When preparing the print file for a perfect binding book (softcover or hardcover), we always recommend downloading the instructions and template provided on the product page under the “Select price and delivery date” section. This will make it much easier to set up your artwork correctly, especially for the cover.
We offer two types of covers:
Softcover: both the outside and inside are printed, so the template includes two spread pages for the cover
Hardcover: only the outside is printed, so the template includes a single spread page for the cover artwork
The template starts with the pages dedicated to the cover. You can easily open it with Adobe Illustrator. If you are using InDesign, we recommend importing only the cover page (or pages) from the template onto a new layer.
Follow the guidelines carefully to place your artwork and text correctly, taking the spine position into account.
Example of a Hardcover book:
Example of a Softcover book:
Bleed: shown in green, this is the outermost line. Extend any background graphics or full-bleed images (those that cover the entire cover area) all the way to this line
Cut: shown in magenta, this line is located between the bleed and the inner guidelines. It marks the visible area of the cover after your book has been trimmed and bound
Fold: shown in red with dashed lines, it indicates where the cover will be folded to create the spine. Place any text you want to appear on the spine between the two innermost fold lines
Safe Area: shown in red with a solid line, it marks the area where you should place important text and graphics, ensuring they remain clearly visible on the final printed product
Example of a hardcover with the spine laid out correctly and the corresponding printed result:
Example of a hard cover with the the spine laid incorrectly and the corresponding printed result:
If you choose not to use the template, you'll find all the information you need to create a correct file from scratch in the instructions. Please remember that the spine width is always specified in the quote, once you've filled in all the product specifications.
Once you've placed your order, you can choose to upload either a single file (including both the cover and inner pages) or two separate files (one for the cover and one for the inside pages) via the dedicated file upload area.
If you still have any doubt please contact us: we'll be happy to help you!