Book edges printing

We offer the possibility of covering the edges of the book block with printing. This option is available for both hardcover and paperback blocks (with or without flaps).

Materials should be prepared according to the following guidelines:

1. The dimensions of the print will be provided on a layout, which you will receive from our technology department or your sales representative. Below is an example layout for a book with a format of 145 x 205 mm and a spine thickness of 20 mm.

2. Files should be oriented as shown in the layout (i.e., the side print should be prepared vertically, and the top and bottom prints horizontally).
3. If the files design include elements reaching the edge of the block, the materials should be prepared with 1 mm bleed.
4. This is CMYK printing only so any Pantone colours should be converted to CMYK.
5. Raster graphics should have an appropriate resolution (250-300 dpi). Please prepare the files in CMYK.
6. Please prepare the files as three separate PDF files, named in a way that clearly assigns them to the top, side, and bottom edges of the book block.
7. If the graphic design of the book edges should comply with the graphic design of the cover- please provide this information along with sending the files for printing.
8. Our ctp will check if the files sent are. If so- we will prepare a visualization and based on this you will be able to check if the files are applied to the correct sides of the block and if they are correctly oriented relative to the front edge of the cover (an example shown in the below).

Additional Notes:

1. For prints where graphic elements connect at the edges, with the cover’s graphics, or with prints on other books (sets of several books with a common pattern), alignment may not be perfect.
2. We do not recommend printing the edges with uniform colour background.
3. The ink may slightly soak into the pages and be visible at the edges of the pages. When printing on coated papers (especially glossy), the ink may slightly seep between the pages.
4. In books with flaps, the ink may slightly bleed into the gap between the cover and the first/last page of the bookblock.
5. Since the ink does not set on the glue used for binding, there is a possibility of unprinted areas (white spots) near the spine.