Every printed book starts as a file, and most delays come from the file, not the press. Here is the checklist we give every author before the proof copy is made.
1. Fix the page size first
Decide the trim size early — A5 and 5.5 × 8.5 inches are the most common for novels and poetry. Everything else, from margins to page count, follows from it.
2. Leave generous margins
Keep at least 20 mm on the inner edge, where the pages are bound, and 15 mm elsewhere. Text that sits too close to the spine disappears into the fold.
A book that is easy to read is almost always a book that was easy to print.
3. Embed fonts, flatten images
Send a PDF with all fonts embedded and images at 300 dpi. Non-Latin fonts in particular can change when a file is opened on another computer — a PDF keeps them exactly as you set them.
4. Mind the bleed
If a picture or colour runs to the edge of the page, extend it 3 mm beyond the trim line. The press cuts the sheets after printing, and the bleed hides tiny shifts.
Not sure about any of this? Send us the file as it is — we will check it, mark what needs fixing and show you a proof before a single copy is printed.
Reads every manuscript first and keeps the final text true to the author's voice.
