Novels, poetry & memoirs
Prioritise comfortable type, a portable format and a page layout that gives your writing room to breathe. A text-led interior can keep the specification straightforward.
Book printing · Authors & publishersA book is more
A book is more
than its pages.
The feel of the paper. The way the cover opens. The finish on your bookshelf. Bring your manuscript to Send2Print and shape a printed book that suits your content, your readers and your budget.
01 / Start with the reader01 02 03
What kind of book are you making?
A text-led novel and an illustrated workbook need different print decisions. Start with how the book will be read, carried and used.
Learning & reference books
For textbooks, course materials and manuals, think about diagrams, tables, annotation space and whether readers need to refer to the book while working.
Illustrated & visual books
For photography, children’s books and image-rich titles, pay extra attention to image quality, colour, paper choice and the appearance of a physical proof.
02 / Choose the finished size
Trim size: the shape of the reading experience.
Trim size is the width and height of the finished pages after cutting. Choose it before laying out the interior: changing the size later can change line breaks, page count and cover dimensions.
| Trim size | Dimensions | A useful starting point for |
|---|---|---|
| 5 × 8 inches | 127 × 203.2 mm | Compact fiction, poetry and portable reading editions. |
| 5.5 × 8.5 inches | 139.7 × 215.9 mm | Novels, memoirs and general nonfiction with a compact feel. |
| A5 | 148 × 210 mm | Guides, workbooks and general reading. A5 is not the same size as 5.5 × 8.5 inches. |
| 6 × 9 inches | 152.4 × 228.6 mm | Longer fiction, business books and nonfiction needing more space per page. |
| 7 × 10 inches | 177.8 × 254 mm | Reference books and illustrated learning material with tables or diagrams. |
| A4 | 210 × 297 mm | Technical manuals, academic material and workbooks with larger diagrams or writing space. |
| 8.5 × 8.5 inches | 215.9 × 215.9 mm | Square layouts for picture-led stories and visual projects. |
These are planning formats, not a promise that every size is available with every paper and binding. Confirm the combination with Send2Print before preparing the final PDF. Bleed extends beyond the trim size; use the artwork specification supplied for your order.
03 / Choose the page
Paper type and GSM do different jobs.
GSM means grams per square metre: it describes the paper’s weight per area. Paper shade, surface, opacity and thickness also affect the finished book.
Uncoated white
A practical starting point for text, diagrams and pages intended for annotation. Review show-through on a double-sided sample.
Uncoated cream
Consider a warm page tone for novels, memoirs and other text-led reading. Check how any photographs or colour illustrations appear on that shade.
Coated art paper
Consider matte or gloss coated stock for image-led work. Compare the image appearance, reflection and feel in a physical sample.
| Weight range | Where to start the discussion | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| 70–80 GSM interior | Text-heavy books, novels and economical reading copies. | Opacity, show-through and the thickness of the selected stock, especially for a long book. |
| 90–100 GSM interior | General nonfiction, manuals and study material where a more substantial page is desired. | The actual feel and opacity: a higher GSM alone does not guarantee a better reading result. |
| 120–150 GSM interior | Image-rich or illustrated work where the selected print process and paper finish suit the artwork. | Book weight, colour reproduction and binding capacity at the final page count. |
| 170–200 GSM interior | Selected short visual projects or pages where a heavier feel is intentional. | Stiffness, opening behaviour and whether the proposed binding can handle the thickness. |
| 250–350 GSM cover stock | A starting point when discussing a softcover; it is separate from the interior paper. | Creasing, lamination, spine design and compatibility with the chosen binding. Hardcover boards require a separate specification. |
These ranges are selection guidance, not Send2Print’s confirmed stock list. Ask for available papers and a sample for your specification. More GSM is not automatically better; balance readability, handling, book weight and cost.
04 / Check the book thickness
GSM to maximum pages: there is no single conversion.
Two papers with the same GSM can have different thicknesses. The maximum page count must be checked against the actual paper stock, print mode, trim size and binding specification.
Count pages, then check the paper.
A page is one side of a leaf. A 400-page interior printed on both sides normally contains 200 leaves, before any additional leaves required by the production specification. Single-sided printing needs more leaves for the same number of printed pages.
Caliper means the thickness of one leaf. As an illustration, 200 leaves at 0.10 mm each make an approximately 20 mm interior block; at 0.15 mm each, the same page count makes approximately 30 mm. These thicknesses are examples, not assigned GSM values or Send2Print production limits.
This is why a fixed rule such as “100 GSM supports a maximum of 500 pages” cannot be used for every paper or binding.
How capacity is assessed
Actual stock → thickness → binding limit
- Confirm the selected paper and its measured or specified thickness.
- Convert the final printed page count into leaves for the selected print mode.
- Check the resulting book block against the binding’s allowed thickness and construction.
- Apply any additional limits for trim size, covers and production.
Ask the team for the maximum supported pages for your exact combination before approving the cover.
Check my book’s page capacity| Binding | Capacity check | If the book is too thick |
|---|---|---|
| Perfect-bound softcover | The selected paper’s caliper, the allowed book-block thickness and the production specification. | Discuss a suitable thinner stock, a revised trim/layout or separate volumes. |
| Hardcover | The inner binding construction, board/cover design, paper and permitted book-block thickness. | A hard cover alone does not remove the interior binding limit; review the construction or split the work. |
| Spiral / coil | The available coil diameter, paper stack thickness, covers and clearance needed to turn pages. | Discuss a compatible larger coil or divide the material into separate working volumes. |
Send2Print’s numerical GSM-by-binding maximums must be confirmed for the chosen stock. No universal maximum is quoted here.
05 / Match the genre to the binding
Choose for the way the book will be used.
Genre is a starting point, not a production rule. Page count, expected handling and budget should guide the final choice.
| Genre or use | Binding to consider | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Novels, poetry & memoirs | Perfect-bound softcover; hardcover for a special edition. | A familiar reading format, with a more substantial option for a keepsake edition. |
| Business, self-help & general nonfiction | Perfect-bound softcover or hardcover. | Choose portability for everyday reading or a rigid cover for a longer-lived reference edition. |
| Textbooks & reference works | Perfect-bound softcover or hardcover, with the interior construction reviewed for repeated use. | Long page counts and frequent opening make paper thickness and binding quality important. |
| Workbooks, training & practice manuals | Spiral / coil; a softcover where a conventional book format matters more. | A working document often needs easy page access and space for annotation. |
| Cookbooks & practical guides | Spiral / coil for desk use; hardcover for a presentation-led edition. | Decide whether hands-on use or shelf presentation is the priority. |
| Children’s picture books | Softcover or hardcover with an age-appropriate specification. | Artwork, handling and a potentially short page count need to be considered together. |
| Photography & illustrated collections | Hardcover for a substantial edition; softcover for a lighter one. | Review the chosen paper, image reproduction and how the binding affects images near the gutter. |
06 / Artwork handover
Send a finished interior. Build the cover around it.
Two files, two jobs.
The interior PDF establishes the reading order: title pages, contents, chapters, images, references and intentional blank pages. Check it at the chosen book size, rather than relying only on a screen preview.
The cover needs to fit the finished book. Ask the team for the required cover dimensions and spine allowance once the paper and page count are settled. A change to the interior may mean a change to the cover.
Tell us about any full-page artwork, special finishes or unusual layout requirements early. Resolving those details before production is easier than adjusting a print-ready file at the last moment.
Before you send the files
- Final page order and page count checked
- Text comfortably clear of the binding edge
- Images reviewed at their printed size
- Fonts embedded in the PDF where applicable
- Cover specification confirmed with the team
- Quantity, destination and required date included
07 / Proof, then print
Meet the book before committing to the run.
A screen can show your layout. A physical copy lets you judge the reading experience.
Agree the specification
Settle the size, paper, colour, binding, cover and quantity. Ask for a quotation that includes the relevant finishing and delivery charges.
Review a proof or initial copy
Arrange a proof with the team. Check legibility, margins, image appearance, page sequence and the fit of the cover. Confirm the proof cost and schedule when planning the project.
Approve the final version
Keep a clear record of the approved files and any corrections. If the page count or paper changes, reconfirm the spine and cover before production.
Plan the print run and destinations
Choose a quantity for a launch, an event or a reprint. For ongoing orders sent directly to readers, explore our print-on-demand service.
Book-printing questions
Before your manuscript becomes a book.
Can I start with a small quantity?
Yes. Discuss an initial copy or small print run with the team. Confirm the available specification, price and production schedule for your particular book before ordering.
Is A5 the same as 6 × 9 inches?
No. A5 is 148 × 210 mm. A 6 × 9 inch book is 152.4 × 228.6 mm. Use the exact intended trim size when preparing the interior and cover.
Does a higher GSM mean thicker paper?
Not reliably across different stocks. GSM measures weight per area; caliper measures thickness. Coating and paper bulk can make two papers of the same GSM different in thickness.
What is the maximum number of pages for 75 or 100 GSM?
There is no fixed maximum from GSM alone. Share the final page count, print mode, trim size and desired binding; the team needs the actual paper stock and binding specification to confirm capacity.
Which binding should I choose?
Start with the book’s purpose and page count. Share whether it is for everyday reading, desk reference, a workbook or a keepsake; the team can discuss suitable available options.
Can you print books with colour illustrations?
Share a sample of the artwork and identify the pages that need colour. Confirm the paper and print specification, and judge important colours using a physical proof.
Can I change the cover after the interior is ready?
Yes, before approving the production files. Keep the cover aligned with the final size, paper and page count. Contact the team promptly if a submitted order needs a change.
What affects the price of my book?
Size, page count, paper, colour, binding, cover finishing, quantity and delivery all contribute. Send the complete specification for a useful quotation rather than comparing only a per-page price.
Is printing the same as publishing or distribution?
This service page covers producing your printed copies. If you also need editing, design, ISBN-related help or retail distribution, discuss that scope separately before assuming it is included.
Your next step
Let’s give your manuscript a printed form.
Share your page count, preferred size, binding, quantity and delivery destination. A sample PDF helps us understand the project.