If you are embarking on the publishing journey, it is important that you know the basics of book printing and how it affects your book sales. As an up and coming author, this may or may not be unfamiliar territory.
This article will act as your complete guide through the book printing process, from how to choose the best printing vendor and printing methods for your finished manuscript to book printing layout tips.
How to Choose the Best Printers for Your Project
The book printing vendor you choose is one of the most important aspects to consider when printing your book. Understanding the differences between offset printing and digital printing will help you pick which one would be better for your project.
- Offset printing is one of the most popular ways to print books because it provides high-quality prints with rich colors. However, because it requires plates, it can be expensive.
- Digital printing is cheaper but doesn’t have as many features as offset printing, which means that you have to take into account how much detail you need in your book before deciding on what type of printer you want to use.
Book Design & Layout Software
You have a book idea, a book concept, and a manuscript. All you need now is the right software to design your book cover and lay out your pages.
The design of your book is the first thing that people will notice. So it’s important to invest some time in creating the perfect look for your book.
Book design software is used to layout pages for print or digital publication. It helps editors, publishers and authors to prepare text for printing or online viewing.There are plenty of options out there on the market, but not all of them are good for designing books.
There are many different programs out there that can help you create an ebook cover or layout for a book. Some are free and others are paid with a monthly subscription plan.
- Adobe InDesign – the most widely recognized professional design software, perfect for books or ebooks.
- Quark XPress– an alternative to InDesign with some nice layouts perfect for authors looking to publish.
- Bookwright – intuitive design process perfect for beginners and for books heavy on visuals.
- Lulu – from ebooks to comic books, this platform is a great online option to create bookstore quality materials and have them printed.
Alternatively, go straight to the source! Professional printing companies like Sheerprint Solutions offer both offset and digital printing options to help you achieve your dream of a printed and published book.
Print-ready PDF or InDesign Files? Which File Format Should I Use?
When designing for print, it is important to get your document in the correct file type for printing. InDesign files are preferred when you need more control over the final output or when you have a lot of graphics or images in your document.
InDesign files are layered and editable with features such as live text, smart guides and master page layouts.
Meanwhile, PDF file format is more universal and preferred by many printers.
The PDF file format is perfect for traditional book manuscripts with few images and graphics because it supports only one layer per document. It has a smaller file size than InDesign files which can be beneficial when sending documents via email or uploading them to websites such as Dropbox or Google Drive.
Top 5 Questions about Book Printing Answered
What are the benefits of book printing?
There are many benefits to printing your book. One of the most important is that it will be easier for you to distribute and sell your book.
Print books are easier for you to sell because they can be placed in physical stores and even libraries. People can also purchase them online through websites like Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
Another benefit of printing a book is that it will provide more exposure for your work, so more people will be able to see what you have to offer.
What is the book printing process?
The book printing process is a four-step process that consists of pre-press, press operation, bindery, and post-press.
Pre-press is the first step in the book printing process. It includes tasks such as artwork preparation, imposition, prepress checks, and output preparation. The next steps are press operation which includes prepress production, plate making, printing on press with plates or digitally to make books. Bindery is the third step in the book printing process which includes tasks such as collating pages into signatures and assembling signatures into a collection of books for binding. Lastly is post-press which includes tasks such as book trimming and finishing to produce finished products for sale.
What are the different book sizes available?
Different book sizes have been created to meet the needs of different readers.
– The most common size of a book is A5, which measures 210mm x 148mm.
– A6 is a smaller variation of this and measures 148mm x 105mm.
– When it comes to dimensions, books are measured by height and width also referred to as height by width or HxW. So for example, an A4 sheet is the height 283 mm and the width 216 mm. This will give you an approximate idea of what size your book will be when you print it out.
Do I need to order a certain number of books at once?
One of the most common questions that buyers ask themselves is whether they need to order a certain number of books at once or not. The answer to this question depends on the book printing service provider. They have different minimum order quantity requirements which are also called MOQ.
There are mainly two types of MOQs:
– The first one is the fixed MOQ where the company doesn’t allow any discount or concession if you don’t order a certain number of copies. They just refuse your request and you have to start over again with another printer.
– The second type is called flexible MOQ where there is no fixed number, but they offer discounts for ordering larger quantities at once.
How much does it cost to print a book?
An average book might cost around $1.50 to print, but it largely depends on the size of the book and the type of paper that is used for printing.
