6 Important Things to Consider before Printing a Book so that the Results are Professional

Illustration. (Photo: Unsplash)

JAKARTA - For writers or book publishers, printing a book is a big step. The creative process of writing is only half of the journey. The other half of the journey is turning the digital manuscript into a physical form that is comfortable to read and pleasing to the eye.

Unfortunately, this production stage is often a nightmare for those who are inexperienced. Common problems often arise unexpectedly. Starting from the print result whose color does not match the monitor screen, the wrong choice of paper type that causes the writing to be translucent, to the size of the book that does not fit when cut (trimming).

Technical errors like this waste money and time, as well as lower the credibility of the author or publisher in the eyes of the reader. Imagine a novel whose story is amazing, but printed on paper that is dazzling or a volume that is easy to detach. Of course, the reader's experience is unpleasant, isn't it?

Therefore, to avoid confusion and fatal mistakes in printing books, many people end up choosing a book printing that understands the production process in its entirety.

Why is the Book Printing Process Need to Be Prepared Maturely?

Printing a book is a production process that involves many important technical details. Inadequate preparation can lead to fatal errors, such as the wrong size of paper or the color result that does not match the design on the screen.

These mistakes certainly waste time and result in huge cost losses because you have to reprint from the beginning. Therefore, careful planning is essential to ensure that the book printing results look professional and comfortable when read.

Guide in the Book Printing Process

So that your manuscript can become a quality book, here are step-by-step guidelines that need to be carefully considered.

1. Determine the Purpose and Type of Book from the Beginning

The first step is to define the purpose and identity of the book you will print. This determination is very important because it will affect all the technical specifications of the book, from size to layout.

For example, fiction novels generally prioritize the convenience of reading text for a long duration. Therefore, this type of book usually uses standard sizes such as A5 or novel size.

In contrast, a photography book or product catalog focuses more on the visual aspect. This type of book tends to require a larger size, even often using a landscape orientation so that the image display looks maximum.

2. Choose the Paper Type that Matches the Printing Needs

One of the most common mistakes is the inaccuracy of choosing the type of paper. In the world of book printing, there are three types of paper that are most commonly used:

1. Bookpaper (Novel Paper): Has a light texture and a slightly yellowish color, ideal for novels because it does not make the eyes tired quickly when reading long texts.

2. HVS: Offers high contrast between ink and background, making it a great choice for textbooks, theses, or formal documents.

3. Art Paper/Matte Paper: A smooth surface that is able to display colors sharply, used for magazines or company profiles that contain many visual images.

3. Make sure the File and Layout are Ready to Print

Before sending a manuscript to the printer, make sure your file is in a printable format. Avoid sending raw files like Microsoft Word if possible, because spaces and fonts can shift when opened on different devices. The PDF format is the most secure industry standard.

In addition to the format, also pay attention to the margins and bleed. Bleed is an area beyond the book's cutting line to anticipate the cutting knife to shift so that there is no white line on the edge of the page (especially for full page images).

4. Determine the Cover and the Correct Binding Method

The cover is the first face of your book. Before the content is read, the cover is the first to speak. Therefore, the selection of the type of cover is not just about design, but about how your book wants to be perceived. The doff lamination finish gives an elegant and exclusive impression, while the glossy presents a brighter and more striking appearance. To strengthen the character of the title, the emboss (emerging) or spot UV touch on certain parts can add aesthetic value while increasing the visual appeal of your book.

Next, determine the binding method that suits the character of the book. Perfect binding (hot glue) is the standard for books of medium to thick thickness. If the book is thin, saddle stitch (middle staples) may be enough. For documents that need to be opened fully up to 180 degrees, spiral binding (wire binding) is the best choice.

5. Calculate the Production Timeline of Printing Books

Don't underestimate the production time. Printing a book is not an instant process. There are pre-press stages (file checking), printing process, ink drying, binding, to final cutting.

If you need books for a launch event or seminar on a certain date, communicate the deadline from the start. Ideally, give yourself enough time to avoid delays if there are technical issues.

6. Choose a Reliable and Experienced Book Printing

As previously discussed, the process of printing a book involves many complex technical details. From the selection of paper weight, accuracy of cutting (trimming), to a strong and neat binding technique. Because each of these stages has important variables that are at risk if handled carelessly, choosing a trusted and experienced book printing service is a very crucial step.

One of the book printing service providers that has proven to be able to handle the entire production process professionally is BU Printing & Packaging. With more than 15 years of experience in the book printing industry, BU Printing & Packaging implements a structured work process and strict quality control to ensure that every book printing result looks neat, precise, and consistent.

Not only superior in terms of quality, BU Printing & Packaging also provides reliable production speed solutions. There is a 1-day fast book printing service, which is very helpful for urgent needs without sacrificing the quality of the printed result.

Using professional printing services is not just printing ink on paper, but ensuring the quality of the book as a whole. By entrusting the book printing process to BU Printing & Packaging, you can run production more efficiently, minimize the risk of errors, and produce books that look professional and comfortable to read.