Compendium

A

Autograph

From the Greek “auto” (self, own) and “graphein” (write). Document which was written by the author with his own hand.

Artist books

Independent artworks, which generally make the book the subject of an artistic concept. In contemporary art, these concepts exceed the limits of the book as an object. Artist books are created as an original work by an artist, or appear as multiples in authorized editions.

Architects’ notebook

Notebook specifically for architects and planners. Characterised by special grid (as graph paper, isometric grid or the layout grid of Le Corbusier), on which architects can sketch and draw optimally on paper.

Administration Book

Notebook for records regarding administrative processes and tasks, i.e. tasks related to the management of a place, a corporation, a public body or an association.

Accounts ledger

Lists all in- and outgoing transactions a business or company completes in the form of a table. The accounts ledger must be kept with all documents and certificates on the business premises.

A6 Notebook

Notebook in A6 format with a size of 105 x 148 mm.

A5 Notebook

Notebook in A5 format with a size of 148 x 210 mm. brandbook recommends a low format deviation DIN standard 141 x 207 mm - with perfect proportions.

A4 Notebook

Notebook in A4 format with a size of 210 x 297 mm.

Allowance overs

A certain amount of paper additional to the neccessary number of print sheets. This additional amount is neccessary for the setup of the machines and for further processing. The amount of allowance overs depends on the edition, the printing process, the printer, the printing technique, the colour scheme and the type of processing.

Adhesive Binding

Instead of using a thread or a wire to bind the book, glue is used to combine the gluing edge to a plastic layer. The cover is glued, too. In industrial production, the fixated innerbook is glued. When the original manual process, invented by Emil Lumbeck, is used, the single pages of the innerbook are glued together. The durability varies with the different adhesives used. You can use dispersions, hotmelt or PUR adhesives. Adhesive bindings are commonly used on paperbacks. Their disadvantage: They tend to automatically close with a snap and aren't very durable. A regular book that is read once can withstand the stress, notebooks with an adhesive binding though quickly fall apart after a few uses.

Agenda

From the Latin Agendum “to drive on, set in motion”. Used in the sense of agenda or calendar. A calendar is a calendar running over a certain period in the form of a notebook, tear-off notepad, or in electronic form, or a diary in the form of a notebook or note booklet, in which one enters additional information such as events, appointments and tasks.

B

Business card holder

The transparent business card holders are glued to the inside of the book cover.

Bound notebooks

Notebooks, which were bound with thread stitching. This high-quality binding process in which the individual sheets are bound with a stitching thread, is the best and most durable technology. Since notebooks usually have to withstand greater demands than, for example, novels, thread stitching is the only sensible kind of binding.

Book calendar

A printed calendar in a notebook, which allows one to have a firm overview of all important dates, such as in the form of an annual calendar, as well as one week or two months on a double page.

Bonded leather

It is a book cover material for notebooks based on leather fibres. Bonded leather is made from shredded scrap leather and natural raw materials. It therefore has almost all the features of leather, such as its look, smell and feel, yet is much cheaper than genuine leather. It is available in different colours and textures. Variations may occur, however, in colour, softness and appearance, due to the nature of the product.

Brouillon

Translated from the French. Specifies the first draft of a written work, a sketch or concept. Later importance: commercial ledger, in which all transactions of the day are briefly listed.

Brainwriting

Creativity technique, similar to brainstorming, which is used in groups. Unlike oral brainstorming, brainwriting allows each participant to gather their ideas in peace and to put them down in writing. The process is divided into two phases. 1. The ideas are developed and may not be assessed, so as to prevent an internal censorship to occur, 2. The results are critically examined and the best ideas are selected.

Blank notebook

Notebook with empty pages.

Black Notebooks

With a proportion of 60%, the favourite colour for notebook covers.

Banderole

Also known as band or loop. A strip of paper that is wrapped around the notebook and can be used an advertising medium by printing on it.

Book Edge / Thumb Edge

The outside edges of the innerbook. The thumb edge can be refined with colour or metallic foils. A motif can be applied as well.

Book for improvement suggestions

Notebook in which suggestions for improvements can be added. Can belong to one person or even be accessible to more than one person and be presented publicly. Conceivable contexts for its use are, for example, within companies, departments, public institutions, hotels or clubs.

Bogus paper

Simple, usually grey or brownish paper, made of unsorted waste paper. Used for cardboard packaging, back inserts, calendar's backs and rear caps of writing pads.

Book formats

A book format cannot be chosen arbitrarily. The decision should be based on the printing process specifications and should follow aesthetic design principles. The better a book format utilises a sheet size, the lower the printing costs, since no custom designs are necessary and little waste results. Prevalent book formats for sheet offset printing are 12 × 19 cm, 13 × 21 cm or 16 × 24 cm.

Book Spine

The narrow side of the book at which the innerbook is glued to the book case. On paperbacks the innerbook usually is glued right on the book case. When it comes to hardcovers though, the innerbook can be applied to a gutter [ist Bundsteg hier richtig?]. Book spines can be rounded or flat. They usually come with a lettering containing information like author, title and publishing house.

Back-to-paper movement

Trend towards paper. As a countermovement to the digitised world and electronic organisational tools, such as notebooks, tablets or smartphones, many people have gone back to using journals to record their ideas, appointments and projects. The movement emerged among the young American urban hipster scene and has taken hold in Germany since a number of years. In the meantime, a real notebook cult can be seen that has brought with it a revival of the notebook market and an expansion of the range of striking notebooks available.

Bastard title

Also known as false title. Page 1 of a book, although it comes without a page number. Commonly contains the name of the author and/or the book title. Sometimes it only contains the publishing house's signet, the last name and the short form of the book title.

Blanking

In the first printing step you don't always print everything. You can, for example, seperately print illustrations and text.

Blank page

“Page intentionally left blank.”

Bleed

Usually printed matters are printed upon larger sheets of paper. They are then cut to the right size. This work step is called blled. You have to mind the right format very closely, yet you have to spare a few milimeters so as to not produce so-called streaks.

Blind Embossing

This one is a classical processing technique. It comes without colour and works extremely well on leather. With an engraved brass stamp that has been slightly heated the pattern is embossed onto the material. Blind embossings are especially expressive when they are embossed all over the front, back and spine of the book.

Blurb

Also called banderole. A paper strip with a print, wound around the book and used as advertising medium.

Book Cover

As part of the book case the book cover is used to protect the innerbook from any harm. Book covers usually are a bit bigger than the innerbook. Most of the time they are covered by leather, fibres, paper or synthetic materials and can be refined with a offset printing, a silk-screen printing, a blind embossing, varnish or die cuttings.

Book Folding

The stage of the production process in which the pages of the book are folded after printing and before binding. The folds are also called crease lines.

Buckram

Buckram is a stiff cloth made of a coated linnen or cotton fabric. It is applied to the book case. It's especially useful on books that are used very often, because it's robust and repels both dirt and moisture.

C

Customer gifts

Attention paid to clients or customers of a business. Used to strengthen customer loyalty and to make a more enduring impression of the brand in peoples’ minds. Most common are seasonal customer gifts such as Christmas gifts. Another example is subscription gifts, awarded to subscribers by publishing companies.

Custom-designed notebooks

Notebooks that are tailored to the client's needs.

Cruise logbook

A notebook for cruise passengers’ personal travel documentation. With photos and maps of the route and a factsheet about the ship.

Craft book

Notebook, for example, with graph paper on the inside, which serves trade- and craftspeople for their various records and notes, such as information for cost estimates or orders, bills of quantities or sketches.

Cover materials / Binding materials

All materials that are used to create notebooks. These include industrial varieties such as special book linen, textiles and synthetic fibres, as well as leather, synthetic leather, paper and PU materials. A quality feature is that the covers are rugged and “patina capable”, i.e. they retain their structure even after being subjected to frequent touching or moisture.

Cross-format notebook

Notebooks in landscape format are bound along the short edge. The format is especially suitable for landscape photographs for example.

Collective notebook

Creativity technique in which all participants immediately write their ideas and thoughts in a notebook. Comparable with written brainstorming. The advantage is that all ideas in a given period can be spontaneously recorded, after which they can be presented and evaluated at a joint meeting.

Closure

The book closure dates from the Middle Ages and serves to protect the book insides from dust and light. The book cover is held together by leather or metal constructions. Today, notebooks have closure bands made from rubber or fastener clips made of stainless steel.

City book

City books imprinted with a coat of arms can be developed for all cities or regions. They contain an integrated map, information about important addresses and places of interest, and are useful companions for sightseers on tours and for citizens who want to learn more about their city.

Chapter strip

Small, coloured fabric strips that are glued at the top and bottom of the spine in hardcover books. The chapter strip should primarily cover the gap between the spine and the book body. In addition, it has a decorative appearance. Not to be confused with the read or ribbon page marker.

Cahier

French for notebook.

Casing

The application of the innerbook to the book case.

CMYK

Cyan, magenta, yellow and key are the subtractive colors that are the base of the modern four-colour printing.

Color Embossing

Color embossing works similar to blind embossing. The only difference is that a colored foil is but in between the book and the brass stamp. The color is applicated to the book throgh pressure and heat.

Cellophane

Cellophane is a protective foil that is applied to book cases. Special machines are used to apply it to the paper. The foils are availabla both as matt foils or as glossy foils. If you want the perfect feeling you should use softtouch cellophane. The surface feels soft and smooth.

Coated Paper

Paper with a very even surface. Binder is spread upon the surface to achieve this effect. It both enriches the paper and makes the surface more homogenous, thus providing a better detail reproduction and quality for the printing process. You can get coated paper matt and glossy. For notebooks though coated papers are rarely used.

Colour gradient

Technique to spread colours stepless on a sheet of paper. You can, for example, spread two or more different colours (colour gradient) or two or more grey tones (brightness curve).

D

Diary

Usually written records in regular chronological form, in which the writer records their experiences from a subjective point of view and portrays their moods and feelings. Is not intended for access by third parties or for publication generally. In contrast, diaries are now often made public on the Internet in the form of a blog.

Diarium

Firmer booklet containing written entries. Also called a diary.

Daybook

Preliminary business book in the form of a rough notebook.

DIN Formats

In Germany, paper sizes are categorized according to the so-called DIN 476 norms. There are four categories: A = printed matter, writing paper, etc.; B = loose-leaf binders, normal binders; C = envelopes; D = special formats.

Da Vinci notebook

Leonardo da Vinci's notebooks are a unique testimony to his genius and creative power. They contain a wide variety of observations on topics such as art, people, nature, machines and philosophy.

Data compression

Data compression is used to compress and thus reduce the size of data, either to save memory or transmission time. There are either lossless compression methods (such as ZIP) or lossy compression methods (such as JPEG or GIF).

dpi

Abbreviation for dots per inch. dpi is the measurement unit for both prints and screens. It indicates the point density or the amount of dots per inch. Colloquially one can also use the word "resolution".

Digital print

Printing method that doesn't need a master. Instead, it uses a digital file that is directly transfered to the print product, thus making it possible to print different images on every sheet of paper. You can, for example, personalize each print and insert the name of each recipient of a promotion campaign. You can also offer "print on demand", compiled of variable data. The huge advantage of this method is that you can produce small editions cost efficiently.

Dummy

A dummy is a sample of the product. It is used to demonstrate format, scale, paper quality, cover material and binding of the finished book. The pages are blank.

E

Effect Foils

Foils like 3D foils, hologram foils, metallic foils or rainbow foils. They are mostly applied partially or integrated into the typography, evoking an extremely interesting effect.

Extent

The thickness of a book, in terms of the number of pages.

Evernote

An online tool for notes of any kind, i.e. a digital notebook. Good alternative to the classic analogue notepad.

Envelope

While in the case of a high-quality notebook, a book cover encloses the book body, an envelope is used for simple brochures or paperbacks. As a single-piece envelope it is ribbed two or four times, particularly when made of strong material.

Employee gifts

Employee gifts strengthen the identification of employees with their company and serve as motivation. They are designed using the corporate design of the company and usually contain the company logo or lettering. High-value employee gifts, such as exclusive notebooks, offer real additional benefits for recipients and strengthens team spirit. These giveaways often find their way beyond the office environment and into private spaces.

Edition

Total number of copies produced in one printing process for one publication. In your cost calculation, you have to include extra costs for the further processing and finishing according to the number and difficulty of the work steps.

Embossing

A printing technique that allows to stamp or press an image, pattern or text onto a substrate. On covers you commonly find blind embossings.

Endpaper

A strong paper (white, tinted, corrugated, embossed, marbled, etc.) used to secure the body of a book in its case. Anything can be printed on an endpaper.

EPS

Encapsulated PostScript is a image data format developed by Adobe systems. It's used to transfer image data. An EPS file is based on pixel or vector data.

F

Flyleaf

Part of the end-paper, a blank leaf between the cover and the innerbook.

Front endpaper / back endpaper

Before and after the book body, there are endpapers made of strong paper (white, toned, ribbed, embossed, etc.), which connect the book body, front and rear with the cover. Double sheet, one half of which is fixed to the inside of the back cover and the other half remains movable. The front and back endpapers can be individually designed or also simply be printed paper.

Frog bag

Glued to the inside of the book cover paper bag that virtually jumps out at one when opening the book. The frog pocket provides space for the notepad, receipts, fuel receipts, etc. Also called compartment or accordion pocket.

Filmmakers’ notebook

In his book “Praxis des Drehbuchschreibens”, Jean-Claude Carriere writes: “the notebook is the scriptwriter’s best friend”. Prominent directors like Wim Wenders, Jean-Luc Godard or Woody Allen never leave the house without the notebook.

Fine Paper

High-quality paper that is extremely durable, even and has perfect printability.

Finishing technologies

Techniques like blind or foil embossing, the application of varnishes or die cuttings can be used to upgrade books. There are figuratively no limits to the creative use of finishing technologies.

G

Guestbook

A book for visitors of a particular place or event notebook with blank pages, where names and comments can be left. It is commonly found in museums or hotels or designed for private celebrations such as weddings, christenings, anniversaries, so as to later serve as a reminder of the event.

Google notebook

Online notebook of Google. Popular tool with which one extracts ideas and information sources while surfing the web, and can gather and organize them in various projects and matching folders. This is therefore almost a digital version of the analogue notebook.

Golden ratio

The golden ratio is the ratio of two digits or line segments. In the arts, architecture or typography it's deemed as the ideal proportion or law of the sublime. It was discovered by the ancient Greeks as an ideal that is to be found in the human body. Type areas, too, can be aranged according to the golden ratio, thus making them even more harmonic.

Grain Direction

The grain direction of paper is the direction of the fibres. They can either be directed lengthways or diagonally. To avoid corrugations and achieve a smooth page turning, the grain direction of the paper in the book production process should be parallel to the back.

Guarding

Application of a guard or inner hinge to the back of the innerbook. It's used to cover, protect and stabilize the back of the innerbook.

H

Hologram Embossing

You know hologram embossings from banknotes and cash cards. The production process is similar to color embossing. The only difference is that instead of using a colored foil you have to use a holographic foil. This foil, available in different versions, produces a three-dimensional holographic effect, as well as the impression of a shimmering rainbow.

Hardcover

Also known as hardback. Name of a tightly bound book, whereby the cover is made of solid cardboard.

Hotel room notebook

Notebooks that are placed out in hotel rooms as a gift of the house for guests. Good alternative to stationery that is hardly still used today. The book can contain urban or metro maps or tourist information and is can already be used during the guests’ stay, which they can then take home with them afterwards.

Hemingway notebook

The American writer Ernest Hemingway was known to write his diaries in notebooks. Since everything that can be associated with Hemingway, especially in the world of men, has become cult (see Abercrombie & Fitch, cigars...), the “notebook industry” of the great writer has also benefited.

Hamburger notebook

All-weather notebook, which has a cover that withstands the harshest weather conditions. Likewise, the writing paper can endure some raindrops.

HackBag

A HackBag is a creative box for notebook hacks. It contains a random assortment of seemingly unrelated things - and of course a notebook. The latter involves using the HackBag content to change, modify, enhance and decorate – in short, to “hack”.

Headband

Small, colored fabric strips that are applied to the top and bottom edge of the book spine on a hardcover. The headband is supposed to hide the gap between bookspine and innerbook - it also looks beautiful, too. Not to be confused with bookmarks.

I

Innovative giveaways

In contrast to the usual gifts from the promotional catalogue, an individually designed notebook edition is an innovative promotional freebie for customers, business partners and employees. It offers inexhaustible creative freedom and plenty of space for advertising messages and the presentation of a brand. It functions as a creative tool for the recipient, as well as a means to store ideas and to organise one’s life.

Ink stability

Ink stability refers to the level in which ink does not run when applied to paper.

Idea generation

To successfully innovate, one first needs a variety of ideas. There are various creative techniques such as brainstorming, brainwriting, provocative technique, collective notebook, semantic intuition, mind mapping or clusters that help to generate new ideas.

Idea book

Notebook, in which all ideas, associations and creative approaches on any topic are spontaneously put on paper.

Image book

Instead of the usual 16-page brochure, it is worthwhile producing a high-quality notebook with the image part as an alternative. This is, without doubt, actively used, and does not instantly end up in the tray “P”.

Imposition

The positioning of pages in the order of printing before they are cut. The order of the imposition is calculated according to the further processing.

Imprimatur

An imprimatur (from Latin: let it be printed) is the authorization to start printing. It can be declared either after the proofreading of the galley proofs has been finished or during the proof run after the setup of the printing machines. Historically, the imprimatur was the authorization of a printing process of theological works by a catholic bishop.

Innerbook

The inside of a book that has been bound as one block. The single pages or the folded sections can be combined by using a thread-stitching, a wire-stitching or an adhesive binding. The innerbook is glued into the book case.

Insert

Two or more pages that are loosely placed in a newspaper, a magazine, etc. Usually inserts are advertising media like bookmarks, calendar strips, gridded papers, prospects, reply cards, etc. Not to be confused with supplements.

J

Journal Writing

Also called blue books or idea books. They function as a daily study book. Unlike the diary, the journal not only contains personal thoughts, but notes that revolve around a particular theme too, for example, a research paper. There is, however, already an assessment and interpretation of the content taking place. Journal writing does not generally serve as a publication, but as a collection.

Journalist book

Notebook that serves as a research book for journalists (see also reporter block).

Journal

(1) a journalistic product, similar to a magazine (2) a form of day or notebook (3) an instrument of chronological record keeping

Japanese papers

Papers from Japan are obtained from the fibres of low-growing indigenous plants, which are partly very rare. The best-known kinds are Gampi, Kouzo and Mitsumata. Most Japanese papers are handmade and very resistant, due to their long fibres. At the same time, they are also very soft and of high quality.

K

“Kladde”

German word for writing or sketching an initial design or concept. It is from this background that the rough notebook is derived - a sketch, note or provisional business notebook. Rough notebooks are firmly bound, as a rule, and contain blank or lined pages. Rough notebooks for keeping accounts are also called daybooks. We consider both names not that nice for a notebook. Therefore, we hope that they will eventually disappear from the vocabulary.

L

Lumbeck Procedure

In 1938, Emil Lumbeck invented the first book binding technique that used an adhesive instead of a thread. The margin of the innerbook is fanned to both sides, glue is brushed on the margin. Finally, gauze is applied. This procedure is relatively durable, yet it is only used by book manufacturers who specialize in craftsmanship.

Leather notebook

A notebook with a cover made of leather. As a rule though, imitation leather or a high-quality type of bonded leather is mostly used nowadays.

Laboratory Journal

Notebook, in which the planning, implementation and evaluation of scientific experiments is documented. There are strict rules for conducting a laboratory book, because the awarding of a scientific discovery or patent may depend on that in the US, for example. Therefore, laboratory notebook must not involve a loose-page collection, but rather a bound notebook only. Entries may not be made with pencil, but only with indelible ink. Of course, the laboratory notebook must be detailed, comprehensible, written directly following the trial and signed by the person responsible.

Landscape format

A page format in which the width of the page is greater than its height.

Lamination

Virtually the same thing as gluing. You can, for example, laminate a foil to protect the book cover.

M

Monocle Notebook

A notebook edition of the renowned London magazine Monocle. The edition, in DIN A5 format, is characterized by exclusive linen cover with gold embossing, gilt edges and beautiful writing paper. Available in all Monocle shops, among others.

Mindmap notebook

Notebook with pre-printed mind map or memory card. Mind mapping is a visualisation technique to help visualise topics and thereby be able to quickly develop and represent a theme visually. Through this note-taking technique, the functions of the brain are used optimally, since a mind map uses the capabilities of both hemispheres. In addition, the technique is very flexible because, for example, one can add to it at any time. Specifically, in mind mapping, the central topic is written in the middle of a blank sheet. Keywords are then gathered surrounding the main theme and connected by branches. Here one can work with colours and images. This in turn results in further branches until all aspects of the subject appear on the paper.

Master list book

A special notebook that used by the fire brigade.

Magnetic fastener

Magnet, which is hidden in the book cover of a hardcover or soft cover and keeps the cover together.

Munken Pure Paper

One of the best, if not the best paper quality for notebooks is Munken Pure in a grammage of 90–150 g/m². It provides excellent writing outcomes in all pen types. Visually, it is characterized by a creamy white, soft tone and satisfies with its pleasant feel, in matt and uncoated surface options. See also Chamois.

Matt lacquer

Reduces the dazzling effect of surfaces and provides a smooth, nonshiny surface that is perfect for reading text.

Moleskine

A notebook, which stems from the notebook of the Parisian artistic and literary scene in the first half of the 20th century and is associated with names like Hemingway, Van Gogh, Picasso or the English travel writer Bruce Chatwin, himself raised to a figurehead of Moleskine marketing. A characteristic feature of Moleskine is its functional simplicity. The original cover was made of black moleskin, a heavy, sturdy cotton fabric that gave the book its name. Typically, the corners are rounded and a rubber band acts as closure device. In 1998, the Italian company Modo & Modo trademarked the Moleskine concept in order to protect it legally. Today, Moleskines are manufactured in China and are bound in PVC material instead of moleskin.

N

Notebook interior design

Besides blank notebooks with empty, unprinted pages, there are notebooks with a variety of grids, depending on personal preference or application purposes. Particularly widespread are line grids, square grids and dot grids. In addition, there are also particular grids that are tailored to a specific industry, occupation or working method, for example, graph paper, the isometric dot- and line grid or the design grid by Le Corbusier for architects, or the Müller-Brockmann grid for designers.

Notebook cult

Starting with the back-to-paper movement among American young urban hipsters, notebooks have been back in fashion in Germany for several years. Functioning almost as a countermovement to electronic organisational aids such as notebooks and smartphones. Where there were only black and red Chinese notebooks and monotonous time planners before, an entire market has now been established with notebooks in all varieties. Thus one can see oneself in the tradition of many intellectuals and creatives, who always carry a small black notebook with them. And it is practical too, to make notes quickly and easily via pen and paper.

Notebook with elastic band

Notebook with a rubber stretch band that acts as a closure. The rubber band is firmly anchored in the book cover. It should have a high level of elasticity and extensibility so it does not wear out.

Notebook design

Creativity knows no bounds in the individual design of notebooks. This starts with the selection of the desired format and the making of the cover as a hard cover, the desired thickness and especially the quality of paper. As for the exterior design, there are hundreds of cover materials available, such as fabric, leather, synthetic leather, paper or PU materials in various versions and all imaginable shades. More spectacular effects can be achieved through finishing techniques, such as printing varnishes, embossing, punching or cutting decoration. In terms of notebook accessories, there are many options to choose from too, for example, business card pockets, frog pockets, elastic band closures, penholders, bookmarks or ribbon page markers. Niceties like a colour-coordinated chapter strip create a coherent overall picture, down to the smallest detail.

Notebook subscription

An offer from Brandbook, in which a customer is regular sent a new notebook. The result is a small edition, which is designed by one source and fits together.

Non-books

Besides the usual book genres and electronic media available in bookstores, there are also so-called non-books. These include, for example, calendars of any kind, book-related merchandise and book-related items from stationery supplies, such as bookmarks, postcards and pens. Notebooks fall into the category non-books too.

Notepaper

Notebooks are used for sketching, making notes, drawing and writing. The paper should therefore meet all these requirements. In particular, it should be suitable for all kinds of writing utensils, from pencil to pens, and ink pens to markers. Moreover, it should be strong enough so it does not crease when erasing. The classic notebook has a naturally white or off-white, voluminous paper. One of the best, if not the best quality paper for notebooks, is Munken Polar or Pure in the grammage 90 g/m².

O

Optical centre

Concept stemming from design theory and cognitive psychology. Designates a point deviated from the geometric centre and is perceived as the centre due to an optical illusion. When designing a book cover, for example, with a centred text, the optical centre should be taken into consideration. In an A5 book, the optical centre is located about 2 cm above the geometric centre.

Opacity

Opacity is the technical term for the opacity of the paper. A paper is opaque, if it is not translucent. Good opacity is achieved by more fillers in-between the paper fibres in paper production. The opacity of the paper can also be achieved by colouring. Yellowish coloured papers are less translucent.

One-to-one marketing

One can understand one-to-one marketing (also 1: 1 marketing or direct marketing) is a kind of advertising that is individually tailored to the customer and has a personal approach, involving an invitation to reply included (response options). The aim of one-to-one marketing is to send clients not just personalised, but also individualised offers. So deals are tailored to their needs and can thus produce the best possible responses. For this task, client data is collected and profiles created. Notebooks can be used very well for one-to-one dealings too.

Office gifts

Gifts for use in office environments. The usual kinds are pens, mugs, mouse pads or laser pointers. Those looking for a more exclusive gift with more value should consider a high quality notebook.

P

Provisional book

Contains a calendar month and year overview, holidays and tax dates, as well as pages for notes.

Promotional notebook

A notebook with an advertising message or the design of an advertising campaign on the cover.

Project management book

Indispensable for good project management is a notebook that accommodates all ideas, dates, data and results in chronological order, so that no information is lost.

Plaited elastic band

Rubber elastic band serves as a closure for journals. It is firmly anchored in the spine and should not come loose from its fixing, even after frequent opening and closing. The plaited elastic should be of very high quality and have high elasticity and extensibility, so it does not wear out.

Personal notebook

For its owner, a notebook gains value with each entry and quickly becomes a permanent companion. It is a storage container for ideas, a creativity tool and an organiser, all in one, and becomes more appreciated with each written page.

Personalisation

Includes individually pre-printing a name or address on a printed product. Frequently used for direct mail. Making use of digital printing or laser engraving can also personalise notebooks in large quantities.

Penholder for Notebooks

There are several possibilities for attaching a pen to a notebook. One can use a pen loop or a clip, for example, made from stainless steel, in which the pen is inserted. The pin can also be secured by means of a spinal penholder or a rubber band penholder.

Paperback

English term for a paperback, which is a book with a soft cover (“brochure”). Compared to the hardcover, it is produced inexpensively, with a simple adhesive binding. Cheap notebooks are often paperbacks.

Personalised notebook

Notebook that was personalised through a name printed in it or a gravure made exclusively for its recipients.

Planning book / project book

Notebook, prepared especially for the planning and implementation of a project. Mostly contains the project plan, milestone overviews and organiser.

Page numbering

The process of applying numbers to the pages of a book. If you don't count pages but sheets, this is called folio.

Pagination

The application of page numbers to the pages.

Perforation

The perforation of paper or cardboard along a line. Small holes or slits are punched out with steel combs or punch down tools. Perforations usually are used to provide a simple separation of single pages or segments of a page.

Prepress

All work steps that are neccessary to produce a master, such as layout, image editing, page and sheet assembly or the exposure of films for the production of printing plates.

Paper waste

Faulty prints, thrown away paper, damaged paper.

Pergamin

Satined, semi-transparent paper made of finely ground pulp. Mainly used for window envelopes.

Printing methods

There are different printing methods, such as offset printing, silkscreen printing, gravure printing or letterpress. They can be used to influence different variables, such as different color palettes, printing substrates or even the expenses.

Proof

A test print to control the tonal and colour values and to compare the quality of the proof with the quality of the template. The print result is directly monitored at the machine. Today though there are many different proof methods that are cheaper and quicker.

Q

Quality features in notebooks

A good notebook is thread bound and has a solid robust cover. Other quality features can be found here.

R

Running diary

Notebook, which is used by many runners for preparing for a competition, in order to achieve optimal training control. Also ideal for beginners to monitor their progress and to find their right training capacity. Contains entries such as elapsed time and distance, running speed, heart rate, terrain and ground conditions, weather and personal well-being. The data can be analysed and aligned with the training.

rough notes

Concept book with a collection of recorded notes, which are used later.

Rough notebook

Provides artists, designers, designers or architects space for initial drawings and designs. Important is a fine grain of the paper to draw on it with lead, coal or other materials.

Red notebook

The New York writer, Paul Auster, has for many years captured events in his life and that of his friends in a red notebook. It involved all events in which chance played a crucial role. The Red Notebook was published in Germany by Rowohlt.

Ring notebook

Notebook with spiral binding, for example, Wire-O binding or spiral binding. Has the advantage that individual pages can be removed. The downside is that it is less resilient, in comparison to classic notebooks.

Ribbon page marker

Narrow fabric strip, which is stuck to the top of the book body back and used as an aid for the reader to quickly return to a certain point in the book.

Research book

Notebook for journalists with the outcomes of their research and surveys. Usually in a handy DIN A6 format.

Rebinding

Disassembly of a book cover and rebinding it. Notebooks are exposed to severe stresses and can look like new again by rebinding them.

Recycled paper

It consists predominantly of recycled paper and therefore deemed to be environmentally friendly and sustainable. In addition, less energy and water are consumed during production. Quality and tensile strength of the paper are enhanced by admixing new fibres. Recycled paper is usually slightly greyer than other types of paper. In the meantime, there is also white recycled paper. These papers normally carry the environmental label "Blue Angel".It consists predominantly of recycled paper and therefore deemed to be environmentally friendly and sustainable. In addition, less energy and water are consumed during production. Quality and tensile strength of the paper are enhanced by admixing new fibres. Recycled paper is usually slightly greyer than other types of paper. In the meantime, there is also white recycled paper. These papers normally carry the environmental label “Blue Angel”.

Reporters notebook / reporter book body

Extra robust, thread-stitched notebooks as permanent companions for journalists. Usually in a handy A6 portrait format, i.e., bound on the short sides.

Raster

Many printers and imagesetters for offset printing can only print black, they can't print grey scales. An image that contains grey scales thus has to be rastered in order to simulate an image in full colour. When you, for example, have a black-and-white image, the brighter image values are produced with small picture elements and the darker image values are produced with bigger picture elements. When every element is small enough you get a grey colour impression. When you use four-colour printing all four colours are used to raster.

Register marks

Register marks are small cross hairs that are arranged on colour selections and printing plates. They are extremely important for an exact fitting, the arrangement of the printing plates and the exact printing of the colours. After the printing process the register marks are cut away.

Resolution

The resolution is the measure of image sharpness. It indicates the number of picture elements (pixels, lines or dots) to be reproduced on a screen, a film or on paper per inch.

Round edges

Book cover with rounded off edges. A clean application of the cover material right at the edge is a quality feature.

S

Supralibros

Individual sign, generally the crest of the owner, which was imprinted on the front cover, from the beginning of the (mid) Renaissance, in order to identify property ownership. Also served to decorate.

Stretchband

Elastic closure band to keep the book cover closed.

“Strazzen”

German word for the first quick draft of a text, especially in the case of the commercial business book, in which the daily business transactions are entered provisionally in chronological order. The contents of the rough notebook are then transferred in the correct format to the memorial or journal.

Stitched booklets

Notebooks are generally with only bound two or three staples, which is not very stable and durable. In contrast, Brandbook notebooks feature a complete spinal seam, in which the thread holds about 30 points and envelope layers together. This, besides being a very decorative back seam, was named after an old Singer sewing machine “Singer Stitch”. The advantage here is longer shelf life, no sharp brackets and better appearance.

Stainless steel clip

A high-quality stainless steel clip can be used as a penholder and simultaneously as notebook clasp. It can accommodate a laser engraving, for example, the company logo.

Spine, round or straight

Whether a notebook has a round or a straight spine does not alter the quality, but is a purely aesthetic feature. If a colour section is applied, however, a straight back is recommended so as to achieve a smooth cut surface and thus a better effect.

Small black notebook

A classic among notebooks. Fits in your pocket. For sketching, making notes, drawing and writing. Generally in A5 format and in hardcover.

Softcover notebook

Opposite of hardcover notebook. It has a flexible cover, without strong cardboard inserts. Can bend and fits, for example, especially well in the pocket, as it adapts its shape and does not press.

Sketchbook

Sketchbooks offer artists, designers, designers or architects space for initial drawings and designs. It is important that the paper has a fine fibrillation for drawing on with lead, coal or other materials.

Silk cover notebook

Notebook with a cover enclosed in silk.

Scrapbook

Designation for a special photo album, in which photos are pasted together with stickers or other memorabilia, such as admission tickets are decorated in a collage manner. In scrapbooks, stories and events from one’s own life are told. These photos are portrayed with texts and creative design.

Schedule book

Instrument for better self-management, which helps to better plan and carry out events and tasks.

Slipcase

Container which is used to store a book and is made to fit exactly. The book spine remains openly visible.

Self-management book

Notebook for appointments, to-do lists, priority lists, shopping lists, contacts and telephone numbers for structuring the personal daily routine and the improvement of self-management.

Silver edging

Application of a silver foil to the book edge. The process is similar to the manufacturing of a gold edge.

Screen ruling

The screen ruling indicates the number of dots on a certain line segment, either in lines per cm (L/cm) or in lines per inch (lpi). An 80 raster for example consists of 80 raster lines per cm (80 L/cm). The bigger the screen ruling, the better the detail rendition of an image, since more elements are available.

Sex Bolts

Also known as barrel nut, barrel bolt, 'Chicago Screw' or post and screw. They are used to decorate books, brochures or loose-leaf binders. They are usually made of brass or are nickel-plated. The shaft is put through a hole in the pages. Then the head screw is screwed in. The length of the screws is between 10 and 80 milimetres.

Stitched Notebooks

The layers of these notebooks are bound together by a decorative stitching. Stitchings, holding together the cover and the layers at 30 points, are a durable alternative to staples which hold together the notebook at only two or three points.

T

Travel Notebook

Notebook for records kept during a trip, for example, in the form of a travel diary for collecting interesting sights, places, addresses or keepsakes. Since the notebook is subjected to some travel hardships, a robust cover is recommended, for example, leather, artificial leather, linen or PU material, as well as of course robust thread-stitching.

Thread binding

Binding method in which the folded sheets of a notebook are sewn together. The individual sheets of the book body can, prior to binding, be stapled as well to the untreated body in order to achieve greater stability. This technique is used especially for books with a hardcover binding. The thread can be colour-matched, which has the advantage of being particularly beautiful viewing open thread binding.

Training book

Notebook for recording training activities and schedules for sports like running, inline skating, Nordic walking, athletics etc.

Time management

Helps to keep upcoming tasks and appointments occurring within a certain period. Time management consists mainly of self-management. Certain strategies, such as a fixed procedure, a division into sub-tasks, increasing motivation and performance review should help to improve time management.

Trimming

Cutting off the paper margins to get the required format. The inner book is trimmed on the top, the bottom and the side (three-side trimming).

Thread-Stitching

Binding method that combines folded sections of a book with a tacking thread. The single sections of the innerbook can be, additionally, tacked together before the thread-stitching to achieve an even better stability. This binding method is used for long-living print products, especially for hardcovers. It's the best and most durable technique, unfortunately though it is the most expensive, too. Notebooks that come with a thread-stitching are of high quality.

Thumb Index

Stepped cutouts on the thumb edge. Often used on reference works and address books, making certain pages quicker to look up.

Top Edge

The cut edge on the upper edge of the innerbook. It can also be colored (edge coloring) or a gilt edging can be applied.

Typography

Typography generally means the aesthetic, artistic and functional creative process of printed matter and digital media by means of font, lines and planes.

U

Upmarket promotional giveaways

Compared to many conventional giveaways like pens, cups, flashlights or clipboards, a notebook serves as an excellent high quality alternative. It offers significantly more advertising space, provides high quality design with select materials and meticulous workmanship, through techniques such as embossing, screen-printing, painting or cut-outs. It also offers its recipient real value as a place to capture ideas and as an organisational tool.

Unique

A unique or uniquely identifiable object. Even with notebooks, it is now possible to produce one-off pieces, such as through customised or personalised content using digital printing or by individual name pre-printing.

Uncoated paper

Uncoated papers usually are used for office supply or notebooks. Contrary to coated papers, no binding agents have been applied, thus making these papers especially easy to write on.

Uncoated paperboard

Single layered, thick paper. The opposite of squuezed or glued paperboard.

V

Visitor’s book

The Golden Book of a city is kept in the city hall. There, guests of honour of the community enter their names. It often involves heavy, leather-bound folios with gilt edges and gilding on the cover.

Volume

Amount of pages of a book.

W

Writing books

Another name for notebook. Usually with a lined book body.

Writing booklet with seam

Brandbook notebooks feature a complete spinal seam, in which the thread holds at least 30 points and envelope layers together. Besides being very decorative, the spinal seam was named after an old Singer sewing machine “Singer Stitch”. The advantage: longer shelf life, no sharp staples and better appearance.

Writing booklet with frame seam

Comes with a decorative frame seam that runs around the envelope. Colour-wise, it is distinctive from the cover.

Wrap around

Front endpapers are found initially on the inside of the sheet (last page of the first sheet and the first page of the last sheet)

Waterproof notebook

All-weather notebook with a cover that withstands the harshest weather conditions. The writing paper can also endure some raindrops.

Waste book

This is what the writer and journalist Kurt Tucholsky called his notebook, which he carried with him and used from 1928 to 1935. In reference to the waste books (“Sudelbücher”) by Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, Tucholsky wrote in it his own observations and literary ideas, as well as comments about other people.

Wax paper

A mostly wood-free paper that has been impregnated with a white wax or paraffin. The advantage is that it is water and aroma-tight and is used for the packaging of odorous substances or items that are not dry. Also, moisture-sensitive metals, for example, razor blades, are packaged in single-coated wax paper.

Wrap

Term in the pre-press stage. Describes the arrangement of text and images on a page and the fitting to a certain page layout.

Weight of paper

The weight of paper is measured in grams/sq meter. If the paper weighs 150 g/m² you have paper, if it weighs between 150 and 600 g/m² you have carton and if it weighs more than 600 g/m² you have cardboard.

Weight per square meter

Paper weight in gramms, measured per square meters (g/m²).

Wire-Stitching

Wire-stitching is a binding method that combines single pages or folded sheets with a wire. The wire is cut to a certain length and formed into a wire clamp that is put through the product and closed at the end. Wire-stitching is a cost-effective binding method. Its disadvantage though is the limited durability, thus making wire-stitching a go-to technique for short-lived products like magazines.

Writability

Indicates the performance of the paper when you write on it. When too much ink is absorbed, the writing appears blurred and becomes illegible. The application of glue can influence the absorbing character of the paper. When too much glue is applied, though, the paper won't absorb any ink at all.

Z

ZIP

The data format ZIP is a format for compressing data. It reduces the size of data and accelerates. data transmission. A ZIP data with the file extension .zip can contain multiple data.