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Thesis Binding

Thesis Book Binding or Dissertation Book Binding is the conversion of your thesis or dissertation document into a printed and bound book format. Getting this done correctly involves several considerations that includes the Submission of your document for printing and binding, your choice of Paper, and the Style of binding you want.

SUBMITTING YOUR THESIS OR DISSERTATION FOR BINDING:

The first consideration for Thesis Book Binding or Dissertation Book Binding is whether you want your thesis or dissertation printed and bound for official submission or for your personal use, such as gifts to professors, departments, libraries, parents, sponsors, or you just want copies to preserve for future generations.

If you are officially submitting your Thesis Book Binding or Dissertation Book Binding books to your

institution, you must follow their official guidelines for paper, margins, and type of binding. Every institution has

guidelines and your can ask your department or your graduate studies department for the guidelines. The quote/

ordering process for each of our 3 main types of binding is designed to accommodate all the options that most

schools require.

Binding Options Our 3 main binding options are:

• Fabric Hardcover Binding with Gold Embossed Lettering and Emblem on the cover https://phdbookbinding.com/fabric-hard-cover/
• Printed Hardcover Binding with wraparound full color printing on the cover https://phdbookbinding.com/printed-hard-cover/
• Perfect Binding Softcover with wraparound full color printing on the cover https://phdbookbinding.com/perfect-binding/

But if you’re getting the books for personal use, then you have the option to choose the type of paper, binding and margin size that you prefer. Here again, our quote/order process contains all the options you might want.

Digital or Paper Submission

The second consideration is whether you want to submit a file or paper document(s) for publishing your Thesis or Dissertation. You have the option to place your order with a PDF file or with a paper document. Submitting a PDF file ( https://phdbookbinding.com/digital-printing/#2 ) of your Thesis or Dissertation allows you to do the following online, sit back and forget about it, and receive your books in the mail:

• Specify the size of your book
• Choose the type of paper you want for printing ( https://phdbookbinding.com/digital-printing/#9 )
•  Specify the pages you want to print in color. ( https://phdbookbinding.com/faq/#9 ) Yes, we allow you to specify the pages you want to print in color and you’ll be charged the color rate ONLY for the pages you specify,NOT for all the pages in your document.
• Specify the exact lettering you want on the cover ( https://phdbookbinding.com/gold-foil-emblem-and-lettering/ )
•  Specify the exact lettering you want on the spine ( https://phdbookbinding.com/gold-foil-emblem-and-lettering/ )
• Specify your school emblem for the cover or request a custom emblem ( https://phdbookbinding.com/gold-foil-emblem-and-lettering/#SealList )
• Choose the shipping speed you want for getting back the completed book(s)

Digital Submission

The option for submitting a PDF file for printing and binding is available for all the binding styles that we offer, including:

• Fabric Hardcover Binding with Gold Embossed Lettering and Decoration on the cover https://phdbookbinding.com/fabric-hard-cover/
•  Printed Hardcover Binding with wraparound full color printing on the cover https://phdbookbinding.com/printed-hard-cover/

Submitting a Paper document of your Thesis or Dissertation requires you to

(1) Print your document on the paper of your choice

(2) Fill out the Quote/Order form on this site for the type of Hardcover binding you want

(3) Specify the exact lettering you want on the cover

(4) Specify the exact lettering you want on the spine

(5) Choose the shipping speed you want for getting back the completed book(s)

(6) Print a form on our site that will include the details you entered PLUS final instructions for mailing your

paper document to us

(7) Ship to us your paper document(s) with instructions on form you will print from our site.

The option for submitting a paper document for binding ONLY is available ONLY for Hardcover binding.

Fabric Hardcover Binding with Gold Embossed Lettering and Decoration on the cover

https://phdbookbinding.com/fabric-hard-cover/

Printed Hardcover Binding with wraparound full color printing on the cover

https://phdbookbinding.com/printed-hard-cover/

Paper document submission is not available for Softcover Perfect Binding.

PAPER CHOICE

The second consideration for Thesis Book Binding or Dissertation Book Binding is choosing the type of paper that you want. We offer 5 types of paper as listed below and as explained here in greater detail ( https://phdbookbinding.com/digital-printing/ )

20lb regular or standard Copy Paper. This paper is ACID-FREE and is white in color. It does not have  a watermark. Acid Free paper is made from wood pulp, and it resists yellowing and brittleness over very long periods (measured in centuries). The production of Acid Free paper is also more environmentally friendly than acidic paper.

60lb regular or standard Copy Paper (also known as 24lb Copy Paper)*. This paper is ACID-FREE and is white in color. It does not have a watermark. Acid Free paper is made from wood pulp, and it resists yellowing and brittleness over very long periods (measured in centuries). The production of Acid Free paper is also more environmentally friendly than acidic paper. (See below for why this paper has 2 different names)

20lb, 25% Cotton Paper. This white paper is ACID-FREE and ARCHIVAL. It has a WATERMARK which is visible only when you shine a bright light behind the sheet. Archival paper has all the benefits of Acid-Free paper, except that it resists yellowing and brittleness even longer than ordinary Acid-Free paper. Another difference is that Cotton Paper is made with cotton pulp.

24lb, 100% Cotton Paper . This white paper is ACID-FREE and ARCHIVAL. It has a WATERMARK which is visible only when you shine a bright light behind the sheet. Archival paper has all the benefits of Acid-Free paper, except that it resists yellowing and brittleness even longer than ordinary Acid-Free paper. Another difference isthat Cotton Paper is made with cotton pulp. PLEASE NOTE that A4 (European Letter size) is NOT available in 100% cotton.

80lb Gloss-Coated Paper. This paper is ACID-FREE and is white in color. It does not have a watermark. But unlike regular copy paper, it is also coated with a gloss finish that makes it perfect for printing photos, charts & graphs, and more.

80lb Matte-Coated Paper. This paper is ACID-FREE and is white in color. It does not have a watermark. But unlike regular copy paper, it is also coated with a matte (non-gloss coating) finish that makes it perfect for printing photos, charts & graphs, and more.

BINDING STYLE

The binding style you choose depends first on whether you’re submitting officially to your institution or for personal use. We offer 3 types of binding Fabric Hardcover Binding with Gold Lettering and Gold Emblem ( https://phdbookbinding.com/fabric-hard-cover/ )

Most institutions require Fabric Hardcover Binding with gold lettering or gold emblem for official submission. You can also choose this type of binding for your own personal copies and as gifts because it is binding of the highest quality that is impressive in look and feel. Fabric Hardcover binding is high quality, archival binding that’s fit for the most demanding public or private library. Fabric options include:

• Classic Buckram fabric that is available in different colors,
• Contemporary Levant finish fabric also available in different colors
• Cowhide available in 3 colors

Lettering and emblem are applied to Fabric Hardcover binding with gold embossing

Printed Hardcover Binding ( https://phdbookbinding.com/printed-hard-cover/ )

Institutions may also allow Printed Hardcover Binding for Thesis and Dissertations. Printed Hardcover Binding allows:

• Background color of your choice
• Lettering color of your choice
• Full color emblem
• Image and text on back cover, or
• Wraparound full-color cover design

Printed Hardcover Binding can be compared to Fabric Hardcover Binding on this page: https://phdbookbinding.com/comparison/

Perfect Binding (Softcover, Paperback binding) ( https://phdbookbinding.com/perfect-binding/ )

Perfect Binding is Softcover, Paperback binding that allows all the options available for Printed Hardcover binding

Types of Thesis Binding & Optional Extras

by Mark at Pilot | Thesis binding

[UPDATED]: In this blog post we thought we’d explain, in a bit more detail, the various  thesis printing and binding  options available at  The Document Centre, London . Here we look at the options in the same order as they appear on  the online order form , so that it’s possible to cross-refer. The photo montage above also illustrates many of the options discussed. So, first up are the options for  printing of the actual pages  …

Standard Printing Options:

For the internal pages of the thesis or dissertation, our standard paper is 100gsm and is excellent quality, suitable for both pin-sharp text and vivid photographs and graphics. The pages are printed digitally using our state-of-the-art digital printers. During the ordering process you can specify how many pages are to be printed in black and white, and how many are to be in full colour (you can have a mix of both and do  not normally need to tell us which pages are which as that is usually self-evident within the PDF you supply). Specifying the correct  quantity  of each, however, will give you an accurate final price for your order.

Unless the ‘ I require double-sided printing ‘ box is checked during the online ordering process, we print internal pages single-sided by default. This is because virtually all universities specify single-sided printing in their thesis/dissertation printing specifications. However you can overrule that, i.e. have double-sided printing, by checking the box if you wish.

Types of Binding Available:

When it comes to thesis  binding , most universities require ‘hard’ or ‘soft’ binding but there are some exceptions so we’ll go through all the various binding options available so that it covers all possible university specifications:

Hard binding  (usually used for final submission of a thesis/dissertation): this is a style of bookbinding which is rather like traditional hard-back books i.e. the covers and spine are strong and very rigid while internal pages are securely bound in. As with hardback books you’d see in a bookshop, the covers extend slightly further than the internal pages. Our hard-bound theses and dissertations come with a ‘library buckram cloth’ covering which has a pleasant texture and is hard-wearing. A large range of colours are available to suit any university specification. On the online order form you can choose to have metallic foil lettering on the front cover should you wish (for university thesis binding it will usually appear on the spine by default).

Soft binding  is a little similar to hard binding (see above) except the covers are not as thick and therefore not as rigid and the internal pages are thermally glued in. However the finished book is still usually able to stand unaided on a book shelf. The covers and spine are covered in a library buckram book cloth although, unlike with hard binding, the outer covers are cut flush with the internal pages. This type of bookbinding is often used for first submission of your thesis or dissertation. The buckram covering is available in a large range of colours to suit any university specification and, for university dissertations, gold or silver foil lettering usually also appears on the spine, by default.

Wiro binding:  this method of document binding uses a wire coil (or spiral) to hold the pages together. The pages are first punched with a series of regularly-spaced holes near the binding edge and then the wire spine is clamped down through the holes in the pages so as to keep them in place. The wire spine comes in several colours and also allows the document pages to be turned through 360 degrees and to open completely flat if required. Usually a transparent cover is included at the front end and a card cover at the back. Wiro binding can usually be done while-you-wait, without an appointment.

Velo binding:  this is another simple and fast method of document binding and, as such, can also be done in-store while you wait, usually without an appointment. Like wiro binding, velo binding also comes with a transparent plastic front cover and card back cover and the pages also have regularly punched holes (but just 12 in number for velo) near the spine. Different, though, is the binding method; with velo binding the document is bound using a 12-pin binding system which is able to bind up to 600 sheets of paper (3 inches max.) which is way beyond the capability of wiro binding. Universities like King’s College have started to specify this binding system for theses and dissertations in recent times.  Learn more about velo binding here .

Thermal binding:  as with velo and wiro binding, thermal binding also usually comes with a clear plastic front cover and card back cover and is quick and easy (so can also usually be done while you wait). The binding mechanism is via thermal (hot) glue rather than any physical ‘spine’ addition. Thermal binding is also known as Glue binding, Fastback, Thermo and Perfect binding.

Optional Extras:

As well as the standard printing and binding options outlined above, other optional  extras  include:

A plastic pocket to hold a CD or DVD.  Usually this is positioned in the inside of the back cover but you are free to instruct us otherwise if you prefer it elsewhere (there is a space for special instructions towards the end of the online ordering process).

A CD can be burned or copied  so that it contains your file(s). This can be housed in a plastic pocket which can be supplied loose or inserted into your binding, as you prefer. As above there is a space for any special instructions towards the end of the online ordering process.

A plastic corner pocket  which can house loose inserts can be glued to the inside back cover, or other location — even left loose if you prefer to position it yourself.

A cloth corner pocket  (suitable for hardbound books only) can be supplied instead of the plastic variety. This is positioned on the inside back cover board and can contain loose inserts etc.

A cloth ‘register’ ribbon  (again for hardbinding only) can be bound into the book, for use as a bookmark. A variety of colours are available.

Foil (shiny metallic) lettering:  For hard and soft binding for university theses, we usually add silver or gold foil lettering to the spines by default. However for hard binding we can also foil on the front cover (as is appropriate for your particular university). Gold is the default so tick the override box if you need silver foil instead. On  the online order form , within the ‘ Binding Style & Presentation ‘ section near the bottom, fill in the appropriate fields for things like the university, degree, first name, family name and so on, and  please check your spelling carefully before submitting your order  because we will print what you supply.

Turnaround Times

You have quite a range of options to choose from, including:

• 2 hour turnaround  (available during all but our busiest months – orders being processed between 9am and 3pm);
• 4 hour turnaround  (available during all but our busiest months – orders being processed between 9am and 1pm);
• Same day turnaround  (orders  must  be received by 10.30am in order to be available from 3.30pm the same working day);
• 2 working day turnaround  (orders  must  be received by 10.30am for that day to count as the first day);
• 3 working day turnaround  (orders  must  be received by 10.30am for that day to count as the first day).

Please note that turnaround times are for  week days only ; weekends are not counted as working days.

Example:  Order by 10.30am latest on a Monday morning and, if you ordered a 3 day service, your order will be ready by 3.30pm on the Wednesday.

Free Delivery to many London Universities

Once completed, bound dissertations/theses can be delivered free to certain London universities and institutions. These are: Berkbeck College (WC1), James C Maxwell Building, Franklin-Wilkins Building, SOAS, Imperial College, Gower Street, King’s College (Guy’s and Strand campuses), Courtaulds (Strand), The Institute of Education, the London School of Tropical Medicine, Christie’s Education and Regent’s Business School. More can be seen on the Delivery section of  the online order form .

It is also possible, when ordering, to specify a different 2nd and 3rd delivery address for any duplicate copies being ordered. So we could send one to your university and another to your home address, for example.

So — whatever specification is required, we have it covered at The Document Centre. All dissertations are bound to the exact university specifications required (unless you tell us otherwise) and, as you can see above, there is a huge amount of flexibility regarding optional extras, turnaround times and even delivery. As the first bookbinders to bring in online ordering of thesis binding into the UK, we have things down to a fine art and are a ‘preferred supplier’ for many of the UK’s universities.  To order your thesis binding online click here ,  contact us or see a map of our London location here , here or simply  call us on 0207 928 9738 . Lastly, for more about our printing, bookbinding and thesis binding services and the types of binding available, click  here .

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Quality Bindery Services, Inc.

Call (716) 883-5185

Print Industry Finishing Services | Bookbinding, Bible & Book Repair, Thesis Binding | Mailing 

Do you need your thesis bound, thesis & dissertation binding.

Trust your thesis binding to QBS, a company that reveres education, and the work you have achieved! Our pricing is reasonable. We know you’ve just spent a bundle on your education! We have been helping graduate students preserve their thesis work for years. It’s simple. Whether you want a soft cover or a hard cover -- both are available. We follow the instructions of the school you attend. We use all types of materials, including cloth, paper and leather. If your school no longer requires you to print and bind your dissertation . . . have it bound beautifully for yourself!

Download our Thesis Binding Information Flyer.

Hard Cover Value Pricing Our value pricing for hard cover thesis binding is $55 per book.

Includes hard cover, we use imitation leather

Choose from many colors, including black, navy, medium blue, brown, green and burgundy

With gold or silver foil stamping on spine and front cover

Soft Cover Value Pricing Our value pricing for soft cover thesis binding is $40 per book.

Includes soft cover, we supply the cover stock

Choose black or white cover

Printing Services

QBS also provides printing services on a variety of paper stocks. The prices are as follows:

25% cotton with watermark:        $.45 b/w  $.60 for color

24# bond copy paper:                $.30 b/w  $.40 color

100% cotton with watermark:      $.55 b/w  $.75 for color

Turn around is usually 3 weeks.

If you need your theses sooner, rush charges may apply depending on our schedule:

5 to 10 days: an additional $20 per book

4 days or less: an additional $50 per book

"My bound dissertation books arrived today, and you did an amazing job. It looks excellent. I am so thrilled and happy. I will definitely use your services again (going back to school) and I have forwarded information to my other college cohorts. Thank you so much."  B.

Step 1: Fill Out the Order Form Download our PDF Thesis Order Form Important: If you have difficulty filling out our order form via the PDF, please print the PDF form and fill it out. Scan and email to [email protected] or fax it to (716) 883-1598. Step 2: Upload Your Files Upload your files to our secure WeTransfer FTP (file transfer protocol) site.

https://qualitybindery.wetransfer.com/ Step 3: We Email Your Price Confirmation Step 4: PayPal Payment

Send payment directly from your PayPal account using our PayPal email address: [email protected] Step 5: Delivery Options

Click here for hours and directions

Quality Bindery Services Inc.

501 Amherst St. Buffalo, NY 14027

We ship per your instructions on your order form.

For more information call (888) 883-1266 toll-free or (716) 883-5185. We are here to congratulate you and to help you with this next exciting step in your career!

Order Form & How to Order

Here is an example of one of Quality Bindery Services' great Buffalo, New York customers -- D'Youville College.

D'Youville graduates, c lick the below image to download your college's order form. Others use the form in Step 1. 

Does your educational institution no longer require printed and bound theses?  They just put it online.

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Thesis binding and printing options

• By DiscoverPhDs
• November 29, 2020

If you have recently completed your dissertation congratulations are in order! But the work is not finished – you now have to get your dissertation in front of examiners in a professional format. There are a number of factors to consider when producing a physical copy of your thesis :

• Type of binding (for example: helical or softback)
• Paper size (are some pages better suited for A3?)
• Print options (single or double-sided?)
• Paper quality (a range of gsm options are available)

What is Thesis/Dissertation Binding?

Thesis binding involves fastening the physical pages of your dissertation together to produce a single presentable document. As simple as it sounds, there is a lot to get right, and dissertation binding is important in giving a good impression of your work.

What are the different types of dissertation binding?

Spiral/helical/wired binding.

Spiral binding (also known as helical binding) and wired binding are very common for bachelors and masters dissertations. These options give a professional look and allow pages to be rotated 360 degrees, making for easy reading. Spiral binding uses a plastic coil, whilst wire binding uses a metal wire.

Fastback/softback binding

Fastback binding (also referred to as softback binding) uses glue to keep your dissertation pages together. This is not a very common choice for dissertation binding as it is rather formal for bachelors and masters, and perhaps not formal enough for PhD theses. Fastback binding also comes with a risk of glue losing fixity over time leading to pages falling out.

Thermal binding

Thermal binding is not very common but can be used for bachelors or masters dissertations. This type of binding is permanent (so pages cannot be easily added/removed) but is generally inexpensive. Another disadvantage of thermal bindings is that pages cannot be opened 360 degrees (as with fastback binding).

Plastic comb binding

Comb binding involves punching holes down the side of the page and binding with a plastic comb strip. This binding option is also suitable for bachelors and masters dissertations. It is a cheap option but can sometimes become difficult to navigate as pages become stuck on the plastic combing. One advantage of plastic comb binding is that it is easy to add and remove pages.

Paperback binding

Paperback binding will give your manuscript the appearance of a book and comes with personalisation options i.e. a titled cover page, spine and back. This gives a very professional appearance, too formal for a bachelors or masters dissertation, but ideal for a PhD thesis.

Hardback binding

Hardback binding again gives a book like appearance, but is expensive and typically reserved only for PhD theses. In addition to custom titling, spine and back, there is a range of material and colour options for hardback binding e.g. the gold lettering you may have seen on academic books.

What Paper Size Should I use?

Most universities will provide very clear instruction on paper sizes, most often A4. However, some pages such as technical drawings or maps may be best shown on A3. In these cases ‘fold out’ pages are an option but must be approved by your university guidelines.

Print Options:

Check your university guidelines when deciding whether to print single or double sided. If printing double sided, be careful as some pages should not be printed back to back. For example, new chapters should start on the right hand page (of a double spread) so blank pages may be required.

What Paper Quality is Suitable?

Paper thickness is measured in grams per square metre (gsm). Although there is no ideal paper thickness, too thin and you risk your dissertation feeling low quality. Too high and you risk your dissertation pages feeling like cardboard, and again pointing to low quality.

Popular UK Services:

Ryman is an affordable thesis binding service, with a range of options for dissertations and theses. Ryman often have stored on University campuses or nearby, so you can check the services provided by your local store (as an alternative to ordering online).

Doxdirect is an online service which offers a large amount of customisation when choosing a thesis binding option. The door to door service also offers a wide range of delivery and production options so you get your bound thesis in your hand as quick as possible.

Thesis Online has been around for a long time (established in 1920), and have a very good reputation. They offer an online thesis binding service and have a hand online calculator which allows you to modify your binding, printing, and deliver options and see the impact on cost in real-time.

Things to Note:

Whichever service you use to bind your thesis or dissertation, there are a few important things to remember:

When using an online service check the turnaround time. Most services take around a week to print, bind, and deliver, though faster services are available at a cost. Some universities have an onsite printing service that students can use. These services likely offer binding options which satisfy your department’s dissertation submission requirements.

An electronic copy and physical copy of your dissertation will be read differently. Whilst consecutive pages are easy to compare on a computer screen, a physical copy may have pages printed on opposite sides of a single page (if double page printed) which makes side by side comparisons difficult. This is something to consider if your text frequently refers to images or tables overleaf.

Most thesis printing services only accept PDF file formats. Ensure that when you convert your dissertation to PDF that you review the document to ensure no errors occur during conversion.

Check your university dissertation guidance on margin requirements. It is also important to factor in margins when considering binding options. Typically a minimum margin of 2.5cm is required on the side of the page to be bound.

Although it comes with an additional cost, it may be useful to purchase personal copies of your bound thesis. You can then bring your bound copy to your Viva , and ensure that what you and your examiners are looking at are identical.

The scope and delimitations of a thesis, dissertation or paper define the topic and boundaries of a research problem – learn how to form them.

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Maria is a 1st year PhD student at the University of Birmingham, researching how to employ and exploit the biology of human gamma delta T cells for development of cancer immunotherapy.

Dr Karki gained his PhD in the field of Nuclear and Particle Physics from Ohio University in March 2020. He is currently working as a postdoctoral associate in Prof. Haiyan Gao’s research group in Duke University.

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Dissertation Binding and Printing Options | Comparison and Tips

Published on 3 April 2019 by Raimo Streefkerk . Revised on 10 July 2019.

Your dissertation is finally finished, you got it proofread and checked for plagiarism . The final step is printing your dissertation, which means choosing between:

• Types of binding
• Colour vs. black & white

Single vs. double sided

• Paper type and thickness

You also need to decide which printing and binding service to use. This independent article explains all options and helps you make the right decisions.

Overview of printing services

Table of contents

Types of dissertation binding, dissertation printing options, production and delivery times, last checks before printing, overview of printing and binding services.

Aside from keeping the pages of your dissertation together, the binding is also responsible for your supervisor’s first impression of your dissertation. There are various types of binding, ranging from the cheaper spiral binding to the more expensive hardcover book binding .

The type of binding should depend on:

• Guidelines from your university or professor
• Your dissertation’s version (draft vs. final)
• Type of dissertation (PhD vs. undergraduate dissertation)

Spiral binding (± £7)

• Professional appearance
• Browsing through the pages is easy (can be opened flat)
• Fairly cheap

Comb binding (± £5)

• Enables easy browsing of the pages
• Binding can be opened and closed (not easily)
• Has a cheap appearance

Fastback binding (± £8)

• Professional book-like appearance
• Available in different colours
• Risk of pages falling out after a while

Paperback binding (£10-20)

• Durable and professional
• Book-like appearance
• Opening and browsing is less smooth than with spiral or comb binding

Hardback binding (£20-40)

• Customizable cover
• Quality comes at a price

Colour vs. Black & White

Unless specifically stated in your university guidelines, it is up to you to decide whether to print your dissertation in colour or black & white. Printing in colour is on average two to four times more expensive.

In general, a colour-printed dissertation looks more professional, but it is not required. Does your dissertation contain graphs or figures that rely on colour? Be sure to print at least these pages in colour.

Printing double sided is often cheaper than printing single sided due to the paper savings – it makes your dissertation half as thick. However, some universities require you to print your dissertation single sided. Be sure to check the guidelines.

When printing your dissertation double sided, pay attention to the following points:

• New chapters should start on the right side. You will need to take this into account and insert “blank pages” when preparing your dissertation.
• Add a blank page after the title page so that the acknowledgements or abstract are not printed on the back of your title page.
• The page numbering is often placed bottom right on the right side of the page and bottom left on the left side. You can easily set this in Word by choosing “outside alignment”.

Paper weight

The thickness of the paper (measured in gsm or grams) is something most students don’t think about, but it does have a significant impact on the look and feel of your dissertation.

Standard printing paper has a weight of 75-90 gsm. For a bachelor’s or master’s dissertation this is fine. If you want the paper to look and feel more professional and durable, a paper weight of 100-130 gsm is better. This is often used for PhD dissertations.

Number of copies

It is common to print three to five copies of your dissertation. Depending on your university’s guidelines you might need to submit one to three copies to your supervisor. In addition, you might want to have a copy for yourself or your family.

The production (printing and binding) takes on average two days, and delivery takes another day. For an additional charge (ranging from +20 to +80%), the production and delivery time can be shortened.

Have a looming deadline? Your local printing shop is probably able to print and bind your dissertation faster, and it eliminates delivery time. However, keep in mind that this is often a little more expensive.

Before sending your dissertation to a printing shop, there are three things you should do:

1. Save your dissertation as a PDF By saving your file as a PDF, the formatting will be consistent on every computer. This way you prevent any unpleasant surprises such as offsets when receiving your printed dissertation.

2. Check for language mistakes There’s nothing worse than finding a language mistake in your printed version. Make sure to proofread your dissertation or make use of a professional dissertation proofreading service .

3. Update the contents page Before saving your dissertation as a PDF, update the (automatic) table of contents. Don’t forget to cross-check the page numbers listed in the table of contents with the actual page number.

The table below provides an overview of the most popular dissertation printing and binding shops, both online and offline. The shops are ordered by price, with information on delivery costs and review score.

*Prices are based on a spiral bound dissertation of 40 pages , printed single-sided , in black , on 80-90gsm  paper, including a clear outer front and back cover .

**Prices are based on a hardback bound dissertation of 200 pages , printed single-sided , in black , on 90-100gsm  paper.

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• Bookbinding Services
• Thesis Binding
• Colour Swatches
• Other Services
• FAQ’s

We are closed Friday 30 th October and Monday 2 nd November for Health and Safety Training. We can still accept e-mails but not telephone calls during that time.

Visit our  Thesis Binding  website. -->

We offer the following types of binding for all universities:

• Wire binding
• Comb binding
• Spiral binding
• Channel binding
• Full cloth soft binding
• Thermal crimped binding
• Soft binding with acetate front cover and cloth spine
• Hard case binding with embossing on either the spine only or the spine and front cover.

A4, 100gsm white paper. Please note that letter or U.S. letter format will not be accepted.

Examiners’ copies:   the preference is for single-sided print.

University Library/Department copies :  the preference is for double-sided (duplex) print.

Soft binding

If a soft bound copy is submitted in the following format eg. comb or spiral it will certainly be necessary to provide a new copy for hard binding as these create holes that would weaken conventional binding and will lead to an unacceptable loss of margin.

The following versions are recommended as in some circumstances they could be used as donor copies for hard binding:

Full cloth soft binding in Arbelave Library buckram. Colour choice up to the individual. Lettered on spine in gold (hot foil embossing, not digital foil printing) with candidate’s initials and surname, degree and year running from top to bottom. This must all be in capital letters (apart from Ph.D.)

-acetate soft binding (a clear plastic front cover with a black cloth spine and back). No lettering as the title page is visible.

-channel (metal) binding (a clear plastic front cover with a flat metal spine and black card back). No lettering as the title page is visible.

-thermal crimped binding (a clear front cover and frosted back). No lettering as the title page is visible.

Hard case binding

Preferably to be sewn on an OMCOA oversewing machine (as recommended by the University Library) or oversewn sections that are then hand sewn.

Hard case binding to be bound in cloth material Arbelave Library buckram (as recommended by the University Library).  Colour choice is up to the individual.  In general, the thickness of a single volume (excluding the case) should not exceed 7cm. Lettering on the spine (hot foil embossing, not digital foil printing) should consist of title, initials and surname in gold running from top to bottom. This must all be in capital letters(unless part of the title requires lower case).

If the thesis or dissertation consists of more than one volume, the spine must also bear the number of each volume.

J. S. Wilson & Son, Thesis Binding and Bookbinding

The knowledge of Craft/Thesis Binding has been passed down through generations since 1830 onto current staff, enabling us to offer you the best all-round service possible. The earliest recorded bound and catalogued dissertation held at Cambridge University Library dates back to 1901, and was bound by J. S. Wilson & Son. We can cater for any type of Thesis or Dissertation Binding at our workshop in Cambridge. We can also offer quick turnaround Thesis Binding for last minute deadlines!

J. S. Wilson & Son (Bookbinders) Ltd, Unit 17 Ronald Rolph Court, Wadloes Road, Cambridge, CB5 8PX, United Kingdom

+44 (0) 1223 212420

info @jswilsonandson.co.uk

OPENING HOURS

Monday to Thursday 8.00am - 4.00pm

Friday 8.00am - Midday

Saturday Appointment by arrangement

NEXT DAY SERVICE

Please note this is on Thesis Binding only

We accept all major payment cards

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Privacy Policy

Thesis Printing and Binding FAQ

Thesis Order And Payment

How do i go about ordering my thesis binding.

Click through to the online order form for Thesis binding and printing.

How long does it take to print and bind my book?

Due to the impact of COVID on our operation, our production time is now 18 business days from the next working day that we receive your order. Delivery occurs after this and the timeframe can vary base on where the delivery needs to go.

Feel free to contact us for the most up to date production and delivery times for your location.

Express postage is also available at a small additional cost contact us for more information.

How much does Thesis Binding cost?

The total cost to print and bind a thesis can vary considerably depending on the customizations you choose.

As a rough benchmark, a basic print and bind thesis or dissertation is around:

$100 USD $150 AUD $82 GBP   $155 NZD $5500 PSP $8200 INR

per book. Last updated 18 Jan 2023.

Get a fast online quotation for your thesis or dissertation in your currency of choice with our no obligation quotation form (no email required unless placing an order) .

Do you offer a discount for bulk thesis purchases?

We have a sliding scale of discounts available when you order more than one copy of buckram thesis. Its best to order all of your copies at the same time so you can maximise your savings.

Is there a middle-of-the-road option; cheaper than genuine leather but higher quality than buckram?

We are one of the only binders around who offer a high-quality vegan leather option for binding. The look and feel is so like leather it is hard to distinguish the difference. Vegan leather thesis  are exquisitely finished with a book ribbon and premium foiled centrepiece.

Do you charge a credit card surcharge? 

We are very proud to state that we are surcharge-free.

How can I pay for my thesis? 

We accept all credit cards, including American Express. You can also make a funds transfer. You are welcome to pay by EFTPOS, credit card, cheque or cash when you collect your bound thesis from our bindery.

If you have opted for one of our delivery options, we require you to pay prior to us arranging delivery.

Do you have a secure online payment gateway for credit card payments? 

Yes. Our order form has been securely setup to ensure your details are all safe when paying. Of course, if you have any concerns, please contact us for alternative payment methods

Thesis and Dissertation Printing Information

How much does thesis printing cost.

Thesis Printing Cost: $0.31 AUD ($0.21USD) per black and white page, $0.69 AUD ($0.47 USD) per colour page.

No extra charge for single sided printing.

What paper do you use for thesis printing? Can you print on archival paper if needed?

We always insist on low/neutral acid, sustainable 100gsm paper with archival qualities. We are constantly monitoring the paper to ensure it meets the expectations in regards to quality and consistency.

Am I able to drop my printed pages to you for thesis binding?

You are welcome to deliver your printed pages to us in Moorabbin – Monday to Friday, 10am-4pm. ( best to contact us before visiting).

Thesis Document Specifications

What margins do I need to leave for binding?

We ask that you leave a 5mm margin for binding/trimming on all four edges of the page.

What format does my thesis need to be in for you to print?

In order to maintain all formatting, fonts, etc. we require that you send your file to us in PDF format. The order form also requests the name of the source program, to assist if there are any issues with preparing it for printing.

I have foldout pages in my thesis. What do I need to do?

Our online order form has a space for pages that are not A4. Please enter details there.

If you are printing your own thesis, please print the pages in A3, and leave them unfolded. We will fit them and fold them to be correctly bound in your books.

Can you bind a thesis that is not A4 or is an odd size?

We can bind any book of any shape or size.  Contact us  for price.

You are welcome to deliver your printed pages to us in Moorabbin – Monday to Friday, 10am-4pm (best to call before you come)

Do you offer help with getting my file ready to print? If you are struggling to get your thesis file just right, we have engaged a specialist copy editor to help you through the process. From formatting margins to repositioning page numbers and managing image resolution, we have had years of experience fixing thesis files just like yours. Contact us  for more details.

Can you help with my university’s requirements? We have completed thesis binding for every university in Australia and many around the world, so we are well versed in the specific requirements for most universities. If we don’t know, we’ll make it our job to find out.

If there is an error in my thesis, how can it be fixed? 

Once you have submitted an order, it is automatically in the production queue. Thus it is both difficult and problematic to remove an order to make any changes.

If you absolutely must make a change to the existing order, there is a $60 fee to make a change to an already submitted order.

There is no charge to cancel an order and resubmit, but you may miss out on your expected delivery day.

Thesis Materials And Binding

What is buckram.

Buckram is a hard-wearing book cloth, long favoured by libraries, universities and other institutions for book that are frequently used. Our range of buckram colours is comprehensive and we are sure to have a colour to suit every taste.

What colours of buckram can I get my thesis bound in?

We currently stock more than 25 colours of buckram, plus many colours in a huge range of book cloths.

Can I get my own personal copy in leather? 

Yes, we frequently have students ordering their own genuine leather-bound copy, complete with hand-stamped lettering, book ribbon and premium tooled centrepiece on the front cover. Spine labels, marbled end pages and raised bands (where suited) are also available.

Are there any other book cloths available?

We have a fantastic range of linen feel, PU, paper cloth, metallic, vinyl and many other cloths. Our suppliers are constantly sourcing new and interesting ranges from all over the world. Why not come into our bindery showroom and see what options we have available?

I’ve just finished my thesis and need to submit for examination. Do you offer thermal binding and soft binding? 

We offer thermal binding up to 50mm with either black or white back cover and clear front. Our thermal binding – clear front and black or white spine and back

Our soft binding – black or maroon front and back, with cloth spine.

Both options can come with a spine label.

Are there any optional extras I can add to my thesis binding?

Our order form lists the additional inclusions: book ribbons, CD pockets, marbled end papers, All of these and more are available on our order form.

Can you add a CD or map pocket to the inside back cover of my thesis?

We custom make CD and map pockets from the same colour buckram or vegan leather as your cover, for $9 each.

What is the maximum number of pages you can bind in one book?

Using our normal thesis binding process, we are able to bind a maximum of around 500 sheets of paper. While we can employ a different binding process for larger books, we recommend splitting into two volumes, for ease of storage, transport and of course, reading.

What is the minimum number of pages you can bind in a book?

The thinnest book we have bound is 6 pages, although we are confident that 1 page is the minimum.

Stamping And Lettering

What is stamping or lettering?

Stamping is the term we use to describe the process of affixing the words to your thesis cover. While it may appear like it has been printed, the process involved heating up brass or lead letters, then pressing them into the surface of the cover with a thin sheet of fast-release foil in between. If you run your fingers along the letters, you may feel how letters have been pressed into the cover. The term lettering has been coined to assist students to understand that we are talking about the words or ‘letters’ in their title, name, degree title, etc.

I have a very long title. Can you fit it on the front and spine of my thesis? 

We have a number of different sizes of our thesis font, known as Radiant Medium. This allows us to select a slightly smaller font size when there are many words in a thesis title. In 99% of orders, we have no problem fitting long titles onto the spine of a thesis.

I have a special or unusual character in my title or my name. Are you able to accommodate this?

Yes, we utilise state-of-the-art programming to control our foil stamping (lettering) machine. This means we can produce almost any special character for your title or name. There is an additional fee for each special character, per font size (two font sizes are used  – one for the front cover and one for the spine).

Do you have other fonts available for the front cover and spine lettering?

We have a large range of fonts, which incur an additional fee.

Can you print on my cover instead of stamping? 

Yes we can! We are able to full-colour print on buckram and many of the other book cloths we stock.

Can you stamp an image or logo on the cover of my thesis?

We certainly can! Over the years, a number of students have requested their university/college crest or logo to be stamped on the cover, you are more than able to have such stamping on your personal copies.

Can you print an image in colour on the cover of my thesis?

Yes! We can print any picture or image onto the cover of book. All we need is a PDF of the artwork!

Can I get a border impressed into the cover of my thesis?

We have three ‘blind’ borders available to choose from.

Thesis and Dissertation Delivery And Pickup

Can you deliver to my university? We can deliver to any address worldwide including Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Singapore, and the Philippines.

We offer international shipping, so customers all over the world can enjoy our high quality thesis printing and thesis binding services.

Can you deliver to any address in the world? Absolutely! Just provide the details including country and postcode/zip code, and we’ll arrange a price before we send.

Can I come and collect the thesis when they are completed?

Yes, of course. Let us know if you prefer this option, and we will notify you when your order is available to collect.

Our Showroom

Do you have a showroom where I can see samples of your work and choose my cover colours and lettering options?

You are welcome to visit our showroom at 33 Ebden St, Moorabbin, Monday to Friday 10 am – 4pm. While we are almost always working in the Bindery, we ask that you make a quick call to us if you plan to visit us,

What are your opening hours?

Monday – Friday, 10am – 4pm.

I work during those hours. Is there some way I can drop off my printed pages?

Yes. Please  contact us , so we can make arrangements with you.

Are you open on weekends?

We are not generally open on weekends, however, there are times we might be available to assist you with dropping off or collecting after hours. Please contact us  for more details.

I work/live far from your bindery, is there a way to deliver/drop off printed pages or collected a bound thesis from you after hours?

Yes, we have a solution for you to deliver to us after hours. Please  contact us  for details.

The Library wishes you a nice holiday break. Buildings will be closed from 12/23/22 to 12/31/22. For a full list of closing and opening times, please visit the library hours page.

• Undergraduate Students
• Graduate & Medical Students
• Medical & Clinical Faculty
• Visiting Scholars
• Special Collections Researchers
• Library Staff

Brown University Library

Thesis and dissertation binding: information for graduate students.

Masters and doctoral students who wish to have personal copies of their theses/dissertations bound may deliver copies of the thesis to the Preservation Department via campus mail, via U.S. mail, or in person during business hours. Our address is:

Thesis Binding Rockefeller Library–Preservation Department 10 Prospect St. Box A Providence, RI 02912

All theses and dissertations must be accompanied by a Binding Request Form:

• Binding Request Form ( Word , PDF )
• Sample Binding Request Form ( PDF )

Academic departments paying for the binding of theses, dissertations, or other materials should consult the Academic Department Binding information.

Binding Style

Theses and dissertations are bound in black library cloth with gold lettering. The spine of the binding includes the title of the thesis/dissertation, the student’s last name, and year of completion. Special characters, such as Greek letters or mathematical symbols, may not be available for spine printing.

The charge for thesis binding is $20 per copy. Payment via credit card (Mastercard, Visa, American Express or Discover Card), balance account, or personal check is due at the time the bound items are picked up at the Circulation desk in the Rockefeller Library. Additional charges may apply to unusually large publications, or those with accompanying media.

• Binding Invoice
• Sample Binding Invoice

Processing Time

We ship materials to our commercial binding vendor every Tuesday. The deadline to get your thesis into the current week’s shipment is 10 a.m. Monday. Theses and dissertations received after 10 a.m. on Monday may not go out until the following week’s shipment. Bound items are due back two weeks after the shipment date (the day the items are sent to the vendor, not the day they are received at the Library), and will be available the following day. We will notify you via email or phone when the bound items are ready for pickup at the Rockefeller Library Circulation desk.

Special Needs

If you have binding style or processing time requirements that are unmet by the services outlined above, please contact Acme Bookbinding or another commercial binder directly to discuss your project.

Please contact Stephen Conlon at 401-863-2593.

Thesis & Dissertation Printing

Book1one will give your thesis or dissertation the professional look it deserves..

If you are looking for a world class company to print and bind your thesis or dissertation, you will find that Book1One will give your document the high quality attention it requires and deserves. Graduate students from all over the country have used our services, and we are listed at many colleges and universities as a reliable resource for hardcover and softcover thesis and dissertation book printing. 

We understand that theses and dissertations comprise a special category in the book publishing world. They represent the culmination of a large body of work and achievement at a very high academic level – and are recognized symbols of professional accomplishment.

Cloth and Faux Leather Color Choices:

NOTE: Colors may not display accurately due to differences in monitor settings

Why choose Book1One to print your thesis or dissertation?

• We offer a number of cover options.  At Book1One, you can select from three cover options for hardcover books: a full-color printed cover, a cloth cover with foil stamping, or a faux (imitation) leather cover with foil stamping. The cloth and faux leather book coverings come in four different colors: black, navy blue, dark red, and green. The color choices are shown in the right side on this webpage. Foil stamping, printed on the front cover and spine, can be either a gold or silver color. Softcover theses and dissertations come with a full color printed cover.
• We have no minimum quantity requirements.  In most instances, the number of printed copies needed for a thesis or dissertation are low. The size of thesis/dissertation orders we receive vary from a high of around ten to a low of one copy. We can print as many or as few copies of your thesis or dissertation at an affordable price and with the same amount of attention we give to larger book orders.

We can offer you a special service regarding foil stamping.

If your foil stamping involves basic text and numbers, such as book title, author’s name, school and date, Book1One can assemble your cover for you at no additional cost to use. If you wish us to provide this service to you, when you place your order, upload a PDF file indicating what you would like printed on your front cover and spine and approximate positioning. We will fit and center the type using the Time New Roman font. For more on foil stamping click  here .

Get an instant price quote without having to call or email!

Book1One is one of very few book manufacturers who has a website price calculator that will enable you to obtain an accurate price quote without having to place a phone call or submit an email. It’s fast, easy, and our customers love it!

Simply insert the specifications of your book project and, with one click, see what the price of your project will be.

Placing your order is as easy as 1-2-3!

If you have completed the design and layout of your thesis or dissertation and are ready to upload your print ready PDF file(s) to us and place your order, simply click on the red “Place Order” button located at the top of your screen. You will then be taken through the simple three step process of (1) creating your personal account, (2) uploading your cover and page files and (3) completing the checkout procedure.

• How Our Process Works
• Plastic Coil
• Book Cover Sizing Diagrams

OUR GUARANTEE

Our guarantee to you is that we will give your project our utmost personal attention to ensure that, when finished, your books meet the highest quality production standards.

Remember, at Book1One:

• We work with easy-to-use PDF files, and our online ordering process is a snap.
• We have no minimum order requirements – even for hardcover books.
• We have no set up fees. Your only expense is the cost to print, bind & ship your books.
• Our turnaround times are fast – five business days for softcover and plastic coil bound; 10 business days for hardcover books. And rush production is available.
• You’ll receive personal “hands-on” service. We’ll answer your emails quickly, and if you call us, you’ll get a real person.

HEAR WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS HAVE TO STAY

I just received my book order of an early 1900's scrapbook replica you printed for me - and it is perfect! I can't wait to show it to my client and display it at a networking show next month. Many thanks for a great job.

Wendy McSweeney Powhatan, VA

It has been a pleasure working with you on my photo book project. Many of my colleagues have complimented the book's photo colors and quality.

R. C. Livesay Author & Photographer of The Secret Life of the Grand Lake Pelican

You did a wonderful job with our book project. Everything was done exactly the way we had envisioned it.

Fairlee MacEslin Woodstock, VT

We received our books today, and they look fabulous! You do quite a professional job. We will certainly keep you in mind for any future projects.

Shelley White Uriccio, Howe, Krell, Jacobson,Toporek, Theos & Keith Charleston, SC

Wow! You all did an amazing job printing our proposal books. Thank you so much for your most efficient and beautiful work. We'll definitely be doing this again.

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My book looks amazing! This is the first time I have used your services, and I could not be happier. Thank you for exceeding my expectations in every way.

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Lauren Befus Founder, Memory Lane Jane

I am a designer who has ordered several low-volume books for my clients from Book1One over the last few years and have been extremely pleased with the quality as well as the customer service. I have created both hard cover and soft cover books, and the website has useful templates for formatting the book layout so everything comes together seamlessly. I also love the instant quote generator on the website, it helps to see how the different options impact the pricing without having to go back and forth with an estimator or sales rep. I will definitely keep using Book1One!

Kathryn D'Amanda Graphic Designer, Mill Race Design

Instant Quote

Thesis and Dissertations

How to order your thesis.

Congratulations on your academic achievement!

If you have a PDF of your dissertation and would like us to copy and bind it, select this link: Online Thesis Order Form . This will take you to our convenient automated online ordering system where you can place your order, select the delivery method and make payment in a few easy steps. Major credit cards and University  procurement cards are accepted. If you are submitting a bulk order with multiple thesis or dissertations, please contact us directly at  [email protected]  and we will provide instructions for submitting your bulk order.

Should you have any additional questions or would like to discuss your requirements with us further; you can contact us at (510) 207-2856. We are open Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

For information about our location, follow  this link .

Thesis and Dissertation Styles

We offer three styles of thesis hardcover binding. Traditional colors for the cover material are Navy Blue or Black. Cover lettering (including the UC Seal when Style 3 is selected) is printed UC Gold, white, or black.

Thank you for your interest in our services. We look forward to working with you. RETURN POLICY: The UC Library Bindery is a department of the University of California.  The return policy is that all sales are final and there is no cash refund. Defective bindings must be reported to the operation within 30 days of shipment to be considered for replacement.  

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• Specialty Binders
• Leather Binders

Faux Leather Thesis Springback Binder, 1" Spine

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Bulk Discount Rates

Below are the available bulk discount rates for each individual item when you purchase a certain amount

Frequently Bought Together

Description, sku:tbxs-l ,upc:.

Our Thesis Springback Binder with a 1" spine features a l uxuriously soft faux leather exterior that is combined with a unique binding method, offering an attractive yet durable way to present loose leaf pages without the need for punched holes or sleeves. At any time, you may easily remove or insert more pages into this reusable binder. Present your thesis work, legal documents, menus, portfolios, photography, family genealogy, stamps, or scripts in this book-like binder. Each Thesis Springback Binder is made by hand in a UK workshop.

Customization:

Choose to customize your binder with debossed text on the cover. Debossing has a "stamped" look, where the letters are pressed into the cover. Add your name, business, or initials to the cover for a custom look.

• Text-only debossing available, no images or logos
• Debossing is limited to one line of text
• Character limits: 20 for Title Case, 15 for ALL CAPS
• Spaces and punctuation are counted as characters
• The font is 24pt Times New Roman (about 1/4" tall)
• Choose top center, bottom center, or bottom right debossing location

If you still have questions or need help placing your order, please reach out to our customer service team at  800-456-3453  or  [email protected]  for assistance.

Please Note:  Binder cover customization takes an additional 5 business days to process. 

• Open the binder and fold the covers back until they almost touch, allowing the spring clamp to open
• Insert loose pages into the spine
• Release the front and back covers to firmly hold pages in place
• Repeat steps above to add or remove pages as needed
• Soft faux leather front and back covers 
• High tension, spring clamp style spine; documents do not require punching
• Black cardstock insert to securely guide pages in to place
• Debossed Bindertek logo on exterior back cover

Specifications:

• 1" Spine 
• Dimensions: 11.5" H x 9.3" W x 1" D
• Fits letter-size 8.5" x 11" paper
• Sheet Capacity: Approximately 150 sheets

For reports, projects, dissertations and theses the Print and Design team can provide six different forms of binding.

Comb binding

Available at St Katharine's West

Comb binding is a type of soft binding where all pages are punched down the left-hand side and held together with a plastic comb spine. It has a clear acetate front cover and card back cover.

Fabric spine soft binding

Available at 65 North Street

Fabric spine soft binding is a popular choice for dissertation binding and can be completed while you wait in the following options: 

• 100gsm paper, 290 single-sided pages maximum
• 80gsm paper, 350 single-sided pages maximum

Hard case binding

Hard case binding is mainly used for final submission of PhD and MPhil research degrees . 

It is a type of hardcover book binding using Buckram, a hardwearing bookbinder's cloth. The cover is printed with a gold foil block with the title of the document and the ‌author's name, which is also imprinted on the spine. The pages are bound to the spine. There are four options for hard case binding available:

• Standard black binding   Maximum of 280 sheets, normally printed single-sided but can be printed double-sided (560 pages). The minimum number of sheets for hard binding is 100 (or 200 pages if printed double-sided). Allow three days for binding after supplying the printed material.
• Dissertation hard case binding This is the same as standard black binding, except there is no imprint on the spine. Allow three days for binding after supplying the printed material.
• Deluxe black binding   Includes gold foil printed crest, title and name, gold and black ribbon markers and gold gilt corners. Allow three days for binding after supplying the printed material.
• Delux colour binding Includes all the features of deluxe black binding, but the Buckram is in colour. These take approximately two weeks for delivery. Contact [email protected]  for more information.

Stitch binding

The Print Unit can digitally produce A4, A5 and A6 stitch bind books, brochures and magazines from 8 pages up to 100 pages on 80gsm white or colour paper. 

Contact [email protected]  for more information.

Unibind - soft binding system

Unibind is a type of soft binding in which all the pages are glued to the rigid, black spine. This is a popular option for dissertation binding .

Unibinding is available with or without the acetate cover sheets. If you choose not to use acetate, a sheet of black card will be added at the back as usual. For dissertation printing, you should check first with your supervisor that this will be acceptable. 

Wire binding

Wire binding is a type of soft binding where all pages are punched down the left-hand side and held together with a metal wire spine. It has a clear acetate front cover and card back cover.

Binding price list

Soft bindings.

• Comb binding: £6.00
• Fabric spine soft binding: £5.00
• Unibind binding:  £5.00
• Wire binding:  £6.00

Hard bindings

• Hard case binding - standard black: £40.00
• Hard case binding - deluxe black: £50.00
• Hard case binding - Glasgow (DAB): £50.00
• Hard case binding - deluxe colour Glasgow (DAB): £70.00

Guide to CaltechTHESIS

• Caltech Theses
• Deadlines and Letters of Completion
• Submission Information
• Grad Office Regulations and Required Forms
• Templates and Formatting Information
• Thesis Updates and Corrections
• CaltechDATA for Supplementary Material
• Thesis Embargo Policies and Forms
• Copyright Considerations
• Publishers' Policies on Publications in Theses

Ordering New or Extra Copies from Proquest UMI (<Oct. 2016)

Online thesis binding services.

• Senior Thesis Deposits
• 3MT: Caltech's Three Minute Thesis Competition This link opens in a new window

Author Services and Thesis Librarian

Library Staff

Barnes and Noble Self Printing Service (commercial bookseller - online)

• https://press.barnesandnoble.com/
• Please note that B&N requires PDF/A compliant files for printing.  There are both commercial and free validation tools available, including Adobe Acrobat DC (see access.caltech for free download eligibility), veraPDF (open-source), Windows' Accessibility Checker , etc.
• Overleaf's documentation has more information on PDF/A, accessibility and validation, and LaTeX

Thesis on Demand (commercial binding service - online)

• https://www.thesisondemand.com/  - based in North Manchester, Indiana.
• Customize the look of your bound thesis by choosing from among the options they offer.  This includes color choice for buckram cloth and type of cover (both buckram cloth and leather), spine and front cover printing, pockets, etc.
• You will need to send them a PDF copy of your thesis,  and they will mail you the bound copy.
• They have a quick calculator to help you check the cost depending on your choices. Prices will of course vary - for example, a buckram-bound thesis with only spine lettering, 10 color pages and 240 black and white pages, and no pockets, cost ~$62 plus shipping and tax in December 2023.

FedEx Office Print & Ship Center  (located on Colorado Blvd between Oak Knoll and Lake)

• 855 E Colorado Blvd,  Pasadena, CA
• (626) 793-6336  ,  https://local.fedex.com/en-us/ca/pasadena/office-3701/

We recommend acid-free paper with a high linen content for long-term preservation of your paper copy. This is available at various office-supply stores.

• The Library provides printing services to students with theses.
• E ach student receives a $25/quarter printing allotment. Per page printing is $.10/ page for BW, and $.$20 per page for color. Note that you cannot change the paper in the printers, however, and the paper is not the archival quality we recommend for theses.
• Email the Library for more information

FedEx Office Print & Ship Center (on Colorado Blvd between Oak Knoll and Lake)

• (626) 793-6336 ;   https://local.fedex.com/en-us/ca/pasadena/office-3701/
• Call for latest pricing

Office Depot (on Colorado Blvd between Wilson and Mar Vista)

• 1130 Colorado Blvd, Pasadena CA
• (626) 666-6900 ;  https://www.officedepot.com/storelocator/ca/pasadena/office-depot-599

Please note that this does NOT apply to any theses deposited in CaltechTHESIS since October 2016.

If your thesis was sent to UMI, you will be able to place orders for new or extra hard copies. 

• To order a copy of your own dissertation , please send an email directly to: [email protected]
• Alternatively you may print and fill out this Order Form , then mail it to UMI at the following address:

UMI Dissertation Publishing ProQuest 789 E. Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1346

• << Previous: Publishers' Policies on Publications in Theses
• Next: Senior Thesis Deposits >>
• Last Updated: May 13, 2024 11:58 AM
• URL: https://library.caltech.edu/theses

• Print your thesis

We can print and bind your thesis or dissertation  

After a long academic journey, you have come to this point where you need to submit your dissertation or thesis. You have dedicated hours to the research and writing of your dissertation. The presentation of the document will reflect all the hard work that has gone into creating the content within it. The UM Printing Unit offers printing and binding services of dissertations and theses, both in hard and softbound formats at very competitive prices. We even offer a discounted price for UM students. Our service offers a choice of paper and bounds.

Soft Binding  

Initially, you need to submit copies of your work to the faculty or department for the examiners’ review. 

We can print your dissertation, single or double-sided as required, in colour or black and white. The binding will be hot glued inside a standard plastic cover (thermal binding). The front cover will be transparent, while the back cover and spine will be black cardboard. 

Hard Binding  

Once your dissertation or thesis is approved, you are requested to submit hard-bound copies to the faculty, and maybe even present them to other persons who helped you on your journey. 

We will hard-bind in a leather-based paper your dissertation with the cover you choose from our selection. [PDF]   It comes complete with a gold or silver foil print on the cover and spine.

UM Student Rates

B/W print single side sheets:

• 80gsm - €0.03 each
• 100gsm - €0.05 each

B/W print double-sided sheets:

• 80gsm - €0.05 each
• 100gsm - €0.06 each

Colour print single side sheets:

• 80gsm - €0.10 each
• 100gsm - €0.12 each

Colour print double-sided sheets:

• 80gsm - €0.15 each
• 100gsm - €0.20 each

Soft-binding: €10 each book*

Hard-binding: €13.20 each book (materials 21 - Black Drape & 22 - Blue Drape: €16.50)**

Normal Rates

• 80gsm - €0.04 each
• 80gsm - €0.06 each
• 100gsm - €0.07 each
• 100gsm - €0.17 each
• 80gsm - €0.20 each
• 100gsm - €0.25 each

Soft-binding: €12 each book*

Hard-binding: €15.20 each book(materials 21 - Black Drape & 22 - Blue Drape: €18.50)**

*Binding limit for soft binding is 400 sheets. 

**Hard binding prices above are for 400 sheets, for more sheets, a specific quote has to be issued.  

All prices are for A4 size and inclusive of VAT.

Fill in the Make a submission  form and submit your finished work in PDF format and international standard A4 size. If you opt for Hard Binding, choose the colour of the cover from the catalogue found here [PDF] . To apply for the UM Student discount, provide your active UM student email address; any other personal email addresses will not qualify for the discount. 

Once we receive your submission, we will get back to you with the total price, calculated according to the quantity of colour and b/w pages to be printed. You will then need  to make a payment using the link in the email received. Once payment has been received and once you confirm the visual of the hard-bound cover, please allow 3 working days for soft-binding and 5 working days for hard-binding, and the books will be ready for  collection.

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