Learn how to make a simple book signature (group of pages) by hand and have some fun at the same time. Once you try this, you’ll understand how book signatures are put together. And you’ll quickly see how a stack of signatures can become a complete book.
Printed books can have various numbers of pages in their signatures, depending on the book’s trim size, the size of the paper stock, and the size of the printing press. (The one you’ll make here has 16 pages.) Common page counts for book signatures printed on offset, large digital, and web presses are 8, 16, 24, 32, and 48.
Print-on-demand printing can use “signatures” as small as 2 pages, but they use a different system. We’re not talking about them.
And please note that if or when you use InDesign or any other book design software, you don’t have to worry about the process you’ll learn below at all. The book printer turns and flips the pages for you on the big sheets of printing paper once they receive your PDF. This process is called “imposition.”
Instructions for making the book signature
The simplest method is to download and print both the letter-sized signature PDF (print double-sided) and the step-by-step instructions, and proceed as directed.
But if you want to start from scratch, follow the directions below. You will need a blank sheet of paper (any size), scissors, and a stapler.
Placing the page numbers
On your blank sheet of paper, write page numbers on the front, using this layout:
Turn the paper over, flipping on the long side. Then write page numbers on the back side, using this layout:
Folding, trimming, and binding
Turn and/or flip the paper until you see page 14 at the lower left. Fold the paper in half from left to right. You will then see page 13 on the lower right. Crease the fold.
Fold the signature in half from top to bottom. You will now see pages 8 and 9. Crease the fold.
Fold the signature one more time, from left to right. You will see page 1 on the front and 16 on the back. Crease the fold.
Carefully peek inside to make sure that the pages are numbered in order. Do not unfold the signature.
With the scissors, trim the top and right sides of the folded signature just a little bit so that the pages are no longer attached to each other except at the spine.
Use the stapler to bind the signature together at the center. Use just one staple or as many as you like. Make sure the pointy parts of the staple(s) are in the middle of the signature and not on the outside.
Voilà! You’ve made your own book signature and bound it using what’s called a saddle stitch.
Optional book cover
You may use page 1 as your front cover, and page 16 as your back cover. (This is called a self cover.) If you want to add a cover, simply wrap your cover around it all, trim it to size, and staple.
Book signature variations
Now think of all the different things you could do the next time. Perhaps you could sew the signature together instead of stapling it (using colorful thread, string, or even ribbon). Try shaping the corners or tearing the edges. You could leave off the page number on page 1. Experiment with a different paper size. Challenge yourself by writing your message on the paper before you fold and cut it.
You could even make a stack of these signatures and bind them into a book. For this, you’ll need to be very clever with the page numbering, starting with 17 on the second signature, 33 on the third signature, and so on. And then you’ll want to attach the book signatures together. We recommend that you study our articles on book binding types and book binding basics before you attempt this.
We hope you enjoy this little exercise. Impress your friends! Entertain children! Make memorable greeting cards! Have fun and go wild with it.
Read more: Book arts: Handmade books » for additional creative bookish ideas
And more: Book edge treatments » for even more fancy book binding treatment suggestions
Book Design Made Simple. You can do it yourself.
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