Watch clips from "How It's Made" to see how objects like artificial limbs, nails, footballs, mustard, and more are made. Choose a few to watch--which one surprised you most?

Watch how the objects all around us are made.

Check out this video series about different kinds of printmaking from Khan Academy. Which type seems most interesting to you?

Watch videos about printmaking.

Watch this video to learn more about the work of a book binder and paper marbler. Are you interested in doing something like this?

Learn about a day in the life of a book binder.

Print Binding and Finishing Workers

Bind books and other publications or finish printed products by hand or machine. May set up binding and finishing machines.

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Realistic

Second Interest High-Point

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Conventional

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Artistic

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Enterprising

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Investigative

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Social

First Interest High-Point

Third Interest High-Point

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

Printing Workers

Production Occupations

Examine stitched, collated, bound, or unbound product samples for defects, such as imperfect bindings, ink spots, torn pages, loose pages, or loose or uncut threads.

Read work orders to determine instructions and specifications for machine set-up.

Install or adjust bindery machine devices, such as knives, guides, rollers, rounding forms, creasing rams, or clamps, to accommodate sheets, signatures, or books of specified sizes.

Trim edges of books to size, using cutting machines, book trimming machines, or hand cutters.

Stitch or glue endpapers, bindings, backings, or signatures, using sewing machines, glue machines, or glue and brushes.

Monitor machine operations to detect malfunctions or to determine whether adjustments are needed.

Maintain records, such as daily production records, using specified forms.

Lubricate, clean, or make minor repairs to machine parts to keep machines in working condition.

Set up or operate bindery machines, such as coil binders, thermal or tape binders, plastic comb binders, or specialty binders.

Set up or operate machines that perform binding operations, such as pressing, folding, or trimming.

Prepare finished books for shipping by wrapping or packing books and stacking boxes on pallets.

Set up or operate glue machines by filling glue reservoirs, turning switches to activate heating elements, or adjusting glue flow or conveyor speed.

Train workers to set up, operate, and use automatic bindery machines.

Insert book bodies in devices that form back edges of books into convex shapes and produce grooves that facilitate cover attachment.

Cut cover material to specified dimensions, fitting and gluing material to binder boards by hand or machine.

Cut binder boards to specified dimensions, using board shears, hand cutters, or cutting machines.

Bind new books, using hand tools such as bone folders, knives, hammers, or brass binding tools.

Perform highly skilled hand finishing binding operations, such as grooving or lettering.

Imprint or emboss lettering, designs, or numbers on book covers, using gold, silver, or colored foil, and stamping machines.

Compress sewed or glued signatures, using hand presses or smashing machines.

Meet with clients, printers, or designers to discuss job requirements or binding plans.

Form book bodies by folding and sewing printed sheets to form signatures and assembling signatures in numerical order.

Design original or special bindings for limited editions or other custom binding projects.

Punch holes in and fasten paper sheets, signatures, or other material, using hand or machine punches and staplers.

Repair, restore, or rebind old, rare, or damaged books, using hand tools.

Apply color to edges of signatures using brushes, pads, or atomizers.

Band nippers

Bindery stackers

Board shears

Book binding rulers

Book stitching equipment

Bookbinding awls

Print Binding and Finishing Workers

Overview

Career

What Print Binding and Finishing Workers Do

Other Job Titles Print Binding and Finishing Workers May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Print Binding and Finishing Workers

Overview

Career

What Print Binding and Finishing Workers Do

Other Job Titles Print Binding and Finishing Workers May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Print Binding and Finishing Workers

Related Careers

Related Leaders