Getting an ISBN for your book is a primary step in the publishing process. Pulsio Print can help you to get the ISBN and have it correctly integrated into your book without any hassle for you. Contact us today to learn more about our services.

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Let’s start with the typecasting of everything related to Eastern Europe. The legacy of the Cold War has placed a “natural” mistrust that has without reason built up over the years. There is nothing behind this mistrust, just a cliché devoid of meaning and logic.

That is why we will invalidate it from the very beginning. How? Well, easily. Eastern Europe is Europe. Don’t forget it. There is almost no country in Eastern Europe that is not a full member of the European Union. This means the availability of a good transport system, no customs duties and legal guarantees based on European legislation, rules and regulations.

A serious Eastern European company could not afford to compromise on a united and pretentious market such as the European one. So, forget about the wall, about uncertainty, about stereotypes.

Eastern European companies’ access to high-tech printing machines is beyond any doubt. This is required by the highly competitive free European market, which would not allow the combination of quality and price not to be at the required level. European funds have made many economic sectors in Eastern Europe extremely competitive.

It is your right to demand perfect quality, accurate colour reproduction and optimal colour range. Printing machines must be selected so that they can offer you flexibility, high quality and consistent and predictable results for each of your orders.

Ask the printers on your list what technologies they use. Do it even if you will not understand most of what the information they will give you. Ask them to send you photos and videos of the production process. Although few in number, some printers also offer 3D Virtual Tour from their production facilities. This is because there are companies that pretend to be printers, but they are not. They are only intermediaries who provide a service. There is nothing wrong with this, of course, if they themselves have good control over the processes and quality of workmanship. We emphasize this fact because many clients want to work directly with a printing house, not with intermediaries.

Although technology is becoming more advanced (sometimes so much so that we do not even have time to adapt) and increasingly autonomous, the human factor is still an integral part of a successful printing process and a perfect end result. The qualifications of the people of Eastern Europe are in no way inferior to those of their Western European counterparts. And there, as everywhere in the world, everything is a matter of personal attitude towards the profession, experience and continuous self-improvement.

Training in the field of printing begins in specialized schools and continues in universities. Often this “craft” is passed down from generation to generation, from father to son and / or daughter, and becomes a family tradition that leads to a qualitative accumulation at the national level.

Even during the Cold War, the printing industry in Eastern Europe underwent serious technological and expert development, despite the emphasis on the production of propaganda literature, newspapers and magazines, and less variety in printing products for various industries such as packaging, boxes and labels.

It is important not only for the people working in the printing house to be experts in their work, but also for the company itself to have the greatest possible experience in the printing business. Because more experience means more problems solved over the years, there is greater security for any current and future projects. Investigate how long the printers on your list have been on the market. And more importantly, find out if they have experience with foreign partners. Just ask them if they have experience with UK clients and companies. Do they have experience with companies from your business sector? This is important not only when we talk about customer service by an associate (salesperson or account manager), but throughout the printing cycle – from inquiry to end result.

More or less every line in this text is about quality. The things you need to know to understand the print quality offered by Eastern European printing. You already know that you are working with a real printing house, you know how long it has been on the market, you have seen and met some of the staff. You know what you want to get as a final result.

Ask them directly, “Can you do this for me? Can you apply this or that effect or finishing technique? Do you have this type of paper in stock?” Send them your requirements. Send them a sample or a similar product. If the printer answers that, they can ask for samples. Make sure first hand that the quality they guarantee matches. Ask what options they give for remote quality control – real colour samples, electronic proofs, digital proofs, wet proofs, blank dummies, check copy.

We assume that the good price is the goal of your “journey” to Eastern Europe. We didn’t start with it because it would be irrelevant if the conditions described above were not met. The price in most cases would be lower. Why is that?

In some countries, there is a more relaxed tax policy, which allows printers to reinvest in technology and optimize processes that reduce the cost per unit of output.

The cost of labour is also lower than that of the old Western European economies. This does not mean that people are exploited. The standard of living in these countries is lower, and this allows for lower costs for most goods and services. To assure yourself of the good working conditions in the printing house, you are considering looking for information on the application of standards such as those of Coface.

Eastern European economies are catching-up economies, which means that the unit price of production and the standard of living are constantly approaching those of Western European countries. Of course, this process is slow, which makes Eastern European printing companies the perfect long-term partners for you.

There are objective reasons why you do not have to worry about whether your printer will meet deadlines. In Eastern Europe, the production process in a printing house can be defined as more flexible. When necessary, night shifts are included in the schedule, and the working week can become 6 days, so that printing happens on time. This, of course, happens without violating the employer-employee relationship and contacts nor the laws of the country.

We live in a world of global connectivity of all types, including communication and transport. In such a dynamic world, freight forwarding is becoming an increasingly secure sector. It is very likely that the company you will hire will work with world leaders in courier services such as TNT, DHL and others. Some companies also have their own transport company, which makes delivery even more secure because drivers know the transport system and easily reach addresses coordinated by a logistics expert. Customers, in turn, receive accurate and timely information about the delivery of their printed product.

If the company offers competence in your native language, this is another way of eloquently showing you competence. Seamless communication in an industry like print, in which there are so many specific terms, is extremely important. That way, we can rely on the fact that no one will get lost in the translation.

Every capital in continental Europe is 2-3 hours away by plane. If you want to find a long-term partner, go to them. Meet live with the people you will communicate with for each order, see the production and feel the atmosphere. You will be home again in 24 hours. All doubts will have disappeared.

Most companies set aside space on their sites for customer feedback and to display the logos of companies they have worked with or are working with. Go to their social networks and see what their customers have to say on the feedback pages. Choose a few customers, contact them and ask for references to the service and product they have received. Request references from a UK company specifically as well.

Sustainable printing should no longer be seen as an abstract globalist concept. Green print should be the responsibility of every self-respecting printing house.

Along with competitive prices, high quality and timely delivery, you have the right to look for partners who pursue long-term policies regarding sustainable environmental printing. Find out if the papers the printing house uses come from responsibly managed forests and are FSC® and PEFC certified, and if the technologies they use are environmentally friendly.

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With the growing awareness of climate change and other critical environmental issues, our journey towards sustainability began in 2004. Since then, we’ve been putting our efforts into maintaining the fragile balance between people, planet and profitability and making our critical decisions with that balance in mind.

Sustainability requires a determination to operate efficiently, to preserve the safety and well-being of workers and to conserve the environment, while delivering uncompromised quality and service. We accomplish it by:

Using sustainable print materials.

Using biodegradable or recyclable packing materials.

Using H-UV Offset Printing, which, in addition to waste, cuts down our carbon footprint.

Reducing waste through efficient calibration and colour settings.

Offering an array of recycled paper options.

Offering Digital Printing solutions.

Strategically planning order deliveries to reduce mileage and transport pollution.

Recycling all possible materials that become useless during production activities, such as water, ink, ink sludge, solvents, paper, wood, plastics and others.

Furthering pollution control by reducing, reusing, and recycling materials and items used personally by employees while at the office.

Conducting business processes as environmentally friendly as possible.

Training and educating our employees and visitors on environmental issues.

Complying with laws and regulations and best practices concerning safety, health, and the environment. If non-compliance is found, we immediately take action to remedy it.

Earning certifications by ecological institutions.

Traditionally, half of the fibers needed to make paper come from trees cut specifically for that purpose. Typically, the best parts of the wood are used for construction and the less desirable portions for pulp.

Nowadays, paper can be created from almost anything – vegetable matter, wood fiber from sawmills, recycled materials, paper waste, etc.

Аt Pulsio Print, we offer paper containing a high percentage of recycled fiber components taken from a wide variety of sources that do not contain any harmful additives.

For example, some of our high-grade paper is created from cloth fibers. Natural fibers such as cotton and linen are used for all kinds of high-end paper, including wedding invitation paper, drawing paper, etc. Cotton is a preferred material because its fibers are very strong, making it an excellent choice for documents that may need to be archived. Its strength, along with its unique feel, is why the cotton paper is popular for letterhead and other corporate stationery products as well.

The choice to use responsible paper with Pulsio Print is never a sacrifice, but only an added value. All our paper stocks meet the same high standard of brightness and colour fidelity, regardless of the recycled content.

The papers offered by Cycles, Arjowiggins and Cocoon are made from 100% recycled fibres and allow for neat prints, high-quality media and special formats without limiting creativity. Whether coated or uncoated, satin-finished, with perfect paper and opacity, these papers combine environmental protection, performance and superior print quality – the ideal solution for both classic and high-end creative prints!

Many papers offered by Pulsio Print come from PEFC and FCS certified forests. These certifications make it possible to fight against deforestation and thereby to preserve the biodiversity that these ecosystems shelter. They also encourage the entire recycling sector through waste collection and recovery.

The FSC Principles and Criteria provide a foundation for all forest management standards globally. FSC certification ensures that products come from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social and economic benefits. It positively impacts workers and communities associated with the forests themselves and the wood and paper production from them, as well as helps change environmental conditions globally. Products with the Forest Stewardship Council label are identified as products with their roots from well-managed forests.

PEFC, the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification, is a leading global alliance of national forest certification systems. This international non-profit, non-governmental organization is dedicated to promoting sustainable forest management through independent third-party certification.
You can easily communicate to your clients your company’s dedication to eco-responsibility by choosing PEFC and FCS certified paper for your brochures, catalogues, business cards, and corporate stationery. We can add a logo or a line of text for the sustainable certification you use, as well as a recycling label.

H-UV is the new generation of Litho Printing. The following are the problems that may occur with traditional litho-printing:

Markings and set-offs occur because oil-based inks need time to dry. After the printing is finished and the sheets are left to dry, the wet ink transfers to the reverse side of the sheet. In order to avoid it, printers use powder.

Using spray powder is often overlooked, however, it may produce unexpected results. Excess use of powder will lead to a rough surface, as it settles in the ink and may leave residue all over the sheet.

Using uncoated paper is very tricky. Colours may look fantastic at the moment of printing, however, when they soak into the surface of the paper the images may become flat and dull.

H-UV technology addresses all these problems and improves sustainability. Firstly, the UV light used in this printing process instantly dries the ink to ensure mark-free print. The ink dries on the surface, so the colour you see when printing is the colour you get in the finished product. With this LightCure technology, there is no longer a need for spray powder. Bright and vibrant images can now be printed on any surface, including coating free.

H-UV printing also helps us be more responsible in our use of electricity and inks and creates less waste. A single H-UV lamp can cure up to 400% ink coverage plus coating at maximum press speed-reducing energy required for curing, lowering heat output and omitting no ozone or odours. This also allows us to further cut down on energy use in maintaining the optimum environment in our manufacturing HQ for our products and our wonderful staff.

Colour management is key to the reduction of waste in green printing. When the printer has the expertise and technology to set the colours correctly without the need for further additional adjustments, you use much less paper, inks and energy to achieve your target.

Printer calibration is the process of bringing a colour device into an ideal, quantifiable, repeatable state. The goal is to measure and adjust the colour response and density balance of the device to bring out its best optimal colour output. It keeps track of ‘device drift’ and allows the printer to bring itself back so colour management remains valid and accurate./span>

Thanks to the combination of Precision Core TFP printhead technology, UltraChrome HDX ink sets with eleven outstanding colours and ORIS Color Tuner software, our superhero printers are capable of reproducing every detail, tone, texture, and brushstroke of the original artwork or photo, delivering unrivalled accuracy in all your printing and proofing work, without additional waste.

If any scrap paper is produced by the printing process it is recycled into newsprint, as it requires much less energy, water and chemical treatment than recycling into a white paper.

We offer a wide variety of product categories including formats, sizes, weights and paper combinations. It is important to know that by favouring standard print formats for your media, you avoid large pieces of scrap paper and energy waste.

We are proud that each year, in comparison to the last, our company significantly improves its performance in all categories subject to evaluation in the certification. We recognize that our people are not only the foundation of our company, but also its building blocks, and thus we strive to grow our company by taking care of and developing our talent.

We know firsthand the many business and social advantages of working in a multicultural and diverse environment and so we foster that type of rich culture here at Pulsio Print. If you take a look at our company, you will see that diversity exists all around, as our employees bring forth many cultures, backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

We encourage our employees to engage with one another, inspire each other and collaborate in the working environment. For 16 years, we have been working with individuals and businesses to help build a more welcoming work atmosphere through advocacy, training and events that bring people together, foster understanding and recognize the valuable contribution that new arrivals make to our company.

We have a number of career programs that allow us to invest in the development of our employees. One such program, that brings in even more diversity, is our internship program. When joining the company’s large team, each intern receives professional experience, training programs to increase their competencies and knowledge, transparent feedback on their work and mentoring.

Regardless of race, gender, ethnicity or religion, we welcome and encourage you to get involved and join our multicultural family that currently counts people from all around the world: Bulgaria, France, UK, Australia, Ukraine, Turkey, Congo, Madagascar, Burkina Faso, and the United States. We all benefit when everyone feels welcome.

One of our major sponsorship areas are the Bulgarian libraries. This is an initiative to help key institutions in need of support. By donating to libraries, we are joining a community of individuals, organizations, and institutions that are committed to improving lives and expanding minds. Pulsio’s mission is to play a part in bringing the joy of reading and access to educational materials to millions of people who might otherwise not be able to afford it. The new books we supply provide these people with the resources they need to develop their skills and improve their own lives through reading.

Fundraising is not only a means of raising money for donation to causes we care about, but also a way of promoting charities’ goals and objectives. It is just another way in which we educate our employees, partners, and clients and promote empathy and activism.

Our focus at the moment is support for foundation ‘Child and Space’ (read more) that assists at-risk youth and children with special needs. 100% of the sales of the book ‘Felicity in Bulgaria’ go to the foundation. The second book will soon be published, and again all proceeds will go towards helping this disadvantaged youth.

Serving communities is about creating opportunities for growth and change not only for the communities themselves but for our personnel as well. Philanthropy has been known to have a positive impact on health and life satisfaction.

We recognize that our employees have busy lives, and despite their strong desire, it may be challenging to take the time to volunteer. That is why we provide them with multiple opportunities to participate in volunteerism as a company and on company time.

One example is the annual landscaping in Vitosha Park. Clearly, from our environmental initiatives, this is a cause near and dear to our hearts. Through this kind of community involvement and commitment, we want our employees to feel proud to be part of our organization.

Take your environmentally friendly company plan to the next level! Through the use of cost-effective eco-friendly print, we help others to greatly reduce their environmental footprint. If you’re interested in sustainable print by a socially responsible printer, contact our dedicated Pulsio team now – there is no time for delaying.

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If you are planning a book that will properly represent your best works of art, it is a good idea to trust a proven print partner specialising in art and photography printing. Gallery and photo publishing requires the best quality that the print industry can offer. Here is where experience helps.

Even the most experienced professionals cannot give you the required quality without the necessary technology. Pulsio Print uses H-UV offset premium print technology. What does all that jargon mean to you as a published artist? You will get on paper higher resolution, realistic printing and more vibrant and vivid colours. Never again will you say “Oh, it looked better on screen!”

When you’ve found a printer that covers the requirements above, you’ll want to consider the variety of papers, finishes and add-ons that your printer offers. You don’t want to plan a luxury edition only to find yourself stuck with limited paper and finish options. It’s the content of the artwork that makes an art project unique. So choose the right form for that content and give it your unique style.

Book binding is of no less importance. As a real work of art, your book has to stand the test of time, be resistant and stable and let the reader enjoy every single page of it. Art books are often chosen as elegant gifts, and here is where quality comes first. At Pulsio Print we use our own processing line for HARD COVER-CASE book binding. Get aware of all available in Pulsio options for covers and bindings.

If you manage to find a printer that can do all that for you, you are lucky indeed. The only thing left is getting a reasonable price for your project, since, of course, luxury illustrated editions can be expensive. We can give you the most competitive possible price for the quality that such a project needs. Check it out yourself by getting an online quote, using our user-friendly online calculator or simply request a personal quotation.

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Customers come to Pulsio to print various projects – books, photo albums, catalogues, brochures, leaflets, posters, novels and essays, comic books, boxes and even custom-made products. Those who have already used our services are already aware of our abilities and capabilities. Therefore, the trust between us is already in place.

But if you are looking to start a completely new relationship with a company you have no experience of, you’ll need to be given good reason to trust that company to deliver what they say they’ll deliver.

You will unquestionably be more confident when you have full control over the processes involved when you need excellent results. This applies as much to the business relationship as to physical products. But you do not of course have full control over the actual printing itself.

You want your product’s colours to be as accurate as possible and would like to have the final result guaranteed. Our goal at Pulsio Print is to give you the certainty that you control the quality of your print product from a distance. In other words, you can trust us when you send us your project.

A perfectly prepared print file – It all starts with submitting your file. If it is not perfect to begin with, don’t worry. We have excellent pre-press experts who will make the necessary corrections. The colours will guide our experts as they work on the project.

A proper colour proofing system (hardware and software) – This system will ensure the predictability and consistency of the colours embedded in the file.

А reliable highest-quality printing machine – This machine will print what the colour proofing system already guaranteed. Our cutting-edge technology includes The New Komori HUV, the best and most successful technology in Europe for printing luxury and prestigious publications.

International quality standards – They make the symbiosis between file – colour system – printing machine perfect. At Pulsio Print we have ISO 12647 and FOGRA 39/52. They make sure the system works in a synchronized and perfect way.

To achieve a predictable, consistent and accurate colour result that fully satisfies the customer, every print-house should have a reliable pre-press proofing system (hardware + software) as a part of its workflow.

The combination between Epson SureColor P5000 Violet Spectro – versatile and reliable proofing, photography and fine art printer, with excellent Pantone accuracy – and CGS ORIS Color Tuner // Web – web-based soft and hard copy proofing in one package – is perfect.

We won’t talk here about the sophisticated features with which the aforementioned system facilitates the workflow in Pulsio Print. We are only going to share those advantages which have a close connection to the result of the job – the printed product.

Thanks to the combination of Precision Core TFP printhead technology, UltraChrome HDX ink set with eleven outstanding colours and ORIS Color Tuner // Web software, our superhero is capable of reproducing every detail, tone, texture, and brushstroke of the original artwork or photo, delivering unrivalled accuracy in all your printing and proofing work. Our system can do outstanding print quality for you, providing:

Exceptionally accurate dot placement, every time.

Repeatable colour accuracy, every time.

Smooth colour gradation, every time.

Long-lasting print works, every time.

Flawless detail and contrast, every time.

Output consistency on every print, every time.

Your work will truly stand out from the crowd thanks to the 11-colour ink set. This set gives our clients professional-quality prints that recreate their vision in perfect detail.

Increased optical density thanks to the black ink.

Higher lightfastness and output consistency on every print thanks to the new yellow ink formulation.

Colour imbalance adjustment.

Trust us, and the quality will take on a whole new meaning once you’ve seen your project printed.

What can be printed with our system is of interest in two major market segments – creating certified proofs for (1) advertising agencies, packaging manufacturers and designers, and print quality for exhibitions in galleries for (2) professional photographers and artists in the fine arts.

The media (the papers) are the link in the symbiosis and part of the flawless final print result. Our system supports a wide range of specialized high-quality media covering different colour standards.

You will be sure of the colours when, after reviewing your print files, we send you (1) a certified proof, and you, in turn, review and validate it.

If you feel that this is not a sufficient guarantee, after processing the files to the above-mentioned standards, our superhero can make for you not just a chromaline proof, but (2) a real offset print. That is to say, your project on the selected paper. We know how to accomplish the mission. We have other superheroes at hand, as the saying goes!

Of course, with such equipment, the result is always impressive. And most importantly, it accomplishes everything you want as a customer: predictability and consistency conveyed by high-resolution printing, and great half-tones and density. And don’t forget that you have passive control over the whole process because you can trust us.

All in all, using this system, the colour remains the master of every project. And you, as a client, will stay in your comfort zone throughout the process – from the file being sent, through validation, to the final result.

Actually, the whole process of printing a project in Pulsio involves more than 20 stages. And each of them must be perfectly executed. We will mention only a few.

(-) Quality bookbinding should make the print product: Easy for handling and storage; User-friendly for reading and viewing; Resistant over time.

(-) Applying quality lamination, standard or special finishes will make your print project more beautiful and attractive.

(-) Quality packaging will make the Delivery process hassle-free, and the product will arrive in perfect condition.

Be aware that no matter at what stage your order execution is, you can always rely on our expert advice, fully tailored to your requirements and the specifics of your project.

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So how do you find the best format for your needs? Explore all the possibilities offered by Pulsio Print and define the exact purpose of your leaflet:

A gate fold will allow for a progressive advertising discovery like a teaser;

An accordion fold will allow you to make separate offers;

A cut-out window will highlight the message in the middle and create a dynamic reading experience.
You weren’t aware that leaflet design had so many possibilities? Don’t worry, your Pulsio Print consultant will be able to talk you through all the options!

Tip
Don’t forget to take the folds into account during the graphic composition of your leaflet design so that the final rendering is perfect: in particular, you can move two letters of a word that straddles the fold to each side of it, thereby optimizing the readability of the text.

Note
Bring your leaflets into your digital strategy by adding a QR code or a link to a Facebook game, for example. The leaflet then becomes one of the levers of your customer relations strategy!

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Four-colour printing uses the colours Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black, which are juxtaposed in tiny dots to give the visual impression of solid colour. This is why this method is called CMYK or ‘the CMYK colour system’ in English. The lower cost option, four-colour printing, makes it possible to achieve good results with the best quality to price ratio.

Pantone colours allow for extremely precise shades. Each one is associated with a number, they are standardised colours and all referenced in the well-known Pantone colour chart.

More reliable colours thanks to standardised references;

Much higher colour quality;

A process well adapted to medium or large format printing;

The price becomes increasingly competitive for large volume print runs or for monochrome prints;

The colour rendering is noticeably superior to that of the four-colour process;

The ability to have special colours such as gold or silver metallic inks and to print on non-absorbent material.

Tip
It’s possible to include one or more Pantone colours in a four-colour print project to combine the advantages of both techniques! Ask your Pulsio Print account manager for advice.

Note
As with every year, Pantone unveiled its colour for 2019 and it is “Living Coral”.

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Fiction and non-fiction printing is done with black ink on white or ivory paper.

The classic paper for printing fiction and general non-fiction is bulky paper. It is used 90% of the time. Designed specifically for novel printing, this type of paper has an exceptional volume, giving your book thickness, which is very important for shorter texts, or lightness, which is necessary for longer texts. It has a high ink absorption capacity, which is why it is often preferred in mono printing. This paper can be called ‘bulky’, ‘bookwove’ or ‘uncoated’.

Bulky paper comes in various shades and qualities. If the book is illustrated, we recommend using premium paper with more weight.

Salzer / EOS / Premium Extra White or Premium Blue White / Lake 2000 / Lac 3000: these are different names for the same paper. It’s a peculiarity of manufacturers and paper distributors that they refer to one and the same thing by different names.

Made in the Salzer factory in Austria, the oldest paper mill in Europe, it is characterized by a unique feel and touch, a very good opacity and high volume (up to 2.0). There is no trace of wood. It is available in two colours: “special extra white” (white) and “special blue white” (ivory), commercially called “premium extra white” and “premium ivory”.

Alizé paper by Vizille’s paper factory is wood free and is FSC or PEFC certified. This paper combines high printability and exceptional runnability. It comes in two shades: white and gold (natural). With a volume of 2.0 and paper weight from 55 to 150 g / m², this paper is an excellent choice for novel printing.

Munken Print: Munken Print combines the most interesting properties of paper with and without wood contents. This paper’s volume, surface, strength, reading comfort and printability are optimized for novels and non-fiction. It is available in a wide range of volumes and weights to be used for both book covers and interiors of the same quality. There are also two versions of it: Munken Print Cream with creamy hue and Munken Print White with natural whiteness.

Stora Enso papers (Creamy, Lux/Belle, Classic…): made in Scandinavia, they are of an exceptional quality, and are adapted to the needs of fiction and non-fiction printing, yet illustrations print out beautifully as well. Creamy: its natural creamy colour and specially designed weights (55, 60, 70, 80 gsm) are intended for text printing, especially lengthy books. Classic: of a rather white hue and quite neutral, this paper has good opacity and its volume of 2.0 makes it a preferred choice not only for texts but also for illustrations with deep/rich black (Manga for example). Lux/Belle: its ivory hue, volume of 2.0 and its opacity make it particularly suitable paper for shorter-length paperbacks.

The Helefoss paper produced in Sweden has a very authentic look, both in terms of its texture and hue. It is suitable for printing trade paperbacks or pocket books if you are looking for a more economical manufacturing cost.

To make up your mind and choose among the various paper rates, colours and qualities, we provide a table below. It will give you an overview that will help make an easier choice. The price indices indicate the change in the total cost of a 196-page B & W book, A5 format, 1,000 copies, depending on the paper used.

* Variation in the price of the final product (printed book) according to the paper used.

** The more wood the paper contains, the more it will tend to become yellow over time or after prolonged exposure to sunlight.

The use of offset paper is necessary if the extent of the book is quite long and the book dimensions are threatened to become disproportionate because of the book spine getting too big. You must also take into account the technical limitations of gluing machines, in the maximum spine width can be up to 60 mm. This means that the maximum extent of your novel can be 600 pages if you use 80 gsm paper with volume of 2.0. If your work is larger, then you must either reduce the weight and the volume of the paper stock, or print it in two volumes, or switch to offset paper.

If the bulky paper is usually offered in volume of 2.0, the offset is on average with a volume of 1.25. This gives you about twice as less volume for the same weight. You can then print a novel of 1000 pages on 80 gsm offset paper and stay in the technical limits of 50 mm. But the choice of offset can be dictated by aesthetic reasons and personal preferences, especially when we do not want to get a thick book at all costs.

Offset paper is generally used in white, but it can be tinted ivory or cream to give more character and originality to your novels. Offset paper appears in multiple colours: pink, orange, red, black, green, yellow, offered at high prices and used for specific projects.

Several European, Asian and worldwide manufacturers offer offset paper. Here is a selection:

Maestro, IQ-print, Mondi: three names for the same paper (due to the marketing choices of the paper manufacturer). Maestro is a popular paper name and widely used for its excellent value for money. It is made in Italy. Note that its volume is slightly higher than the rest of the offset – 1.3 – and has a really slight natural yellow tint, unlike other offset which are white or bluish white.

Fabriano Fedrigoni, Arcoset (two names, one paper): this is the paper of the Italian manufacturer Fabriano. Unlike Maestro, it has a volume of 1.25 and its shade is whiter. Made from cellulose ECF, it is acid free from alkaline reserve guaranteed for long-term preservation.

Amber graphic: Offset, extra white, uncoated wood, this paper is designed for printing books, dictionaries, manuals, brochures and catalogues. Its whiteness favours print contrast, thus texts and illustrations are reproduced with perfect quality.

Fedrigoni Palatina: Palatina paper is a Fedrigoni product, satin upper quality offset. Its ivory hue and excellent opacity make it a favourite paper of publishers. Smooth and opaque, it is ideal for perfect prints with excellent ink rendering.

Olin: Antalis’s Olin range offers you very good volume, excellent opacity and perfect quality.
It is represented by the three varieties: Premium Olin Smooth offset paper, available in 5 shades of white and 15 weights; Olin Regular vellum paper available in 3 shades of white and 10 weights – its whiteness will allow you to give more volume and strength to your works; Olin Rough offset paper – very natural to the touch and ensuring a perfect runnability, available in 3 different shades of white and 15 weights.

If you want to give a green touch to your novel and especially if the subject is suitable, you can use recycled paper. These are offset-like papers, of a higher price and a more grayish hue.

Cyclus Recycled Paper: Made from 100% recycled fibres, this paper is essential if your project demands as environmentally-friendly an approach as possible. It will be in perfect harmony with your goals thanks to its authentic textures and natural colours and tones.

Art Papers: rarely used for printing novels, these creative papers allow you to highlight your special message thanks to their feel and appearance. They will help you present to the reader in a unique way books that are accompanied by graphic art and photography. Often, the illustrations that accompany such a work are printed as one or more inserts. This allows you to combine different types of paper. In such a case, the technical and artistic assistance of a Pulsio Print adviser would prove invaluable.

The coated papers: rarely used for fiction or general non-fiction and only if this is the specific wish of the author or the publisher.

Although coated paper is rarely used for printing novel text, it is very often used for printing inserts, usually photographs or other pictures, both colour and black and white images. If the coated paper is white, the bulky or offset paper for the text is often also chosen to be white. If your choice is ivory/cream, then it is always possible to print the insert on an ivory-tinted background to keep an overall coherence. The grammage of the paper for the inserts is freely chosen from 90 to 170 gsm.

For any advice about choice of paper, do not hesitate to ask our team of experts. If you want to find the paper of your choice, please refer to the “Samples” section on our website.

Fiction or non-fiction trim sizes can take any parameters, freely chosen by the client. They are expressed in two units of measurement – centimeters or millimeters – which designate the size of the closed book (fore example 14.5 x 21.0 or 145 x 210). While you can choose whatever trim size you want, it is best to optimize the size of the book according

The most popular formats for novels and general non-fiction are 12.9 x 19.8 mm, 14 x 21 cm and 16 x 24 cm. They offer a pleasant reading experience and are easy on the eye and in the hand for the reader. Note that we always write the dimension of the width or base of the book at the beginning and then the height: 14W x 21H. This makes it possible

Not to confuse a portrait format with a landscape format, where both can have the same dimensions, 14 x 21 or 21 x 14. Other less typical formats are 12 x 18; 13 x 21; 15.5 × 23.

It is interesting to note that it is usually desirable to keep the dimensions of the book to an attractive proportion, as for example a continuation of the Fibonacci sequence and in accordance to the golden ratio 1:61 (ratio between the base to the height). But if a certain artistic take asks for it, and you are looking for originality, you can choose any trim size within the technical limits of the machines.

In a shop window book display or at a book fair, it is the cover that creates the first impression. Its job is to arouse the reader’s interest and entice them to look further, beginning the process that triggers a sale. Both the graphics (colours, artwork, style) and the text (font face, size, positioning, title text) have a role to play in attracting the potential reader. There are no hard and fast rules, but below are some recommendations.

For the cover’s text display, fonts that are too exotic or illegible have a negative effect. Each professional display font is carefully created to have a specific effect, and should be chosen carefully; too many different font faces look wrong, one or two at most will work best. Too many background images can ‘kill’ other information on the cover;
do not make the most of all the possibilities of filters and effects offered by contemporary image processing tools (Photoshop or others), and don’t clutter the image space, but of course also avoid banality. Finally, the most important thing is that the cover style corresponds to the subject of the book.

You can use either a standard paper, called ‘one side art board’ because it is treated on the outside to keep the board rigid, or a ‘two side art board’ if you want more flexibility in the cover or if there is printing on the inside of the cover as well. A third option would be art paper or structured paper such as Olin, Rives, Curious Antalis collection and others. On the cover you can choose the application of a simple varnish when it is a paper which is already structured, or various filming (matt, brilliant, selective, volume, soft touch, anti-scratch) and special effects
that you can find on the section “Standard Finishes and Special Effects” on our website.

Finally, to achieve the best possible cover, the technical aspect of the preparation of files is also important. Here is our guide on this subject: “Recommendation for the preparation of files“.

Historically, all book covers were rigid. According to publishing traditions in some countries (especially English speaking), the cover of the first edition of a book is always hardback. The use of hardcover has its practical side – a book with a hardcover lasts longer and is more resistant to external damage. It is also more pleasant to the touch.

Today, when the circulation of a book from person to person is less common and reading physical books is being slowly replaced by
electronic media, the added value of a hardback edition is that it is high-class, more professional-looking, more traditional, and it gives the impression of high quality.

The types of hardcover according to the dressing of the board are paper wrapping, cloth/leather covering and mixed covering (canvas and paper). Note also that special effects and other finishes can apply to hardcovers.

This is the traditional binding, and the most common one for printing novels and general non-fiction. The cover is called ‘paperback’ because of its maximum weight, up to 350 g/m2 one side art board or 400 g/m2 two side art board.

Added French flaps for a soft cover can add attraction value to a book, carry additional information about the author and the content, and also serve as a kind of bridge between the colour cover and the interior black and white. The recommended weight for covers with flaps is 235/250 gsm and not exceeding 300 gsm. The addition of flaps increases the price of about an extra 0.27 £/copy.

Standard perfect bound
This is the binding method that sticks the different gatherings of pages of the book, assembled in several ‘notebooks’, to the cover with the use of hot glue.

PUR binding
PUR binding is the same process as perfect binding but with a specific polyurethane glue. It allows sticking together qualitatively thick books, especially if coated paper is used for the pages and in cases when the paperweight is greater than 115 gsm regardless of their thickness.

Section sewn/Sewn
This binding method is used when there is a large number of page gatherings in the book. In this case, they are sewn in addition to being glued. Even though in modern times PUR glue can replace stitching, the more elegant appearance of a sewn book with only a slightly higher price make this an excellent option.

On the basis of a book of 196 pages B & W, A5 format, 1000 copies, here are the variations on the final price:

You can read more about binding on the “Book Binding” page.

The purpose of applying certain cover finishes (film coating, varnishes, etc.) is not just to make your monochromatic book stand out from the rest. Finishes often play a purely utilitarian role. The film coating protects or serves as a support for other embellishments such as selective varnishes or volume (raised) UV; UV or machine varnish will
protect an artistic paper or craft cover whose surface is fragile and may be stained. Canvas dressing in hardcover can’t be printed, the only way to add an effect is to use embossing, debossing, hot stamping or screen
printing.

Other elements can complete the appearance of your novel: add a dust jacket to the hardcover, a head and tails band, a banderol or single book foil wrapping, a bookmark, a lace bookmark (in the hardcover edition)…

The following table will give you some guidelines depending on your budget and wishes:

Pulsio Print advisors will be happy to assist you with all stages of the process, from the design of your book to the final creation of a beautiful object as rich in physical form as it is in content.

Check our price: it’s free and it only takes seconds!

Their primary function is to join the inside to the cover and to do so efficiently.

The first of the front endpapers and the last of the back endpapers are always clear because of their lamination onto the second and third of the hardcover.

Their number is unchangeable, with four (4) pages at the front and another four (4) pages at the end.

The thickness may be 1.5mm – 2mm – 2.2mm – 2.5mm – 3mm, 15/10 – 20/10, etc. It often depends on the thickness of the interior. The principle is that the thicker the interior volume is, the more weight is added to the card. The most common thicknesses are 2, 2.5, and 3mm.

Usually covered with 150 GSM coated paper, the cover allows offset printing.

Other offset-type papers are available for complex production. The chosen offset paper must be sufficiently flexible not to crack in the corners. We recommend Olin Smooth, Olin Rough, Popset, Cotton Laid, Buckram, Via Felt, and Via Linen.

Instead of paper, you can opt for cloth fabric, leather, or fake leather.

A wide choice is available, and we invite you to check our fabric catalog in the online viewer. You can also visit our manufacturer website, Winter and Company, which offers fabrics such as Skivertex, Novalite, Wibalin, Peltouch, Geltex, Napura, Toile du Marais, Pellaq, Synth3, and Leos Nachfolger. Fabric covers are unprintable, but embossing, relief printing, hot stamping, or screen printing will be applied instead.

Fake leather

You can also opt for a hybrid option with fabric on the spine and paper on the covering. A beautiful compromise, the choice of color also adds an original touch to the design. 

One option also is leaving the card to its raw and natural look without covering it. It is a trend in the world of art and alternative graphic novels.

You can add foam between the card and the paper on the top. It gives volume and a pleasant sensation at the touch. This option is ideal for younger readers or users because it also protects the book.

Foam

The spine of a hardcover book can be straight or round. There needs to be a minimum thickness of 15mm for a round back. It holds large book pages together to mitigate their thickness.

Round spine

They are small pieces of fabric glued to the head and the tail of the hardcover book, which is usually black or white but can be of different colors, adding to the style and aesthetics of the product. They are integral parts of the cover card when the back exceeds 10 mm.

Black endband

The bookmark is another version of a page marker, a little cloth ribbon glued under the headband at the head of the book. It makes it easier to find a specific page in the book. For greater sophistication, choose two bookmarks in different colors. The bookmark has a rightful place in a beautiful publication and a blend of practicality and elegance.

Bookmarks of different colours

Spiral bound binds the interior and the cover without glue. In this case, you will have both the solidity of the rigid card and the 360⁰ opening of the spiral. It is a binding choice often found in diaries, textbooks, and cookbooks.

Possible choices for each element of your bound book according to its page count:

In the following, you will see the possible choices for each element of your hardcover book according to its page count:

Choosing between a soft cover and a hard cover is not always evident.

Budget: a hardcover indeed represents a more expensive solution. In the case of low page counts, the cost of manufacturing the cover may be greater than the cost of production of the whole inner block.

Specifications: A4 size, 96 pages + (8 non-printed endpapers), matte lamination, four-sided recto verso printing on coated paper 130 GSM, 1,000 copies, delivery included.

Rates:

• Softcover, perfect bound: £2158
• Softcover, tread sewn bound: £2337
• Hardcover, case-bound, 2mm (20/10): £4115
  

Content: Some book contents deserve a hardcover. When we find ourselves in the realm of beautiful books, a hardcover is a must.

Target market: depending on the intended use for the work, its strength is a primary factor. For example, the best option for children’s books is hardcover. It guarantees the durability of the book.

Commercial strategy: Everything you need to embellish a printed product is available with a hardcover. The visual impact of a product remains crucial today. A book in hardcover can make all the difference.

Pulsio Print advisors are available to answer your questions and give you all the support you need.

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