Channel binding is a prestige binding method producing a document with a high standard of finish that projects a quality image. The system uses soft and hardback covers incorporating a “U”-shaped channel in the spine that is compressed by the machine to bind the sheets securely in place. A hardback cover produces a document that looks as professionally bound as a hardback book. Binding is very quick and straightforward using the covers which are of varying maximum sheet capacities and chosen according to the number of sheets the user wishes to bind. Soft covers generally have a clear front with a colour coordinated spine and rear, whereas hardback covers are opaque. Documents can be “de-bound” for editing and re-binding using the optional de-bind tool available