Hey there! We’re Ex Why Zed, and guess what? We’re not just another bland, faceless online company. Nope, we’re bursting with creativity, efficiency, and a sprinkle of fun to make your print journey an absolute joy.
Reach out to us and prepare to be pleasantly surprised by our fair pricing and what you can achieve for your budget. Our over-riding ethos is to help you get your work into print.
Let’s work together and make self-published book printing a smile-inducing experience! Your stories, dreams, and ideas deserve more than just words on a page. They deserve an embodiment of elegance, a tangible treasure that captures the essence of your creativity. That’s where hardback books shine, and that’s where we excel.
“Great printer with ❤️ I defy you to watch their helpful videos and not be convinced this company has its clients’ interests at heart. Nothing has been too much trouble (I had loads of questions) and I am thrilled with the quality and results. Highly recommend.” 
Fiona McWilliam, June 2023.
Looking for ideas on how to create and print an impressive limited edition art book? Well, we have compiled the definitive guide to methodically guide you through the entire process.
We take you on a comprehensive journey through the art of producing a high-end hardback book. The video demystifies the process of case binding, comparing it with perfect bound, soft back books, and explaining the nuances that make hardback books more resilient and luxurious. The video delves deep into the construction of the hardback cover, showcasing the three sections of grey board that give the book its robust feel.
Viewers are also introduced to the importance of endpapers, which not only add aesthetic value but play a crucial role in binding the text block to the cover. The video emphasises the importance of design considerations, such as ensuring content isn’t too close to the spine, to enhance the reader’s experience. Additionally, the video explores various cover options, from standard printed covers to those with intricate designs using spot UV varnish.
This video is a must-watch for anyone looking to self-publish a publication they’re proud of, be it for a personal life’s work project, university assignments, or to promote your business endeavour. Dive in to discover the magic behind creating a premium art book that stands out on any coffee table!
Bringing a book idea to life starts with a spark of inspiration then before you know it, you’re ready to hold a printed hardback in your hands. Here’s a quick walkthrough to guide you from conceptualisation to completion:
Step-by-Step Guide:
It’s our unwavering commitment to you. We’re not just here to print; we’re here to guide, to advise, and to share in the joy of bringing your vision to life. Our team of experts is on standby, ready to answer every query, address every concern, and ensure your hardcover art book printing journey is as seamless and enjoyable as possible.
With Ex Why Zed, you’re not just getting a printed book; you’re getting an experience. An experience of collaboration, excellence, and the sheer joy of holding your thoughts, encapsulated in a custom printed hardcover book, crafted to perfection. So, why wait? Dive into the world of premium printing with and let your artwork shine brighter than ever!
Don’t Settle For Ordinary
Choosing the right partner for your hardback book printing is essential. At Ex Why Zed, we’re more than just a service provider; we’re storytellers at heart, passionate about bringing narratives to life. Our commitment to excellence, paired with our love for the craft, ensures your book isn’t just printed but crafted. So, why settle for ordinary when you can have extraordinary?
First up, here is a quick video to show the hardback binding process, how our books are constructed and the mechanics for combining the cover, end-papers and inside pages into one finished publication.
The beauty of working with Ex Why Zed is the plethora of options at your disposal. Whether you’re looking for a printed or material cover, a unique custom size or a premium finish on the cover, we’ve got you covered. Our team is always on hand to guide you through the choices, ensuring that your hardback book is exactly as you envisioned. If your request is physically possible, w’ll always do our best to say “Yes” rather than placing any silly constraints on your creativity.
We buy all of our materials from Winter & Co so do take a look through their range for hundreds of options on texture, finish and colour:
This is good for a coloured smooth option:
https://www.winter-company.com/en/products-a-z/wibalin/natural
And for more texture, check out:
https://www.winter-company.com/en/products-a-z/wibalin/buckram/
These cannot be printed onto so any content, like a logo or title, will need to be foiled. To be transparent from the off, the material will be around £180-220 and the foiling adds a further £280. So while it will make for a visually great hardback book, it is an expensive addition on small print runs.
We want you to make an informed decision when you choose the type of paper to use and decide on how you want your book to turn out. Ask us for a paper sample pack in advance so you know how turning each page will feel.
We understand the importance of absolute quality. Here is a selection of the very best work we have printed since 2006. Take a look, if you’re shooting for the stars, then these are the print specs, styling and creative ideas that have rocked our world and proven to be big hits.
File 1. The outer cover file is a flat spread based on our hardback cover guide.
File 2. Front End Papers (3 sides are visible)
File 3. Back End Papers (3 sides are visible)
Again, this a two-page file with two double-page spreads at twice the width of your text pages. Page 1 is the reverse of the endpaper so keep the left-hand half of that page blank because it’s glued to the inside back cover. Page 2 is the last spread before you close the book’s back cover.
The end-papers can be left blank and unprinted too which reduces the cost.
File 4. The inside text pages – your main content.
These are supplied as single pages in reading order rather than in spreads. Our video guide showcases many page layout ideas that really work for children’s books, photography books and high end coffee table books.
We understand it can be technical and hardback book layout can be more complicated than both soft back books and booklets. Here is a clever video showing the process of binding a hardback book.
If you have never printed anything before and this all sounds like a foreign language, don’t worry, remember we are here to help on email, phone and live chat. If it is out of office hours then all of the answers are all in the Resource section on our website too.
Enjoy looking through a self published, hardback photography book from Michal Augustini. ‘First Three, No Flash’ is a collection of iconic moments from live shows.
Any questions, do give us a shout, remember we are here to help on email, phone and live chat.
These specs are here to inspire and guide you. Use them as a blueprint for your quotations or, if you have specific requirements, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team via email. We’re here to help!
Three Showcases:
A4 Case Bound Books:
Cover onto 170gsm Silk
Wrapped over greyboard case
Matt laminated to the outer
2x 4pp End Papers unprinted onto 170gsm Uncoated
134 inside pages onto 115gsm Uncoated
Full colour print throughout
Trimmed, collated, and case bound
210x210mm Books:
4pp Cover onto 170gsm Silk
Matt Lamination to outer
Wrapped over greyboard case
2x 4pp Printed end papers onto 170gsm Uncoated
44pp Text onto 170gsm Silk
Four colour print throughout
Trimmed, collated, and case bound
280x205mm Case Bound Books:
Cover onto 170gsm Silk
Wrapped over greyboard case
Matt laminated to outer
2x 4pp End Papers Printed onto 170gsm Uncoated
128 inside pages onto 170gsm Silk
Four colour print throughout
Trimmed, collated, and case bound
Plus a Limited Edition with gold foiling to the front cover
Suggestions:
While these specifications have delivered impressive results for many of our clients, we understand that every story is unique. Don’t feel constrained! If you envision a different texture, weight, or finishing touch for your hardback book, let’s discuss. We’re all about crafting a product that’s authentically you!
More video help from our Showcase Snippet Videos
What sets us apart?
It’s our passion for print. We take pride in every book that leaves our factory, ensuring that each one meets our stringent quality standards. From the choice of paper to the binding technique, every detail is meticulously crafted to perfection. Increasingly we are seeing a trend towards authors producing both hardback and softback versions of their books to target different markets and price points – we can of course print both versions for you.
Here at Ex Why Zed, we will work with you to ensure you get the very best, most attractive and professional-looking version of your book. Having worked with some of the biggest brands in the UK and beyond, we’re confident we can produce unique, bespoke results that showcase the messages you want to deliver.
Why trust us with your project?
With hundreds of successful projects under our belt, we’ve earned the trust of authors and businesses alike. Our reviews speak volumes about our dedication to customer satisfaction. Plus, with our comprehensive resources and video guides, we ensure that you’re well-informed at every step of the journey.
The Ex Why Zed difference: It’s simple. We care. We care about your vision, your deadlines, and your budget. Our team goes the extra mile to ensure that your hardback book not only looks great but also stands the test of time.
We are not a faceless internet company, we are responsive, readily available on the phone, email, Live Chat and even Zoom. That’s the kind of experience you want when you choose someone to partner with when working on printing hardback books. They are a technical publication to produce with a lot of factor to consider and we are here to answer all the questions you will have long the way.
You need people to support you through the printing process who have been working in this field for years. Our skills, knowledge, and experience will be one of the biggest contributors to you feeling an over whelming feeling of happiness when you open the boxes on delivery day and catch a glimpse of your book for the first time.
Yes, we print your photography, illustrations or artwork onto 170gsm and then matt or gloss laminate the sheet. Printing the cover means you have a complete custom hardcover for your book.
Yes, we buy all of our materials from Winter & Co so do take a look through their range for hundreds of options on texture, finish and colour:
This is good for a coloured smooth option:
https://www.winter-company.com/en/products-a-z/wibalin/natural
And for more texture, check out:
https://www.winter-company.com/en/products-a-z/wibalin/buckram/
These cannot be printed onto so any content, like a logo or title, will need to be foiled. To be transparent from the off, the material will be around £180-220 and the foiling adds a further £280. So while it will make for a visually great hardback book, it is an expensive addition on small print runs.
The cover of a hardback book is super rigid and too thick to emboss.
A logo or title, can be foiled. To be transparent from the off, the material will be around £180-220 and the foiling adds a further £280. So while it will make for a visually great hardback book, it is an expensive addition on small print runs.
Definitely! Printed end-papers always look super cool and a great visual start when the reader opens the cover.
Hardback Book Page Running Order
Front Cover (choose from 170gsm Silk with Matt or Gloss Lamination or one of the cover materials from Winter&Co)
End paper left – glued to the inside front cover (170gsm uncoated)
End paper right (170gsm uncoated)
Reverse end paper left (170gsm uncoated)
First right hand ‘inside’ page – page 1 of your text page PDF. Choose from Silk, Gloss or Uncoated, 115gsm > 170gsm thickness.
Double page spread formed by pages 2 and 3 in your inside page PDF.
4 and 5 make a spread, 6 and 7, 8 and 9 etc.
At the end of the book, the running order is:
Double page spread formed by the penultimate last two pages in your inside page PDF.
Last left hand ‘inside’ page – the last page of your text page PDF. Choose from Silk, Gloss or Uncoated, 115gsm > 170gsm thickness.
Front end paper right (170gsm uncoated)
End paper left (170gsm uncoated)
End paper right – glued to the inside back cover (170gsm uncoated)
Back Cover (choose from 170gsm Silk with Matt or Gloss Lamination or one of the cover materials from Winter&Co)
Absolutely! We specialise in hardcover book creation, offering a range of options to suit your needs.
Hardcover book printing is a process of binding printed pages within a rigid cover. It offers durability and a premium feel.
Typically, a 100-page book takes 5-7 working days to arrive.
For the ISBN you should go directly to https://www.nielsenisbnstore.com/ who are the UK suppliers. On their site, you secure the ISBN, then download the barcode which can be added to your artwork.
There are a myriad of way to present your ideas to the world, but hardback books will always be one of the most impressive solutions for your creative ideas.
Here’s why:
Durability
The biggest benefit of hardcover books is that they stand the test of time. They are made from durable materials, so these types of books can be passed on from one generation to another. They are intended to make a visual mark in the sand, to form the centrepiece of a coffee table and to showcase an important section of your very best work.
Paperback books have their benefits too but are more lightweight and don’t have the same weighty feel. The content and pages within a hardback book, is protected by a rigid cover, and stronger binding. On longer print runs of 700 copies or more we can section sew the inside pages and add head n tail bands to give you the maximum possible production values.
Aesthetics
Appearance-wise, hardback books give off more of an air of sophistication and class than a paperback or a pdf version of your text.
Case Bound books also offers plenty of scope for customisation too. Let your creativity run wild – we try our best to offer the biggest range of custom sizes. Covers, for example, can be constructed from canvas or cloth, and you can even opt for a paper dust jacket to add another layer of design.
The pages are of high quality as well. The look and feel of crisp pages give readers a more tactile experience that makes your words by far preferable to any form of digital media.
Ageing
Compared to paperback books, hardback copies age beautifully. They have a long shelf life and don’t suffer the same wear and tear that paperback books experience through handling.
Paperback books are more prone to moisture damage. The pages yellow quickly over time, and as readers handle them, the binding gives out far more quickly than a hardback. This is not something you need to worry about with hardbound books. For a visual comparison between the two binding methods, here is a short 10 second video.
Let us know what creative ideas you want to put into book form, and let’s work on it together. Our project builder will help to put everything together for you in a snap. Whether you’re looking to get started on a hardback notebook printing project or have something else in mind, we can handle it for you.
Yes of course, but you knew that right?
Hardback books are timeless masterpieces, passed down through generations, savoured by readers young and old. They’re not just about the content within; they’re about the experience, the weight in your hands, the rustle of pages, and the pride of seeing your name on a beautifully bound spine. At Ex Why Zed, we understand this sentiment deeply, and we’ve dedicated ourselves to ensuring every hardback book we print mirrors this legacy.
