Factors to Consider When Printing Your Book

The details and decisions that go into printing your book, for example, are something many writers don’t think about. However, even for something that seems so simple, a lot of decisions have to be made that could impact the final result of your book. Factors to consider with book printing include:

• The type of paper used in the book - there are many different grades to choose from. The body paper can vary depending on the type, graphics and colors as well as the look and feel you want to achieve.
• You also must choose the type of paper for the cover. Most books have a soft or paperback cover as they are less expensive. Hardcover books are more costly.
• The book’s dimensions. Mass market paper backs are just 4.25” by 7”. Bigger sizes are appropriate for trade books, handbooks, fiction, manuals, textbooks, and coffee table books.
• The number of books printed. The economics of book printing are such that the greater the quantity produced, the lower the unit cost. So ask your printer for quotes for two or three different quantities.
• Another important aspect of your book is its binding style. There are a number of standard types of binding. Soft cover books are frequently perfect bound. The outside cover is glued to the spine to create a flat bound surface, which is great for books that have 40 or more pages. Saddle stitch binding utilizes staples in the fold, which is appropriate for books with less than 40 pages. Manuals and cookbooks might benefit from spiral plastic or wire binding, so that you can fold the book in half and lay them flat when referring to them. Hardcover books utilize adhesive casebook binding and may be sewn for additional strength and durability.
• The number of pages in the book. The number of pages can be especially important because this is something that can also affect the success of your book. Someone may be tempted to write fewer pages for the sake of saving money but if this short-changes your topic, it’s not worth it. Obviously, if your book covers a broad topic, you’ll need to use more pages to ensure it’s adequately discussed. The number of pages and resulting thickness of your book can also influence its perceived value.
• On of the most important decisions you must make relating to printing your book is the cover design. The spine and cover of a book must be eye catching, interesting, and aesthetically appealing in order to get noticed on the shelf. The design is critical in attracting the attention of consumers and directly affects whether they will notice your book and want to investigate it further. Cover design can be a critical make or break factor in the commercial success of your book.
  

Once the specifications of your book are determined it’s time to start getting price quotes and checking samples. It’s usually best to not go with the cheapest printer, consistent with the old saying that you get what you pay for. You want to make sure that you’ll get a quality job, delivered on time with the customer service that you need. It never hurts to ask for samples from a book printer and get references from people who have used them before. You want to make sure you can work well with whichever company you choose. Look for responsiveness, quality, honesty, and service as well as price when selecting you book printer.

CMYK Graphix, Inc. offers fast and easy book printing quotes online at www.cmykgraphix.com and custom quotes by request. For more information, contact them at 1-800-698-2071 or email them today.