas wrote a self help book about how to achieve inner peace. The book was 6.37 x 7.39 perfect bound and full color. The cover was printed on 130# Chorus Art Silk cover. The inside pages were printed on 70# silk text.

His website is http://www.micknation.com/

Book Printing and Binding FAQs

Have questions about book printing and binding? This FAQ guide covers the key things authors need to know.

Q: What are the most common book-binding methods?

A: Softcover binding options include perfect binding (gluing) and saddle stitching (stapling). Case binding is used for hardcover books. Spiral coil, comb, and wire binding work for reports.

Q: What is the difference between perfect vs. saddle stitch binding?

A: Perfect binding allows books over 60 pages by gluing the pages to the spine. Saddle stitching staples pages together, best for booklets under 60 pages.

Q: What paper weight should I choose?

A: For softcovers, use 60-100 lb coated papers; 70-110 lb for hardcovers. Uncoated text paper choices are often 50-80 lb.

Q: How much does it cost to print a book?

A: Pricing varies based on specifications. Contact us for a custom quote.

Q: Should I pick digital or offset printing?

A: Digital printing works for shorter runs. Offset has higher setup costs but lower per unit price at 1,000+ quantities.

Q: How long does book printing and binding take?

A: Allow 1-2 weeks for digital printing, 3-4 weeks with offset. The binding adds about 1 extra week. Rush options are available.

Q: Can you design my book cover and layout?

A: Yes, our in-house design team can handle cover design, interior layout, editing, and proofing.

Q: How do I obtain an ISBN and barcode?

A: We can assist with assigning ISBNs for print and ebooks, as well as barcode generation.

Q: Do you offer distribution and fulfillment?

A: Yes, we can. Contact us for more information.

Q: What are some typical book sizes and dimensions?

A: Common trim sizes are 5.5” x 8.5”, 6” x 9”, and 8.5” x 11” for paperbacks. Hardcovers often use slightly larger dimensions. Custom sizes are also an option.

Q: How many pages can be saddle-stitched?

A: Saddle stitch binding works best for booklets less than 60 pages. Up to 100 pages can be stitched with a thicker cover and high-quality stapling.

Q: What is case binding?

A: Case binding refers to hardcover binding where the cover is made of stiff boards covered in cloth, paper, or leather. The boards are attached to the text block using end sheets and glue.

Q: What are some special printing finishes?

A: Consider a gloss aqueous or UV coating for a shiny look. Matte and soft-touch finishes are also options. Foil stamping and embossing add elegance.

Book Binding and Printing in Alexandria and Arlington VA

Contact the printing experts at AlphaGraphics to turn your manuscript into a quality printed book. Our knowledgeable team can answer all your publishing questions. Contact us today at (703) 549-2432 or email us at US635@alphagraphics.com to learn more!