Book & Booklet Printing

for Self-Publishers, Designers & Indie Authors

We transform your ideas into print, with expert help at every step.

Start My Quote

Guided help for 20+ copies

See Instant Price

Online pricing for 1 to 20 copies

✓ No minimum: print just 1 copy

✓ FREE file check by a real person

✓ Printed & delivered in as little as 3 days

Need help? Chat with Harriet and Mike on hello@exwhyzed.com or 01206 766647

▼ 3 more short videos below: binding · paper · artwork

Print basics · watch first, print with confidence

Three choices. Three short videos. Zero head scratching.

Every project comes down to binding, paper and artwork. Watch all three in a row and you’ll brief us like a pro in under ten minutes.

1 · Which Binding?

Stapled, perfect bound (glued, like a paperback) or hardback? Your page count has already decided, and one picture shows the whole rule.

Read the full Binding Styles guide →

2 · Which Paper?

Silk, gloss or uncoated: what each looks and feels like, plus the insider hack that saves you money.

Read the full Paper Choices guide →

3 · Artwork Made Easy

Bleed, page sizes, cover files and the 3 common mistakes. Then we check (or rebuild) your file for FREE.

Read the full Artwork Hub guide →

Here’s exactly what happens next

From idea to doorstep, in four steps

Tell us your project

The 30 second quote form, or the instant calculator for 1 to 20 copies. Your price lands the same day.

Send whatever you’ve got

Rough or ready. A real person checks your file and offers clear advice on making it ready to print. Free and fast.

Approve your proof

Your preview to sign off before we print the run. Until approval you can still make changes to the artwork.

Printed in Colchester, UK

Stapled booklets with you in 3 days, perfect bound books in 5 and hardbacks in 7 days. Free UK tracked delivery.

Start My Quote

…or just ring Mike & Harriet on 01206 766647. Real people, no chatbots, and we love the tricky questions.

Straight to your project

What can we print for you?

View All Products >>>

Don't Just Take our word for it

Loved by the people who print with us

So impressive! I can’t see how anyone could improve on them!

picture of Waldemar Januszczak in yellow background

Waldemar Januszczak
Art Critic, Journalist, TV Producer

"Made my dreams come true"

Annie Brooks
Artist and Self-Publisher

Trusted by 1000s of self-publishers, artists & leading brands

new to printing? we've got you

Six reasons your project is in safe hands

✎

500+ Real Case Studies (not AI)

Browse hundreds of real projects we've actually printed. Proper inspiration, and not a single AI mockup.

⚡

We Actually Care

Real people who've been printing books since 2006: friendly, genuinely knowledgeable and usually replying within minutes.

▤

Super Easy Printing from PDF

Design in whatever program you love, save it as a PDF, send it over. Never done it before? A real person checks it for free.

❖

Order a Test Copy First

No minimum means you can print a single copy, check the paper and layout in your own hands, then run the full batch with total confidence.

➜

Free Paper Samples

Silk, gloss, uncoated or kraft: we'll post you the real thing, so you never have to judge colour and feel off a screen.

★

We'll Hit Your Deadline

Degree hand in, launch day or a fair this weekend: tell us your date up front. We'll say straight away if it's doable, then build the whole job around it.

Ready when you are >>>

Start My Quote →

Guided help for 20+ copies.

See Instant Price

Online pricing for 1 to 20 copies

Grab the Popcorn and Enjoy Our Much Loved Video Guides

(220,000+ views and counting!)

Why our customers love us

Help at every stage

Quick response customer service

The best quality printing

Super helpful set up guides

Friendly, expert advice and always available.

Ex Why Zed has built a reputation for providing our customers with a level of customer service that is second to none. We care about your printing and take a keen interest in your job from the outset, whether you require a one off book for a student project, a handful of zines or a self-published book to showcase your latest creative idea.

Printing isn't a daunting experience

It's 2026 and it has never been easier to self-publish your work. We are the best alternative to traditional publishing houses. Save money and time.

Just wondering about something?

Our friendly staff are always around to help and guide you into the right path.

Catch us on email, phone or live chat

We may be an online company, but we are real people who are here to quickly answer your questions.

Your artwork looking brilliant in print

We use the most advanced print presses to transform your ideas into print at the best possible quality: HP Indigo Digital and Heidelberg Litho, for all you print spotters out there :) Digital printing tends to be most cost effective for up to 500 copies. On longer print runs, of 500 copies or more, we will tend to litho print your work to achieve the maximum quality at the best price.

Enjoy 500 Case Studies

Printing that makes you smile

Our presses are the best on the market invoking happiness and joy when you receive your printing.

Fair pricing

At Ex Why Zed, we enjoy helping you transform your ideas into print and price all our jobs fairly to make that idea into a reality.

A zillion options

We try our absolute best to say "Yes" and offer a solution to every request no matter how bespoke.

We just need a PDF file to print your work

We give you all the tools you need to quickly and easily prepare print ready artwork. You will become a file setup genius. It might take a little time on the first project, but for future editions, you know exactly what you're doing.

When it is time to start artworking your final book take 5 minutes to read through our file set up guides and watch our video guides. We have made them as user friendly as possible but if you’re stuck drop us a call or email for a quick answer.

Artwork setup made easy

Action packed, comprehensive video guides

We have lovingly curated a series videos to showcase options for printing zines, degree show catalogues and hardback books.

Use your favourite design program

Our guides are for Adobe InDesign but do use the layout program you are most familiar with. Good software options are Quark Express, Affinity Publisher and even Word or Publisher.

Illustrated online guides

Relax and methodically work through our illustrated guides and your artwork will be set up perfectly for print.

green without the greenwash

Your Sustainable Printing Partner

Read a more in-depth view

By aligning with industry pioneers HP and Heidelberg, we ensure that our printing is not only of exceptional quality but also eco-friendly. As the go-to UK sustainable printer, we’re dedicated to eco-friendly digital and litho printing, making a tangible difference with every print job.

• 100% of our jobs are printed onto FSC Papers
• All our litho printed jobs utilise vegetable inks
• We offer FSC and Recycled Paper Choices
• No minimum order quantity means no excess wastage
• Fast press set-up ensures low material and energy usage

The next time you print with Ex Why Zed, know that you’re making a choice that counts.

FAQs

Answers to your last few questions

If you were "just wondering" about something, well “just wonder” no more, here are the answers!

We have done our best to give you a huge wealth of information on this page and in our guides, but here are some frequently asked questions to help you get your work into print.

Explore the Knowledge Base

How long does the printing take?

Stapled booklets are with you in 3 working days, perfect bound books in 5 and hardbacks in 7, with free UK tracked delivery. The clock starts once your artwork is approved for print. Bespoke solutions do take longer. If you are working to a crucial hand in deadline then do leave more time in case there are any artwork issues with your files or courier problems with delivery.

Will it look like it does on screen?

Unfortunately what is seen on an RGB, backlit screen is never going to be the same as it appears on paper in CMYK. It's just impossible to achieve that and no printer can. You do have to allow for some difference in the colour reproduction between the two mediums but seeing the images on paper gives the publication a tangible charm that just sending out a pdf wont do.

Why aren't your prices online?

Use our intuitive Instant Printing Quote Calculator to get immediate accurate pricing for 1 to 20 copies. Quickly customise your book specifications, explore binding and paper options. The price updates as you make choices.

If you just need a quick and cheap price then, great, there are a hundred companies online for that. If you are looking for someone who listens to your requirements, spends time working out a bespoke price just for YOUR project and then prints it at the best possible quality...then welcome to Ex Why Zed.

We are sure you will find no fun in looking at a boring spreadsheet with rows and rows of bemusing numbers, so we don't put you though that.

How do I place my order?

Please upload the files using www.wetransfer.com sending them to hello@exwhyzed.com and in the comments box let us know the number of copies you're going for and the best address for delivery. We'll then give your artwork a free preflight check to highlight any potential issues and will email with any advice or recommendations before going to production.

Where are you based?

We are in England's oldest recorded town and newest city, Colchester Essex.