In A Bind: Different Types of Photo Albums
With many styles of photo albums to choose from, the differences in binding between them can cause some confusion. Each type of album has its own benefits and drawbacks, and choosing one is a matter of finding out what works best for you and your photo storage needs.
Ring bound, spiral bound, or book bound? Choosing a photo album to store your precious pictures can be tricky. The truth is, each type of photo album has its own merits, and while all of them are perfectly safe for storing your photos, some are easier to work with than others- and some provide a more effective final result.
Book bound photo albums
Book bound photo albums are bound just like hardcover books- they have a spine and a seam where the pages are sewn together. These albums are typically fairly slim and don't have as many pages as some of the other options. The reason for this is because when you add photos to the album, they create volume, and the pages will tend to spread outward. A book bound album doesn't have much room for the pages to spread, and too many pages would create a huge A-shaped book that would put stress on the spine and be difficult to store. If you choose a book bound photo album, don't plan on storing very many photos inside. It's best for small collections or themed photo albums. You won't be able to add pages later, and you shouldn't try to cram too many photos into the pages. Most importantly, you should allow the book to spread once the photos are added. The covers may not lie perfectly flat, but attempting to push them together will add unwanted pressure that can destroy your photos. So with a book bound album, keep it simple and small.
Ring bound photo albums
These are the most common types of photo albums for sale today. From the outside, the album looks just like a book bound album, with a thick spine. But the spine is actually covering a three-ring mechanism inside that works just like any other binder. The rings can be snapped open, and the pages are punched with three holes so that you can move them around with ease or add more if you are so inclined.
Ring bound photo albums have some obvious benefits. The rings are typically very large, with plenty of room to add more pages without crushing your photos. Also, if you decide to rearrange the photos, it's extremely easy to pop out a page and move it somewhere else. There's a reason these photo albums are so common- they're very user-friendly!
Post bound photo albums
Less common but no less effective, post bound photo albums feature a brass post-and-screw system in the binding. The pages of the album are punched to fit over the posts, and then hinged so that they lie flat while the binding disappears into the spine of the book. When opened, post bound photo albums lie reasonably flat thanks to this hinge, and each page has a strip of binding tape or matting paper along the hinge to make sure the photos stay away from the spine area.
Post bound albums can be somewhat difficult to load, especially when the book is full, but it is perfectly fine to add more pages. Just don't add more than the spine of the album can hold. The cover of the album is made from three pieces- front, back and spine- and the spine is typically curved to hold the pile of page ends and accommodate the bending of the pages. If used correctly, post bound albums close perfectly flat even when full, although a full album won't lie totally flat when opened. Most post bound photo albums have paper pages which are designed for use with photo corners or adhesives.
Spiral photo albums
Bound just like spiral notebooks, these photo albums come with almost any type of pages, from plain paper to plastic pocket pages. They are not designed for the addition of extra pages. These albums work best when they aren't terribly thick, and when the spiral is of high quality. Avoid cheap plastic spirals that can become crushed, as this will cause the pages to stop turning smoothly and could cause damage to the photos. A heavy-duty metal spiral is best. Make sure the ends of the spiral are tucked in properly and won't unwind. Sometimes the spiral of the photo album will be encased inside a durable spine, which is attached to the covers; other times the front and back cover will be threaded onto the spiral along with the pages. If you choose a spiral bound photo album, look for one whose pages turn easily without snagging, and make sure the spiral is of high quality. These photo albums should lie perfectly flat if they are filled to the correct capacity.
