Hardcover Book Printing

Custom Book Printing 

Samfine Printing offers a wide range of high-quality printing services, including softcover, hardcover, children’s books, comic books, coffee table books, photo books, coloring books, recipe books, and more. If you're looking to print your book, we’re here to help!

From timeless classics to modern works, books have always been a cherished medium for storytelling, sharing knowledge, and self-expression. Whether you're an aspiring author or a self-publisher, understanding the ins and outs of book printing is key to bringing your vision to life in the best way possible.

In this guide, we’ll cover the various options for custom book printing, from paper types and binding choices to surface finishes and how to design and prepare your artwork. Let’s dive in and create the perfect book together!

Our Book Printing Different

With extensive experience in offset printing, Samfine always delivers top-notch results at competitive prices. To help clients save on both cost and time, we also offer a more affordable option—digital printing, which is perfect for proofing and short-run projects.

Digital printing:

Digital printing is a great choice for small print runs or print-on-demand books. It offers fast turnaround times and allows for easy customization, making it ideal for personalized books or limited edition prints. However, it may not be the best choice for large print runs due to its higher per-unit cost.

If you’re printing fewer than 100 copies, or if you'd like to see a sample before committing to a full print run, we recommend digital printing.

Offset printing:

Offset printing is the traditional method of book printing. It involves transferring ink from a plate to a rubber blanket and then onto paper. Known for its sharp images and high-quality results, offset printing is the preferred option for large print runs and offers a wide range of paper choices. However, it does require more setup time, so it’s not as cost-effective for smaller orders.

Unlike other printing companies that require a minimum of 500 copies for offset printing, we’re happy to print as few as 100 copies using offset, so you don’t need to order in bulk to get the quality you’re looking for.

Paper cover and material 

Choosing the right paper stock is crucial for the overall look and feel of your book. Here are some popular options    to consider:

Cover material

Paper is one of the most commonly used materials for printing. We offer a variety of paper options, including coated and specialty papers. Coated paper has a smooth, glossy finish that gives books a polished, modern look. Specialty papers, on the other hand, have unique textures and can be customized with patterns or designs, adding a more personal touch to the cover.

When choosing the right paper for your book cover, it's important to think about the weight and thickness. Heavier, thicker paper provides extra durability and protection for your book.

For a more elegant and luxurious feel, we also offer cloth covers. Cloth-bound books are often a top choice for art books, photo books, and other high-end publications, giving them a sophisticated touch. Our cloth options come in various colors and textures, so you can find the perfect match for your book's style.

If you're looking for something even more luxurious and long-lasting, leather covers are a fantastic option. Made from premium faux leather or real leather, these covers bring a sense of elegance and refinement. Leather not only makes your book look impressive but also offers superior protection and durability.

Interior paper

Coated Paper:
Coated paper has a smooth, glossy finish that really makes colors pop and images look sharp. It's a go-to for art books, coffee table books, and high-end magazines, where image quality is key.

Uncoated Paper:
Uncoated paper has a more natural, textured feel, which is why it’s often used for novels, textbooks, and children’s books. It’s more absorbent, making it a good choice for books that have lots of text.

Specialty Paper:
In addition to standard coated and uncoated options, we also offer a range of premium specialty papers for book covers, end sheets, cards, slipcases, and dust jackets. Some of the popular specialty papers we carry include parchment, synthetic paper, and linen paper.

Popular Paper Weights:
Paper weight is usually measured in grams per square meter (gsm). For text-heavy books like novels, 80gsm to 100gsm is the standard. For art books or books with lots of color prints, we recommend paper weights in the 128gsm to 157gsm range. If you’re working with a board book, you’ll want something heavier, typically 250gsm to 350gsm.

Binding Options of Custom Book  

We can make all kinds of binding for different book.Here are several for options.

Hardcover binding:

hardcover binding—also known as case binding. This method secures the pages by sewing or gluing them together before attaching them to a sturdy hardcover. It’s a popular choice for art books, coffee table books, special editions, and other high-quality publications.

 Perfect binding

Also known as softcover or paperback binding, this is a budget-friendly and widely used option. The pages are glued together along the spine and attached to a flexible cover, making it ideal for novels, sticker books, catalogs, and other softcover publications.

Spiral bound

Spiral binding is a    versatile option that allows the book to lay flat when opened. It is commonly used for notebooks, cookbooks, and    manuals. Spiral binding is available in various colors, making it a popular choice for children's books and    educational materials.

Saddle stitch binding

Saddle stitch binding is a budget-friendly option where the pages are stapled together along the spine. It’s commonly used for magazines, brochures, and smaller booklets. It’s not the best choice for thicker books or those that will see a lot of wear and tear.

Board book binding

Board book binding is specially designed for children's books, featuring thick, durable pages made by mounting sturdy cardboard. This makes the books resistant to tearing and chewing, making them perfect for toddlers and young readers.

In addition to the binding methods mentioned above, we also offer other options such as single sewn, Wire-O, concealed Wire-O, flexibound, loop stitch, and more. Get in touch with us to explore the best binding solution for your project!

Finishing Options of Book       

We can make mostly surface finishing options. Here are some popular choices:

• Lamination: A thin protective film is applied to the book cover to enhance durability and protect against stains, fingerprints, and everyday wear. You can choose between glossy for a vibrant, reflective finish or matte for a smooth, understated look.

• Embossing & Debossing: These techniques add texture to the cover by raising (embossing) or pressing (debossing) specific design elements into the surface. Ideal for highlighting titles, logos, or decorative details, they give the cover a distinctive feel and visual depth.

• Spot UV: This method applies a glossy coating to selected areas of the cover, creating a striking contrast between matte and shiny surfaces. Often used to enhance logos, text, or design elements, Spot UV adds dimension and a premium touch.

• Foil Stamping: Using heat and pressure, a thin layer of metallic or colored foil is applied to the cover, giving it a polished, high-end appearance. Commonly used for titles, borders, or accents, foil stamping adds a luxurious, eye-catching effect.

Looking for more ways to enhance your book cover? Click "Surface Processing" to explore additional finishing techniques.

Artwork Tips for Book Printing

To ensure your book is printed with the highest quality, proper artwork preparation is essential. Here are some key tips to get the best results:

File Format & Resolution

Submit your artwork in PDF format with embedded fonts to maintain design integrity.

Use a resolution of at least 300 DPI to ensure sharp images and text.

Color Mode

Set your artwork to CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) rather than RGB, as CMYK is the standard for professional printing.

Bleed & Margins

Include a 3mm (0.125 inch) bleed on all sides to prevent unwanted white borders after trimming.

Keep important text and design elements at least 5mm (0.2 inches) inside the trim line to avoid accidental cutting.

Fonts & Text

Convert all text to outlines or embed fonts to prevent font substitution.

Use a minimum font size of 6-8pt for small text to ensure readability.

Binding Considerations

For perfect bound and hardcover books, allow extra space in the inner margin to prevent content from being lost in the spine.

If using saddle stitching, ensure the page count is in multiples of four.

Rich Black for Deep Blacks

Use C: 40%, M: 30%, Y: 30%, K: 100% instead of pure black (K: 100%) for a richer, deeper black tone.

Special Finishing

If using foil stamping, embossing, or Spot UV, provide a separate layer in the file to indicate these areas.

Contact us for a pre-print file check now.Free sample is available.

Talk to Us

Ready to print? Contact us today to discuss your custom book printing needs and let our team of experts guide you through the process.