information you can use ...  

Here’s some information that will help you become better informed about various aspects of book production.

1. Formats
Your printer will require your book to be submitted in a certain format. Format refers to the type of file format used to create your document. It also refers to the file format of the pictures, artwork or other items placed within your document.

If you create your document in a program like Adobe InDesign all your pics, artwork, etc. will be embedded into the document and will not need to be submitted separately. If your document is done in Microsoft Publisher or Word you will need to provide your pics, artwork, etc. in the file format required by your printer.

The files you submit need to have the highest resolution or dots per inch (dpi) possible in order for you pics and artwork to appear clear and crisp.

The standard formats are TIF, Jpeg or eps. Jpegs are the most common file format used, but they may not provide the resolution needed to have your pic reproduce clearly in print. Your Jpeg file would need to be at least 300 dpi to print a clear picture. In addition, a Jpeg is a file that can’t be easily enlarged. It loses a lot of resolution when enlarged beyond its original size and will look grainy or pixelated.

A TIFF is usually a large file, but captures the quality of your pic, artwork, etc. If you take photos or have artwork done for your book, ask your photographer or designer to save files at the largest dpi possible.

Sometimes files need to be enlarged beyond the typical file size and have to be created as vector-based images. These vector-based or Encapsulated Postscript (EPS) files can be enlarged to sizes needed for something as large as a billboard.

We recommend avoiding pics or artwork in a bitmap or gif formats for your book; they may not have the best resolution; however, these formats work great for websites.

2. Binding types
There are several methods of binding for your book. Some of it depends or the size of your book, the functionality of your book even the sturdiness of your book. The most common types of book bindings are featured below.

Hardcover binding: Just as its name implies, this binding provides a hard cover usually made of cloth, leather or textured paper. This is good choice for a book that needs to be sturdy.

Perfect binding: This is the preferred binding for soft cover (paperback) books. It is a binding method that fastens the book block to the spine with an adhesive.

Spiral binding: This is a punch and bind system that uses plastic or wire coils that are punched through holes on the book’s edge. This binding is great for cookbooks or workbooks, anything book that needs to be opened and stay flat. It also allows pages to be flipped over easily. The punch and bind method is also used with plastic combs which aren’t as attractive as the plastic or wire coils. Plastic combs are most often seen on office documents.

3. Book printers
Again, the internet is a great place to find a book printer. You may have one locally but if they are not in the business of printing books, it will probably cost you much more than a company who deals with book printing will charge.

By the way, book printers do provide formatting of your document, cover design as well as book templates and cover templates for you if you don’t have a cover or a book style in mind. The templates are usually included in the price of your book, but may cost depending on cover paper weight and colors used in your selection.

Your print cost will be based on the colors used in your book, the number of pages, the weight of the paper and the size of your book. Needles to say,a soft-cover, black and white book printed on standard 70# text and with under 64 pages will be less expensive than a 4-color, heavy-weight paper, hardcover book of 300 pages. The information you receive from the book printer should provide the cost breakdowns.

Some book printers also offer Print on Demand. This allows you to print books based on the orders you receive. Print on Demand requirements will vary so check with each prospective book printer to find out what their Print on Demand policies are.

Book printers will send you info on their process and samples of the books they’ve printed. Make sure you request both.

4. Selling your book with a bookstore
If you want to sel your book on Amazon.com or BarnesandNoble.com, you’ll need to know how to submit your book. You’ll need to become a vendor of record with them. Instead of going into detail here, the website addresses for this information are provided below.
http://advantage.amazon.com/gp/vendor/public/join-advantage-books
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/help/cds2.asp?PID=8148