Today, I’m giving you an overview on how to make a photo album binding. Photo albums can be created using different bookbinding methods, so I’ll focus on the building blocks and steps required. With this information, you’ll be able to plan and create a photo album using a preferred bookbinding technique or one you’re most familiar with.
To start, every handmade photo album should contain these basic building blocks:
- Heavyweight, high quality paper
- Spacers (tabs), so the book can expand as photos are added
- Interleaving material to protect photos & artwork
- Front and back boards covered in a strong material
Now that you’ve got some basics, let’s jump into the details.
What is a Photo Album?
Bookbinding Method or Technique: Photo Album
Minimum Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Characteristics: landscape format, wedge shape, heavyweight paper, glassine interleaves, various binding types
Great for: photos, scrapbooks and art portfolios
Bad for: novels, journals, drawing, sketchbooks
All photo album bindings are characterized by their landscape format* and wedge shape. The landscape format allows for various photo sizes and makes the book easier to flip through when laying open.
A short tab is placed between every other page at the spine to create space for memorabilia. This gives the entire book a wedge shape until photos are added (the wedge shape is different from the usual 90 degree “L” shape desired in a casebinding). Depending on the size of the book, there may be several inches of space between the edge of the tab and where photo additions begin. This allows the pages to bend easily and cascade open.
Handmade photo albums usually range in size from small (7×5 inches) to very large (12×9 inches). Albums larger than 7×5 will require some type of support at the spine for longevity. Linen tapes are typical for support. Sturdy mull or thick twine are good alternatives.
*Photo albums can also be taller than they are wide. It depends on preference.
Photo Album Binding Technique Steps
To bind a photo album by hand, the following steps apply:
- Choose a binding type,
- Select cover, paper & interleaving materials,
- Create the wedge-shaped book block with spacers and interleaves,
- Bind the album,
- Label (optional)
Step 1: Choose a binding type
In the world of book making, there is no “right” or “wrong” way to do something (despite what people tell you). Well-tested methods often become standard. These standards create a foundation to improve and expand skills, but they’re by no means the “only way.”
Photo album bindings are an excellent example of this. While casebound albums are the gold standard due to strength and longevity, there are several other methods to choose from.
Photo Album Binding Types
Hand sewn:
Hardware bound:
- Ring binding
- Spiral binding
- Post & nut binding
Adhesive-only (new sewing or hardware):
Step 2: Select cover, paper and interleaving materials
Cover materials
Photo albums are handled frequently, so a strong material is best. Waterproof or water-resistant materials are even better. Coverings like starched Buckram, coated bookcloth and leather are great choices. These materials allow the book to be labeled (stamped, embossed or tooled) for easy identification in your library.
Photo album paper
The paper used in a photo album is much heavier than what you might use in a journal or sketch book. Heavyweight paper will hold photos well and stand up through frequent handling and page turning. I always suggest a thickness of 250 to 300 gs/m for each sheet.
Don’t forget to purchase paper and board with the proper grain direction.
Interleaving materials
An interleaving material keeps photos and artwork safe. This material is glued to the tab on every other page. It lays flat against the photos themselves and acts as a protective layer, so it must be acid-free. Book makers usually choose glassine sheets because of their resistance to grease, air and water. They’re also acid-free and translucent, which makes them perfect for a photo album.
Step 3: Create the wedge-shaped book block with spacers and interleaves
A spacer on every other page to allows room for photos to fill and expand the book without damaging the spine. Book makers refer to these spacers as “tabs.” The chosen binding method determines how to add tabs for every other page.
To create tabs for a casebound photo album:
- Crease one end of every other signature to create a fold for sewing and tab for spacing, OR
- Cut away a portion of every other page in each signature to leave a spacer behind
Step 4: Bind the album
A fully assembled book block is ready for binding. Depending on which method you choose, this could be a long or short process.
For standard casebound photo albums, sewing on supports and creating a case is necessary. Learn more about the casebinding method.
Step 5: Label (optional)
Photos track events in our lifetime, so there are usually a few albums present in every house. Choosing a different color for every album is a smart way to differentiate. Labeling is another option if you have the tools or access to do so.
Book makers label albums using one or more methods. Some methods are better than others depending on the cover material. Others, such as hardware, are good for any type of album. This list is just a sample as there are tons of unique ways to label and decorate a book.
- Stamping
- Tooling
- Embossing
- Embroidery
- Hardware (plates, brads, etc.)
Resources
Learn about various binding methods:
New to bookbinding?
- Read my New Bookbinder Guide.
- Learn what makes a book a “book” in Getting to Know the Physical Parts of a Book
- For a list of bookbinding tools, materials and supplies, pick up my Bookbinding Tools & Supplies Quick Start Guide.
- My curated bookbinding kits have the quality items you need without breaking the bank.
I really hope you enjoyed and learned something new from this overview of how to create a photo album using traditional bookbinding methods. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me on Instagram.
Thanks for stopping by!
ALL my best,
Misty
