an overview
This document explains the basic specifications and file preparation steps required to submit digital files for
tipped on) images, dust jackets, screen printing, and image wrap hardcovers.
The covers of hardcover books are larger than their contents. This is because the cover
Please keep this in mind when creating your cover files!
Foil stamping & inset images
Dust jackets
Printed wrap covers
Foil Stamping: file preparation instructions
Foil stamping is best suited for clean type and designs which do not include large fill areas. Likewise, intricate
and detailed designs may not be suitable for foil stamping on linen covers due to the uneven surface of woven
material. If your design has a large coverage area, or very fine details, you may want consider screen printing.
Screen printing is available for orders of 20 or more books. File preparation for screen printing is the same as with
foil stamping, but the maximum printable area is much larger and more colors are available. Please call or email us
to learn more.
Max long side: 9”
SPINE FOIL
Spine Area
This is simply the dimension of your
book’s spine. It is dictated by your
book’s height and page count. You can
use the link below to calculate the size
of your book’s spine:
Cover Calculator Link
Stamping Area
ing is dictated by the size of your
books spine.
to bottom of book spine) is 9”
left on either side of the spine foil
and bottom as illustrated.
-
Max short side: 4”
Alice in Wonderland
Max foil stamp length: 9”
COVER FOIL
Alice in Wonderland
Front Cover Stamping
Foil stamping dies for the front cover can be
up to 4” x 9” in total area. If your cover’s foil
stamping desgin will not fit on a single die,
it may be be necessary to use two dies and
this will add cost to your book order.
The example illustrated here shows a book
cover with title stamped at the top of the
cover and author name stamped at the
bottom. This will typlically result in two foil
die charges and two setup fees becuase
the foil stamping will not fit on one die.
Lewis Carroll
by Lewis Carroll
Available Foil Colors
Export Instructions
Metallics
Gold
Silver
Files should be 300 dpi PDF or outlined EPS.
Pigments
Black
White
Red
The area to be stamped should be BLACK
on a WHITE background. Do NOT include
other colors.
Click below to view PDF samples of how
properly prepared foil stamping die files
should look.
Spine: alice-foil-spine-sample.pdf
Cover: alice-foil-cover-sample.pdf
Inset Images: file preparation instructions
Inset images are printed on a paper stock similar to the paper
used for the interior of our books. The print is trimmed to size and
glued onto the cover within a recessed area.
”
25
.1
printed image
No special file preparation is needed for inset images. Simply size
the image to match one of the preset sizes. Inset images can be
applied in set sizes as shown to the right.
”
25
.1
Export Instructions
linen cover
Available sizes
Custom dies can be made for additional
cost. Please email us for more
information.
3x3
4x4
3½ x 5 ½
4x6
6x6
Image Size & Placement
on the horizontal center line of the
cover, and just above the vertical
center. If you have specific
placement requirements, please
send us instructions or a PDF
mockup of your cover as you
envision it.
Dust Jackets are usually applied to linen hardcover
books. They are large removable prints which are generally
matte or gloss laminated. In addition to protecting the
book cover, they offer a large area for graphics, text and
imagery.
measurements for each section and the whole jacket. The
Microsoft Word will not work. If you need help setting your
file up, please email us and we can send you a template.
Click here for our online cover calculator
Printed Wraps: file preparation instructions
Printed Wraps are hardcover books with a print glued
directly to the cover boards. The print is wrapped around
the edges of the book cover as illustrated on the right.
Due to the amount of cover paper required to wrap
around the cover boards, these prints have a very large
bleed images and background fills must be brought all
the way to the edge of the bleed area. Important
elements such as type, logos should be placed at least
Note: our printed wrap covers are available for books
offset printed orders, this rule does not apply.
This page shows images from our cover calculator and a
flat printed wrap for comparison.
Click here for our online cover calculator