Designing A Custom Log Book

Designing A Custom Log Book

This guide is designed to help you with our Custom Log Book Estimate Form. Though this guide refers to our particular process, it is helpful for anyone looking to design a custom log book.

Binding Types

We offer 4 types of binding types:

-Casebound - Hard Cover: The pages are sewn together in sections and then glued to a flexible spine. The cover will be made of thick board which is wrapped in a cover material. This is the most popular type of binding for a log book since it is one of the most durable binding methods. When looking for legal assurance, a hardcover book is really the one and only choice. 

-WireBound: Twin metal loops in wire-o bound book are one long piece of wire formed into individual loops. These loops are hooked into each hole and then mechanically clamped together with the "seam" inside the back cover. Twin-loop metal coils enable users to turn pages 360 degrees and lay the book completely flat. WireBound books are generally more affordable. If you keep notes for internal purposes only, or there is no legal reason to go for hardcover, WireBound could be a more economical choice.

-Saddle Stitch: Interior pages are folded and inserted between the cover, then stapled along the “spine” edge.

-Wrap Around: Heavy stock paper that wraps around a booklet of carbonless copy forms. The cover starts at the top of the back, wrapping all the way around the length of the forms and back up to the front to the perforation at the binding stub.

Generally these are the most common binding types however if you have another idea in mind we are here to accommodate and push the boundaries of traditional styles.

Book Size

The size of the log book depends on its intended use. If you need a log book to be frequently carried around then you may want to go with a smaller size log book. It is generally advised to fit the inspection procedures and details of at least one full day or shift on one page to keep things organized; which sometimes requires a book as large as 12” x 18”. Check out our Useful Information Page - Paper Sizes for more details.

Binding Side 

The orientation of your book depends on the page layout. By now you have probably noticed that some options depend on the design of your page - it is best to finish that first. If you haven’t designed it yet, then select your best guess and once the quote is processed we will advise you further. 

Paper Type 

We typically suggest to use a 70lb. paper that has a super smooth finish which is great for ink holdout and easy to write on. Products printed on 70lb. paper will often have a high brightness and a high level of opacity. However, we do offer a variety of other papers and if you have something else in mind we are here to accommodate and push the boundaries of traditional styles. Check out our Useful Information Page - Paper Types/ Thickness for more details.

Ink

We offer a premium black and white ink as well as a premium colour ink. For standard log books we recommend selecting black and white ink as it most common and will save you money. If your log book has complex details and graphs we suggest colour ink.

Cover Types

Your choices for colour differ based on the binding type you select at the very beginning. The colour of a hardcover book comes from the material in which the cover is wrapped, and therefore the choices are limited to the materials available.

Stamping (For CaseBound Books Only)

When ordering a hardcover book you can choose to have the title on the Cover, on the Spine, or Both. When books are stored on a shelf, only the spine may be visible - in this case you may want your title on the spine. Consider the use and storage of your book when choosing the position of the title. Extra stamping will increase the cost of your books. However, when ordering large quantities the additional cost is minimal.

Sides Per Sheet

Based on your needs you may require one page per day for a year, for a number of months, or just a round number of pages such as 100, 200, or 250, purely for convenience. You will need to decide on printing on two sides of the sheet, or just one. A page is one side of a sheet of paper, so if you select one sided printing then there will always be a blank page on the other side of the sheet of paper. This could be useful if you need to write with heavy inks or markers, or any other special consideration. However, in most cases it is not needed as we print on 70lb. paper that won’t bleed through. Chances are that you will need to select double sided pages (printing on both sides of the sheet).

 

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