A World of Choices for Your Book Printing Needs. When it comes to printing your book, the options are truly limitless. At Ex Why Zed, we offer a vast array of paper types, sizes, and binding methods to ensure your book is as unique as your vision. For those looking to delve deeper into the intricacies of book design, our Styling Hub in the Print Journey is a treasure trove of inspiration and information.
The basics of paper types for hardback and paperback books
Choosing the right paper finish is crucial to achieving the desired look and can greatly affect the reader’s experience.
The three primary finishes available are Silk, Gloss, and Uncoated.
Silk paper offers a coated surface and a subtle sheen, perfect for adding a touch of sophistication. Gloss delivers a bright, reflective finish that makes colours pop. Uncoated provides a soft, matt texture that exudes a natural, understated elegance.
How paper quality affects the overall look and feel of your printed book
It’s vital to decide the paper type based on the book’s purpose and audience preferences. To elaborate further on this, photography books, fashion coffee table books and the like tend to gravitate towards silk inside pages. Children’s books and graphic novels look more dynamic with the illustrations and stories on gloss, while uncoated is great for reading books, poetry and creative writing or for pages that have elements which will be written on (exam papers, journals or colouring books).
Selecting the Perfect Paper Weight
The weight of your paper plays a pivotal role in the overall feel of your book. For the inside pages, we recommend choosing between 100gsm and 170gsm. For a delicate, lightweight feel similar to photocopier paper, 100gsm is ideal. However, most books thrive with 115gsm or 130gsm (in either a silk, gloss or uncoated finish). 115gsm Uncoated, 130gsm Silk and Gloss are the standard weights we print 95% of our jobs onto. They offer enough thickness to prevent images and text from showing through (unless you hold them up to to the light). If you want a more substantial, premium feel, 170gsm will give your book a luxurious heft that readers will appreciate as they turn each page. Again, 170gsm is available in all three finishes.
FUN FACT: The processes involved in producing uncoated paper mean that 170gsm uncoated is bulkier and feels thicker than the equivalent 170gsm in silk or gloss.
Quality book printing services, such as Ex Why Zed, offer a range of paper types to compliment both the content and purpose of your book.
Remember, all of our papers are FSC Certified. Read more on this in our post on sustainable printing.
Tips on Selecting the Ideal Cover Choice
Don’t judge a b…..yes, yes, we wont say it!
Your book’s cover is its first impression, and choosing the right weight is crucial. Options range from 170gsm to 350gsm, each offering a different tactile experience. A 170gsm cover provides a lightweight appeal, while 200gsm and 250gsm are more akin to a thin card—flexible and easy to handle. The most popular choice, 300gsm, strikes a perfect balance, giving your book a solid, professional appearance that protects the book but is slightly harder to open (especially at small sizes A6 and A5). For those desiring an ultra-durable, premium feel, 350gsm is the go-to option, especially for larger formats where a rigid cover enhances the overall experience. Our advice is that 350gsm is best avoided on A6 and even A5 books because the narrower width of the publication makes the rigid card hard to actually open. It is better suited to 240x170mm or A4.
Remember, if you choose a cover weight of 200gsm or more, we strongly recommend laminating it to protect against ink cracking and to keep your book looking pristine. There is a choice of a matt, gloss or soft-touch finish.
Hard Back Book Cover Options
These are slightly different to soft back in that we use thick 3mm greyboard to make the cover structure, the wrap this with either a 170gsm Silk printed sheet or a book binding cloth from Winter & Company. Here is a quick video to show the hardback binding process.
We discuss this in much more detail on our hardback book printing page.
Still not sure? Don’t worry, we get it…we’re all visual people. Get in touch with us for a printed paper sample pack or send us your work-in-progress file and our experts can take a look and offer insight into which finish we think would work best.
Binding Options to Match Your Vision
The binding method you choose will influence the durability and presentation of your book. For books up to 40 pages, staple binding (also know as wire stitching or saddle stitching) is a classic and cost-effective option but does look more like a booklet than a book.
For thicker books, perfect binding offers a polished, professional look, with a flat spine that allows for additional design or text. We need a minimum of 32 pages to make perfect binding possible.
For those looking to create a truly prestigious piece, hardback binding is the ultimate choice. With this method, you can choose between a printed cover or a material cover, depending on the style and feel you wish to achieve. Remember, hardback binding requires a minimum of 28 inside pages to ensure the best quality and durability.
If you prefer a stapled booklet, then check out our new booklet printing video guide for stacks of advice.
Diverse Book Sizes to Suit Every Need
The size of your book not only affects its aesthetic appeal but also its practicality and cost. We can print any size up to A4 portrait or A4 landscape (for perfect bound books). A4, A5, and the square 210x210mm sizes are among the most cost-effective and versatile options. We can print ANY custom size up to and including A4 though so do not feel constricted by regulation.
If you’re working with a tighter budget, sticking to an A-size or 210x210mm is your best bet. For larger or more unique projects, consider exploring our Newspaper Printing options for something truly standout.
The range of size choices is slightly different on our hardback book printing.
For 1 – 1000 copies, choose any size from A6 to A4. That is 148x105mm to 297x210mm. We will generally print these books on our HP Indigo Digital Press and they can be delivered in around 6/7 working days.
For 750+ copies we open up the option of printing your books on our B1 litho machine to achieve the maximum possible print quality and production values. The sizes range from A6 up to a whopping 340x245mm. You also have the option of section sewing the inside pages for super resilient – the pages are literally sewn in. You can add head n tail bands as a finishing touch which brings a smile in the mind of your reader. These options are VERY expensive on smaller print runs.
Eye-catching hardcover book sizes we can print on our litho press are 340x245mm, 245x170mm, 300x300mm, 320x270mm, 220x245mm (height x width). Of course, we also print all the standard A-sizes and custom sizes within 297x210mm.
At Ex Why Zed, we’re committed to helping you make the right choices for your book printing project.
Any questions, do give us a shout, remember we are here to help on email, phone and live chat.
