Printing a book can be complicated, so we try to make the process as simple as possible.
New clients often ask us these questions asked about printing and binding their book.
File Preparation
This is possible, but an expensive option. However, an unprinted dummy book block can be arranged free of charge from our paper suppliers, as can samples of any other materials in the job.
The book should be submitted with all the pages in a single file. Send the artwork for your cover and endpapers separate files.If your cover has any foiled or spot UV details, another file will be required for these.
Inkjet proofs are colour calibrated to the press, measured on output with an inline spectrophotometer, and highly accurate for colour and image quality… but not paper.
Laser proofs, or Ozalids are physical proofs intended for checking content. These proofs are not intended to show colour accurately, image quality, or paper quality.
Your print ready files should be in PDF format.
A bleed is a border around your page made by extending the images or artwork. This is to ensure no white lines appear when the paper is trimmed. The simplest way to work with bleeds is by adding 3mm to each side of the page. In total, the height and width should both increase by 6mm.
A softproof is a digital proof processed by our pre-press software, and is can highlight issues caused by font placement or transparency settings.
A wet proof is printed on the actual paper stock of the job, using the XL106 speedmaster.They are therefore accurate for content, colour, image quality and paper stock, and consequently the most expensive method of proofing.