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We are your PNW short-run softcover book printer offering custom paper options and cover finishes to make your softcover book standout! Whether it is your first printed Softcover books or paperbacks, we have you covered for book printing needs. Softcover or paperback binding is the most popular book binding style out there.
Paperback books or softcover books are the most popular books printed in the world. The name “paperback” or “softcover” comes from the covers of the books being a thinner paper that is printed and then bound with the book block. This makes the cover flexible and easy to handle. Softcover books offer an affordable book printing option for authors and publishers alike. The books are lighter weight for shipping and easier to distribute to readers. Softcover books are also quicker to make so you have a shorter production time.
At Gorham Printing we offer paperback book printing or also referred to as softcover book printing with a variety of options for your paper, cover finishes, and more. We offer custom softcover books in any size from 4x5 to 8.5x11 portrait or landscape. To see all our options, including instant pricing, check out our Online Pricing Tool.
If you are like us, you love the feel of having a real book in your hands. This is why we offer our free softcover book Journey into Making a Book, A Guide to Printing & Publishing as an example of our softcover binding style, paper, and printing! Get your free softcover book sample and learn more about your book printing and publishing journey.
Softcover books' interior pages are printed digitally in black and white or in color. Since we are a digital book printer, we do not print in signatures which means you can print some color pages and some black and white pages in no specific order in your book!
Our most popular softcover interior book paper is our 60lb white interior book paper. Other uncoated interior paper stocks and colors are also available for softcover books. This includes natural (off-white) interior book paper and thicknesses ranging from 50lb to 80lb.
Our primary paper stocks are FSC, SFI and Rainforest Alliance certified. We also recycle all our paper and production waste from the book printing process. Most of our paper is a minimum of 30% recycled paper.
To see all our softcover options, including instant pricing, check out our Online Pricing Tool or Contact Us to discuss more custom options.
We print all softcover books’ covers on a digital press in full color. Our most common softcover book cover paper is our 10 point white C1S cover paper. This book cover paper is a medium-weight stock that is coated on one side. It offers durability with flexibility to make it comfortable and enjoyable for readers to hold. We also offer a variety of other softcover cover options including 11pt uncoated cover stock in both white and natural. If you are looking for a thicker cover paper option, we also offer a 12pt C1S that is thicker than most softcover book options to really give your softcover book a thick durable cover.
After your softcover book’s cover is printed, we then add a finish. This can be a liquid UV coating that offers an additional shine and a small amount of protection or a film lamination in either a gloss or soft-touch matte. Our film lamination offers a big step in protecting your softcover book for longevity.
To see all our softcover options, including instant pricing, check out our Online Pricing Tool or Contact Us to discuss more custom options.
After we print single sheets and cut down the book blocks of softcover books, we then “perfect bind” them with a flexible EVA glue. The EVA softcover glue is formulated to be durable and lasts a long time. It is commonly used for softcover books, trade paperback books, and smaller quantities of hardcover books. For perfect bound books, the minimum page count is 32 and the maximum is 900.
We understand that your softcover book should be as unique as the story you wrote and you as an individual. This is why we offer custom softcover and paperback options! From custom softcover book sizes, softcover inside cover printing, softcover foil stamping, interior fold-outs, and more! To get a price instantly for your custom perfect bound softcover book, check out our Online Pricing Tool. If you do not see the options you are looking for, Contact Us to discuss more custom options.
It can be intimidating printing your first softcover book but you are not alone! Our book printing experts are here for you and ready to help you at any stage along the way even if that means recommending our competitors. We offer everything from how-tos for your Copyright Page, getting your ISBN, List of Editors for you to contact, File Setup, and Professional Book Design. We are here to help you! Check out our quick links below or Contact Us to ask your questions. A real person in our shop will be ready to help you!
Here are some common questions we get from authors asking about Softcover Books:
Softcover book printing price is all determined by your exact specs. We recommend using our Online Pricing Tool, which will give you an accurate price instantly. If you would like help, you can Contact Us to discuss what you are looking for, and we will walk you through the process.
Yes, they are the same thing. Softcover and paperback, as well as “trade paperback,” are interchangeable terms for a book with a thin paper cover.
Once you have placed your order with a half-down deposit and submitted your files, your book will be prepared to create a proof. The proof is either online or an unbound printed proof that you will review. When you approve your proof, production on your softcover book can start. This takes usually 5-15 business days depending on your exact specs and quantity. Learn more about the softcover book production process.
You can print any size softcover book from 4x5 to 8.5x11 inches in portrait or landscape. For the best pricing, we offer standard sizes of 5.5x8.5, 6x9, and 8.5x11 inches. We also offer custom trim sizes that you can access by selecting “Other” under the size dropdown on our Online Pricing Tool. If your trim size is outside this size range, Contact Us to discuss your softcover book's custom size.
You can print as many as you want! We print softcover books in quantities from 25-5000. Depending on how you are going to sell your books, you may want to start with a few such as 25-250 and then reprint more later. Get started today with our Online Pricing Tool.
Softcover or paperback books can have anywhere from 32 to 900 pages in them depending on the interior paper used. If your book is less than 32 pages, you may want to consider a Booklet Binding Style. If it is over 900 pages, Contact Us to discuss your books page count and we can help you find the right book binding style that will fit you.
How much to sell your softcover book for is dependent on where and how you will be selling your self-published books. If you are printing a barcode on your book, you will need to decide on a price before printing it. We recommend looking at books in your genre and seeing what they are selling for. Here are some helpful tips on selling your book as a self-published author.
We are real people working with real authors and self-publishers. We believe in always learning and growing so hearing from our authors is always great! See what our authors are saying about us!
Working with Gorham has been simply the best experience for which I could have hoped. It’s my wish that all authors can have the same moment of overwhelming elation when they open a box of their own hardbound books.
JT CROWLEY
This is the third book that Gorham Printing has printed for us. It's of the highest quality and our customers were very impressed. This was our first hardcover book and the binding, paper, and colors are outstanding.
ANDREW CAWOOD
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