Typophile

Book design page size

miraclemax

I have a question about hardcover book design.

If for example designing a 6x9 hardcover book, what size do you make the inside pages, which will obviously be smaller to allow them to fit within the hardcover?

Or do you design the pages at 6x9 and then make the hardcover bigger?

Is there a standard size convention used?

any help would be very much appreciated. Thanks so much!!!

You design the pages first at the size you want them, and then contact the printer who'll be able to tell you the right size of the cover, spine et cetera. The cover size (front + back + spine + inward folding) depends on thickness of the cardboard, the chosen style of spine (flat or rounded for instance) and more such parameters. Your printer should be able to help you out.

Preferrably you'll contact the printer even before you start designing the pages. Together you'll be able to determine optimal sizes.

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