Self Book Printing: Factors You Need to Consider

By: Steve Morgan  |  Posted In: Books & Catalogs  |  April 3, 2023

If you have written your book, you might want to send your manuscript to the best publishing houses. However, these printing houses only accept a small fraction of the manuscripts they get.

You might be in luck since self-publishing has come up as a viable and preferable option for getting your stories to the reader. Printing your own book can be easy. There are many book printing services that offer high-quality and user-friendly services with customized design options.

But before you print your book, there are a few things that you need to do. Take a look at them.

1.  Edit

It might be daunting to open your book to criticism but it is important to get a fresh eye on the book writing- as many as you can prior to locking down a final draft for custom book printing. No matter whether you need good feedback or a proofread for spelling, grammar, and clarity, others identify the parts you have overlooked, help in improving manuscripts, and catch mistakes. So, you can get in touch with a professional editor to edit the book for you.

2.  Choose a Trim

Most custom spiral bound book printing services provide a variety of book printing options. The kind of book you publish will inform the dimensions you are choosing. For example, trade books, novels, children’s books, and comic books tend to take various shapes, novels can be thicker and smaller, while children’s books will be usually flat and large. You can check out the sizes of similar books for guidance.

3.  Choose Between Paperback and Hardcover

Paper spiral bound book printing is cheaper. However, it can be less durable than a hardcover. It is considered to be the top-quality cover choice. Also, hardcover can add a touch of professionalism. You might also have to select between matte or glossy cover finishes and decide if you want to include a book jacket.

4.  Choose the Binding Style

Your binding style will have an impact on the cost, look, and durability of the book. A spiral bound book can be a reasonable option for pamphlets and short books. You can choose thing binding style to give your book a touch of professionalism.

5.  Choose the Ink and Paper

Select the ink for the book printing task, A majority of the printing services charge a premium amount for internal color printing- paper that generally comes in different finishes and weights. In case you are not sure, use industry-standard guidelines for printing your book. You can choose b/w pages as they are cost-effective and reader-friendly for books and novels. In case you are publishing a comic book or photo, you might want to choose heavier paper and color printing.

6.  Design the Book Cover Even if the adage says- ‘never judge a book by its cover’, your potential readers will. The book’s cover says a lot about the content and quality of the publication. You need to make the design attractive and convey the purpose and tone of the perfect bound book.