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A hardcover book is a type of book characterized by a rigid cover made of durable materials like cloth, leather, or thick paperboard. This robust construction offers enhanced durability and aesthetic appeal, making it a preferred choice for premium publications and long-term use.
How A Hardcover Book Is Made?
The typical procedure of manufacturing a hardcover book includes prepress, printing, folding, sewing, casemaking and casebound. Such a complex process requires advanced machinery and seasoned expertise.
With 36 years in the industry, Huaxin Printing offers a one-stop in-house manufacturing solution, eliminating the need for outsourcing. Our specialized color management ensures your product meets the highest standards.
Prepress
Elevate your print projects with advanced prepress experience and compliance with ISO 12647-7 color management standard.
Printing
Fully automated printing presses with the speed of up to 18,000 sheets per hour. CIP-3 ink management and experienced press operators.
Folding
Swift adjustment of any trim sizes from 8-page per signature to 64-page per sheet. Up to 700,000 sheets per day.
Sewing
Fully automated sewing machines can sewn up to 600,000 sheets per day. Semi-automatic oversized sewing can be accomplished as well.
Casemaking
Fully automated machine making book covers with board and PLC/cloth completed all in once. Up to 80,000 pieces per day.
Case-In
Over 20m (65 ft)-long Kolbus casebound line with gluing, binding and tri-cutting all integrated together.
Our Works
Trade Book
Children Book
Art Book
Binding for Hardcover Books
Spine
Endpaper
Novelty Binding
Slipcase
Slipcases provide an additional safeguard and a touch of elegance to your hardcover editions. Constructed from durable card stock, each case is precisely tailored to encase your book, revealing only the spine. Material options include printed paper, cloth, and leatherette. Finish your slip case with specialized techniques like embossing, debossing, gilding, and foil stamping for a distinguished look.
Jacket
A dust jacket serves as a versatile cover solution for hardcover books, offering five additional printable areas including the front, back, spine, and interior flaps. This feature enhances both the book’s functionality and aesthetic appeal. Available finishing options encompass full-color printing, gloss or matte coating, and specialized techniques like embossing, debossing, lamination, and foil stamping.
Book Sizes
In the realm of printing, book dimensions are far from arbitrary. While customization is certainly an option, there exists a set of standard trim sizes that are frequently employed across the industry. These standardized dimensions are not just a matter of convention; they are often optimized for cost-efficiency, ease of retail handling, and consumer expectations.
| US Market | Europe & ANZ Markets |
|---|---|
| Books | Books |
| 8.5″ x 11″/ 6″ x 9″/ 8″ x 10″/ 5.5″ x 8.5″ | 210 mm x 297 mm/ 152 mm x 230 mm/ 148 mm x 210 mm |
| Catalogs, Magazines & Booklets | Catalogs, Magazines & Booklets |
| 8.5″ x 11″/ 5.5″ x 8.5″ | 210 mm x 297 mm/ 148 mm x 210 mm |
| Calendars | Calendars |
| 8.5″ x 11″/ 12″ x 12″ | 297 mm x 210 mm/ 300 mm x 300 mm |
Designing Tips
Hardcover books often include artwork, photography, and formatted typography. Whether you’re managing these elements in-house or through a designer, understanding the technical aspects for print-ready files is essential. This involves accounting for bleed zones, safety margins, and trim lines. Additionally, ensure the correct image resolution and color space to meet specific design requirements, such as image wrapping or dust jackets.
Here are key tips for file preparation to achieve optimal printing results.
For optimal printing outcomes, it’s advisable to save your files in PDF format as vectors. We suggest using Adobe Illustrator or Adobe InDesign for hardcover book design. These platforms also enable the conversion of color space from RGB to CMYK, a requirement for offset printing.
In cases where vector files are not an option, such as when using bitmaps from Photoshop, maintaining a resolution of at least 300 DPI is crucial. Unlike vectors, raster images need to be high-definition to avoid quality loss during resizing.
Within the established 3 mm bleed zone, it’s essential to indicate trim lines that set the ultimate dimensions of the completed page. Ensure key elements on your page are positioned a minimum of 10 mm away from these trim lines.
Within your designated bleed zone, it’s imperative to identify the trim lines that outline the final size of the completed page. Keep essential page elements at least 10 mm away from these lines for optimal results.
When a photo or artwork extends across a two-page spread, ensure that critical elements, such as facial features or key details, do not fall on the central fold.
Ensure uniformity in all formatting elements across the document, including but not limited to fonts, font sizes, drop caps, section dividers, page numbers, margins, chapter titles, and page breaks.
Make sure that there should be an extra 7mm alongside the cover file for wrapping over the board. Plus, there should be no text along the two edges of the spine.
Note that in hardcover books, the cover dimensions exceed those of the pages, necessitating a minimum bleed of 23 mm for proper board wrapping.
In the layout of your dust jacket, account for the spine width, determined by the page count and paper weight, as well as the inclusion of two interior flaps.
Pricing
| Page Numbers | 500 Copies | 1,000 Copies | 2,000 Copies | 5,000 Copies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 Pages | USD 1.98 | USD 1.50 | USD 1.32 | USD 1.17 |
| 64 Pages | USD 2.69 | USD 1.97 | USD 1.66 | USD 1.43 |
| 128 Pages | USD 4.20 | USD 2.94 | USD 2.36 | USD 1.93 |
| 256 Pages | USD 7.23 | USD 4.84 | USD 3.75 | USD 2.95 |
Remarks:
- All prices above are the unit prices corresponding to the number of text pages and print-runs;
- All prices are EXW only and does not include any logistics cost;
- All prices are based on the trim size of 8.5″ * 11″ (216 * 280mm);
- Cover 157gsm/58 lb coated cover paper with matte lamination over 2.5mm thickness greyboard;
- Text pages 128gsm/ 86lb coated matte art paper;
- Individual endpaper 140gsm/ 95lb uncoated woodfree paper;
- Cover and text pages all color printed;
- Packed no more than 18kg/carton, no shrinkwrapping
Finishing
In the book production process, cover finishing is a vital element that enhances both the visual appeal and durability of the product. Techniques available include gloss and matte lamination, along with advanced options such as embossing, debossing, and foil stamping. These choices play a key role in improving the book’s tactile feel, lifespan, and overall market competitiveness.
Lamination
Lamination adds a protective layer to book covers, increasing durability and offering options in gloss or matte for visual appeal.
Foiling
Foiling applies metallic or pigmented foil to the cover, providing a premium finish and enhancing the book’s visual distinctiveness.
Embossing
Spot UV
Spot UV applies a UV-coated layer to specific areas of the cover, creating texture contrast and highlighting key design elements for visual interest.
Gilding
Color edge gilding adds metallic foil to the book’s edges, making them more durable and giving the book a unique look that matches the cover.
Varnishing
Varnishing involves applying a liquid coating to the cover to improve durability and add shine, with options for gloss, matte, or satin finishes. This can be done either in-line or off-line.
Materials
Paper Materials
For hardcover books filled with vibrant visuals, art paper in either gloss or matte is ideal. Gloss suits image-heavy books, while matte is better for books combining text and images, ensuring both sharp text and bright pictures.
For hardcovers focused on text with simple black-and-white graphics, uncoated offset paper is a good choice. This type of paper is absorbent and has a natural white color, making it easy to read.
When customizing a hardcover, you’ll need at least two types of paper: one for the interior pages and another for the cover. You can also include endpapers, which can match the interior paper or be different. Endpapers not only add a quality touch but also offer space for personal notes or autographs
Glossy Art Paper
Matte Art Paper
Uncoated Woodfree Paper
Paper Options for Hardcover Books
While there are many paper options for printing books, certain types are more commonly used for hardcover books. If you want your books printed quickly using widely accepted paper, consider the following options that are more readily available in the market.
Text Paper
- 80gsm/54lb coated
- 105gsm/71lb coated
- 128gsm/86lb coated
- 157gsm/106lb coated
- 80gsm/54lb uncoated
- 100gsm/68 lb uncoated
Cover Paper
- 128 gsm / 86 lb coated text
- 157 gsm / 106 lb coated text
Cover Board
- 2mm board
- 2.5mm board
- 3mm board
- 4mm board
Endpaper
- 120 gsm / 81 lb uncoated text
- 140 gsm / 95 lb uncoated text
Jacket
- 128 gsm / 47 lb coated cover
- 157 gsm / 58 lb coated cover
- 200 gsm / 74 lb coated cover
Slipcase
- 157 gsm / 106 lb coated text over 3 mm gray board
- 128 gsm / 86 lb coated text over 3 mm gray board
Cover Finishing Materials
When it comes to making a lasting impression with your book cover, several key finishing options are at your disposal. Lamination is often the go-to for adding both protection and a tactile quality, available in either gloss or matte finishes. If you’re aiming for a luxurious look, foiling can introduce metallic or colored highlights to your cover design.
Spot UV coating is another effective method for adding texture and drawing attention to specific cover elements. For those seeking a unique touch, edge gilding applies a metallic or colored foil to the book’s edges. And don’t overlook varnishing; available in gloss, matte, or satin, it provides that final layer of durability and sheen.
By carefully selecting the right finishing techniques, you can significantly enhance both the durability and aesthetic appeal of your book cover, making it a standout product.
Lamination Materials
Given the difference of glossiness and texture, lamination can be categorized as glossy lamination, matte lamination, scuff-free lamination and soft-touch lamination. The latter two options usually result in higher cost.
Foil Stamping Materials
Metallic Foil: The most common type, often available in gold, silver, and bronze, adds a shiny, metallic finish to the cover elements.
Pigment Foil: Unlike metallic, pigment foils offer a matte finish and are available in various colors, including white and black.
Holographic Foil: This foil creates a 3D effect, adding a futuristic and eye-catching element to the book cover.
Pearl Foil: Offering a pearlescent finish, this foil adds a subtle shine without being overly reflective.
Gloss Pigment Foil: This combines the color variety of pigment foils with the shiny finish of metallic foils.
Matte Metallic Foil: Provides the metallic look but with a subdued, matte finish.
Spot UV Materials
Gloss Varnish: This type provides a shiny, reflective finish, enhancing the vibrancy of colors on the book cover.
Matte Varnish: Offering a subdued, non-reflective finish, matte varnish is ideal for a more understated or elegant look.
Satin Varnish: Satin varnish strikes a balance between gloss and matte, offering a semi-gloss finish that’s not too shiny but still adds a touch of elegance.
UV Varnish: This is a special type of varnish cured with ultraviolet light, often used in Spot UV techniques to highlight specific areas of the cover.
Soft-Touch Varnish: This varnish gives the cover a soft, velvety feel, adding a tactile dimension to the book.
Accessories Materials
Want to give your hardcover book that extra flair? Consider adding some stylish accessories. Ribbons make for elegant bookmarks and add a touch of class. Head and tail bands at the top and bottom of the spine not only look great but also offer added durability. And let’s not forget stickers; they’re a fun and easy way to showcase awards or special features. These little extras can make a big difference, turning an ordinary book into something special that readers will treasure.
H/T Band
H/T band is the abbreviation of “Head and tail bands”. These small fabric bands, placed at the top and bottom of the book’s spine, not only add a dash of color and style but also enhance the book’s durability. They’re a nod to traditional bookbinding while serving a functional purpose. A small detail like this can elevate the overall look and feel of your book, making it a keepsake for years to come.
When it comes to ribbons in hardcover books, material matters. Most commonly made from satin, grosgrain, or even silk, these ribbons serve as built-in bookmarks that add a touch of luxury. Satin offers a smooth, glossy finish, while grosgrain provides a textured, ribbed feel. Silk, the epitome of elegance, takes the book’s aesthetic to the next level. Whichever material you choose, a ribbon bookmark adds both function and flair to your hardcover book.
Ribbons
Stickers
When it comes to enhancing hardcover books with stickers, the material choices are varied, each serving a specific purpose:
Paper Stickers: The most common type, usually 80gsm or 21 lb, ideal for general labeling or promotional use.
Vinyl Stickers: Known for their durability and water resistance, these are often used for outdoor or heavy-duty applications.
Polyester Stickers: These offer excellent heat and chemical resistance, making them suitable for specialized needs.
Foil Stickers: Made with metallic foil, these stickers add a luxurious, reflective quality to the book cover.
Clear Stickers: Made from transparent material, these are often used for a more subtle labeling effect.
Reusable Stickers: Created with special adhesives that allow for easy removal and reapplication.
Non-reusable Stickers: These use a stronger adhesive that ensures the sticker stays in place permanently.
About Huaxin
A family business founded in 1988 with three generations involved, Huaxin Printing has been devoting all its effort to print hardcover books with the highest possible quality.
Hua Xin has been certified with ISO 9001:2015 as well as the FSC (Forest Steward Council), and has been audited by 4-Pillar Sedex for social compliance (SMETA).
Let's Talk
If you intend to make some hardcover books, or simply want to know more about us, feel free to send us a message.