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 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:
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.
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