Technical Information for Self Publishers

What is a Press Ready PDF?

To provide a Press Ready PDF you need to have a copy of Adobe Acrobat Distiller. The first step is to create a postcript file from the application you created your book in. Select the default setting of ‘Press Quality’ in Distiller, then distill your postcript file using these settings. Any further questions please contact us.

How are covers printed?

We have a range of stocks you can print your covers on. Our standard cover stock is 200 gsm. Covers can be printed in colour or black and white.

What type of paper is used for the text pages?

Our standard stock for text is 80 gsm bond. A wider range of weights, colours and textures are available for both offset and digital printing.

Bleeds

If you are planning a book with bleeds, it would be best to contact us first to see if it is feasible. Some restrictions due to size and other factors may make the project cost prohibitive.

Do you print color interior pages?

Yes, colour printing is available.

What about photos?

We can accept accept most forms of digital images, so long as they are 300 dpi when placed at 100%. Please note images from some digital phones will not produce satisfactory results. Please call to discuss with one of our team.

How long does the process take?

If you have already designed your book and it's print ready, it will take approximately 2-4 weeks to complete. If book design is required, allow an additional 2-6 weeks.

How many copies can I print?

You can print only one copy of your book if you wish, however, for cost effectiveness, you should consider printing at least a minimum of 25 copies.

Binding Styles

Perfect Binding for softcover books

Often called a trade paperback, this type of book is bound using hot flexible glue, and must include a minimum of 64 pages.

Casebinding for hardcover books

The most durable binding method. The page signatures are sewn together, reinforced then attached to the hardcover, which can be covered with non-woven book material, bookcloth, imitation leather or a printed and laminated paper.

Plastic Spiral Binding

An ideal binding for books that must open and lie flat, such as cookbooks, workbooks, teachers' guides or manuals.

We offer three binding styles: softcover, spiral and hardcover. For hardcover books you can choose:

Printed and laminated hardcover

Other features can be added to your hardcover books such as printed endsheets, ribbon markers and slipcases. If you need information or have questions about your binding requirements, please don't hesitate to contact us.

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