Print Design FAQS
To create a print cover that fits your book perfectly, a few technical details are required. These print facts ensure proper sizing, spine width, and bleed for a smooth production process.
How do I order print design?
The first and more important piece of a print design is a print template. This template is usually generated at your printer. This template should be generated using your final page count and include the correct spine width and bleed. Once downloaded, email the PDF.
If you’d prefer, we can generate the template for you. Please provide trim size, final page count, and paper color (white or cream).
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What’s a print template?
A print template is a file that is a used as a guide for the layout of a printed product. In this case, a printed book or book cover. Templates include lines for the proper layout of the front, spine and back of a cover design for printing. In the case of hardcover designs with dust jackets the template also shows the flap formatting.
It is critical that the interior formatting of the book be complete before the template is generated for the spine size to be accurate. Once the template is generated and downloaded we ask that the PDF file be emailed to us. If adjustments are needed later due to new sizing, additional fees and service time would apply.
What do the guides on the template indicate?
Templates include the proper sizing for the book and spine based on page number, paper type and finished size desired. They also indicate three measurements that are important to ensure your printed book or book cover will turn out as expected. It’s important to note that every printer does things a bit differently. Preferring their bleed and live space to be in slightly different places. For each printer you are using for your book a new template will need to be created.
The first guide is for bleed. Bleed is the area that extends past the edge of the cover. When your design background “bleeds” off the edge of the page, the background of your cover will always appear seamless. The second is, the safe zone or "live"area. All text and critical design elements need to stay inside of this line to avoid being cropped or too close to the edge. Finally, trim, also known as a cut line. This is where the printer aims to cut the print design down to size.
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Book Cover Template Generators:
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Book Cover Formatting with KDP:
Links to further formatting tips can be found on our Resources page.
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Besides the print template what else needs to be included to order?
In addition to the print template we will also need design and layout preferences for the design. This includes the final text for the front, spine and back of book cover as well as, any author photos, bios, series graphics, publisher logos. We do not need a copy of the book in full or part to begin design.
Do you need the ISBN for print cover design:
We usually do not need the ISBN to design. Many publishers, like KDP will place the ISBN on the design during the printing process. Check with your printer for further ISBN requirements. If you need to purchase an ISBN for your book we recommend Bowker.
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What files are included in the cover design print package?
Completed print cover design files are provided as a flattened PDF print ready file and in JPG format for online promotion. Editable/source files are not included.
Do I need to purchase the ebook design separately?
For new custom book cover designs the ebook design is created from the front of the print design and is included in the print package pricing. There is no need for a separate purchase.
What is the size of ebook file included?
The size of the ebook file is determined by the size of the print template. For example: a 5.25x8 print book cover will have the a 5.25x8 ebook design. Common fiction print book cover dimension trim sizes include 5x8, 5.25x8, 5.5x8.5, and 6x9.
