Book Printing Tips: A Guide for Authors and Creators

Updated 13 July 2025.

Welcome to our resource hub! We are constantly updating this page with more user-friendly resources.

Preparing a book for print can seem complex, but with a few key tips, you can ensure your project runs smoothly and the final product is something you can be proud of. This guide will walk you through the essential considerations for getting your book print-ready.

Table of Contents

  • Book Sizes - standard book sizes and our recommendations

  • Margins and Contents - word processors and how to layout text and images

  • ISBN - do you need an ISBN and how do you get one

  • Design Softwares - software for precise work with images and creating bleed

  • Paper - our standard paper categories

  • Binding - perfect binding, saddle stitch, and signature sewn hardcovers

Book Size

Choosing the right size for your book is a key decision that affects printing costs and reader experience. It is also a decision you need to make before you begin the layout of your book. So that why this is first on our list.

While there are many options, some common book sizes are:

  • A5 Books [210 x 148mm] - This is a classic novel size comparable with the US 5x8 inch size.

  • Small USA Novels [5 x 8inches or 127 x 203mm]

  • Large USA Novels [6 x 9inches or 152 x 229mm]

    While some printers claim there is no difference in price, they are wrong. We are in Australia and you will be limited in paper options because the majority of parent paper sizes are not suited for US sizes.

  • A5 Landscape Books [148 x 210mm]

    This format is a hidden gem and is very useful for formal reports and look book. It is cost effective and more importantly is not as intimidating as an A4 book. It always seems to give the viewer an unique experience.

  • A4 Portrait Books [297 x 210mm] - Classic report and reference book size.

  • A4 Landscape Books [210 x 297mm] - This is also a unique format for visual books.

  • Square [200 x 200mm] - This is a classic size for children books.

What We Recommend.

At Aburra Press, we are authors ourselves so this is an interesting topic for us. As a general rule we would avoid a book that is exactly A4 for personal projects, where possible. This is because it is a boring size - too documenty.

For smaller novels we would recommend 215 x 150mm - a unique size that allows for great readability.

For memoirs and larger books we would recommend 184 x 266mm - this is a really nice size and fits photos well.

But in the end, it is your book and there are no rules!

Margins and Content

Properly setting up your interior text and images is crucial. Consistency is Key.

If you are doing this yourself, we would recommend using either Microsoft Words is you have a license, or Google Doc or Open Office as a completely viable free alternative. All of these software are easy to use (it’s 2025 afterall) and can generally get the job done. However, word processors are not design software, see design software below.

Key points for Margins

Ensure you set adequate margins on all sides of your pages. We recommend 20mm on all sides as a minimum. You do not need to add additional margins in the spine, this actually causes us a huge headache. Leave it with us, we take care of that in the cutting and binding step, leaving 2-3mm extra for readability so words are not lost in the spine.

Key points for Content

Text Content: Check that the words are correct and there are no spelling error - this is called proofreading. Sometimes we change all the font to comic sans to proofread - something about the brain and picking up errors better when the words all looks new. Remember the name of the game - font and spacing consistency with headers and body paragraphs.

Image Content: The clarity of your printed images depends entirely on the quality of your source files and also your file export settings. For an image to appear crisp and professional in print, it must have a resolution of at least 300 DPI (dots per inch). We understand that for historical books or family histories, you may have older photos with a lower resolution. We can still print these, but please be aware that the print quality will reflect the quality of the original image, and they may appear less sharp.

How we can help

We generally recommend our authors to give layout a go themselves, its quite a fun process (more fun than writing). However, we are happy to have a look at your file early to make sure you are on the right track. For example, after you have 10-15 pages formatted, feel free to send us a copy and we can give it a quick professional review. All free of charge of course.

We would take a more hands on approach for corporate project or retail products - where the design and layout is focused on achieving a professional finish. This generally involves branding discussions and adding themed colours, custom graphics, and custom fonts.

ISBN

We generally advise that authors get an ISBN.

An ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is a unique 13-digit identifier for your book. The company behind the ISBN is an amazing company, they have somehow managed to monopolise selling numbers, wow I wish I thought of that!

We have found that the online marketing around ISBN seems to make the process sound very difficult, but it is really not. You just fill out a form with your details and your book details and buy an ISBN for $10 -$100 dollars.

Do You Need an ISBN ?

You will need an ISBN if you plan to sell your book through major retailers, online stores, or have it available in libraries. It is the standard for tracking and inventory in the publishing world. It also makes your book look more professional.

How to Get an ISBN ?

In Australia, ISBNs can be purchased through the official agency, Thorpe-Bowker. 

Design Software

Word processors are not design software - you need the later for bleed and precise colour.

Suitable programs include Canva, Inkscape, Scribus, Affinity Designer, Affinity Publisher, InDesign and Illustrator. The first five are great programs that we highly recommend not only because they are very reasonably priced (or free) but because they are extremely good and very user friendly.

We have been using InDesign and Scribus. We thoroughly recommend Scribus as it is open sourced and easy to use. With a program like scribus you get extreme accuracy with placement, alignments and sizing of objects. Bleeds and crop marks are produced with no-guesswork, completely hassle-free and error-free – all very important issues with printing. They produce impecable pdf files (required by all printers) and easily converting all text to outlines to faithfully reproduce your brochure or whatever.

For Print Ready Files - we require a Single Page PDF with 3mm bleed

Resources

Paper

Paper is very important.

The paper you choose has a significant impact on the look, feel, and cost of your book. It’s a tactile element that readers notice. Paper is a very big part of printing and can dramatically affects the perceived quality of the print.

Paper weight is measured in gsm (Grams per Square Metre), paper weight determines the thickness and opacity of your pages. A higher gsm feels more substantial and thicker.

Our standard paper categories

  • 80gsm Bond: this is your standard book paper available in white and off-white.

  • 120gsm Bond: we use this for shorter books that need to be more sturdy.

  • 95gsm Coated: this is your standard magazine paper

  • 128gsm Coated: we use this stock for weighty company reports

  • 150gsm Coated: we use this for photo books

  • 100gsm Mondi: This is a smooth specialty stock we generally reserve for tributes.

  • 300gsm Silk: this is the standard stock we use for book covers. 

We are very particular about our paper, and source from all top Australian paper suppliers - Ball and Doggett, Spicers, and SE Papers. If you need something custom feel free to reach out - we stock lots of different papers.

Binding and Finishing

Binding is a craft - it is hands on and labour intensive and requires skill.

Perfect Binding

Perfect binding is the most popular and professional choice for softcover books, such as paperbacks, novels, and corporate reports. It is also gaining popularity in the photo book category. It is an excellent and cost-effective solution for a wide range of projects.

This is the go to form for a book. Theres a reason why all books look like this.

Saddle Stitch

We could never really figure out why this is called saddle stitch, but it sure sounds a lot better than stapled booklets.

Sometimes for short books and zines, this is the best option.

Case Bound with Signature Sewn

Often referred to as section-sewn or hardcover binding, this is the best money can buy.

The process is more intricate: the book pages are printed in a complex order, then folded into sections called "signatures." These signatures are collated in order and then physically sewn together with thread. The book bodies are then compressed under pressured and glued together at the spine. After the glue dries, the body is securely attached to a rigid outer cover, or "case." This sewn construction is the strongest and most durable binding available and allows the book to lay completely flat when open, making for a superior reading experience.

Most Australian online retailers that offer hardcover books do not make signature sewn book.

Instead they make “clip on hardcovers”, which is a perfect bound book glued inside a hardcover case. These book look good when they sit on the table, but due to their construction they cannot open flat and are quite difficult to read. We refuse to make “clip on hardcover” - if you want a premium product, just do it properly.