Book Printing

Start with the content and how the book will be used rather than choosing a paper by GSM alone.

Uncoated papers work particularly well for text-heavy books and provide a softer reading surface, while coated stocks can give photography, illustration and colour greater definition. Also consider opacity, shade and bulk: these affect readability, show-through, weight and the overall thickness of the finished book.

A book designed to be read repeatedly needs different protection from one intended for occasional use.

For perfect bound books, we’d generally recommend a cover of at least 200gsm. Heavier stocks can give the book greater rigidity, while lamination provides additional protection against marking and handling.

The right specification depends on the size and thickness of the book too, so heavier isn’t automatically better.

Paper choice doesn’t just affect how your book feels. Across a high page count, even a relatively small change in paper weight can make a significant difference to the weight of each finished copy.

That becomes particularly important if books are being posted individually or packed in larger quantities for distribution. If mailing is part of the project, tell us before you settle on the specification so we can take that into account.

Perfect bound books don’t open completely flat. Important text, page numbers and other design elements therefore need sufficient clearance from the binding edge.

It’s particularly worth checking photography or graphics running across a double-page spread, where part of the image can disappear into the centre of the book.

Your book doesn’t necessarily have to follow a standard paper size.

A different finished size can make the publication more appropriate for its content, but it can also affect how efficiently we can produce it. Sometimes relatively small changes to the dimensions allow us to make better use of the printed sheet, potentially reducing paper waste and cost.

Talk to us before the artwork is built and we can advise on the most efficient options.

You don’t necessarily need to commit to a large print run to make book printing viable.

Digital printing makes smaller quantities practical, so consider how many copies you genuinely need now rather than automatically ordering extra for future use. If demand increases, another run can be produced.

For larger quantities, litho printing becomes increasingly economical. We have both options in-house, so we can compare the most appropriate route for your order.

We can produce very small quantities using our digital printing and binding equipment, including single-copy perfect bound work where the specification allows.

This can be useful for proofs, advance copies, highly specialised publications or projects where you simply don’t need hundreds of books.

Perfect binding is a popular choice because it produces the clean, square spine typically associated with paperback books.

The best binding method ultimately depends on your page count, paper choice, intended use and budget. If you’re unsure, talk to us before finalising the artwork and we’ll advise on the most appropriate option.

There isn’t one minimum page count because the viability of perfect binding depends on the thickness of the finished spine rather than page count alone.

A bulky uncoated paper will produce a thicker book using fewer pages than a thinner coated stock. We routinely produce narrow perfect bound spines, so send us your proposed paper and pagination and we’ll check what’s achievable.

It depends on the content and how you want the book to feel.

Image-heavy books may benefit from coated paper that reproduces photography and colour particularly well. For text-heavy books, an uncoated stock can provide a softer appearance and comfortable reading experience.

Opacity, paper shade, bulk, weight and budget should all form part of the decision.

Yes. We produce full-colour books using both digital and lithographic printing.

Our HP Indigo digital presses provide high-quality colour reproduction for shorter runs, while our Heidelberg litho presses provide the capacity and colour control required for larger quantities.

Yes. Standard sizes aren’t your only option.

We can accommodate a wide range of book formats and bespoke requirements. It’s worth discussing your proposed dimensions with us before artwork is created because small changes in size can sometimes make much more efficient use of a printed sheet and reduce production costs.

Yes. Options include matt, gloss, anti-scuff and soft-touch lamination as well as decorative finishes such as spot gloss UV varnish, foiling and embossing.

We’ll help you choose finishes that suit the intended use and positioning of the book rather than adding cost where it isn’t needed.

Yes. We can accommodate bulk deliveries, custom packing requirements, split deliveries and multiple destinations.

Through The Mailing People, our fully owned mailing house, we can also provide fulfilment and mailing where books need to be distributed individually.

Yes. Around 70% of our customers are print professionals and we’re used to working behind the scenes on their behalf.

Our white label service includes plain packaging, anonymous labels, unmarked vehicles and a no-contact guarantee to help protect your client relationships.

Book production brings together print, paper, binding and finishing, so having those capabilities under one roof matters.

Our litho and digital presses are supported by two specialist perfect binders and an experienced finishing team, giving us the flexibility to produce a wide variety of quantities and specifications.

You’ll also have people you can actually talk to. If you’re unsure about a paper, spine, finish, quantity or unusual requirement, ask us and we’ll help you find the most practical way forward.