Perfect-Bound Softcover Books

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Perfect-bound softcover books offer a durable and cost-effective solution, even for small print runs. Digital printing helps reduce the cost of self-publishing, allowing you to produce exactly as many copies as needed – economically and sustainably.

Pages are precisely trimmed and glued to the spine with a strong adhesive, resulting in a book that opens well and remains stable over time. As a classic book format, it’s ideal for literary publications, academic collections, or theses. It also works beautifully for softcover magazine-style editions, especially when paired with a special cover substrate – such as creative paper, natural textures, or subtle surface patterns.

For a printer, bookmaking is one of the most rewarding parts of the craft – it’s why the profession exists. Back when books were typeset with lead letters, the density of the lines had physical meaning, and hours of syllable-counting became a meditative act. We see printing as both a physical and intellectual pursuit – a shared space for artists and professionals. The field evolves year by year, but the goal remains the same: to share a worthy idea with an audience.

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Basic properties
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Basic properties

 The size refers to the closed format of the book. The total number of pages must be divisible by 2 — here’s why.

 
Dimension of the trimmed product.
Trimmed width.
Trimmed height.
Must be dividable by: 2
Cover options
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Cover options

Not sure what “outside” or “inside” of the cover means? Or what makes spot colors special? This guide explains it in detail.

Cover type
 
You can select up to two different direct colors
You can select up to two different direct colors
Lamination of the outside of the cover
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Inside pages options
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Inside pages options

How should you select the printing method for the inner pages? Simple: consider whether the content is in color or black and white.
If every page is consistently color or black and white, choose accordingly. If it’s mixed, count how many pages contain color elements and how many are entirely black and white.

 
/ 2
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/ 2
color_mix_bw
/ 2
Here you can set how many pages
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Here you can set how many pages
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Here you can set how many pages
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Here you can set how many pages
Additional options
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Additional options

You can request corner rounding for your softcover book — in this case, both the cover and inner pages will be rounded in the style you choose.

 
Number of copies
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Number of copies

Costs do not increase linearly — the more books you order, the better the unit price.

Ordering
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Ordering

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Editing guide

Design  /  Avoid using fonts smaller than 5 pt or with very thin lines — their printability depends largely on the smoothness of the chosen substrate. For creative papers with different front and back sides, please specify which side the design should be printed on. Gold and silver elements may not show well on very thin lines or small areas. For deep black areas, we recommend using CMYK 60/50/50/100.
Due to possible trimming inaccuracies, avoid using thin or unprinted borders around the edge of the page — even a 0.5 mm shift can make the border look noticeably uneven.

Layout  /  For a clean and professional look, it’s common to start each main chapter or section on a right-hand (odd-numbered) page. Be sure to include blank pages in your submitted file where needed.
The inside front and back covers, along with the first and last pages of the inner content, will be glued together along a 7 mm strip.

Flap Cover  /  Flap covers are often used for author bios, recommendations, or summaries — they add an elegant touch to the book.

Durability  /  Lamination provides good durability for the cover — it’s strongly recommended if you want a product that holds up over time.

Binding  /  Standard hot-melt binding is suitable for most uses. If the book needs to withstand heavy use, we recommend PUR binding for extra strength.

General Setup  /  The most reliable file format is PDF/X-4 — it ensures optimal compression and proper embedding of fonts and colors. All images should be in CMYK color mode and 300 dpi resolution at actual size. If you're using extra (spot) colors, the printable areas must be vector-based.
If your design reaches the edge of the print, include a 3 mm bleed. Crop marks should be 3 mm long and placed 3 mm from the edge.

Perfect-Bound Softcover Books

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