Spine Width Or Other Printer Marks

FIRST CHOICE BOOKS

PublishingSelf Guide A Guide to Publishing Your Book with First Choice Books

Includes: ▶ Steps to Publishing ▶ Layout and Design Services ▶ Do-It-Yourself Instructions and Technical Specifications ▶ E Book Publishing ▶ Checklists for preparing files

REPRINT ANYTIME – We archive your book files, so you can reprint or revise at any time . YOU KEEP ALL PROFITS FROM SALES – First Choice STEPS TO PUBLISHING WITH Books’ authors market, distribute and sell their own print copies . First Choice does not take any royalties from sales, as we sell only to you, the author . First Choice Books ACCESS TO YOUR BOOK MATERIALS – Need your book files to work with another printer? No problem . We can From manuscript to published book, First Choice Books can help you every supply the print files when needed, including design files if step of the way . Get started with these steps to publishing your work and we have done design work for you . making it look great in print: A STRAIGHT-FORWARD AGREEMENT – The quoted price for services is our contract with you . If there are any 1. Get a Free Quote for Publishing Your Book additional services needed, we will approve those with you First Choice Books offers competitive prices for printing, and as we first . print and bind in-house, your books will be produced swiftly and ef- ficiently . Fill out our quote form for pricing for your project . The form IN-HOUSE PRINTING & BINDING – Every stage of lists almost all of our options for printing and binding, and you can your book’s production is done here in house, so quality ask any questions you may have about what’s best for your project . control and speed are maximized . Website: firstchoicebooks .ca/quote FREE ISBN & BARCODE – We can assign an ISBN to Email: quotes@firstchoicebooks .ca your book, or use yours, and create the copyright page and Deposit and payment: First Choice Books requires a deposit of barcode . 50% of the quoted costs before starting work . The balance is due when the books are ready for shipping . QUALITY – We run Xerox digital printers, expertly main- tained for clear, crisp, consistent printing in black or colour . We send a detailed sales order before work begins, and updates Our binding is high quality and extremely durable, done by when any changes are made to the book’s production details (e .g . experienced binders . revisions or a change in paper stock or page count) . Payment can be made by credit card over the phone: 250 383 6353 or toll-free 1 800 957 0561 . Hours: Mon-Fri 8-4:30pm, PST . We also accept payment by PayPal or e-Transfer .

6 ▶ FCB First Choice Books • firstchoicebooks.ca Questions? Email [email protected] FCB ◀ 7 2. Prepare Your Files for Print 4. Copyright, ISBN and Barcode Books need design work before being printed, especially for the Make it official! First Choice Books will place copyrighta notice in your cover . There are two routes to designing the cover and insides of book, which identifies you as the copyright holder . All rights to the your book: book remain yours . We can alsoassign an ISBN, or use yours if you have one already, and create a barcode from that ISBN . A. First Choice Books Layout and Design Have First Choice Books do the layout and design of your book The copyright usually goes on the back of the title page, page 2 of your insides and the cover . We produce beautiful, polished and pro- book . It lists the copyright holder, along with any credits for editing, fessional work that will increase your book’s appeal to readers design, photographs or illustrations, etc . and buyers . 5. Prooﬁng Send us your edited manuscript as a Word document, along with any photos and notes on how you would like the book to After the book and cover have been designed, the next step is to proof look . We will send you an assessment of how long layout will the book, and see what the covers and book insides look like in print . take and what the costs will be . The design process includes PDF No matter how many times you’ve seen it on screen, it will look differ- proofs, design consultation, and time for basic revisions . ent in print, and you may want to tweak the colours, the layout, or find a few last typos . Plan for a week or two of time for proofing and revisions . ▶ Tip! Parts of this Guide intended for First Choice Books Layout and The Proof: Once First Choice has final PDF files that are ready to go, Design are marked by blue triangles. we produce a printed proof .Proofs are printed on the same paper stocks as your final product, and trimmed to size, but not bound OR or laminated. Your first proof is included in the print costs .

B. Do It Yourself DIY – Print Ready PDFs Additional proofs are available for $40 each . Bound soft-cover proofs are $100 each . For hard cover bound proofs, please contact us for more details . Many of our authors do their own design work, or have a friend or relative help them . This guide provides tips on how to do book and cover layout, and send PDFs that are ready to print . 6. Revisions to Your Book or Cover ▶ Tip! Parts of this Guide intended for DIY (Do It Yourself) are marked First Choice Books Design If your book and/or cover have been de- with red triangles signed by First Choice Books, email graphics@firstchoicebooks .ca with a list of the needed revisions . Your Graphics team designer will do the requested revisions and send you a PDF proof to confirm the new erv - 3. Double-Check and Send Your Book Files sion of the book . Revisions are billable at $80/hour, minimum half hour . Checklists for sending files: DIY - Print Ready PDFs For any revisions to a book you have sent as ▶ First Choice Books Layout and Design Checklist (page 67) Print Ready PDFs, please send a new PDF of the entire book and/or cover . There is a $50 charge for new file preparation and a new printed ▶ DIY Print Ready PDFs Checklist (page 68) . proof (applicable taxes and shipping are extra) .

Files under 5 MB: email graphics@firstchoicebooks .ca 7. Proof Approval Files over 5 MB: file transfer Proof Approval: You must see a proof of the final version of the book wetransfer .comor dropbox .com before going to print, and sign the proof approval form that accom- panies your proof .

8 ▶ FCB First Choice Books • firstchoicebooks.ca Questions? Email [email protected] FCB ◀ 9

First Choice Books DESIGN SERVICES

▶ Cover Design ...... 16 ▶ Book Interior Page Design . . 18 ▶ E Book Publishing ...... 20 ▶ Website Design ...... 22

Questions? Email [email protected] FCB DESIGN ◀ 15

First Choice Books Checklist: What to send for SHOWCASE WEBSITE FIRST CHOICE BOOKS WEBSITE DESIGN Get the word out about your book! First Choice Books showcase websites are built in WordPress, hosted on their own servers, with your own domain To make your book a star with its own website, we’ll need the following name . After the site is launched, you will be able to make changes on your items . You can send these in a Word document and any images as JPG, own, with ongoing support available . We design the look of the site based by email to graphics@firstchoicebooks .ca on your book cover, to create a strong overall impact and build your brand . 1. Domain Name The basic 5 pages: Optional pages: First Choice Books will obtain the domain name for you, just let us know ▷ Welcome – introduction to the ▷ Purchase the book – PayPal link what you would like the name to be . Or if you already have one, we can site and what you’re up to to buy copies of the book, link to use that . The domain name can be your name, if you plan to publish sev- eBook edition on Amazon ▷ About the author – your bio and eral books, or the name of your book . a photo of you, how you came to ▷ Blog – showing summaries of all write the book your blog posts 2. Welcome Page About the book – book descrip- ▷ This is the first page visitors will see when they go to your site . Tell them tion, rave reviews wjamesdickinson.com about you and your book! You can include: ▷ Excerpts – selected parts of the book, or an entire chapter, to get ▷ Paragraph welcoming the reader and telling them what the site and your readers interested book are about . ▷ Contact – an email form for peo- ▷ A short book description, including your book title and any tagline ple to contact you ▷ Photo of you, or from an event . ▷ Any reviews or words of praise your book may have received . If published online, include the URL link to the webpage the review appears on .

3. Excerpts from the book You can put an entire chapter on your website, or individual excerpt . Get your readers interested in reading the book, but don’t give away the ending!

lovinglyarrogant.com kiddingaround.ca 4. Contact Info osbornebaybooks.com Your site will have a page for contact information for you, and an email form . Let us know what email address to use .

5. Optional online book sales with Paypal If you would like to sell the book from the website, we can include a page for customers to purchase the book using Paypal . Payments can be made by credit card or direct transfer, and are processed on PayPal’s secure miracleattheborder.com

22 ▶ FCB DESIGN First Choice Books • firstchoicebooks.ca Questions? Email [email protected] FCB DESIGN ◀ 23 server . Orders will go through to you, and you do the shipping . All profits stay with you . Paypal takes a 2 .9% cut of sales processed through them, plus 30 cents per transaction . First Choice Books does not take a payment or royalty on book sales .

6. Optional Blog – News and Events One of the best ways to get started marketing your book and increase web traffic to your site is a blog . You can announce upcoming events Do It Yourself such as a book launch or book signing . ▷ Send us 1-3 blog posts, each with an image, to get started . TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ▷ Recommended 250-500 words . ▷ Images should be JPGs, less than 600 x 800 pixels, and you must have copy- & DIY INSTRUCTIONS right permission to use them . FOR PRINT READY PDFS 7. Link to eBook sales If you also have an eBook version of your book, we can create an attrac- tive link to the Amazon page for eBook sales . ▶ Tech Specs for PDFs...... 26 ▶ DIY Cover Design ...... 28 8. Social Media Links ▶ Soft cover ...... 29 ▷ FOLLOW – We can set up links to your social media accounts, like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram . Please let us know what your account ▶ Hard cover ...... 30 names are for each service you would like the site to link to . ▷ SHARE – We can set up social media “share” buttons for each page of the site, ▶ Dust jacket ...... 31 so your readers can easily share your content on their social media accounts, like Facebook and Twitter . You ▶ Elements of Book Design . . . 32 don’t need to use these accounts yourself for this service . ▶ Text Formatting – Fonts . . . 34 WEBSITE DESIGN RATES ▶ Minimum Margins...... 40 5 page showcase website based on your book cover, with registered ▶ Page Size and Margins . . . . 42 domain name and 1 year’s hosting is $500. ▶ Headers and Page Numbers. .44 Add optional online sales through ▶ Bleed ...... 46 PayPal for $100. ▶ PDFs from Word...... 48 Add an optional blog with 3 formatted blog posts to start for $100. ▶ PDFs from InDesign ...... 50 ▶ Page Order ...... 52

24 ▶ FCB DESIGN First Choice Books • firstchoicebooks.ca Questions? Email [email protected] DO IT YOURSELF DIY ◀ 25 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Minimum margins .5”, inside margin .75” To ensure best quality in print, we require minimum margins of .5”, with FOR PRINT READY PDFS .75” on the inside, next to the spine, to leave room for the binding . Text elements placed too close to the page edge can reveal any slight variations in trim, or even get cut off when the book is bound . You can use larger margins as desired . See pages 40-43 for more details . If you are doing your own design work, or having a third-party do it for you, you’ll be sending Print Ready PDFs for print . If you aren’t familiar with book design, please consider having First Choice Books do the layout for you . Mirror Margins and Page Numbering We produce professional-quality design at reasonable rates, and take care Books are printed on both sides of a sheet of paper, and have left and of all the details for you . right hand pages that mirror each other . Page numbers should be either centered or on the outside corners of the page, alternating left/right . Print-Ready Files — PDF Odd numbers = Right hand page, Even numbers = Left hand page . Page 1 is always a right hand page . A print-ready file is a PDF that is set up for printing as-is . We print exactly what you send . We cannot print from Word documents or other file types . Send 1 PDF for the book insides, and a separate PDF for the cover . The Image mode: CMYK (SWOP), RGB, or Grayscale page size must match the desired print size (eg 6x9) . We cannot resize PDFs Colour images for print should be converted to CMYK for best colour re- or alter their content . production . The standard CMYK colour space “SWOP” (Standard Web Off- set Press) works well . We can print PDFs prepared with RGB images, but Cover PDF colour reproduction can vary from what you see on your monitor . The cover should be set up as a single PDF that contains front, back, and Black and white images must be in grayscale mode, not RGB or CMYK, spine in one piece, with bleed allowance . Please do not include any crop which incur charges for full colour printing . Any colour on a page means marks or other printer marks . See page 28 for more details . that page is considered a full colour page . Book insides PDF Best Resolution 300 ppi The book insides should be sent as one PDF, exactly as you wish it to print . Minimum margins are .5” with .75” on the inside margin, page number- The ideal resolution for images for print is 300 ppi (pixels per inch, aka dpi) . ing centered or on outside corners, bleed allowance .125”, and any images Images lower than 200 ppi will show a noticeable lack of clarity of detail . Line with 300ppi resolution, in CMYK, RGB, or grayscale colour space . All pages art with finely detailed lines reproduces well at 600 ppi . must be the same size and orientation at the desired print size, 1 page of the book per page of the PDF (1 up) . Please do not include any crop marks Spine Width or other printer marks . See page 48 for how to make PDFs from Word, page 50 for Adobe InDesign . To figure out the spine width, you need to know how many pages the book will be, and what paper it is being printed on . Then use our spine-width calculator on our website: firstchoicebooks .ca/graphic-design-services/ Bleed Allowance print-book/spine-width-calculator/ See page 28-31 for more details . Bleed allowance is the area of a page just past the cut line of the page . Any images or background colours that are to “bleed” off the page (extend ISBN Barcode past edge of the page) must have a bleed allowance of at least .125” . See We can make a barcode using the ISBN for your book . Leave a space for the page 46 for bleed allowances for different binding types . If any pages have barcode that measures 1” by 1 .75”, at the bottom left or right, at least .5” bleed, include the bleed allowance for the entire book, all pages . away from the cut edge and spine .

26 ▶ DIY DO IT YOURSELF First Choice Books • firstchoicebooks.ca Questions? Email [email protected] DO IT YOURSELF DIY ◀ 27 Setting Up a SOFT COVER for Perfect Binding DIY GUIDE FOR COVER DESIGN To create your file to fit your book, you’ll need the following information: Example: A professional layout program, Spine like Adobe InDesign, Illustrator ▷ Book size (eg 6” x 9”, or 5 .5” x 8 .5”) ▷ Book size: 6x9 Center the spine on the cover . Size is always width by height, in or Photoshop, is best to use for ▷ Page count: 210 inches . ▷ cover design . You can also use ▷ Minimum page count for spine ▷ Paper weight: 60lb Microsoft Publisher, Apple Pages, text: 60 pages on 60lb paper . Try to ▷ Total page count (eg 210 pages) keep text away from spine edge by Spine width: 0 .473” Corel Draw, or even Microsoft Paper weight (eg 60lb, 80lb, etc .) ▷ 1/16th of an inch . (0 .0625”) ▷ Word, with some careful set up . Spine width - use our online spine Cover Width = 12.723” For books in English, the spine ▷ Programs like PowerPoint or MS ▷ width calculator (6” x 2) + 0 .473” + .25” text should read top to bottom Paint will not work, as they can- http://firstchoicebooks .ca/graphic- not produce high resolution files (left to right when lying face up design-services/print-book/spine- Cover Height = 9.25” necessary for clear, sharp printing . on a table) . Spine text in other width-calculator/ 9” + .25” languages like Spanish or French runs the other way . ▷ Bleed allowance .125” Total dimensions with Minimum Margins – 0.5” If your design has an image or back- bleed: 12.723” x 9.25” ▷ Saddle-stitch books do not have a ground colour that goes off the edge Text should be placed no closer spine . Otherwise the set up is the of the cover, it needs a bleed allow- than .5” of an inch to the edge of same as soft cover perfect bind . ance of .125” on each outside edge . the book . Keep any items that do ▷ Coil bound books do not have a The image or background must ex- not bleed at least .5” from the edge . spine . Design the front and back tend fully into this area . It is trimmed covers as separate pieces the same off when the book is bound . Bleed Allowances size as the book pages, with .125” bleed all around . Size Calculations for Perfect Binding ▷ Soft cover perfect bind: .125” ▷ Hard cover minimum spine width is Width: (book width x 2) + spine width + (2 x .125” bleed allowance) Soft cover coil bound: .125” ▷ .25” . See page 30 . Height: book height + (2 x .125” bleed allowance) ▷ Soft cover saddle stitch: .25”

▷ Hard cover: 1” – cover wraps around Lamination We’ll Cross that Bridge We’ll that Bridge Cross We When Come It to boards, extends under end sheets . When We Come to It We’ll Cross that Bridge We recommend cover lamination, When We Come to It which will protect the book from Travels in Ireland Barcode with ISBN 1900-08 scratches and fingerprints . Travels in Ireland 1900-08 eloved British raconteur W. E. Sykes was born in Wales, B1855. While born to a well-off family, young William and Cover design Leave room for the barcode on his 8 siblings were plunged into poverty when their father was killed by a runaway locomotive, one of the first to reach their W. E. Sykes previously inaccessible home in the re- by First Choice ▷ Gloss lamination - brightens co- mote hills of Wales. His schooling was the back cover, lower left or right cut short as he became a clerk to help support the family, but his life-long Books. Note spine lours, increases contrast, makes love of story telling, fostered by his per- corner . We can create the barcode severing mother, came into full bloom when he started traveling in 1900. text runs top to blacks and dark tones look rich Trekking across Ireland with only a knapsack, an extra pair of woollen for you, with either your own ISBN, socks, and a wooden staff carved from bottom, barcode on and deep . the yew tree outside the family’s for- mer home, William encounters many or one that we obtain for you . The odd characters in Ireland before the back cover lower upheavals of the first World War, in a Matte lamination - a softer look search for love and the perfect beer. right, background barcode measures 1 .75” x 1”, hori- ▷ W. ...a rollicking adventure in Ireland,

written by one of the great comic wits E. colour and images

with no shine, great for mid and Sykes zontal . Do not place closer than .5” of the age, W.E. Sykes light tones . Not suitable for covers extend past edge of to the edge . ISBN 123-4-56789-101-9 cover, shown with with large areas of black or dark 1 234567 891019 crop marks and tones . dashed line.

28 ▶ DIY DO IT YOURSELF First Choice Books • firstchoicebooks.ca Questions? Email [email protected] DO IT YOURSELF DIY ◀ 29 Setting Up a HARD COVER Setting Up a DUST JACKET for Hard Cover

Size Calculations for Hard Cover Size Calculations for a Dust Jacket Width: (book width x 2) + spine width + .25” + (2 x 1” bleed allowance) Width: (book width x 2) + spine width + .25” + (2 x .25” bleed allowance) + .5” to allow for the boards . + .5” to allow for the boards + (2 x Flap width) . Height: book height + .25” + (2 x 1” bleed allowance) Height: book height + .25” + (2 x .25” bleed allowance)

To create your file to fit your book, To create your dust jacket file to fit you’ll need the following information: Example: your hard cover book, you’ll need the Example: following information: ▷ Book size (eg 6” x 9” or 8” x 10”) ▷ Book size: 8x10 ▷ Book size: 6x9 Size is always width by height, in ▷ Page count: 210 ▷ Book size (eg 6” x 9” or 8” x 10”) ▷ Page count: 300 inches . Size is always width by height, in ▷ Paper weight: 80lb ▷ Paper weight: 60lb ▷ Total page count (eg 210 pages) inches . ▷ Spine width: 0 .462” ▷ Spine width: 0 .675” ▷ Paper weight (eg 60lb, 80lb, etc .) ▷ Total page count (eg 300 pages) ▷ Flap width: 3” ▷ Spine width – use our online spine- Cover Width = 19.212” ▷ Paper weight (eg 60lb, 80lb, etc .) (8” x 2) + 0 .462” + .25” + 2” + .5” width calculator ▷ Spine width – use our online spine- Dust Jacket Width = http://firstchoicebooks .ca/graphic- width calculator 19.925” design-services/print-book/spine- Cover Height = 12.25” http://firstchoicebooks .ca/graphic- 10” + .25” + (2 x 1”) (6” x 2) + 0 .675” + .25” + .5” + width-calculator/ design-services/print-book/spine- .5” + (2 x 3”) This is the spine width for soft cover, Total dimensions with width-calculator/ but is adapted for hardcover in the cal- This is the spine width for soft cover, Dust Jacket Height = bleed: 19.212” x 12.25” culations below . but is adapted for hardcover in the 9.75” ▷ Bleed allowance 1” calculations below . 9” + .25” + .5” If your design has an image or back- Bleed allowance .25” ▷ Total dimensions with ground colour that goes off the edge If your design has an image or back- of the cover, it needs a bleed allow- ground colour that goes off the edge bleed: 19.925” x 9.75” ance of 1” on each outside edge . The of the cover, it needs a bleed allow- image or background must extend ful- ance of .25” on each outside edge . ly into this area . The cover is wrapped The image or background must ex- around the boards, and tucks under tend fully into this area . the endpapers . ▷ Boards – Hard cover books are bound ▷ Boards – Hard cover books are bound Hard cover book with printed cover, with .2” thick mill boards . The covers with .2” thick millboard . The covers end showing divot at spine, where cover bends, 8.5” x 11”. end up being .25” larger than the book up being .25” larger than the book in- insides . sides . ▷ Flap width – The flaps on the dust ▷ Minimum margins – .5” outside edges, .75” next to the spine . To compensate for jacket fold inward . The flap width can the divot in the cover where it attaches to the spine and bends, we recommend range from 2”- 4” . We recommend at moving items outwards, away from the spine, by .25” . They will look centered least 3” . Dust jacket with 4” ﬂaps, Miracle at when the book is bound . the Border by Barb Graham, 6”x9”

30 ▶ DIY DO IT YOURSELF First Choice Books • firstchoicebooks.ca Questions? Email [email protected] DO IT YOURSELF DIY ◀ 31 Line spacing, or leading to the spine, to allow for the binding . You are welcome to use wider The space between lines is called ELEMENTS OF BOOK DESIGN margins, which can give the reader leading . Books are usually single- a more restful, open-looking page . spaced, while manuscripts are Book design is the process of decid- Chapter start double-spaced . Wider leading can ing exactly how the text and images make the book easier to read, es- Indents The first page of the first chapter in your book will look on the printed pecially if the line lengths are long, traditionally starts on the right Current typography uses small in- page . Every detail makes a differ- but then the book becomes lon- hand side of the book . This exam- dents, instead of the older style of ence . Polished design supports the ger overall . Very tight leading can ple features a decorative, centered a full tab stop . Setting the indent book’s content, and lets the reader make the page look dark, solid, and header for the chapter number, and at .25” keeps the paragraphs sepa- enjoy it without distraction . more difficult to read . an illustration, which is set lower on rated visually, but doesn’t interrupt the page . There is no page header the overall flow of the page . at the top . Line length Be aware of the line length, as read- Single space after a period Chapter One Lead paragraph ers can lose track of where they are Current typography uses only one if the length is too long . Aim for The lead paragraph is usually not in- space after a period, not two . This 12-15 words per line . To shorten dented . This example has a dropped makes the text smoother on the line lengths, you can use wider capital letter (drop cap) in a comple- page, instead of leaving gaps . margins, which also give the page t is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in pos- mentary font . I session of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on more breathing room . You can also his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds Header of the surrounding families, that he is considered the rightful property of consider using columns, which are some one or other of their daughters. “My dear Mr. Bennet,” said his lady to him one day, “have you heard Fonts great for large sizes like 8 .5 x 11, or Headers list the title of the book that Netherfield Park is let at last?” on the right hand page, and the Mr. Bennet replied that he had not. The chapter numbers are set in small landscape format books . “But it is,” returned she; “for Mrs. Long has just been here, and she told me all about it.” author’s name on the left . It is also Mr. Bennet made no answer. capital letters (small caps) and the “Do you not want to know who has taken it?” cried his wife impatiently. font for the body of the text is a serif an option to have the name of each “You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it.” Justiﬁcation This was invitation enough. chapter or section appear in the “Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is font, Garamond . Serif fonts are more taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England; that Aligning the text left and right, header . he came down on Monday in a chaise and four to see the place, and was readable in paragraphs, especially at so much delighted with it, that he agreed with Mr. Morris immediately; known as full justification, will tidy that he is to take possession before Michaelmas, and some of his servants smaller sizes . See page 34 for exam- are to be in the house by the end of next week.” up the page considerably . This “What is his name?” ples of serif and sans serif fonts . Page Numbers “Bingley.” works very well for paragraphs . Text The first page of a book is always a ~ 1 ~ with very short lines (poetry, cook- Font size books, dialogue) can be left align right-hand page and an odd num- only (also known as ‘rag right’) . Cen- ber . Even pages are on the left . Pride & Prejudice, by Jane Austen, 6” x 9”. An 10 or 11 point font is usually a good size for reading . But every tered text should be saved for head- Page 1 of a book can be the title Here’s a typical page of a novel, font is different: one font may be ers – it’s very hard to read more than page, or, for a book with chapters, with the parts listed . Most word much larger or smaller than an- a few lines when centered . Chapter 1 . The pages before Chap- processing or layout programs will other at the same point size . Older ter 1 can then be numbered with roman numerals . let you set up these items with spe- readers prefer a slightly larger font Margins cific styles . size, but really large sizes should The minimum margins for print- be used only if readability for the ing with First Choice Books are .5” vision impaired is a concern, or for for the outside margins, .75” next beginning readers .

32 ▶ DIY DO IT YOURSELF First Choice Books • firstchoicebooks.ca Questions? Email [email protected] DO IT YOURSELF DIY ◀ 33 TEXT FORMATTING — FONTS Which font should I use? The fonts used in your book will determine how your book looks and how easy it is to read . In general, keep the use of decorative or quirky fonts to a minimum . Used in small doses, an unusual font will have a big- For ease of reading, there are several variables that affect how your text ger impact . looks on the page, including font choice, font size, line spacing, and justification . If you have large amounts of text, we recommend using a serif font, such as Garamond, Minion, or Georgia . Times New Roman is a good font, but is also the default font for most business documents . Unless you’re aim- Font Choice: Serif and Sans Serif Fonts ing for a staid, somewhat boring look, consider using a different font . Good font choices make your book look polished, professional, and ready For contrast, consider using a combination of a serif font for the body of for sales . the book, while using a sans serif or decorative font for headlines or chap- When choosing a font for your book, it can help to decide between ter names . Some fonts are so popular that they have been overused, and two major styles of fonts: Serif and Sans Serif . (A serif is the little wedge now look unprofessional, especially to reviewers and booksellers . voidA shaped detail at the edge of a letter . It originates from the marks of a Pa p y r u s and Comic Sans in particular . chisel used in carving letters into stone during Roman times .) When choosing a font, make sure that it comes with the different ver- Serif fonts are used for a more formal, traditional look, and for longer sions you may need, such as regular, italic, bold, and bold italic . Here are amounts of text for easy reading . Examples: Georgia, Times, Garamond . some common, well-designed serif, sans serif, and decorative fonts .

th Sans Serif (without serifs) fonts were created in the early 19 century, SanS Serif fontS Serif fontS as designers started to simplify and modernize the type design of pre- vious centuries . Sans serif fonts are frequently used on-screen, for the Helvetica or Arial Times New Roman web, and for clear signage . Use sans serif fonts for a modern, friendly, and The Quick Brown Fox jumped The Quick Brown Fox jumped clean look . Examples: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, Futura . Gill Sans Georgia The Quick Brown Fox jumped The Quick Brown Fox jumped Garamond Serif - small wedge shape at end of letter Century Gothic The Quick Brown Fox jumped The Quick Brown Fox jumped Calibri Minion Pro The Quick Brown Fox jumped The Quick Brown Fox jumped

Garamond Pro erif Decorative fontS S Sans Serif - no wedge at end of letter Lobster — The Quick Brown Fox jumped Great Vibes - The Quick Brown Fox jumped Existence Light - The Quick Brown Fox jumped Futura Std Futura Sans Serif Rock Salt - The Quick Brown Fox jumped

34 ▶ DIY DO IT YOURSELF First Choice Books • firstchoicebooks.ca Questions? Email [email protected] DO IT YOURSELF DIY ◀ 35 Font Size Examples Line Spacing Examples Garamond, 9 pt – Very small for reading, many words per line. Larger font sizes need more line space, to give some breathing room to the page . A narrow line space (x1) can make the page look like a dense wall “Oh! my dear Mr. Bennet,” as she entered the room, “we have had a most delightful of text, which is intimidating to the reader . Double spacing (x2) is great for evening, a most excellent ball. I wish you had been there. Jane was so admired, nothing could be like it. Everybody said how well she looked; and Mr. Bingley thought manuscripts, so an editor can make notes, but is too wide for a published her quite beautiful… book . Line spacing between 1 .2 and 1 .5 works very well .

Garamond, 10 pt – Small for reading, ﬁts a lot of text per page. Line spacing: 1 Compact — makes text look solid, dark (11pt/11pt) “Oh! my dear Mr. Bennet,” as she entered the room, “we have had a most In understanding, Darcy was the superior. Bingley was by no means delightful evening, a most excellent ball. I wish you had been there. Jane was deficient, but Darcy was clever. He was at the same time haughty, so admired, nothing could be like it. Everybody said how well she looked; reserved, and fastidious, and his manners, though well-bred, were not and Mr. Bingley thought her quite beautiful… inviting. In that respect his friend had greatly the advantage.

Garamond, 11 pt – A standard font size, good number of words per line. Line spacing: 1.15 Open — more spacious, recommended (11pt/13.2 or auto) “Oh! my dear Mr. Bennet,” as she entered the room, “we have had a In understanding, Darcy was the superior. Bingley was by no means most delightful evening, a most excellent ball. I wish you had been deficient, but Darcy was clever. He was at the same time haughty, there. Jane was so admired, nothing could be like it. Everybody said reserved, and fastidious, and his manners, though well-bred, were not how well she looked; and Mr. Bingley thought her quite beautiful… inviting. In that respect his friend had greatly the advantage.

Garamond, 12 pt – Larger than standard size, good for vision impaired. Line spacing: 1.5 Relaxed — lots of breathing space, increases page count (11pt/16pt) “Oh! my dear Mr. Bennet,” as she entered the room, “we have In understanding, Darcy was the superior. Bingley was by no means had a most delightful evening, a most excellent ball. I wish you deficient, but Darcy was clever. He was at the same time haughty, had been there. Jane was so admired, nothing could be like it. reserved, and fastidious, and his manners, though well-bred, were not Everybody said how well she looked; and Mr. Bingley thought inviting. In that respect his friend had greatly the advantage. her quite beautiful… Line spacing: 2 Double — too much space, not recommended. (11pt/22pt) Garamond, 16 pt – Very large text, use for beginning readers. “Oh! my dear Mr. Bennet,” as she entered the In understanding, Darcy was the superior. Bingley was by no means room, “we have had a most delightful evening, deficient, but Darcy was clever. He was at the same time haughty, a most excellent ball. I wish you had been there. reserved, and fastidious, and his manners, though well-bred, were not Jane was so admired, nothing could be like it. inviting. In that respect his friend had greatly the advantage. Everybody said how well she looked; and Mr. Bingley thought…

36 ▶ DIY DO IT YOURSELF First Choice Books • firstchoicebooks.ca Questions? Email [email protected] DO IT YOURSELF DIY ◀ 37 In Adobe InDesign, you can adjust the tracking, hyphenation, and keep Justiﬁcation options in your paragraph styles . Left align – rag right, good for very short paragraphs, dialogue, lists, poetry In Microsoft Word, controls for hyphenation and Widows & Orphans can Between him and Darcy there was a very steady friendship, in spite be found in the Paragraph window . (Have your cursor in the paragraph in question, right click, choose Paragraph from the menu that appears .) of great opposition of character. Bingley was endeared to Darcy To avoid single word widows, you can insert a non-breaking space before by the easiness, openness, and ductility of his temper, though no the word in question, to make sure it stays with the rest of the paragraph . disposition could offer a greater contrast to his own, and though with his own he never appeared dissatisfied.

Full justiﬁcation – aligned left and right, good for long paragraphs, standard body text Between him and Darcy there was a very steady friendship, in spite of great opposition of character. Bingley was endeared to Darcy by the easiness, openness, and ductility of his temper, though no disposition could offer a greater contrast to his own, and though with his own he never appeared dissatisfied.

Centered – for headers and very short text only, use sparingly Between him and Darcy there was a very steady friendship, in spite of great opposition of character.

Hyphenation Hyphenation occurs when your layout or word processing software auto- matically breaks longer words at the end of a line with hyphens . It can be turned on and off in most programs . ▷ When justifying text, hyphenation can help avoid large, awkward gaps and Experiment and Test Print spacing in your text . To figure out what looks good for your book, do some experimenting . Find Do not hyphenate centered text, or text for children’s books . ▷ a published book that is like yours, in terms of genre and overall length . ▷ Some programs have options for controlling the number of hyphens per Then print out a few pages of yours, and compare them . Which do you paragraph, and if capitialized words should be broken . Avoid hyphenating prefer to read? Is your font size much bigger or smaller? Is there enough across two pages or the last word in a paragraph . white space, from either the line spacing or generous margins, so that the page isn’t overwhelmingly dense? Widows and Orphans Your book may just need a few tweaks, making the font a point larger or These imaginatively named problems occur when a single line of text or a smaller, and increasing the line spacing and the margins, but it will make a single word is left abandoned on its own page, separated from the rest of big difference to your reader’s enjoyment . its paragraph . Single lines at the start of a paragraph (orphan), or at the end (widow), can be prevented in some word processing or layout programs .

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SETTING PAGE SIZE Setting margins 1. Go to the Layout tab, expand the Page Setup section, AND MARGINS then choose the Margins tab IN MICROSOFT WORD 2. Minimum margins for Top, Bottom and Outside are 0.5” Inside minimum is 0.75”. Gutter = 0 ▷ To have page appear centered when bound, the inside margin must Note: These settings examples are from MS Word 2016, but will look similar be .25” wider than the outside margin in other versions of the program . These are minimum margins: you are ▷ Consider using larger margins to give the text breathing room welcome to have larger margins as desired . ▷ If you have headers or footers (title, author’s name, page numbers), increase the margin size top and bottom to 1” Setting page size 3. In the Orientation section, select Portrait After opening a new Word document… 4. Under Pages, next to Multiple Pages, select Mirror margins 1. Go to the Layout tab, from the drop down menu expand the Page Setup 5. In the Preview section, select section, then choose the Apply to: Whole Document Paper tab 6. Click OK 2. From the Paper size pull-down, select 1. Custom Size 3 . Insert the Width and 2. Height Standard sizes: 5.5x8.5, 6x9, 7x10, 3 8x10, 8.5x11 . Non-standard sizes are also available; round to 4 nearest .25” .

4. Ignore the ‘Paper source’

5. In the Preview section, select Apply to: Whole Document 5 6. Click OK . 6.

42 ▶ DIY DO IT YOURSELF First Choice Books • firstchoicebooks.ca Questions? Email [email protected] DO IT YOURSELF DIY ◀ 43 cursor in the header text field. Check off “Different Odd & Even SETTING HEADERS AND Pages” and “Different First Page.” 4. First Page Header — leave this one blank. Chapter starts and title PAGE NUMBERING IN pages do not take a header.

MICROSOFT WORD 5. Even Page Header — traditionally this shows the author’s name. It should be aligned to the left, or centered. 6 Note: These settings examples are from MS Word 2016, but will look simi- . Odd Page Header — traditionally this is the title of the book. lar in other versions of the program . Insert an alignment tab (from the header menu) into the header text before the book title to align the text right, or center it. Setting Headers 7. Position — the header should be 0.5” from the top. (Make sure After creating a Word document and setting the page size and margins, page margins are 1”.) you will be setting up three headers: First Page, Even Page, and Odd Page . Page Numbering Books have left- and right-hand pages . The first page of a book is always Have your cursor active in the footer of an even or odd page, and choose a right-hand page, and odd numbered . Left-hand pages are even num- Insert —> Page Number from the Insert tab . bered . The different First Page can be used to avoid having a header or page number on the title page .

1. Go to the Insert tab, click Header, then choose a style. 2. An empty header will appear at the top of your document. There’s a box to type text into, and this text can be formatted in any style.

3. Activate the Header & Footer Tools Options tab by having your

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3. For books with photographs or illustrations, please follow this STEPS TO CREATE A procedure to save the file with high quality images for print (PDF/A): PRINT-READY PDF FROM WORD ▷ File menu—> Save As —> PDF . ▷ Click the button marked “Options”, lower right, and check A PDF (Print Document File) preserves all the formatting in your document, off “ISO_19005-1 compliant (PDF/A)” . so that it will stay the same when viewed on other computers and in print . ▷ Click OK, then save the file as in step 2 above and send it Note: Follow Steps 1 and 2 to create a PDF of your book . If your book has to us . Done! photographs and/or illustrations, please follow Step 3 .

1. Have your document open, make sure everything is as you want it to print, including the final page size (eg 5.5x8.5, or 6x9), headers, footers, page numbering.

2. From the File menu, choose: ▷ Save As — for ‘Save as type’ choose: PDF (* .pdf) from the menu ▷ Make sure “Standard (publishing online and printing)” is checked ▷ Name the file with your name and the book title, and save it to your computer . ▷ Check the PDF page by page to make sure everything looks good . If it does: ▷ Send us that file by email or usewetransfer .com (email graphics@ firstchoicebooks .ca)

48 ▶ DIY DO IT YOURSELF First Choice Books • firstchoicebooks.ca Questions? Email [email protected] DO IT YOURSELF DIY ◀ 49 Compression STEPS TO CREATE A ▷ Color Images: Downsample to 300 PRINT READY PDF Automatic JPEG Image Quality: FROM ADOBE INDESIGN Maximum ▷ Grayscale Images: Downsample to 300 1. Preflight checks – Have your document open, make sure everything Automatic JPEG is where you want it to print, including the final page size (eg Image Quality Maximum 5.5”x8.5”, or 6”x9”), headers, footers, page numbering. Make sure all links (images) are up to date by checking the Links panel. ▷ Other defaults are good . 2. If your document has items that bleed, make sure that you have set up bleed, and that all images extend completely into the bleed area (see page 47). Marks and Bleeds ▷ No printer marks 3. Export to PDF – From the File menu, choose EXPORT. No crop marks A Save Dialog Box will open: ▷ Bleed: Use Document Give your document a file name – your name and book title ▷ ▷ Bleed Settings ▷ Save as Type: Adobe PDF (Print) ▷ Hit “Save” ▷ If your document has no images that bleed, 4. Then the PDF dialogue box will open, with tabs for General, leave Bleed blank . Compression, Marks and Bleeds, and Output. Set them as follows.

Adobe PDF Settings General Output ▷ Adobe PDF Preset: High Quality ▷ Color Conversion: Convert to Destination ▷ Compatibility: Acrobat 5 ▷ Destination: US Web Coated (SWOP) v2 Pages: All ▷ OR Coated Gracol ▷ Do not check off 2006, if available . “spreads” . ▷ Include Destination ▷ The defaults are Profiles fine for the other settings .

5. Next, click Export. A PDF will be created and saved. Check it over, and then send it to First Choice Books.

50 ▶ DIY DO IT YOURSELF First Choice Books • firstchoicebooks.ca Questions? Email [email protected] DO IT YOURSELF DIY ◀ 51

What does “print-ready PDF” mean? book . Proof approval means you ap- can create and place the barcode I want to list myself as my own “Print-ready” means we will print prove the book as it appears in the for your book . publisher. Where can I get an ISBN? exactly what you send in the PDF, proof, and accept all responsibility What are your minimum margins? In Canada, if you want to be your with no modifications . You’ll want for any errors found in the book, own publisher, you can apply for regardless of origin, after this point . Text safety margins for print are a to make sure that the files have minimum of .5” for the outside mar- an ISBN for your book through the been carefully proofread, and that What if I have revisions to my book gins, and .75” for the inside margin, Canada Library and Archives . ISBNs all the images are high resolution . after the printed proof? next to the spine . Please note that take 10-14 business days to obtain, The files must meet the technical so allow time for this step when If First Choice Books did the layout trim sizes can vary by up to 1/8” . specifications for minimum margins and design of your book, please planning your book’s production . If I would like images to bleed oﬀ the and sizes . contact graphics@firstchoicebooks . you are American, and publishing edge of the page. What is your bleed ca to discuss sending revisions . Re- your book from the US, ISBNs are Can I see a printout (proof) of my book allowance? before I go to print? visions are billable at $80/hour . available from the United States Perfect bound books = .125” ISBN Agency, www .isbn .org, and Yes! We will send you a printed For Print Ready PDFs, please send Saddle-stitch and coil bound = .25” cost US$100 . ISBNs obtained in proof of your book before printing a new PDF of the entire book and/ or cover . We will print a new proof Hardcover covers = 1” Canada for Canadian books work the press run . Proofs are printed on worldwide . the same paper stocks as your final and ship it to you . There is a $50 What is bleed allowance? charge for new file set up and the product, and are trimmed to size, but Any image that is to run off the edge I published my book in a diﬀerent new printed proof, plus applicable not bound or laminated .One print- of the page (bleed) needs to be language previously. taxes and shipping . ed, unbound proof is provided at printed with an extra .125” margin Can I use the same ISBN? no extra charge . Additional copies I have changes to make to my book, or more that extends past the edge The new version of the book will need are $40 each, plus shipping and tax . but I don’t want another printed proof. of the page . This area is trimmed a new ISBN . Each distinct edition of a How long does it take to get a printed, Can I do that? off when the book is bound . With- book (in different languages, or after unbound proof when I send Print Yes . First Choice Books strongly rec- out this extra margin, an image can revisions, or a different binding such Ready PDFs? ommends that authors see a print- end up with a small white line at the as hard cover or soft cover) requires a page’s edge, due to variations in different ISBN that uniquely identifies You can expect a printed proof to be ed proof of the final version of their book, but you can waive the printed trim during the binding process . that edition . ISBNs are free in Canada, ready for shipping or pickup within a and we can assign one to your book . proof . Contact graphics@firstchoice Can you get an ISBN for my book? How week of First Choice Books receiving (eBooks also require their own ISBN) . files that meet the required technical books .ca to ask for a proof waiver about the barcode? form . If the proof is waived, the au- specifications . Yes, we can assign an ISBN (Interna- How does it work with the copyright? thor accepts all responsibility for tional Standard Book Number) for The rights to your work stay with Can I see a laminated, bound copy of any errors in the press run . my book before going to print, just to your book, and create the barcode you, the author . You can publish it be sure? How wide should the spine of my book be? for the back cover for you . Both are elsewhere at any time, in any form . included in the quoted print cost We will place a copyright legal no- Yes . Bound and laminated soft- Spine width depends on your final at no additional charge . ISBNs are tice in the book for you, listing you cover proofs are $100, hardcover page count and choice of paper . To available free for Canadian authors as the author, along with any other perfect bound proofs are $150, plus calculate your book’s spine width, and work worldwide . If you are credits, such as for any illustrations shipping and tax . Please contact us use the calculator on our website . American and require an American and photographs used in the book . for bound, hardcover smyth-sewn firstchoicebooks .ca/graphic-design- ISBN, they cost around US$100 . You proofs . Bound proofs will take 1-3 services/print-book/spine-width- What about royalties? can obtain one from www .isbn .org . weeks to produce . calculator/ First Choice Books prints only for How much room should I leave for the I already have an ISBN for my book; can you, the author . You sell the books So, if the printed proof looks good, then you make a barcode for me? what? bar code on the back cover? and keep all profits from sales . We Yes, we can create a barcode for you, do not administer book sales or You will need to sign a proof ap- The barcode goes in the lower right using your ISBN . This service is includ- royalties . You are free to work with proval form, included with your or left hand corner, measuring 1 .75” wide x 1” high . First Choice Books ed in the print quote for your books . another publisher or printer at any proof, and then we will print your time, for any form of the book .

56 ▶ FCB First Choice Books • firstchoicebooks.ca Questions? Email [email protected] FCB ◀ 57 Do I have to sign a contract? If I did my own design and layout, can What royalty does Amazon take? Can you edit my book? Our contract with you is the quoted you make it into an eBook? Amazon takes a 30% royalty on eBook When First Choice Books does the price for printing, binding, and any Yes! First Choice Books can produce sales . For example, if you sell an eBook layout of the book for you, we do graphics work requested . We will an eBook for you using your Micro- for $10, Amazon takes $3, and you some minor copy editing, including send a sales order listing all charges soft Word or Adobe InDesign files . take $7 . Amazon pays quarterly, and fixing common errors with spacing agreed upon . A 50% deposit is re- Send us the files and we’ll assess sales can take two months to post . and punctuation . quired before work begins, and the them for what it will cost to convert What price should my eBook be set at? For higher levels of editing, on balance is due prior to shipping or to an eBook . Graphics charges would our website you will find referrals upon pickup . If there are any ad- apply, at $80/hr . We cannot create The price of your eBook is up to you . to excellent editors who can work ditional charges, or changes in the e Books from PDFs . The minimum price is $2 .99 . To -en with you to revise your manuscript . courage sales, it is recommended to quoted specifications (e .g . quantity, My book has a lot of photos and firstchoicebooks .ca/steps-to-self- page count, paper stock, etc), we set the price as low as possible . You publishing/editors/ illustrations. Can they be included? may make more money this way over will not proceed until you approve Can you proofread my book? the new quoted price . A final invoice Yes . Images can be inserted into time, instead of discouraging poten- will be generated when the books e Books, and be read on any recent tial readers with a higher price . First Choice Books does not offer are ready to ship . eBook reader . Books that are entire- Will the colour of my cover or in the proofreading at this time . You will ly images, like a children’s illustrated want to look carefully at the printed What is your minimum order? book be exactly the same every time I book or a photography book, can order books? proof of your book, and make chang- Our minimum order to print is 25 be formatted for iBooks . es from there . You may want to con- First Choice Books keeps a copy of copies . Price breaks on quantity How is an eBook diﬀerent from a PDF? sider hiring a professional proofread- start around 100 books, and the your proof or finished book on hand er who can look at your book with best savings are on orders of 250 While PDFs are electronic versions for colour matching each press run . fresh eyes, and catch errors that have and over . of your book, they are meant pre- Colour can vary slightly between been missed previously . dominantly for printing . All parts of press runs, but we will match as close- How much will it cost to ship my the book file are set: the text and im- ly as possible, given the constraints of If you do the layout of the book and books? ages cannot be changed in any way . digital printing technology . create the cover for me, can I have those ﬁles afterwards? Shipping depends on the final size EBooks, however, allow the readers I’m concerned about having complete and weight of your book, the quan- to change the font size and overall control over the exact colour Yes . We can supply you with the high tity, the destination, the shipping look of the book on their eReaders . reproduction of my book. Is digital resolution, print quality PDFs that method and speed . For a shipping This means the text flows and re- printing the right option for my book? were used to print your book . There estimate, please contact quotes@ flows on the eReader device (Kindle, is a $50 charge for these . If you would firstchoicebooks .ca, let us know Kobo, iPad, etc), changing its look If you are looking for clear, bright like the layout files for the book, how many books, and the postal continuously with each “page” . colours and lower print costs for which will be in Adobe InDesign, we smaller runs, then digital printing code of where you want the books What can I read my eBook on? can supply these as well . Files will be shipped to . We work with multiple with First Choice is the best route sent via file transfer . ($150) carriers to get the best price for you . Your eBook can be read on Amazon for you . You may want to consider Kindle, the Nook, Kobo, iPhones and traditional offset printing for the I have an idea for a picture for the front Can I get an eBook version of my book? iPads . greatest control over print qual- cover. Can you create it for me? Yes! If First Choice Books did the Can my eBook be sold on Amazon? ity for art or photo graphy books . What we can create depends on layout and design of the insides of Digital printing can do a great job of what you would like for the cover . We your book, we can also create an Yes! First Choice can set up an Ama- colour reproduction, but there are cannot take photographs or create il- eBook . We will format your eBook so zon account for you . Once set up, some limitations . lustrations, but there are thousands you monitor the sales . it looks just like your printed book, Can you translate my book? of amazing photographs and illus- including a cover page that matches Can my eBook be sold on other trations available from stock agen- your cover, optimized for eBook platforms? First Choice Books does not offer cies . We recommend iStockphoto . translation services at this time . readers . The base price for an eBook Yes! We can set up your eBook for com and shutterstock .com, where created from a First Choice Books sale on Kobo ($40) . you can browse by subject and style, layout is $295 . and find just the right image . Let us

58 ▶ FCB First Choice Books • firstchoicebooks.ca Questions? Email [email protected] FCB ◀ 59 know which image you would like Will my cover be in colour? Longer books may need to broken spine should have a 1/8” white band to use, and we can download it and Yes . All quotes for printed covers with into multiple volumes . on the inside edge of the page, to use it to build your cover . Prices vary First Choice Books are considered to What is the minimum page count? allow for gluing . This area will not by image and usage, but are usually be full colour . We can print in black be visible when the book is bound . around $25 each for a book cover . First Choice Books can perfect bind This white band is not required for only, but the print cost is not much (glued spine) books over 20 pages . I have a photograph or illustration that different than full colour, and most saddle-stitch or smyth-sewn books . Saddle-stitch books (stapled spine) Also make sure to offset the images I’d like to use for my cover, but I don’t readers will expect a colour cover to can be 8 pages or more . know how to design a cover. Can you attract their eye . outwards from the spine, by .25” . I would like to have the name of my do that for me? My quote for printing says “1 side in I’m setting up my book for print with book on the spine. Will my book have a First Choice Books. Do I need to impose Yes! We love designing covers . Send colour”. Will the front and the back thick-enough spine to print on? us the image (high resolution JPG or cover be in colour? the book or send printer’s spreads? TIFF), whatever text you would like If your soft-cover perfect bound Please do not impose the book Yes . 1-sided printing refers to how book is over 100 pages, we can print on the back (about the book, about covers are printed, so inside/outside, pages or send printer’s spreads . We the author, rave reviews), and the on the spine . Saddle-stitch books need the book as one-up pages, not front/back . Covers are printed on have no spine . Hard-cover books title of the book, and the author’s one sheet of paper . One side of that where each page of the PDF is one name exactly as it should appear, need to have a minimum spine page of the book, in normal order . sheet will have all the parts of the cov- width of .25”, so we can print on the and we can take it from there . We’ll er on the outside of the book: front, We take care of any imposition here . send you a sample layout of the spine of any hardcover book, even if All pages must be the same size and back, and spine . If you are printing on it is under 100 pages . cover by email first, then finalize the the inside of the covers (visible only orientation . design based on your feedback, and when the cover is opened), then that Can I do a hardcover edition of my What colour space and proﬁle should mail you a printed proof . Cover de- would be a 2-sided cover . book? my images be in? sign starts around $80-175, depend- Can I print on the insides of the cover? Yes . First Choice Books has an in- Colour images (illustrations or ing on complexity . Please see pages house bindery that can produce 16-17 for more information . Yes, First Choice Books can print in photographs) for print should be beautiful library quality hardcover in CMYK colour mode . We use the I’d like to have colour in my book. Is this colour or black only on the insides books . You can have either a printed of your cover . The print cost will be CMYK profile SWOP US v2, as it is a possible? cover to match the soft-cover edi- standard colour space . higher . This is known as a 2-sided tion, or choose a leather-style or fab- Absolutely . We can print pages of cover . I am printing colour photographs in my your book in colour, or even the ric binding in a range of colours . Your What is the largest book you can print name and title of the book can be book, but they’re not CMYK. Does that whole book . Colour does increase matter? the print cost of your book, so be and bind? stamped on the book in either gold sure to check with us about a quote The largest book we can print and or silver foil . We can print colour images in other for printing costs once you know bind in house is 8 .5” wide by 11” high . Can my hardcover book have a dust colour modes, like RGB . Some of the how many pages will be in colour . For larger sizes, please contact us . jacket? colours may shift slightly, especially bright blues, greens and purples, as My photographs in the book are sepia What is the smallest book you can print Yes . We can design a dust jacket they cannot be reproduced in ink coloured black and white. Is this a black and bind? for you, including flaps . Please see or toner exactly as you see them on and white book, or colour? The smallest book we can bind in page 31 for more information . screen . If you would like the photographs soft cover or hard cover is 4”x6” . We I would like to run some images across I’m printing my book in black and to look sepia-coloured in print, can saddle-stitch (staple binding) the gutter of my perfect bound book. white, but my photos are in colour. Can which is a warm, golden-yellow co- books as small as 4”x4” . Are there any special considerations for you convert them to black and white? lour, then the book will need to be What is your maximum page count? doing this? printed in full colour . Or the pho- Yes . If you are sending Print Ready The greatest number of pages we Yes . Perfect bound books use a PDFs, we can convert the entire tographs can be converted to true glued spine, and glue will not stick black white, and printed in black ink can bind is around 750, depending book or individual pages to black on thickness of the paper stock . to printed parts of the pages, due to and white . We cannot convert in- only, which is more affordable than the toner used to print the book . All colour printing . books with images that go into the

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Digital Printing Facing Pages which the lines do not line up on the are high for the plate production . Printing using toner-based printers, In a double-sided document, the right . Most mass-produced publications, from a digital file directly . Excellent two pages that appear as a spread Kerning like newspapers and magazines, are printed offset . for short run printing (<2000 copies) when the publication is opened . In typography, adjusting the space as set up costs are minimal . Finished Size between individual letters, espe- Page DPI Size of product after production is cially in titles, for aesthetic reasons . One side of a leaf, or sheet of paper, Dots Per Inch, a measure of output completed, as compared to flat size . Laminate in a publication . resolution for printers, referring to Also called trimmed size . A thin transparent plastic sheet Page Count dots of ink per inch of print size . Can Foil Stamp (coating) applied to thicker paper Total number of pages that a publi- also be used to refer to pixels per stocks (covers, post cards, etc .) pro- cation has . One sheet of paper is 2 inch, or PPI . Method of printing that releases foil from its backing when stamped with viding protection against liquids and pages, front and back . E Book the heated die . Also called block heavy use . Enhances colour, provid- Perfect Bind ing a glossy or matte finish . An electronic version of a book, print, hot foil stamp and stamp . To bind sheets that have been readable on tablet devices such Format Leading ground flat at the spine and are held as the Amazon Kindle, Kobo, iPad . Size, style, shape, layout or organiza- In typography, is also known as line to the cover by glue . Also called soft eBooks allow the reader to change spacing . Pronounced “led-ding .” bind or soft cover . the size and style of the font to best tion of a layout or printed product . suit their comfort in reading, so text Four-colour Process Printing Letter Size Paper Pixel and images in a eBook flow and Printing using Cyan, Magenta, Yel- In North America, 8 .5”x 11” . Short for picture element, a dot reflow as the size changes . low and blacK (CMYK) inks or toner Low Resolution made by a computer, scanner or Em Dash to create full-colour images . other digital device . Smallest part of Descriptive of an image, either on a a digital photograph . A dash the same width as the letter Front Matter computer display or in print, that has “m”, used to interrupt text and func- Portrait In a book, items like introduction, a low number of pixels per square tion — like a colon . preface, foreword, and dedication . inch (dpi or ppi) . Low resolution im- An art design in which the height is En Dash ages do not print clearly, and lack greater than the width . (Opposite of Gloss fine detail . Square pixels may be vis- Landscape .) A dash the same width as the letter Light reflective finish on paper, es- ible . Below 200 dpi . “n” – can be used like an m-dash . PPI pecially the cover . Manuscript (MS) End Matter Pixels Per Inch, a measurement of Header An author’s original form of work resolution in digital photographs or All the material that follows the At the top of a page, the margin that (usually a digital file) submitted for illustrations . Ideal resolution for digi- main text of the book such as after- can contain the book title or au- publication . Not formatted for print . tal printing is 300ppi . Also refered to word, appendix, bibliography, and thor’s name . as DPI, or dots per inch . glossary . Margin ISBN Proof End Sheet White space around the edge of the International Standard Book Num- page or printed material . Any print-out of a text produced as Sheet that attaches the inside pages ber . A number assigned to a pub- a means of checking for typos or of a case bound book to its cover . Matte Finish lished work and found on the copy- other similar errors, as well as posi- Also called end papers or fly-leaf . right page and barcode . Flat or dull (not glossy) finish on tional errors, layout problems, and EPS photographic or coated printing colour reproduction . Justify paper . Encapsulated Post Script file . The In typography, setting lines of text RGB file format for vector-based artwork, Offset Printing so that they line up on the left and Abbreviation for red, green, blue, produced with programs like Adobe right, as opposed to ragged right, in Printing using metal plates . Excellent the colours of light . Most digital Illustrator . Can be reproduced clear for long press runs, into the tens of images handle colour in RGB . Com- and sharp at any size . thousands or millions . Set up costs

64 ▶ FCB First Choice Books • firstchoicebooks.ca Questions? Email [email protected] FCB ◀ 65 puter screens are RGB . RGB images Tracking should be converted to CMYK, the In typography, the adjusting of the CHECK LIST – SENDING FILES colours for printing . distance between all letters along Saddle Stitch the length of a line of type . FOR LAYOUT + DESIGN Binding style where sheets of paper Trim Size are printed both sides, and folded in The size of the printed material in its BY FIRST CHOICE BOOKS half to form 4 pages, and bound by finished stage (e .g . the finished trim stapling at the centre line . size is 5 .5 x 8 .5) . Signature Typeface Book – Text Document and any images Printed sheet with print on both In typography, a specific variation ▷ The final version of your manuscript, in order, edited and proofread, along sides, folded in half to form 4 pag- within a type family, such as roman, with the following in one Word document ( .doc, .docx): es . Saddle-stitch and Smyth-sewn italic, bold, etc . books are sprinted in signatures, ▷ Dedication, if any . and must have a page count divis- Typography ▷ Acknowledgements, if any . ible by 4 . The art and process of specifying, ▷ Exact names and credits for copyright page All parts of the book, including front and end matter, in order Smyth-sewn setting, or otherwise working with ▷ print-quality type . Typography in- ▷ Any footnotes, endnotes, or index . A binding style where signatures volves the proper placement, posi- ▷ Any specific requests for style or set up . are printed, combined in sets, and tioning, and specification of type to Any photos or illustrations in a separate folder . Name images in the order stitched at the centre line . Smyth- ▷ ensure not only maximum legibility they appear in the book (01 .jpg, 02 .jpg) Images can be JPGs, TIFFs, or EPS, sewn books have a very durable bind- but also high aesthetic appeal . 300 ppi, CMYK , RGB, or grayscale . ing, and lie almost flat when open . Uncoated Paper Include notes in the manuscript for image placement and any captions . Spine ▷ Plain paper that has not been coat- Example: Image 01 .jpg, caption: Elizabeth & Fitzwilliam, wedding day, 1804 . The binding edge of a publication . ed, so has some texture . Standard Do not place the images themselves in the document . Can be glued, sewn, or stapled . paper for printing mostly text . Spiral Bind Widows & Orphans Cover – Images and Text To bind using a spiral of continu- In typography, widows and orphans Photo or illustration for the front cover, high resolution, as TIFF or JPG . ous plastic or wire looped through are lines at the beginning or end of ▷ You must have copyright permission for commercial use . holes . Also called coil bind . a paragraph, which are left dangling Spreads at the top or bottom of a column or ▷ Any photos for the back cover, especially an author photo . In one text document ( .doc or .docx), the following: When 2 facing pages of a book are page, separated from the rest of the ▷ Exact title and author’s name for the cover and spine . set up on the same single sheet . paragraph . Professional typesetting ▷ Also known as Printers Spreads . First seeks to eliminate these for aesthet- ▷ Tag line to promote the book, less than 10 words, if desired . Choice Books cannot print from ic reasons . ▷ About the author, around 100-150 words . spreads . ▷ About the book, around 100-150 words . TIFF ▷ Any ideas for what the cover should look like for style . File format for photographs, com- patible with most systems and pro- How to Send Files grams . Best format to avoid damag- 1-3 files, less than 5 MB: email attachments to graphics@firstchoicebooks .ca ing images with JPG format . 3+ files, over 5 MB:file transfer (wetransfer .com) to graphics@firstchoicebooks .ca Many large files: we can create aDropbox folder for you . Please request a folder by emailing: graphics@firstchoicebooks .ca

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Book – PDF ▷ PDF of book insides, exactly as ▷ Page numbers are either centered you want them to appear in print, or on outside corners, alternating proofread and double-checked left/right . Page 1 and all odd page for errors . numbers are on the right . ▷ PDF size matches chosen book ▷ Page numbers are not closer than size, eg 6”x9” or 5 .5”x8 .5”, and .5” to the page edge . all pages are the same size and ▷ Bleed allowance of .125” if any orientation . items run off edge of page . Items ▷ Includes title page, copyright page, to bleed extend fully into bleed any other front or end matter . allowance . ( .25” bleed allowance Copyright page lists name of for saddle-stitch books .) author/copyright holder, plus any ▷ Photos and illustrations are high additional permissions or credits . resolution for print (300ppi) . ▷ Minimum margins met: .5” ▷ Colour images are in CMYK outside edges, .75” inside margin (SWOP), or RGB images . next to spine . ▷ Black and white images are in ▷ Pages are set up with mirror grayscale or bitmap . margins, alternating left/right . Cover – PDF ▷ Set up as one PDF, including back, ▷ Images are 300 ppi, CMYK, RGB spine, and front . to print in colour, or grayscale for ▷ Spine width is correct for page black-only printing . count and paper choice . ▷ Space available for the barcode, Cover size will fit book size . 1 .75” x 1”, lower corner of the back ▷ cover . ▷ Bleed allowance of .125”, cover artwork extends completely into ▷ Book title, author’s name are pres- the bleed area (saddle-stitch .25”, ent, match exact name and title hardcover 1” bleed) . inside the book and on spine . Revisions ▷ Any revisions require sending a new, complete PDF . New files set-up charge $50, includes a printed proof (applicable taxes and shipping extra) . ▷ A printed proof of the final version of the book must be approved with no revisions before the press run, or a proof waiver signed . How to Send Files 1-3 files, less than 5 MB: email attachments to graphics@firstchoicebooks .ca 3+ files, over 5 MB: file transfer (wetransfer .com) to graphics@firstchoicebooks .ca Many large files: we can create aDropbox folder for you . Please request a folder by emailing: graphics@firstchoicebooks .ca

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