Typesetting is the step between a finished manuscript and a printed book. Your Word file is set up as real book pages: the right page size, consistent margins, chapter openings that start cleanly, page numbers, headers and spacing that make the text comfortable to read. It is what makes a self-published book look like it came from a publisher.
Our layout packages are priced per page, from R12 for Basic Layout to R20 for Premium Layout. A 200-page novel on the Standard package at R13 a page comes to R2,600, before printing. We confirm the page count with you when we quote, so there are no surprises.
What formatting a book actually involves
Formatting is more than choosing a font. The text is set to your book size, usually A5 or 6×9, with margins that leave room for binding. Chapters open on a consistent style, paragraphs are indented rather than spaced, and the first page of each chapter can carry a drop cap. Headers and page numbers are added, and stray lines at the top or bottom of a page are cleaned up.
Johannesburg authors come to us with every kind of book: first novels, memoirs, business books and church publications. The layout is matched to the book: a novel needs quiet, readable pages, while a business book may need headings, lists and images to break up the text.
Choosing a layout package
Basic Layout, R12 per page
Text-led books such as novels and memoirs: chapter headings, indentation, drop caps and clean formatting.
Standard Layout, R13 per page
Our most popular option. Adds running headers, bullets and numbering, and images including full-bleed images.
Premium Layout, R20 per page
For complex books with tables and structured content, and includes ebook conversion.
Layout packages and what you receive
- Basic Layout
- R12 per page: chapter headings, paragraph indentation, drop caps and basic formatting
- Standard Layout
- R13 per page: adds running headers with author and title, bullets and numbering, images and bleed images
- Premium Layout
- R20 per page: everything in Standard plus tables, structured content and ebook conversion
- What you send
- Your final manuscript as a Microsoft Word (.docx) file, plus any images, fonts or references
- What you receive
- Print-ready files for your printer, with the Word source file included
- Review
- You check the typeset pages and we make requested adjustments before final files are delivered