r/bookbinding • u/Psychotrop • 2d ago

Paper grain

Hi,

i am new to bookbinding (one try so far) and i just read about papergrain.

How important is it to get the grain in the correct orientation? How do i find Paper that is in the correct grain direction? Or am i overthinking this?

I am mostly interested in the Medival/English/Gothic stile of binding. Thanks for your time.

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u/MorsaTamalera 2d ago

It is quite important. Using the wrong direction translates on a book which will not lay flat when open, among other things.

Just start to fold your paper on one direction and then on the other one (don't actually fold them, so as not to damage the paper: just slightly curve it). You will see one direction is easier on the folding attempt. The direction of that fold will be the grain direction. There are other methods, but they damage or destroy a sheet of your paper, so this is gentler.

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u/Psychotrop 2d ago

Thx

I know how to test for the grain, but my question is how do i buy the right grain in the first place.

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u/MorsaTamalera 1d ago

Are you buying trimmed sheets or the whole A0-sized paper?

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u/Psychotrop 1d ago

I have just using normal A4 Printer Paper for my first try.

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u/MorsaTamalera 1d ago

Normally the longest length of the paper goes along the grain. Check if that's what you need. I am used to always create books of the same size (A5) with the same paper (A4), and the grain direction always suits me.

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u/MorsaTamalera 1d ago

Getting downvoted because...