They are simply covers on a case bound  book that can be bent; but not as much as a perfect bound book cover. They are usually offset printed on heavier than average paper.  We turn the four edges inward and glue the same as a normal hard book cover… except there is no board in the case!  When the book is “cased-in”, on the end papers and glued down the book appears to be very similar to a regular HARD cover case bound book. There is a cost saving in the production process because there is no board.

Some customers like the feel of a flexible cover on a case bound book.  A flex cover case bound book is thinner than a regular hard back book. I know of one situation where a “flex-covered” book was ordered to reduce the mailing/postage cost.  These pictures illustrate that a “flex-covered”, case-bound book can like a hard covered case bound book in that they can have rounded corners, or the addition of metal corners.  Like a regular hard back book, the spine can be flat or rounded.

Features

• Flat
• Flexible
• Has glued endpapers

Benefits

• Can reduce postage
• Additional option for creativity

Factors to consider

• If the “cover” is Litho printed, there may be difficulties in printing a much heavier stock