Everything You Need to Know About Book Printing FAQ
There is no one-size-fits-all book specification. Every book, just like any human individual, is unique and therefore your print specifications must specifically meet its needs and marketing strategies.
In this FAQ section, we do our best to guide you on choosing the most ideal specifications for your book found in the Request Quote form.
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What's the difference between Gloss Lamination or UV Varnish?
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Can you explain the additional finishing types for the book cover?
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Can you explain the different paper types for the text pages?
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I want to print-on-demand 100 or less books. Your form doesn’t have the amount. What shall I do?
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How I can have a look at the paper samples and discuss further?
1. What book size should I choose?
Popular choices among book sizes are A5, 5.5 x 8.5 in, 6 x 9 in, 5 x 7 in, 5 x 8 in, 5 in x 8 in.
A4 book size is not suitable for books that require bookstore distribution as the bookshelves size is not that large to accommodate your book size. It is more suitable for books or manuals meant for internal circulation.
If you don’t wish to follow the popular sizes in the list, you can survey other books in the market and give us your custom size.
2. Can you explain the different types of cover finishing?
Gloss Lamination – Provides a glossy, shiny & smooth texture to your book cover.
Matt Lamination – Provides a matt, non-shiny, plastic texture to your book cover.
Matt Lamination + Spot UV – Provides an additional UV glossy finishing on selected spots while the rest remains in matt lamination. Usually book titles or pictures are applied spot UV. Creates a very high-end feel for your book.
UV Varnish – Provides a layer of UV oil that creates a glossy, shiny & smooth texture to your book cover.
3. What's the difference between Gloss Lamination and UV Varnish?
Book cover with gloss lamination is thicker and sturdier, water-proof and not easy to be torn. Book cover with UV varnish is thinner and can be easily crumpled or torn.
4. Can you explain the additional finishing types for the book cover?
Hot Stamping – Provides a silver or gold hot stamping on your book cover. Usually hot stamping is applied on the book title, author’s name or logo.
Emboss – Provides an protruding stand-out embossed effect on the book cover. Usually applied on book title and sometimes on pictures. Works very well with Spot UV and hot-stamped areas.
Flaps (2 sides) – Provides additional side flaps to your book cover. Flaps usually hold additional description about the book like author’s biography, reviews, etc.
Deboss - Provides a sinking effect on the book cover, opposite of embossed effect. This option is only available for PLC Hardcover.
5. Which cover finishing should I choose?
If you are publishing a paperback book that wants to look professional and requires bookstore distribution, choose either “Gloss Lamination”, “Matt Lamination” or “Matt Lamination + Spot UV”.
If you wish to further enhance your “Matt Lamination + Spot UV”, adding in “Emboss” over your Spot UV areas can make your book look very high-end.
6. Can you explain the different paper types for the text pages?
Simili paper – The white photocopy or printing paper. Many Malaysian books use simili paper. Common among technical or non-fiction books. Highly suitable for books with black & white printing, also works well for full color printing.
Cream paper – The brownish paper found among most international paperback books. Highly recommended if you wish to print your book with an international quality. It is also gentler for your eyes to read compared to other paper types. Highly suitable for black & white content.
Art paper – The glossy magazine-style paper. Common among magazines or full color books. Highly recommended if you wish to publish a full color book as it enhances the sharpness and richness of the colors.
7. Which paper thickness I should use?
Simili paper & cream paper – The standard thickness is 80gsm.
Art paper – This depends on what kind of book you want. If you wish to print a magazine (think of FHM or Men’s Health style), go for 105gsm. If you want a photobook quality, go for 157gsm.
8. I want the cheapest paper. Which is the cheapest option?
Here’s the paper option in the order from cheapest to high end: Simili Paper – Cream Paper – Art Paper.
9. Which color print should I choose?
The color print you choose will greatly affect your cost. Full color print will make your book looks very rich with colorful pictures but will also increase the cost.
For somebody who wishes to have a color other than black/white to decorate your book, go for 2 Colors. Your book will be slightly brightened up compared to Black & White while at the same you don’t carry the high cost of Full Color print. The cost lies in the middle point between Black & White and Full Color.
Black & White goes well with Simili Paper and Cream Paper.
2 Color goes well with Simili Paper.
Full Color goes extremely well with Art Paper because of the enhanced richness of the colors. It works well with Simili Paper as well.
10. How many copies should I print?
For large quantity printing, we use offset printing. The more books you print, the lower the cost per unit of your book becomes.
500 or 1000 books: If you are a new author starting out, we recommend this quantity.
2000 books or more: If you have already secured a market for your book, you can safely go for this quantity.
11. I want to print-on-demand 100 or less books. Your form doesn’t have the amount. What shall I do?
Sorry, currently we're not offering print-on-demand for 100 books or less.
12. I am not particular about printing a high-end book. I wish to have a low print cost or cost per unit for the books. What is your advice?
- Reduce the book size – A cost-economy book size would be 5 x 7 in.
- Reduce the total pages – Ideally, your book should have a minimum of 100-150 pages.
- Choose a cheaper color print mode – The cheapest option is Black & White.
- Choose a cheaper paper option – The cheapest option is Simili Paper.
- For book cover, choose Gloss Lamination or Matt Lamination for a economy cost.
- Choose a cheaper paperback option – Paperback printing is more economical than hardcover printing.
- Keep the cost per book low by printing higher quantity. Printing cost per unit between 500 and 1000 books has very big difference. However, after printing your books, make sure you don’t end up with a lot of stocks sitting in your house/office. Pick a balanced amount that suits your needs.
13. I have understood what I want for my book. So what’s next?
Kindly fill up the Request Quote form and click Submit. Then we will provide you with the pricing.
14. How I can have a look at the paper samples and discuss further?
Kindly fix an appointment to drop by our office at 21-B, Persiaran Pegaga, Taman Bayu Perdana, 41200 Klang, Selangor. You can contact us at 016-725 9935 or email
