Definition: Securing loose printed, folded, and nested pages with stitches or staples down the middle of the fold (the spine) is known as saddle-stitched binding. The sheaf of papers or signature may be stitched with string or staples. The name comes from the device or saddle on which the folded signatures is placed for stitching -- with the saddle in the fold.
Saddle-stitching or saddle-stapling or "bookletmaking" is common for small booklets, calendars, pocket-size address books, and some magazines. Binding with saddle-stitching creates booklets that can be opened up flat. The number of pages that can be bound using saddle-stitching is limited by the bulk of the papers. The larger the number of pages, the greater the amount of creep that occurs -- inner pages that extend or creep further out than the outer pages when folded.
Side-stitching is a similar method where the pages are stapled about 1/4" from the spine but the booklet can no longer be opened flat.
Also see: Binding Methods for Desktop Publishing
Also Known As: saddle-stapling | bookletmaking
