Paperback Book Guidelines

• Our preferred file type is a high resolution PDF.

• Your document page size should be set to the size of a single page. This is crucial for proper page imposition. For example, for a half-size book, your page size should be set to 8.5″ x 5.5″. You do not want a small page in the middle of an 8.5″ x 11″ file.

• All print-ready images should be 300dpi. Less than that may severely affect image quality.

• All color images should be set to CMYK. If you send us RGB images, they will be automatically converted to CMYK, and there may be a color shift. For more information on RGB vs. CMYK, please see our Placing an Order FAQ.

• If your document has a bleed, it must extend the finished size by 0.125 on the top, bottom, and outside edges. For the inside edge, please keep bleeds 0.03125″ (1/32") from the bind edge to allow better adhesiveness of the glue (this is called “grind-off”). If you do not know what a bleed is, please see our Placing an Order FAQ.

• Your page count must be divisible by 2. Some common page counts are 80, 100, 124, and 150. If your page count is not divisible by 2, we will need to add blank pages to make the page count work out.

• All text must be within 0.25″ from the edge of the sheet, minimum. For easy reading, we recommend text margins of 0.5″, but this is personal preference. Please note, this is measured from the edge of the finished size, not the bleed margin. It is also helpful to set your inner margins larger than your outer margins for perfect-bound books to accommodate the binding.

• Send your interior pages and cover as separate files. The interior should be sent as single consecutive pages with no printers’ marks whatsoever, and no imposition. Please include your bleed margin. For the cover, we will need to calculate the proper spine width according to the specifications of the job. Please ask us for this measurement before finalizing the cover.

• We will put a hinge score on your book cover. This is generally 0.25" on either side of the two scores for the spine. We recommend keeping important text such as the book title and author name at least 0.25" from the hinge score.

• If sending Adobe InDesign files, use the File -> Package function to collect all of the fonts and images. If you do not do this, your project will not open properly on our computer. Make sure your package includes an .IDML file.

• We may be able to bind as small a page count as 40, but this may cause complications. If you have a very low page count that you need perfect bound, please contact us before placing your order. Very thin spines cannot have printing on them.