To ensure your cookbook or recipe notebook turns out exactly as you envisioned, please take note of the basic layout requirements. They will help you avoid technical revisions and speed up the printing process.
- General Requirements
For the production of cookbooks, we only accept print-ready files:
- The book’s interior must be submitted in PDF format, page by page (not as spreads). If the layout is prepared in spreads, we can adapt it (service cost: 150 UAH).
- All pages must be combined into a single file in the correct sequence.
- The cover can be submitted separately in PDF / PNG / JPG formats (we recommend PNG for better quality).
- The number of pages must be even—add blank (white) pages if necessary. - Cookbook Print Formats
- We print cookbooks in popular formats: A5—the most convenient and common option for recipes, B5—a comfortable format with slightly more space for design, A4— often chosen for large, illustrated cookbooks.
- Printing in non-standard sizes is also possible (within technical limitations) — we’ll help you choose the optimal format or correctly scale your layout. - Cookbook Print Formats
- We print cookbooks in popular formats: A5—the most convenient and common option for recipes, B5—a comfortable format with slightly more space for design, A4— often chosen for large, illustrated cookbooks.
- Printing in non-standard sizes is also possible (within technical limitations)—we’ll help you choose the optimal format or ensure the layout is scaled correctly. - Indents and margins for cookbooks
Proper indents are critical for ensuring that a hardcover or softcover cookbook looks neat and professional:
- Inner indent: 20 mm.
- Outer margins: 15 mm.
This ensures that text, recipes, and important elements do not fall within the trim or binding area. - Technical layout specifications
To ensure consistent print quality for cookbooks, please adhere to the following requirements:
- Color model: CMYK.
- Resolution: 300 dpi.
- Maximum file size: up to 1000 MB.
- The layout must be prepared without crop marks, watermarks, or unnecessary elements.
- It is recommended to convert fonts to curves.
We also advise avoiding complex effects, transparencies, and shadows, as they may not render correctly during printing. - Cover
Special attention should be paid to the cover of a cookbook, as it is what creates the first impression of the publication:
- Place important elements no closer than 10–15 mm from the edges.
- The spine thickness is calculated based on the number of pages and the type of paper.
- Text can be placed on the spine provided the spine is at least 10 mm thick.
Various binding options are available for cookbooks: hardcover, softcover, and spiral binding—each option is chosen based on the format, purpose, and ease of use.
Properly calculated cover thickness and layout ensure a neat appearance and a comfortable reading experience. - Lamination
To protect and enhance the cover’s appearance, the following options are available:
- Glossy lamination — standard coating.
- Matte lamination — +15 UAH per copy.
For the best results, it is recommended to avoid overly dark solid fills, as they may lose detail after printing. - Important Parameters
To ensure the book cover looks neat and professional, please note the following requirements:
- Bleed: 3–5 mm.
- Acceptable printing and trimming tolerance: 1–2 mm.
All key design elements must be placed within the safe zone to prevent them from being lost during trimming or binding processes. - Additional services
- Design and layout of a cookbook or recipe collection — a separate service provided by our specialists.
- File review before production begins.
- Adding a ribbon (a fabric bookmark for easy navigation back to your favorite recipe) — +40 UAH.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the layout of your cookbook, our team is always ready to advise and assist you. We oversee the prepress process to ensure the finished publication fully meets your expectations.
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