Once your manuscript is complete, it’s time to get it ready for printing. This process is called formatting.

Formatting a manuscript involves more than simply making sure the page sizes conform with standard sizes, but also means that; consideration must be give for “trim” and “bleed”; page numbers may need to be added; chapters of the book all begin on a right-hand page; images will fit the size of the book; page numbers correspond (some pages may need to be left blank, but will still count in the total number of pages in the book)

Below, we’ve listing the steps for formatting your own book:

What Book Layout Software to use

There are many soft suits you can use for text page layout, but only a few will give you professional results. Here are the layout programs we recommend:

• Adobe InDesign
  
• Adobe PageMaker
  
• Quark Xpress
  

The above programs will provided you with the best results and included the most features for book page layout.
Below are programs that will give satisfactory results, without many bells or whistles. If all you want to do is to make a basic layout, then the below should suit you fine:

• MS Word
• MS Publisher
• Open Office

Book text page layout

After you’ve selected what software you’re going to use, you need to set you pages to measurements of your book:

• Your book layout files must be set-up to the final trim size (page size) of your book. For example, if your book is 6x9, you should set the page size in your layout program to 6x9.
• Your book margins should be at least ½” on all outside edges, with a extra and ¾” on the binding edge. 

Note that most book use more margin then this for looks. You can have as much margin as you like, play around with it and see what looks good for your book.


(Click image to enlarge)

Using Graphics and Images in your book.

• All images like photographs should be at 300 dpi.
• All line art should beat 600 dpi.

All color images should be set to CMYK color mode, in order for the printer to match the color as closely as possible to what you see on your monitor.
Make sure that you convert any color images you want printed in black & white to grayscale.

Page Bleed

When any image or any content on your page needs to go to the edge of the page you need to extend it past the trim (page) edge. The printer will then trim the page to correct size. The process insures that the element goes all the way to the page edge without leaving any white border. This is known as “bleed”.

Most printers want a bleed of 1/8” to ¼” . So you need to take this into account when setting up your pages.

Templates

For your convenience, we’ve provided some free templates you can download to set up your book: Download Layout Template

ISBN & Barcodes

If you’re planning to sell your through a bookstore, you need a International Standard Book Number and a barcode (which goes on the back of your book ).

If you’re in the U.S.A., you can get a barcode from Bowker

In Canada you can an ISBN from Canadian ISBN Agency

In the UK, you can get your ISBN from: Nielsen

You can make a barcode for free at http://www.tux.org/~milgram/bookland/


How to make a “print ready” PDF

When have completed your layout, it’s time to make it ready for the printer. PDF’s are the standard when it comes to sending your file to the printers. Some printers many accept native files, but the only to guarantee that the printer will print exactly what you see on the monitor, is to send them your layout in PDF format.
Remember when making your PDF, that all of the text pages must be made into one single file, this includes any blank pages and images. You should also embed all fonts.

Some programs like Adobe Indesign will have the capabilities to create a PDF built into the program.
If you your layout program doesn’t can’t make a PDF, you can use Adobe Acrobat or Nitro PDF Professional.

How important do you think the cover of your book is? Based on the premise that you can't judge a book by it's cover, do you believe the cover even really matters? Well, the truth is that the cover of your book is immensely important. It is the final “selling point” in getting your book out of inventory and into the hands of a consumer and reader.

When we are consulting with authors as to what they would like for an image on the cover of their book, I am always astounded that almost none of them have give any thought to what the cover of their book should look like. In almost every case they have absolutely no idea in terms of colors that should be used or any inkling ofwhat the cover could look like.

Perhaps in some ways this is good. The real person to make decisions like this is an experienced graphic artist. Very often taking a more subjective approach to what the cover of a book should look like can make for a better cover.

One of the great advantages of our current age of technological advancement is that now, more than ever, more people have access to technologies such as the computer and consequently, the Internet. This makes the dissemination and attainment of information so much easier for many people today. It is the perfect combination of these two aspects that is the reason why even writing and publishing your own book is now made easier than ever before, especially with the help of various types of book editing software to increase the convenience of creating a book by leaps and bounds, or, should I say, by clicks and drags?

The above book cover template is available for download in Adobe Photoshop format in 5.5”x8.5”, 6”x9” and 8.5”x11” sizes.

To download the book cover templates you must be logged in as a site member. If you haven’t already signed-up as a member, you can sign-up for free HERE.

Download Book Cover Template Here

The above book page layout template is available for download in Adobe Indesign and MS Word format in 5.5”x8.5”, 6”x9” and 8.5”x11” sizes.

To download thebook page layout templates you must be logged in as a site member. If you haven’t already signed-up as a member, you can sign-up for free HERE.

Download Book Cover Template Here