When deciding how to bind a book, the most important things to consider are the purpose of the book and your budget. For example, if you are creating a brochure to be distributed at a trade show, you don't want to bind it in a 3-ring binder because it would be difficult to carry around. As a result, people will not see the marketing content you spent months writing and your brochure will be a waste of money. Once you know what your book will be used for, who will be reading it, how it will be used, and how much money you want to spend on it, other smaller factors will determine whether the book is feasible to produce. These smaller factors include page count, paper size, paper thickness, and the selection of binding machines available.

Page Numbering

It is recommended that text is supplied already page numbered. Generally page numbers are located at the bottom of the page in the centre of the text.  Remember if the number is on the left-hand side, for double sided books the page number should change to the right hand side.

Usually page 1 is the first page after the inside cover so that odd numbers fall on the right side of the opened book or booklet. All old numbers should fall onto the facing or right-hand pages.

Text that is supplied without numbers can be number digitally during the book imposing set-up process. However, this has a disadvantage because the font size, style and position of the numbers cannot be viewed until a proof is produced.

Unnumbered hard copy text should be supplied with penciled numbers on the back...