Production

The binding method used for your books depends on the book type and order quantity.

For quantities up to roughly 500 books, all softcover and hardcover books are printed with digital presses and perfect bound using PUR (Polyurethane Reactive) adhesive, a very strong and flexible glue. Our patented Italian binding machines create well-bound, easy-to-open books that will last.

At higher quantities — around 500+ for hardcovers and 750-1000+ for softcovers — we can offer traditional offset press printing and Smyth sewn (section/signature sewn) and glued binding.

The amount of setup, labor, and overhead cost associated with offset printing and sewn binding do not allow us to offer these options for lower quantity orders.Saddle stitch booklets can be bound with wire (staples) or thread sewn. We also offer coil bindings in both softcover and hardcover formats, for notebooks, cookbooks, etc.

We offer two types of production, dependent on the quantity of your order:

Digital (Up to roughly 500 books)

• We make short run books to-order at our California production facility.
• These are printed using a digital toner press and perfect-bound using PUR glue. PUR is strong and flexible—we use it to bind all of our short run books.
• Our patented Italian binding machines create well-bound, easy to open books that will last.
• Our softcover books feature a crisp, square spine and can be made with full-color printed covers or other finishing options.
• Our hardcover books feature covers that are handmade to order and can have a linen or printed wrap. They can include custom finishing options as well, such as foil stamping.

Offset (Over 500 books)

• For larger quantities, it may make sense to produce your books at one of our other domestic or offshore plants.
• These books are printed on traditional offset presses, with Smyth sewn bindings.
• A larger array of options are available than with our short run orders, such as a variety of endpaper colors, hardcover headband colors, foil stamp colors, embossing, ribbon bookmarks, and more.

Following proof approval, production time is generally as follows:

• Softcover books 2–3 weeks 
• Hardcover books 3–4 weeks

However, actual production times can vary depending on our schedule and availability of materials.

Most of the orders we receive are produced at our digital press production facility in Richmond, California. For larger orders of 500 books or more, we may offer the option to print at one of our offset press plants in the US or abroad.

The majority of our orders are produced on digital presses, which print using a dry toner process. Digital printing has evolved tremendously in the last decade, and the results can rival traditional offset printing (or exceed it, with respect to vibrant color).

For larger quantity orders (over 500 books), we can offer printing on traditional offset presses, still the gold standard for commercial print production. 

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Our books are made by our skilled operators using a combination of handmade craftsmanship and some of the most innovative and proven machinery available. Several steps in the process involve handling books one at a time.

Following submission of your order, to initiate production, three requirements must be met:

• Print-ready files must be submitted.
• Payment must be made.
• Proof approval is necessary.

Upon placing your order and uploading files, our team will review everything, ensuring that all PDFs are print-ready. Any necessary edits will be recommended.

A deposit of 50% of your invoice is required to commence hard proofing or production for your order. For invoices under $1,000, full payment is required.

Once you are satisfied with either a PDF soft proof or a printed hard proof, you can indicate your readiness for production by completing a brief proof approval form.

Upon receipt of your proof approval, we will notify you to confirm the commencement of production and provide an estimated timeframe for order completion.

The term 'lay flat' (or 'layflat') is used frequently, but there is no real industry-wide consensus on what the term truly means.

The only true lay flat binding uses specialty hinged paper, which is generally seen in wedding albums, not in art books or coffee table books.

We Smyth sew larger offset printed runs and use PUR adhesive on our short-run digitally printed books.

Both of those binding types offer superior open-ability.

Though our bindings are as flexible and strong as those by any other short-run book makers out there, we do not use the lay flat label.

Certain book formats will never really lay open on their own — narrow books (5" wide x 8" high for example) will not lay open well regardless of how they are bound.

Wider books will always open more readily. For example, an 11" wide x 8" high book will open nicely.

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