How to upload your files

Please provide 2 print files for your layflat books as PDFs.

1. Cover file must include an outer spread of your front cover, spine and back cover design.
2. Inner file must include all pages in order as single pages, not spreads. Note that each spread in the finished book comprises two pages from the file.

The maximum file upload is 2GB. Please contact our team if your file size is larger and we'll help you get your file into the workflow.

Please ensure that all fonts are embedded in your PDF file.

Colour

For best results, we recommend creating your artwork in CMYK Colour with 300dpi image resolution. Please be aware that uploaded RGB files will be converted to CMYK by our system, which may change some colours.

Black text should be set up with 100% black only to achieve the clearest printed text. If you are printing in greyscale, please set your artwork to greyscale prior to upload.

Bleed

For the pages of your book, we recommend adding a 3mm bleed to the outside of your page designs and a 3mm quiet area on the inside of the page edges. Be sure to increase the quiet area to 8mm on the spine-facing edge of the pages. Please do not add any important content to these areas.

Layflat Book Covers

The cover for a layflat book differs from other hardback books in the way in which it is mounted to the inner section. Instead of endpapers, the cover and inners are joined using the first spread of two pages.

The cover artwork needs to be created to include hinges either side of the spine and enough extra coverage to wrap around the case.

Lamination

The cover and all interior pages must be laminated to create the layflat book.

Hardcover Bleed

To print the cover for your layflat books, we need a large bleed area so that your cover design wraps around the top of the inside cover area. Please add a 20mm bleed area to the edges of your cover design with the expectation that this will wrap around to the other side of the hardcover.

Hardcover Spine

Our online ordering system will calculate the spine width when you add pages to your order, so you will know how large it is. We ask for a 20mm bleed area on the top and bottom of the spine and 5mm bleed area ‘hinges’ added either side.

Do not upload a separate spine file. Please upload a single cover design file with your front cover, spine and back cover in a single spread.

Total Hardcover Width with Bleed

20mm bleed + front cover width + 5mm hinge + spine width + 5mm hinge + back cover width + 20mm bleed

And don’t forget the 20mm bleed across the top and bottom.

Hardcover Quiet Area

For the hardcover of your book, we also recommend leaving a “quiet area” or margin of 8mm around the edge.

Endpapers

Endpapers are used to affix the cover of the book to the inner. You can choose different types of end-papers. If you require printed end-papers, please contact our customer services team and they will be happy to advise how these can be added.

Completing your order

Please ensure that you upload artwork in the correct size and with the correct number of pages before ordering. You can add pages in multiples of 4, but if you do not have enough content to fill them all, you must add blank pages.

Please thoroughly check your proof before completing your order.