Price (Ex Vat): £0.00
Perfect Bound Book Printing
Give your writing the finish of a professionally published book with short-run perfect bound printing from SM Print.
Perfect binding uses a square, glued spine with a wraparound printed cover to create the familiar finish used for paperback novels and commercially published books. It is particularly well suited to self-published novels, family memoirs, collections of short stories, local history books and other publications where you want a professional result without committing to thousands of copies.
Whether you need a small number of books for family and friends, copies to sell directly to readers, an initial print run before committing to a larger quantity, or regular short-run reprints as stock is required, we can produce your books in practical quantities.
Professional Paperback Books in Short Runs
Traditional book production was once heavily geared towards large print runs. Digital printing has changed that. SM Print specialises in short-run printing, allowing authors and publishers to order much smaller quantities while still producing a properly finished paperback book.
- Self-published novels
- Family histories and memoirs
- Collections of short stories
- Poetry books
- Local history publications
- Autobiographies
- Reference books
- Club and society publications
- Independent publishing projects
- Small commercial book runs
You can print the quantity you actually need and reorder when stocks begin to run low.
Self-Published Novels
Turn your manuscript into a professionally printed book.
Family Memoris
Preserve your family history for generation to come.
Short Stories, Poetry & More
Ideal for independent authors and small publishers.
A Professional Finish
A square spine and wraparound cover give your book a high-quality, paperback look.
Beautiful Inside and Out
Print text, photographs and illustrations in high-quality.
Print the Quantity You Need
Short-run printing gives you the flexibility to order manageable quantities.
Printed Covers
Your book cover is printed separately from the text pages and wraps around the complete book. A heavier cover stock gives the finished publication additional protection and helps create the feel expected from a paperback book. Suitable cover stocks can be laminated using the available calculator options to improve durability and refine the finished appearance.
Your cover artwork should normally contain back cover + spine + front cover as one continuous piece of artwork.
The exact spine width depends upon the number of pages and the paper used, so the final cover dimensions should be prepared for the specification being ordered.
Inside Pages
Inside pages can contain text, photographs, illustrations, charts, full-colour artwork, black-only pages or a combination of text and images.
For novels and text-heavy publications, careful page design and sensible margins make a significant difference to readability. Remember that pages close to the spine do not open completely flat, so important text should not be positioned too close to the binding edge.
Made for Short-Run Publishing
One of the biggest advantages of digital perfect bound printing is flexibility. Instead of filling a garage or spare room with hundreds of books, you can order a manageable quantity, see how they sell or distribute them to your intended readers, and then order another batch when required. This can be particularly useful for new authors testing demand for their first publication.
Supplying Your Artwork
Please supply your finished book as print-ready PDF artwork. The inside pages should normally be supplied as individual pages in reading order rather than printer spreads.
Your wraparound cover should be supplied separately and include the back cover, calculated spine and front cover. Where artwork extends to the edge of the finished page, include bleed.
We preflight supplied artwork before production and will contact you if we identify an obvious technical issue that could affect printing.
Ready to Print Your Book?
Choose your size, quantity, paper and cover options using the calculator above. Whether you have written your first novel, recorded your family's history, assembled a lifetime of memories or created a collection of stories, short-run perfect binding provides a practical way of turning the finished project into a professionally produced book.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is perfect binding?
Perfect binding is the binding method commonly used for paperback books. The printed pages are gathered together, the spine edge is prepared and adhesive is used to secure the pages into a wraparound cover. The finished book has a flat, square spine.
Is perfect binding suitable for self-published novels?
Yes. It is one of the most appropriate binding methods for self-published paperback novels because it produces the appearance readers normally associate with a commercially published book while remaining suitable for relatively short print runs.
Can you print just a small quantity of my book?
Yes. Our digital production process is particularly suitable for short runs. This allows authors to order manageable quantities rather than investing in hundreds or thousands of copies at once.
Can I print a family memoir or family history?
Absolutely. Family memoirs, autobiographies, genealogy projects and collections of family photographs are particularly well suited to short-run book printing. You can produce enough copies for family members without needing a large commercial print run.
Can the title be printed on the spine?
Usually, provided the finished book is thick enough to create a spine wide enough to accommodate readable text. The spine width depends on the number of pages and the paper specification used.
How should I supply my book artwork?
Supply the inside pages as a print-ready PDF containing individual pages in the correct reading order. The cover should normally be supplied as a separate wraparound PDF containing the back cover, spine and front cover.
Do I need to create printer spreads?
No. Please normally supply your book as individual pages in reading order. The production imposition required for printing is handled separately.
Will a perfect bound book lie completely flat?
No. Perfect bound books open in the same general way as a paperback novel, so some curvature remains close to the spine. Avoid placing important text or design elements too close to the binding edge.
Can my book contain photographs as well as text?
Yes. Books can contain photographs, illustrations and colour pages as well as ordinary text. This makes perfect binding suitable for memoirs, local history books, illustrated publications and many other projects.
Can I reorder more copies later?
Yes. Short-run production works particularly well for repeat orders. Once you begin running low, another batch can be printed rather than having to store a very large quantity from the outset.