If you are unsure how to prepare a file for print please use our ready designed Book Templates.
A5 Paperback Books
Please supply a single A5 PDF with each page in the PDF as a single page, i.e not in 2 page spreads.
To prepare an A5 word document for print:
- Click page layout and set the document size to A5 (148mm x 210mm). If you have images or colour backgrounds that run to the edge of the page you will need to add a 2.5mm bleed on all edges. Go to page layout, size, and click on more sizes. There will be an area to enter a custom size, set your document to 153mm x 215mm.
- Go to page layout, select margins and set them to Mirrored.
- Set top, bottom and outside margins to 18mm. Set the inside/binding edge margins to 21mm.
A5 Cover Design
- For colour covers the document should be set to 210mm x 296mm (plus the width of your spine).
- For spine sizes please use our spine calculator.
- Add a 2.5mm bleed on all four outside edges of the cover design. For example, a 180 page book cover size: Before bleed = 202mm x 296mm (including 10mm for spine). With bleed 208mm x 302mm.
A4 Paperback Books
Please supply a single A4 PDF file with each page in the PDF as a single page, i.e not in 2 page spreads.
To prepare an A4 word document for print:
- Click page layout and set the document size to A4 (297mm x 210mm). If you have images or colour backgrounds that run to the edge of the page you will need to add a 2.5mm bleed on all edges. Go to page layout, size, and click on more sizes. There will be an area to enter a custom size, set your document to 302mm x 215mm.
- Go to page layout, select margins and set them to Mirrored.
- Set top, bottom and outside margins to 18mm and the inside/binding edge margin to 21mm.
A4 Cover Design
- For colour covers the document should be set to 297mm x 420mm (plus the width of your spine).
- For spine sizes please use our spine calculator.
- Add a 2.5mm bleed on all four outside edges of the cover design.
Hardback Books
- Click page layout and set the document size to A4 (297mm x 210mm) or A5 (148mm x 210mm). If you have images or colour backgrounds that run to the edge of the page you will need to add a 2.5mm bleed on all edges. Go to page layout, size, and click on more sizes. There will be an area to enter a custom size, set your document to 302mm x 215mm (A4) or 153mm x 215mm (A5).
- Go to page layout, select margins and set them to Mirrored.
- Set top, bottom and outside margins to 18mm and the inside/binding edge margin to 21mm.
If you are having a printed cover at A4, please note that insides will be finished at 289mm high with the case of your book being 297mm high.
March 2024 Printed Cover A4
Current A4 hardbacks are made so the insides are A4 (297 x 210mm) and the cases are oversized.
New sizing means A4 hardbacks will be slightly smaller with the case being 297 x 210mm and the insides trimmed to 289 x 210mm.
The flaps hardbacks will also need to change to 16.5mm instead of 21mm.
Custom Size
Currently max is 300mm x 300mm. New size is 297mm x 297mm for cases and the insides will be trimmed to 289 x 289mm.
Paperback Cover Design Layout
We provide a cover design service where one of our experienced designers will design the front cover, back cover, and spine, to your specifications.
If you choose to design your own cover, or outsource your cover design elsewhere please send us your files either as one image that includes your front cover, back cover and spine, or as three separate images. Include a 2.5mm bleed area if your colour background or any images go to the edge of the page.
A5 & A4 Coil Bound Books:
Inside Pages
- Click page layout and set the document size to A4 (297mm x 210mm) or A5 (148mm x 210mm). If you have images or colour backgrounds that run to the edge of the page you will need to add a 2.5mm bleed on all edges. Go to page layout, size, and click on more sizes. There will be an area to enter a custom size, set your document to 302mm x 213mm (A4) or 153mm x 215mm (A5).
- Go to page layout, select margins and set them to Mirrored.
- Set top, bottom and outside margins to 18mm and the inside/binding edge margins to 21mm.
- The coil cuts into the book by 7mm on the binding edge. Which means that any images that stretch to the edge of the page on the inside margin will be cut into.
Cover
- Your document can be set to standard A4 and A5 sizings.
- If you have colour images or a background that run to the edge of the page, add a 2.5mm bleed on all four outside edges of the cover design.
- We require two separate documents, one for the front cover and one for the back.
Booklets
A5 or A4 Inside Pages
- Click page layout and set the document size to A4 (297mm x 210mm) or A5 (148mm x 210mm). If you have images or colour backgrounds that run to the edge of the page you will need to add a 2.5mm bleed on all edges. Go to page layout, size, and click on more sizes. There will be an area to enter a custom size, set your document to 302mm x 215mm (A4) or 153mm x 215mm (A5).
- Set all four margins to 10mm.
- Please provide as a PDF with each page as a single page. The internal page count must be a multiple of four. This can include the inside front and inside back cover, and blank pages can be used to increase page count.
A5 or A4 Covers
- For A5 booklets please supply your cover at 210mm high x 296mm wide, plus a 2.5mm bleed on the top, bottom, left and right, total 216mm x 302mm.
- For A4 booklets please supply your cover at 297mm high x 420mm wide, plus a 2.5mm bleed on the top, bottom, left and right, total 303mm high x 426mm wide.
Flyers, Posters, Bookmarks:
Please create your artwork to the size you would like the finished item to be printed to, but including a 2.5mm bleed on all four edges of the artwork. Supply as a single PDF.