Book Printing Layout: How to Save Money

by: JoshuaPrizer
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"The way I lay out my book can have an impact on my final printing cost?" In a one-word answer: Yes!

For example, most offset printers use 32-page signatures. This means that you will want to keep your page count divisible by 8, 16, or 32. A 130-page book can cost a fair amount more to print than a 128-page book, so it's worth trying to figure out how to get rid of those two extra pages, if at all possible.

So what are some of the tricks to adjust the number of pages? First of all, see if you can adjust your margins slightly. Slight changes probably are not noticeable to most readers, but the price difference will definitely be noticeable to you.

A minor increase or decrease in the leading (line spacing) can have a major effect on the page count. I've had books where I've had to drop a couple pages to save cost, and just adjusting the leading by a small amount - maybe only 0.2 pt. - can get me those two pages.

However, before spending too much time worrying about your page count, talk to your printer. It may be that the price difference isn't worth the hassle of adjusting your layout (although it probably is). Also, if you're using a digital press, you don't need to worry about page counts since they don't use signatures. Other presses may use unusual signature breaks as well.

Be sure, too, that you are printing at a standard trim size. Some standard sizes include 5.5 x 8.5", 6 x 9", and 8.5 x 11". Deviate too much from a standard size and you will generate paper waste on the press. That's paper the printer has to just throw away, but you still pay for it.

Don't assume that the trim size you are using for your book will work just fine. Ask your printer's sales rep for recommendations for your trim size. Maybe they will recommend that you drop your size by just 1/8" or 1/4". Wouldn't it be worth it to do that to save money on the print run? Almost certainly!

About the Author

Josh Prizer has worked in book publishing for nearly 15 years and is a cheap book printing guru. For a Free 7-Part Mini-Course on how to publish your own book, visit his web site.  

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