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• Dissertation binding and printing

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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Thesis Printing & Binding

✓ Live preview of your binding

✓ 3D look inside function

✓ FREE express delivery

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Inhaltsverzeichnis

• 1 Why Choose BachelorPrint
• 2 Our Bindings
• 3 Comparison Of Bindings
• 4 100% Real Reviews

Why Choose BachelorPrint

FREE express delivery

Upload your work, configure your binding and submit your order. You will receive your order with free express delivery within a few days!

INNOVATIVE look inside function

Final check of your thesis with ease – this is possible with our look inside function that enables you to browse your thesis online as if it was already bound.

Online 3D configuration

Easy configuration in the online shop – with 3D Live configurator to see what the binding will look like. PLUS: Price preview & delivery time calculator.

Our Bindings

At BachelorPrint, you have the option of selecting from a variety of bindings. You should make sure that the work is bound correctly, depending on the type of work. We strongly recommend thermal binding if you’re putting together a thesis. The thermal binding is a popular choice for students, as it provides splendid value for money.

Tip: The content of your binding should reflect the importance of your work to you. However, make sure to check if your university has certain requirements for submitting!

Leather Book Bindings

Premium leather binding, refinements, standard leather binding, excellence at its finest.

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Thermal Binding

Spiral binding, metal spiral binding, plastic spiral binding.

Advantages Of An Online Printing Service

Order easily from your own home

From home, you can print and bind your thesis easily and quickly. No more endless hunts for a copy or print shop, no more irritated wanderings around town, no more enduring long lines — just set up your preferred binding and get your thesis the very next day with free express delivery.

Endless possibilities & all in one place

At BachelorPrint, you can choose from various types of bindings that are good quality. You can also set up our print shop with many options. The appearance of your thesis is entirely up to you, whether it be through the use of ribbon markers, book corners, or individual embossing.

If you are uncertain about the final appearance of your binding, there is no issue. With the live preview and the look inside function, you can peruse through your essay and verify its fitment.

Ordered today, delivered tomorrow!

We provide fast delivery wherever you want!

Comparison Of Bindings

We had over 100,000 satisfied customers since 2016

Our motto: you always come first! Your opinion is important to us, and we do everything in our power to fulfill your wishes. We invite you to experience our Instagram channel for yourself and to peruse the Google reviews of our satisfied customers.

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Any Questions?

Check out our FAQs or talk to our customer service team.

How long does thesis binding take?

We use the latest printing technologies to offer you the fastest production time for your thesis. Be careful to order before the countdown above runs out if you want your thesis to be produced on the same day. We produce and deliver within 24–72 hours, depending on your location. Good to know: delivery is free!

Need further information? Head over to the online print shop to calculate the exact date of delivery for your thesis.

What are the costs for thesis printing?

Of course, the price is crucial when it comes to thesis printing. The price depends on your personal configuration, i.e., what binding you choose, how many pieces you order, or whether you want extensions to your binding such as book corners or a ribbon. It is also relevant how many pages you want to be printed and bound in your thesis.

For example, if you would like to print a 20-page thesis with premium leather binding and additional embossing, the calculated price would be $64.80. This is 45% less in comparison to other market prices! Plus: with BachelorPrint, your order is delivered for free!

At BachelorPrint, we use 100 g/m² premium paper as standard for printing and set the same price for color and black/white printing.

Head over to the online print shop and your price will be calculated for you as you design your thesis.

Where can I order my thesis binding?

For thesis binding, you can choose between a usual copy shop or an online print shop .

The advantages of an online printing service like ours are, among other aspects: an easy ordering process from wherever you are, delivery to your address plus the configuration of your thesis binding with our 3D live preview and look inside function for a final look at your thesis!

Which binding is recommended for a thesis?

Which binding is right for your thesis depends on the importance of the printed work. A bachelor’s thesis or master’s thesis is critical and therefore should be bound with premium leather binding . If you want to hand in your thesis with an application or need it for storage purposes only, other types of binding, like thermal binding or spiral binding should be sufficient.

Which paper for printing and binding a thesis?

Most printing services use 80 g/m² paper for printing and binding a thesis, but this paper is rather thin and therefore might be see-through if you decide to print your thesis double-sided.

We recommend using the 100 g/m² paper that looks and feels more valuable. At BachelorPrint, this is the standard paper we use for printing a thesis and there are no additional costs to it. We also offer printing with 120 g/m² paper.

If you want to know more about choosing the right paper for your thesis, follow this link to our article: Which paper for thesis printing & binding?

How can I save money when printing a thesis?

BachelorPrint offers the best value for money. Additionally, we present you with no delivery costs and free embossing (for the “type of work” position).

Do you want to save extra money? Read about how you can get free printing !

Why should I do my thesis binding online?

BachelorPrint as an online printing service offers you several advantages:

• Production of your thesis within one day. Order before the countdown above runs out, and we deliver the next day (depending on your location)
• Free delivery
• No minimum order value
• 3D live preview in the BachelorPrint print shop
• Individual embossing with your university logo
• Free “type of work” embossing (e.g., bachelor’s thesis, master’s thesis, dissertation, etc.)
• High-quality bindings
• Free 100 g/m² premium branded paper

Do you have further questions about the printing and binding of your thesis? Contact us: [email protected] 724 281 3937 Free 24h Customer Service  

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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