Perfect Bound Booklets

What are the minimum and maximum perfect bound book dimensions?

The maximum finish size we can produce for perfect bound books is 12” x 9”. The minimum perfect bound size is 4.5” x 5.5”, with 5.5” being the bound edge. The minimum thickness is 1/16” and there is no maximum thickness.

How do I count the number of pages in my book?

Please count all pages in your book, including the front cover, back cover, inner covers, and interior pages. The number of pages in your artwork file should match this number. The example below shows a booklet with 8 pages.

What’s the difference between pages and sheets?

A single sheet of paper has two sides, as shown on the left below. When the sheet is folded in half, it creates 4 different pages, as shown on the right below.

How do I arrange pages for printing? Do I need to impose them?

Please order your pages how you want them to appear in your finished booklet. We will do all imposition for you. Page 1 in your document will be the front cover, followed by the front inner cover (add a blank page here if you want a blank inner cover). The second to last page in your document will be the back inner cover (add a blank page here if you want a blank inner cover) and the final page in your document will be the back cover. The example below shows the page order of an 8 page booklet.

What size should my document be in my design file?

Your document in your design file should match your desired finish size. For example, if you want an 8.5” x 11” booklet, your pages should be sized to 8.5” x 11” in your design file. Your page orientation should also match how you want your final book to appear. For example, if you want your final book to be in portrait orientation, your design file should also be in portrait orientation.

Do I need to include bleed? How about a safety margin?

Yes! Please include a 0.125” bleed on all 4 sides of each page. To avoid content being cut off in the spine, please create a safety margin that keeps all important info 0.25” away from the spine.

How big should my margins be?

To avoid content being cut off during the trimming and perfect binding process, please create a safety margin that keeps all important info at least 0.25” away from all page edges.

Should I submit my PDF in spreads or individual pages?

Your PDF should be submitted as individual pages within one PDF file. They should NOT be exported as spreads or imposed. Your cover should be included as separate pages in this PDF, unless you have a design or text that crosses the spine. If this is the case for your cover, please provide a separate PDF spread with your inner and outer cover designs.

Can I print crossovers with booklets that are perfect bound?

Definitely! A crossover is where an image crosses a book’s spine. Crossovers can be challenging to get right, so here are our suggestions. We recommend against putting any main subjects in photos or key information in crossover areas. Having a person’s face or text in the spine can look unappealing or illegible.

Since perfect bound books do not lay flat, images will need to be moved away from the spine to compensate for the space needed for binding. We recommend ordering a hard proof to double check your crossover.

What is the minimum and maximum number of pages my perfect bound booklet can have?

Your book must have at least 28 pages and an additional 4 page cover. There is no maximum page number.

Can I add artwork to the spine? How do I know how big to make my spine’s design?

Yes! We can add both text and images to your book’s spine. Please ask us about your book’s thickness and we can provide dimensions for your spine’s design.

How do I choose the right booklet binding?

The right binding method is based on the specifications of your project. Page count is a huge factor. Smaller page counts are perfect for our saddle-stitched binding, while longer books would benefit from perfect or hardcover binding. Our Wire-O binding is available for books of any length. Saddle-stitched booklets work well with images that crossover the spine. They are great for short programs, leaflets, and zines. Perfect bound books have a clean and professional look with discreet binding. They are great for magazines, paperback books, and manuals. Wire-O books are able to lay flat, making them great for cookbooks, notebooks, and calendars.

If you would like more personalized advice about which binding method is right for your project, please reach out to our customer service team.

Is pricing affected if only one page of my booklet is in full color?

The answer to this question depends on the quantity and binding style. We will give you the most price-accurate estimate possible if you explain your needs in a custom quote request.

What kind of glue is used for the perfect bound spine?

We use PUR (polyurethane reactive) glue for all of our perfect bound books. This type of binding is very durable, even at extreme temperatures. It is also recyclable, making it a perfect choice for your next eco-friendly book.

Saddle-Stitched Booklets

Why is it called saddle stitch if the binding has staples?

Saddle-stitching gets its name from the saddle-like tool used during the binding process. Collated books are draped over this tool while staples are added.

What are the minimum and maximum dimensions?

The minimum size for a saddle-stitched booklet is 5” x 3”. The maximum size for a saddle-stitched booklet is 12” x 9”.

How do I count the number of pages in my book?

Please count all pages in your book, including the front cover, back cover, inner covers, and interior pages. The number of pages in your artwork file should match this number. The example below shows a booklet with 8 pages.

What’s the difference between pages and sheets?

A single sheet of paper has two sides, as shown on the left below. When the sheet is folded in half, it creates 4 different pages, as shown on the right below.

How do I arrange pages for printing? Do I need to impose them?

Please order your pages how you want them to appear in your finished booklet. We will do all imposition for you. Page 1 in your document will be the front cover, followed by the front inner cover (add a blank page here if you want a blank inner cover). The second to last page in your document will be the back inner cover (add a blank page here if you want a blank inner cover) and the final page in your document will be the back cover. The example below shows the page order of an 8 page booklet.

What size should my document be in my design file?

Your document in your design file should match your desired finish size. For example, if you want an 8.5” x 11” booklet, your pages should be sized to 8.5” x 11” in your design file. Your page orientation should also match how you want your final book to appear. For example, if you want your final book to be in portrait orientation, your design file should also be in portrait orientation.

Do I need to include bleed?

Yes! Please include a 0.125” bleed on all 4 sides of each page.

Do I need to adjust my design for creep?

Nope! We will take care of any adjustments for you.

Should I submit my PDF in spreads or individual pages?

Your PDF should be submitted as individual pages within one PDF file, including the cover. They should NOT be exported as spreads or imposed.

Can I print crossovers with booklets that are saddle stitched?

Definitely! A crossover is where an image crosses a book’s spine. Crossovers can be challenging to get right, so here are our suggestions. We recommend against putting any main subjects in photos or key information in crossover areas. Having a person’s face or text in the spine can look unappealing or illegible.

Saddle-stitched booklets are perfect for crossover images since the stapled binding can open all the way. Crossover images make for stunning catalogs and direct mail booklets. We still recommend ordering a hard proof to ensure that your crossover appears how you want it.

What is the minimum and maximum number of pages my saddle stitch booklet can have?

Saddle-stitched booklets must have at least 8 pages and at most 60 pages. Page counts must be a multiple of 4 or we will need to add in blank pages.

How do I choose the right booklet binding?

The right binding method is based on the specifications of your project. Page count is a huge factor. Smaller page counts are perfect for our saddle-stitched binding, while longer books would benefit from perfect or hardcover binding. Our Wire-O binding is available for books of any length. Saddle-stitched booklets work well with images that crossover the spine. They are great for short programs, leaflets, and zines. Perfect bound books have a clean and professional look with discreet binding. They are great for magazines, paperback books, and manuals. Wire-O books are able to lay flat, making them great for cookbooks, notebooks, and calendars.

If you would like more personalized advice about which binding method is right for your project, please reach out to our customer service team.

Is pricing affected if only one page of my booklet is in full color?

The answer to this question depends on the quantity and binding style. We will give you the most price-accurate estimate possible if you explain your needs in a custom quote request.

Will my saddle-stitched booklet have blank pages?

Due to the binding process, saddle-stitched booklets require the page count to be a multiple of 4. If your booklet does not have a page count that is divisible by 4, we will need to add blank pages. We can add these blank pages anywhere in your booklet. The most common spots are the inner covers and the end of the booklet. If you would like to avoid blank pages, please make sure that your book’s page count is a multiple of 4.

Wire-O Booklets

How do I count the number of pages in my book?

Please count all pages in your book, including the front cover, back cover, inner covers, and interior pages. The number of pages in your artwork file should match this number. The example below shows a booklet with 8 pages.

What’s the difference between pages and sheets?

A single sheet of paper has two sides, as shown on the left below. When the sheet is folded in half, it creates 4 different pages, as shown on the right below.

How do I arrange pages for printing? Do I need to impose them?

Please order your pages how you want them to appear in your finished booklet. We will do all imposition for you. Page 1 in your document will be the front cover, followed by the front inner cover (add a blank page here if you want a blank inner cover). The second to last page in your document will be the back inner cover (add a blank page here if you want a blank inner cover) and the final page in your document will be the back cover. The example below shows the page order of an 8 page booklet.

Do I need to include bleed?

Yes! Please include a 0.125” bleed on all 4 sides of each page.

How big should my margins be? Does the coil affect the margin?

To avoid content being cut off during the trimming process, please create a safety margin that keeps all important info at least 0.25” away from all non-bound page edges. The coil ends at roughly 0.25”, so we recommend keeping all important content at least 0.375” away from the binding edge.

Should I submit my PDF in spreads or individual pages?

Your PDF should be submitted as individual pages within one PDF file, including the cover. They should NOT be exported as spreads or imposed.

What is the minimum and maximum number of pages my booklet can have?

There is no set minimum or maximum page count for Wire-O books. If your book’s thickness is over 1”, please ask us about coil binding. This alternative to Wire-O may be necessary to protect the coil from the weight of the book itself.

How do I choose the right booklet binding?

The right binding method is based on the specifications of your project. Page count is a huge factor. Smaller page counts are perfect for our saddle-stitched binding, while longer books would benefit from perfect or hardcover binding. Our Wire-O binding is available for books of any length. Saddle-stitched booklets work well with images that crossover the spine. They are great for short programs, leaflets, and zines. Perfect bound books have a clean and professional look with discreet binding. They are great for magazines, paperback books, and manuals. Wire-O books are able to lay flat, making them great for cookbooks, notebooks, and calendars.

If you would like more personalized advice about which binding method is right for your project, please reach out to our customer service team.

Are there different wire coil options?

We currently offer black or white wire. Colored wire is also available, but may delay production and add an extra cost.

Is pricing affected if only one page of my booklet is in full color?

The answer to this question depends on the quantity and binding style. We will give you the most price-accurate estimate possible if you explain your needs in a custom quote request.