Printing and Binding
If you are handling all the editing and design yourself you will save all the costs involved; however, you will need to supply us with the files ready for printing.
Files for Printing
The file formats we normally work with for the text are:
- print-quality PDF files
- Postscript files
- Microsoft Word files
We may be able to use other file formats, but you should contact us first with the details. We need the cover to be supplied in the application file in which it has been created. All scans and fonts should be supplied with these files. QuarkXPress, InDesign, PageMaker, Freehand and Illustrator files are the norms. Microsoft Word files are not suitable for covers.
We can use a print-quality PDF (portable document format) file but the cover will have to be correctly set up with the spine size and bleeds, etc. You will need to contact us in advance for this information. More information on files and the creation of PDF and Postscript files can be found in our technical notes.
Bound proof copy
Whether we handle the editing and design or whether you supply the file ready for printing, we will digitally print and bind a single copy and send it to you. Although it will be in a plain cover, and may not be printed on the specified paper, it will allow you to see the completed book in all its glory. Although there should not be changes at this stage, corrections can be made before full production if absolutely necessary.
If the changes are extensive and another bound proof is necessary, there will be a charge of £20 for this additional proof.
Printing and binding
We can advise you on the appropriate paper and cover board, print methods and binding styles for your book. We can always send you samples of the proposed materials.
How many copies to print?
It has always been the publisher’s dilemma; deciding how many books to print. With conventional offset litho printing, the cost per book is lower the more copies you print, but it is a false economy to print more copies than you realistically need. We will work with you to come up with a realistic print quantity.
Digital or offset litho printing?
Digital printing is appropriate for small-quantity printing, fewer than approximately 200 copies. If you do not want to be a “for profit” publisher or if you only need a small number of books, digital printing may be the print system for you. You could always consider printing digitally to “test the market and potential” for your book. When you are confident it will be successful you can reprint more copies by offset litho.
The inside pages are printed in black and, although the quality is good, the reproduction quality of photographs is not as high as offset litho.
Offset litho is appropriate for print quantities of more than approximately 200 copies and the range of papers and boards is far more extensive.
Colour printing for covers?
If your book is to be sold off the bookshelf you will need to make it attractive to prospective purchasers. Usually these books are printed with full-colour covers, although some designs look good printed in two or even a single colour. Covers that are litho printed are normally laminated with either a matt or gloss plastic film. Short-run digitally printed covers are normally printed on a gloss board.
Colour or black printing text pages?
A large number of colour pages in books with small print runs is expensive. Because colour printing has high fixed costs, the unit cost of the book becomes too high to sell. If required, a number of colour pages can be printed together. This will keep the cost to a minimum.
If required, black and white photographs can be printed together on of different paper, usually silk or gloss. These can be bound anywhere in the book. We are not limited to binding these pages in sections. These pages cost the same to print as the other text pages, although there may be a small additional setting-up cost.
A second colour can also be printed on all or some of the text pages of books printed by offset litho. This will increase the costs, as additional printing plates are needed.
Binding styles
We provide a full range of binding styles.
- Perfect binding: also called paperback or square back binding.
- Thread sewing: the book is bound by machine-sewing folded sections together. This is a stronger binding than perfect binding but only suitable for litho-printed books.
- Stitch sewn: the book is bound by glueing together folded sections that have been stitched with wire. It is only suitable for books of 72 pages or more. This is also a stronger binding than perfect binding but a little more expensive.
- Loose-leaf binding: individual pages are shrink-wrapped, drilled and presented in a ringbinder, ideal for reference and training materials. We can organise the production of ringbinders.
- Wire-o binding: this is useful for reference books, cookery books, manuals and material for photocopying as the pages lay flat. There are variations of this binding style with a printed spine.
- Wire stitching: also called saddle stitching, this is used on journals, magazines, booklets and other short publications, normally up to 76 pages.
Packing and Delivery
Our quotation will include packing into sturdy cartons and delivery to you.
ISBNs and barcodes
It is not essential to have an ISBN, but if you intend to sell through bookshops or on the Internet, it is advisable