Self Publishing Advice

You can take advantage of our services to create a professional looking book, by typesetting your manuscript into a well presented format, by using our proof reading and editing services, and by using our bespoke book cover design service.

Or you can follow our advice below to generate print ready files!

The prices quoted via this website require that the files are supplied, correctly sized, as print ready PDF files (unless scanned from hardcopy for out-of-print books, whereupon we create a PDF file during the scanning process). You can find out how to create PDF files from here.

We do offer a hand-holding service where we will check your files before press and confirm that they meet these criteria. We can also give you one-to-one support, as well as modify your files as needed, at an additional charge, agreed on site of your artwork.

Step 1: Check your work

We do not spell check or proof read any work submitted, unless you have chosen to use our proof reading and editing service. Check your work thoroughly, and always try and get a second opinion or a fresh pair of eyes to read your work, as it is amazing what you can miss!

Step 2: Ensure your work is correctly formatted in Microsoft Word

Your choice of page size is 197mm x 132mm, 216mm x 138mm, 234mm x 156mm or A5/A4. If you wish to create a book which is different to these ranges, then please contact us directly for a quote.

You should set all margins to 15mm minimum. In Microsoft Word, do the following:

From the File menu, select Paper Setup. This will open a dialogue box.
Select the Margins tab. Set Top, Bottom, Left and Right margins all to 15mm. Set the Gutter to 0mm. Set Headers and Footers to 15mm.
Select the Paper Size tab. Set Paper Size to Custom. Set width and height to size required.

Your book should begin with a minimum of four prelim pages, which should be inserted before the start of your book.

Separate your chapters by inserting a page break, not by pressing Return repeatedly.

Step 3: Using Images

Images should be saved as TIF files to maintain optimum quality.

Resolution for black and white printing should be between 300-600dpi, ideally saved as greyscale or bitmap.

For high quality, crisp diagrams within the body of the book, create EPS vector graphics, ensuring that you only use black, and that you convert all text to outlines.

Resolution for colour printing should be 600dpi, saved as CMYK.

Spot colours should be converted to CMYK.

To obtain areas of solid black (not including text), use CMYK settings of 20% Cyan, 20% Magenta, 20% Yellow and 100% Black.

Images should be submitted in their final form and size, as they will appear in your manuscript.

Step 4: Creating a PDF file

Visit www.pdf995.com and download the free PDF creation software. Create your PDF file using the High Quality settings, and follow all the advice given by the suppliers of this software.

Step 5: Designing and supplying your Cover file

SEE STEP 3 FOR GUIDELINES.

All fonts must be embedded in the text and the cover.

The cover must be setup to include an additional 3mm bleed (ideally with crop marks), with the correct spine width included.

For example, if your book has a finished size of 132mm x 197mm, then the images for the front and back cover must be sized at 300-600dpi to be 138mm x 203mm. The spine should have 3mm extra added to the top and bottom.

You can find out the spine width for your book by emailing info@bookprinting.org.uk with your final page count and paper stock.

Step 6: If in doubt - we're here to advise you!

If you have followed these steps but still have questions about self-publishing your work, please contact info@bookprinting.org.uk or call the team on 01733 237867 for further help and advice. Failing that - please do consider our value-for-money book design services.