For a visual tour of how to place an order,
CLICK HERE!
So you think your files are OK?
You've probably spent many months, even years, writing your book. We HIGHLY recommend that you spend an extra hour or two looking it over one last time before you send it to us. Our prices are very reasonable, but they do NOT cover corrections to your files. If you only have a few corrections, it's usually cheapest for US to make the changes on our system (we charge a very reasonable $75 per hour, so your changes may only cost a few dollars.) But if you have a lot of changes, you'll probably want to make the changes yourself and send us a new file. You can send revised files for a $50 fee. If we need to re-format or re-convert to PDF, see below.
Don't give us "spreads" -- single pages only, please!
Create a single PDF file with the entire inside portion of your book, but make sure the pages in your PDF are single pages, not spreads. Many programs will give you the option of printing in "spreads", which puts two pages together face-to-face on a single sheet. Our equipment is NOT designed for spreads, so please disable that feature before you create your PDFs. If your PDF files are in spreads, we'll need to get corrected files from you, which will only delay the printing of your books.
Having trouble with your file(s)?
Is your page the wrong size? Some people have their book formatted for an 8.5 x 11 page, but they want the book to be 5.5 x 8.5, and they have no idea how to change their files. We can re-format your files for you. For basic re-formatting, we charge $75. If you have photos, charts, graphics or lots of chapter breaks, it may be a little higher: in that case, just send us the file and we'll look it over for free and give you a definite price.
Can't create a PDF?
Our prices assume
that you send us PDF files that are ready-to-print, but not everybody can do
that. About half of our clients send us
Microsoft Word documents, and we convert their files to PDF
($50 flat fee). You can eliminate that fee by downloading and installing doPDF and following these simple instructions:
Need an ISBN number?
If you want an ISBN number, we can help you get one. For a single ISBN number, download the application here, either as a WORD DOC or as a PDF FILE. The process takes about a week, though, so you'll need to figure that into your deadline. Fill it out, either fax or mail it to the address on the application, and they will process your ISBN. The cost is $125 for one ISBN. For more than one ISBN, you can get blocks of 10 or 100 at www.isbn.org. 10 ISBNs are $275, and 100 ISBNs are $995.
Types of Binding available ...
Perfect Binding is our standard ...
Perfect bound books are regular paperback books.
We also offer case binding (hard cover books), plastic coil binding and saddle stitching. Descriptions of each are below. If you want special binding, simply indicate that in the 'Type of Binding' drop-down box when filling out your order form. Additional costs are shown on each choice to help you decide which is best for your book.
Case binding (hard cover)
We'll print your book with a full-color laminated hard cover. This process adds about 3-4 days to your order, and about $10 per book to the total cost.
Plastic coil binding ...
Ideal for cookbooks or workbooks, anything that needs to be opened flat. It adds a day or two to most orders and costs an extra 60 cents per book.
Saddle-stitching (only for booklets with 36 inside pages or less) ...
We use two wire stitches (or staples) on the fold of booklets. It's the least expensive type of binding, but only for booklets with 36 inside pages or less. To order, select "Perfect Bind" as the type of binding, but then say "Saddle Stitch" in the comments section of the order form.
Printed Tabs ...
Break your book into easy to find sections with printed tabs!
We can print tab dividers and insert them where they belong. While this is normally used for plastic coil bound books, we can put them in perfect bound books, too.
UV Coating ...
Our new UV Coater is installed and running!
Now all of our book covers are UV Coated, which gives them a high gloss protective coating. They look incredible!
And the cost to you? Not one dime! IT'S FREE!
Page Layout in Microsoft Word ...
Set up your page the right way to save time and money.
While these instructions are specifically for Microsoft Word, with some minor adjustments, you can use them for just about any word processing or page layout program.
Select File > Page Setup. You'll see three tabs across the top of the new window: Margins, Paper, and Layout. Select 'Paper' first, and choose the size of your finished book (5.5 x 8.5 would be 'letterhalf', 8.5 x 11 would be 'Letter', and all other sizes would be entered manually under 'Custom Paper Size'.
Now select the 'Margins' tab, and enter margins of AT LEAST 0.5 inches (but we highly recommend 0.75) for Top, Bottom, Left and Right. Leave 'Gutter' at zero, and 'Gutter position' at 'Left'.
We usually recommend against adding your own page numbers and headers and footers, unless you really know what you're doing. We can enter them for you before your books are printed.
Some basic 'rules-of-thumb':
- odd numbered pages should always be on the right.
- title page should be the first page (right hand page)
- copyright page should be the second page (left hand page)
- dedication, foreword, introduction, etc. should all be on right hand pages (odd numbers)
- chapters should all start on a right hand page (odd number)
Page Layout for your cover ...
Keep it simple.
The easiest way to layout your cover is to do the front cover on one page (same size as the inside pages) and the back cover on a second page (same size as the inside pages). Don't have your type too close to the edge of the page or it may look bad after it's been trimmed down.
If you want to, you can include the spine as a third page, but it should be a single line of type (title, author's name) that is as wide as the height of the book. Again, don't have your type too close to the edge of the page.
Add area for your bleed.
If your cover art goes all the way to the edge, you'll need to add 1/8" beyond the trim edge. Here's how to do this in Microsoft Word, but most programs can be adjusted the same way.
Do you have critical color-matching requirements?
Don't trust a PDF proof alone. Get a printed proof!
PDF proofs are great time-savers for proofreading content, position, general page layout, and relative color only. But they are only an approximation of what your book will look like. The only foolproof way to see what your book will actually look like is to get a printed proof. For more information, read this link: Why Get a Printed Proof.
Cream colored paper ...
Add 10% to the overall cost of your books.
If you need a softer look, just ask for cream colored paper in the 'Comments' section.
Filling out the order form ...
It's so easy.
Fill out information about yourself,
about your book, and your payment information. If you have
questions, just move your cursor over the 
box, and you'll see answers to your
questions.
Some common mistakes:
'Pages' vs. 'Sheets'
You should always figure your book in
terms of 'Pages' and not 'Sheets'. This is simple. This book is made up of 100 individual SHEETS of paper, but it contains 200 PAGES, and that's what we care about. There are 2 pages on each sheet of paper. Some people refer to these as "Faces" or "Sides." Be sure to enter the correct number of pages in your book, or your price won't be accurate. When in doubt, go with the larger number.
'# of full-color pages'
Only enter the number of INSIDE pages that will be printed in full-color. Don't include the covers, since we automatically print them in full color anyway.
Cover Design
Only say 'Yes' to Cover Design if you want 48HrBooks to design a BASIC cover for you for $100.
Type of Binding
Our standard type of binding is "Perfect Binding", like a paperback book. We also offer Spiral Coil Binding (which adds $0.60 per book), Case Binding (hardcover books - which adds $10 per book) and Saddle-Stitching (two staples on the center fold - which is 5% less than our calculator prices).
ISBN number
If you want an ISBN number, we can help you get one. For a single ISBN number, download the application here, either as a WORD DOC or as a PDF FILE. The process takes about a week, though, so you'll need to figure that into your deadline. Fill it out, either fax or mail it to the address on the application, and they will process your ISBN. The cost is $125 for one ISBN. For more than one ISBN, you can get blocks of 10 or 100 at www.isbn.org. 10 ISBNs are $275, and 100 ISBNs are $995.
Proof
We send a PDF proof for you to look at for FREE, but if you want a PRINTED PROOF sent to you via UPS Next Day Air, say 'Yes" to Printed Copy Proof when you place your order. The printed proof costs $40.
Of course, if you send us PDF files that are completely press ready, we won't bother sending a PDF proof, because we'd just be sending back the same files you sent us.
Comments section
If you have any special instructions (special book size or shipping instructions, etc.) PLEASE include them in the comments section. This way, your special instructions won't be missed by our workers when they're filling your order.
Shipping Speed for UPS Ground ...
Our standard shipping method is UPS Ground from Akron, Ohio.
This map shows travel times from Akron, Ohio to anywhere in the U.S.A.
For example: 2 days to New York, 3 days to Florida, 4 days to California. (Please call for international shipments.)
