Book Printing Guide
Everything you need to know about book printing — paper types, binding options, sizes, and how to prepare your files for print.
Paper Options
Choose between cream paper (best for novels and literary works) and white paper (ideal for non-fiction, workbooks and illustrated books). Cream is easier on the eyes for long reading; white makes photos and diagrams sharper.
Binding Types
Perfect binding (softcover) is the most popular and affordable option, and we use PUR glue, which is stronger and more flexible than standard glue. Saddle stitching suits thin booklets and short children's books. See our guide to types of book binding for more.
Choosing a Trim Size
A5 (148 × 210 mm) is the most common size in South Africa and suits novels, memoirs and faith books. 6×9 inches (152 × 229 mm) is the international trade paperback size and matches Amazon KDP, which makes it a good choice if you will also sell on Amazon. Square formats suit picture books.
Preparing Print-Ready Files
Send the interior as a PDF with fonts embedded, at the exact trim size, with at least 3 mm bleed on any page where images run to the edge and safe margins of 15 mm or more on the inside edge. The cover is a separate PDF with back, spine and front in one spread; the spine width depends on your page count and paper.
Proofs and Turnaround
Always approve a proof before a print run. We print softcover runs from 100 copies and deliver 10 working days after you approve the proof, and we can courier anywhere in South Africa.
What Printing Costs
The price depends on size, page count and paper. 100 A5 copies on white paper start at R4,500 for 50 to 100 pages. See the A5 and 6×9 printing pages for the full price lists.
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