Introduction
Books are seen as sources of knowledge and wisdom by many people around the world. Aside from this, people like reading novels, autobiographies, poems, and other works because doing so is a great way to escape from reality and live in someone else’s shoes for a while.
As avid readers themselves, writers want to have their own works published to share their stories with others. The process of writing a book is not an easy one. It takes a lot of time, effort, and dedication. However, the satisfaction of seeing your story in print is worth all the hard work.
One of the most common dreams every writer has is to have their book printed. Experts have even shared on Publishing Perspectives, an online business magazine, that there are “approximately 200 million people who aspire [for] authorship [in America].” Despite this large number, getting your book printed is something you previously couldn’t do without a publisher. However, with the rise of self-publishing and online publishing, this dream has become a reality for most.
At Omnibook Co., we can help your works reach various bookshelves. We can provide you with a higher royalty percentage of 50% per sold copy. Furthermore, our affiliation with more than 500 print, radio, and television media outlets will help us spread the word about your work.
What Is Book Printing?
Book printing is a complex process that includes many steps, which is why it takes a lot of time. It would be best if you did not consider it a one-time project, as getting a physical copy of your work may take you more than a month.
It also requires a lot of resources, which is why you should plan accordingly to have an idea of how much you should set aside for book printing costs. Keep in mind that you must also finalize the layout and design of your book before you hand it off to be printed.
The Book Printing Process
Many people have the misconception that it’s easy to release physical copies of their works. However, it’s actually much more complicated and tedious in real life. Book printing processes in the USA include the following:
Pre-Press
In the printing industry, pre-press starts with the digital files of the book. These documents are then converted into physical form by binding the text and images onto paper sheets or plates. In addition, it includes designing the cover and spine of the book. Overall, one can say that it covers everything that needs to be handled before any actual printing takes place.
Press
This stage got its name from the machines people used in earlier times, where they transferred images and text by pressing ink against different types of paper. It includes creating individual copies of a book on sheets of paper. Depending on your budget and preferences, you can choose from offset or digital printing. There is even a print-on-demand option for those who only want a select number of their works to circulate.
Post-Press
The term “post-press” is often used in the printing industry, mainly referring to the processes that occur after a book is published. It includes trimming the pages so the output is in the dimensions you envisioned. Choosing the right book cover size can be difficult, but some factors you can consider when choosing one would be your reader size, genre, word count, place of sale, designer, and budget.
Binding
Afterward, the different sheets of paper that will make up your printed work will be sent for bookbinding. This process refers to how machines or professionals assemble or physically link two or more flat paper pages into a single unit. The first thing that comes to mind when people think about this procedure is a hardcover book with a sewn spine. However, there are actually many other types of bindings an author can choose from, such as stitching, gluing, and more.
If you still have questions about book printing and binding, feel free to contact us at Omnibook Co. today. Our team consists of publishing professionals with years of experience in the industry. Rest easy knowing that we are dedicated to helping authors reach their full potential and bring their stories and ideas to audiences worldwide.
Types of Book Printing Services
There are many ways to print a book, and choosing the right one is essential. This is because each one is vastly different from the others. In fact, making the wrong decision could even cause you to spend more than you need.
To prevent this from happening, here are the options you must familiarize yourself with:
Offset Printing
Often used for large-scale commercial production and fine art, offset printing can be done on various substrates like paper, fabric, and cardboard. This process requires two aluminum plates—one with the image and one with the negative space—to be pressed together by a rubber roller onto a surface. It is also called “offset” because the ink isn’t transferred directly onto the paper.
This option is best for those who want to print on a material larger than 13×19 inches. Although the ink in these processes takes longer to dry, one can say that the color quality and constancy it comes with are almost perfect. If you need to create more than 1,000 copies of your most recent work, offset printing is also more economical since a greater volume can significantly lower the amount you need to pay.
Digital Printing
Books that are produced using high-quality laser and inkjet printers undergo a process called digital printing. Also referred to as short-run printing, this procedure is ideal for authors who only want to produce a small volume of books (around 20 to 200 pieces). This option can be expensive if you want to create a large bulk of your written work.
Furthermore, digital printing offers a limited choice of trim size. The standard dimensions most writers opt for are 5.5″ × 8.5″ or 8.5″ × 11.″ Plus, books can only be printed in black only or color. However, colors can vary up to 10% on any given day, with some shades slightly more pink or green than intended. You don’t have to worry much, though, since most readers cannot tell the difference.
Print-on-Demand
Any genre can be published using print-on-demand technology, from educational textbooks to graphic novels. Similar to digital printing, this process of producing books enables writers to create small batches at a time. It even lets you choose whatever book format you prefer, be it a hard-bound, colored coffee-table book or a small, black-and-white book that you can hold with one hand.
If you’re a relatively new writer who wants to test the waters, so to speak, this option is best for you since it ensures that you don’t print too many or too few copies. For example, if your friends and family purchase all the ones on hand and you get requests for more, you can simply print more as needed. Overall, it lets you spend your money more wisely while ensuring complete control of your manuscript.
Things To Prepare Before Printing Books in the USA
Once you’ve finalized your story’s plot, written it out, edited it accordingly, and formatted it to your liking, you can now handle the different matters that come with the book printing process in the USA. Here are a few things you have to do before you’re able to hold a physical copy of your work:
Choose Your Book Specifications
First of all, keep your book’s aesthetic within the expectations of the genre it’s written in. This means you can browse through other titles and draw inspiration for them. However, it would be best if you remembered that this shouldn’t discourage you from stepping outside the box and trying something that most haven’t done yet.
Just remember to pick a suitable trim size that will let your readers read the printed text easily. Here’s a list of industry-standard specifications that you can use as a guide:
- Trade Paperbacks – The most common sizes for these works are 4.25ʺ × 6.87ʺ, 5ʺ × 8ʺ, 5.25ʺ × 8ʺ, 5.5ʺ × 8.5ʺ, and 6ʺ × 9.ʺ These dimensions are opted for by many self-publishers, whether their works are fiction or nonfiction.
- Novels – Nowadays, most novels come in either of the following sizes: 5ʺ × 8ʺ, 5.5ʺ × 8.5ʺ, or 6ʺ × 9ʺ. If you have a shorter work, keep in mind that a smaller size will increase the thickness and perceived value of your output. However, for those who have longer pieces, a 6ʺ × 9ʺ size ensures that your book is easy to handle.
- General Nonfiction – There are different sizes of general nonfiction books, such as 5ʺ × 8ʺ, 5.5ʺ × 8.5ʺ, 5.83ʺ × 8.27ʺ/A5, 6ʺ × 9ʺ, and 7ʺ × 10ʺ. However, once you take the time to browse through other similar works, you may notice that the 6ʺ × 9ʺ is one of the most popular options. This is because its extra room allows for more complex layout requirements, such as tables, pull quotes, lists, and diagrams.
- Short Story Anthologies and Novellas – Most of the books under this genre either have a 5.25ʺ × 8ʺ or 5.5ʺ × 8.5ʺ trim size. However, authors of these works rarely opt for having printed copies since it is more cost-effective to publish novellas and anthologies as e-books because of their shorter lengths.
- Children’s Picture Books – Since children need more visual aid, these works are usually available in larger trim sizes, like 7ʺ × 10ʺ, 10ʺ × 8ʺ, 5ʺ × 8ʺ, and 8.5ʺ × 8.5ʺ. If you’re having a hard time deciding which is best for you, it is best to consult with the designer you worked with since the dimensions would largely affect the unique layout of your illustrations.
- Art Books and Workbooks – Larger sizes are also used for these books since they showcase portfolios. Most opt for 8ʺ × 10ʺ, 8.5ʺ × 11ʺ, or 9ʺ × 10ʺ to allow for complex layouts that involve multiple columns and diagrams.
Decide the Type of Printing Service
Due to the different types of services you can consider when printing books in the USA, choosing one can be quite complicated. You can choose from options that include offset printing, digital printing, and print-on-demand, so read up on each to assess which is best for you. If you are still unsure, you can approach professionals handling each type and get their opinion on your specific situation.
Allot a Printing Budget
A budget can help you stay on track and reduce the risk of overspending. It can even help you decide what to spend your money on. For book printing in the USA, the total costs can usually be divided into three categories: design, production, and post-production.
Design is the cost of creating the cover, spine, back cover, and any other visual elements for your book, while production is the cost of the actual printing of your book. Lastly, post-production includes all fees associated with distribution, such as freight or postage.
Arguably, the step that usually costs authors the most is production. This is because the number of pages and the layout of each page heavily affect your book printing costs. After all, more drawings and a thicker physical copy will require more ink and paper.
Finalize the Number of Book Copies
Finalizing how many copies you would like to print is essential in figuring out how much you’ll have to spend. Moreover, the number of books you publish per title will significantly impact your marketing strategy. This is because the more copies you print, the more likely people will be able to find your book.
Over the years, many writers have supplemented the physical copies of their works with e-book versions. The electronic versions of novels and essays are much easier to produce and distribute, which is why authors also choose this option. Plus, in this day and age, people love reading on their tablets or smartphones, so many find it convenient to download written works from the internet.
Fix Your Launch Schedule
A book launch is an event celebrating a new book’s release. It is often organized by the author, publisher, or both. This event can be considered a type of publicity stunt that aims to generate word-of-mouth and media attention for a published piece. One can say that a well-planned book launch has several objectives: to create buzz about the upcoming release, to generate reviews and publicity before publication, and to sell copies of the book at full price.
One of the most important things you can do before the launch is to create a schedule. It’s a good idea to plan your book launch before you publish your work because if you don’t, it can be challenging to get the word out about your book once it’s live. You must know how much time it takes to finish each stage of your book launch and decide on a realistic timeline. Additionally, it would help if you remembered not to underestimate the time it will take for marketing once the book has been published.
Plan Your Distribution Process
Book distribution is an integral part of the publishing process. It is the way a novel or essay gets to readers. However, the channels involved in this process vary depending on whether a publisher is a traditional or self-publisher. It starts with contacting retailers, wholesalers, libraries, schools, and other places that can place your works on their shelves. The process ends once your book is finally in the hands of readers.
There is no doubt that planning is the key to success when it comes to book distribution. You need to finalize your marketing, distribution, and sales strategies before you even start publishing your book. However, it would help to keep your plan flexible in case of any unexpected situations. Make sure to finish strong to ensure that all your efforts in writing and printing your piece don’t go to waste.
Best Book Printing Services Available
At Omnibook Co., we can provide book printing and binding services in the USA! Our team follows a strict set of business principles to ensure that we can help you achieve your dream of sharing your written work with readers across the globe. When you work with us, you can be sure that we will adhere to the industry’s professional, ethical, regulatory, and legal standards.
Conclusion
Most authors want their novels, essays, and poems published to share their stories with the world. They want people to be able to read their books and understand what they went through. One can even say that writers want their readers to learn from their experiences and maybe even change how they lead their lives. As a self-publishing company in the USA, Omnibook Co. can help make your wish a reality. Get in touch with us today!
