PDF explained

Creating a PDF suitable for Adobe Acrobat is an essential step in producing professional documents, especially for printing or distribution. Here’s a step-by-step guide to ensure your file is formatted correctly:

Prepare Your Document
Use professional software such as Microsoft Word, Adobe InDesign or Illustrator to create your document. Ensure the content, layout and formatting are finalised before proceeding. For print purposes, include appropriate margins, bleeds and a safe zone to avoid cropping important elements.

Set the Export Options
In your chosen software, navigate to the “Export” or “Save As” menu and select PDF as the file type. Look for options like “PDF/X-1a” (preferred for print ready files) or “High Quality Print” if available. Ensure that the file resolution is set to 300 DPI for images to maintain clarity in printed or enlarged versions.

• Adjust the Settings for Compatibility to ensure your PDF is compatible with Adobe Acrobat:
• Fonts: embed all fonts to avoid substitution issues. This option is often found under “Advanced” or “Output Settings.”
• Colour Mode: for print use CMYK; for digital use RGB.
• Security Settings: if needed, set password protection or editing restrictions within the PDF options.
• Include Marks and Bleeds (if applicable): if the document is intended for printing, add crop marks and a bleed margin. This ensures that printers can trim the document precisely to the required size.
• Save or Export: click “Export” or “Save” and your PDF file will be created. Test the file in Adobe Acrobat to check its compatibility, visual quality, and whether the text, images and other elements render as expected.

Creating a properly formatted PDF ensures professional results for both print and digital purposes, avoiding costly errors and ensuring your document is accessible and visually appealing. (Back to pricing)

Crops and bleeds in book publishing

Crops and bleeds are essential concepts in book publishing and printing, ensuring that the final printed product looks professional and polished. These elements play a crucial role in determining how the artwork is prepared for trimming and how the finished pages will appear.

Bleeds refer to the extra area of the design or artwork that extends beyond the trim line—the final size of the printed page. This extension ensures that when the book is trimmed to size there are no unwanted white edges at the borders of the pages. Typically, a bleed margin is 3mm to 5mm, though this may vary depending on the printer’s specifications. For example, if a book page is meant to be 148mm x 210mm (A5), the artwork should extend by at least 3mm on all sides, making the file size 154mm x 216mm. This ensures that full-page designs, images or background colours print seamlessly to the edge.

Crop marks are small lines added to the edges of the print-ready file that indicate where the paper should be trimmed to its final size. These marks act as guides for the printer, showing precisely where the bleed ends and the trimmed page begins. Crop marks are typically added during the design export process in software such as Adobe InDesign or Illustrator. They are visible on the print-ready PDF but will not appear on the final trimmed pages.

Together, crops and bleeds are vital in book publishing to ensure that the final product has a clean, professional finish, with no unintended white borders or cut-off design elements. Proper use of these features avoids costly errors and creates a high-quality book that meets industry standards.(Back to pricing)

The difference between RGB and CMYK in book publishing

RGB and CMYK are two different colour models used for various purposes.  Understanding their distinction is essential in book publishing to ensure accurate colour reproduction.

RGB (Red, Green, Blue) is the colour model used for digital screens such as monitors, smartphones, and tablets. It combines red, green and blue light in varying intensities to create a broad spectrum of colours. RGB is an additive colour model, meaning the more light is added, the closer the result gets to white. It is ideal for digital content because screens emit light, which allows for a vibrant and wide range of colours.

CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) on the other hand, is the colour model used for printing. It is a subtractive colour model, meaning colours are created by subtracting light reflected from the paper using inks. The black (K) component is added for depth and contrast, as combining cyan, magenta, and yellow alone cannot produce a true black. CMYK is suited to physical printing because printers layer these four ink colours to recreate the intended image or design.

In book publishing, it is essential to convert RGB to CMYK when preparing artwork for print. Colours that appear vibrant on a screen in RGB may look duller when printed in CMYK. This is because the printable colour range (gamut) is smaller than that of RGB. Designers often work in RGB for flexibility but must convert files to CMYK before printing to ensure the colours are accurate and reproducible. Failure to make this conversion can result in unexpected shifts in colour, particularly for bright or neon hues that CMYK cannot replicate.

Understanding and using the correct colour model ensures that digital artwork translates accurately into the printed book, delivering a professional and visually appealing final product. Yet again, it’s what Tricorn Books does best.

Types of cover

Case binding, often referred to as hardback or hardcover binding. Case binding is a traditional and durable method of bookbinding where the book block (the pages) is securely attached to a rigid cover.

A pasted cover is a specific technique within casebinding where the cover material, typically paper or printed artwork, is adhered directly to the rigid board used for the book’s outer casing.

The process begins with the construction of the book block, which involves folding, gathering and sewing or gluing the pages together. Once the book block is prepared, it is attached to the case. The case consists of three parts: the front and back boards and the spine board. These are cut to size from sturdy materials like greyboard and then covered with the chosen printed or decorative material.

In the pasted cover method, the printed cover design is first laminated or finished for durability and then glued directly onto the boards. This technique ensures the cover is both protective and visually appealing. The cover is then wrapped around the boards, with the edges neatly folded and glued on the inside to create a seamless finish. Endpapers are used to attach the book block to the case, concealing the edges of the pasted cover and providing additional strength.

Case binding with a pasted cover is widely used for high-quality books, including novels, non-fiction works and coffee table books. It offers a premium look and feel, making it a popular choice for authors and publishers aiming for a professional, long-lasting product. (Back to pricing)

Softback or paperback starts off in the same way as for case binding with a book black. But, as the name suggests, there is no rigid ‘casing’. The cover consists of a folded sheet of slightly thicker paper printed with the cover design. This is then wrapped around the book block and glued down the spine.

Paperbacks are lighter in the hand, cheaper to produce and therefore cheaper to buy. They are often available for a print-on-demand solution. However, they’re not as durable and often aren’t as pleasing to the eye. But, as they say, it’s ‘horses for courses’ and most importantly, the choice is yours.

Different sizes in book printing and industry terms

Book printing involves a variety of standard sizes, each suited to specific types of content and reading experiences. These sizes, often referred to by their traditional names, are important considerations for both publishers and authors, as they affect aesthetics, functionality and cost. Below is an overview of the most common book sizes used in the UK:

1. A-series sizes

Derived from the ISO 216 standard, A-sizes are widely used for books and printed materials in the UK and Europe.

• A4 (210mm x 297mm): often used for textbooks, manuals or large-format books where illustrations or diagrams require ample space.
• A5 (148mm x 210mm): a popular choice for novels, journals and general non-fiction. Compact and easy to handle, it balances readability with portability.
• A6 (105mm x 148mm): ideal for pocket-sized books, such as short novels, poetry collections or travel guides.

2. Trade sizes

These sizes are common in the publishing industry and often differ between markets.

• Demy (138mm x 216mm): frequently used for paperbacks and novels. This size offers a comfortable reading experience and is economical for printing.
• Royal (156mm x 234mm): a larger size commonly used for hardbacks, premium non-fiction and academic books, providing a more substantial and elegant appearance.

3. Pocket and Digest Sizes

• Pocket (111mm x 178mm): perfect for mass-market paperbacks This smaller size is designed for portability and convenience.
• Digest (140mm x 216mm): slightly larger than demy, this size is often used for magazines, manuals or smaller trade paperbacks.

4. Oversized Formats

These sizes cater to books with visual emphasis.

• Quarto (190mm x 250mm): often used for art books, cookbooks and children’s books, providing space for large illustrations.
• Coffee table (typically 250mm x 300mm or larger): used for visually rich content such as photography or design books, offering a luxurious, expansive format.

Choosing the Right Size

The size you choose depends on your book’s purpose, audience and content. Smaller formats like A6 and pocket-sized are excellent for portability and casual reading. Larger formats like royal or quarto offer an elegant, high-quality look suited to visually intensive or academic works. Each size has its strengths, and understanding these options ensures the final product meets your creative and practical needs. (Back to pricing)

The Difference Between Litho and Digital Book Printing

Litho (short for lithographic) printing and digital printing are two distinct methods used in book production, each with its own advantages and ideal use cases. Understanding their differences is useful for selecting the most appropriate method based on your project’s needs.

1. Litho Printing is a traditional technique that uses printing plates and ink to transfer the image or text onto paper. The process involves creating a plate for each colour (typically CMYK) and using a high-speed printing press to produce large quantities of books.

Key Features of Litho Printing:

• Cost-effective for large print runs: litho printing has higher setup costs due to the creation of plates. However, the per-unit cost decreases significantly with larger print quantities, making it ideal for print runs of 500 copies or more.
• High quality: this method produces exceptional print quality with precise colour reproduction and sharp text.
• Customisation limitations: each plate is fixed, so altering content or personalisation is not feasible once the plates are made.

2. Digital printing, by contrast, is a modern process that transfers the image or text directly from a digital file to the printer without the need for plates. It’s a more flexible and faster method for producing smaller quantities.

Key Features of Digital Printing:

• Best for short runs: digital printing is cost-effective for small print runs (1-500 copies) as it doesn’t require the setup of plates.
• Quick turnaround: with no plate preparation involved, digital printing offers faster production times. Ideal for on-demand printing.
• Flexibility: content can be easily customised between prints, allowing for personalised editions or quick corrections.
• Quality: while digital printing has improved significantly, it may not match the precision and colour consistency of litho printing, particularly for large areas of solid colour.

Choosing the Right Method

• Choose litho printing if you require a large print run with high-quality colour consistency. Alternatively, if your project includes full-colour spreads or fine details that demand precision.
• Choose digital printing for smaller print runs, quick turnarounds or when you need customisation options, such as personalised covers or changes to content.

Both methods have their strengths. The choice depends on factors like print volume, budget, quality requirements and the time available for production. (Back to pricing)

Yet again, that’s where Tricorn Books can step in to advise you. Give us a call on 07786 184505 to find out.