Terms used in book printing and self-publishing, organized alphabetically. This glossary covers materials, processes, and specifications relevant to working with a book printer.

A

ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) A pre-publication copy of your book sent to reviewers, bloggers, and media contacts before the official release date. ARCs may differ slightly from the final edition and are usually marked “Not for Resale.” See the Book Launch Planning Guide for ARC ordering and reviewer outreach.

Aqueous Coating A water-based coating applied to printed covers or pages that provides a protective layer and enhances appearance. Dries quickly and generates less waste than solvent-based alternatives.

B

Back Matter The pages that appear after the main body of your book. Back matter may include an afterword, appendix, glossary, bibliography, index, author biography, and ordering information for additional books.

Barcode A machine-readable code printed on the back cover of your book, encoding your ISBN and price. Most retailers and distributors require a barcode. The standard format for books is the Bookland EAN barcode. See the ISBN guide for purchasing and barcode generation.

Binding The method used to hold the pages of your book together and attach them to the cover. Common binding types: perfect binding (softcover), case binding (hardcover), and spiral or wire-o binding.

Bleed The area of your design that extends beyond the final trim edge of the page. Bleed ensures that color or images reach the very edge of the finished page with no white border. The standard bleed allowance is 0.125 inches (1/8 inch) on all sides. See the file preparation guide for bleed setup.

Board Book A book printed on thick, rigid paperboard, used for children’s books intended for infants and toddlers. Each page consists of laminated cardstock rather than traditional paper. See Children’s Book Printing for specifications.

Bulk The thickness of paper, measured in pages per inch (PPI) or by caliper. Higher bulk paper is thicker. A 200-page book on high-bulk paper has a wider spine than the same page count on standard stock.

Burst Binding A variation of perfect binding where the spine signatures are perforated rather than ground smooth, allowing adhesive to penetrate deeper into the pages for a stronger bond.

C

C1S (Coated One Side) Paper or cardstock with a smooth, coated finish on one side and an uncoated finish on the other. C1S stock is commonly used for book covers, where the coated side faces outward for printing and the uncoated side faces inward.

Case Binding The binding method used for hardcover books. The text block (interior pages) is sewn or glued together and attached to rigid cover boards wrapped in printed or cloth material.

CMYK The four-color printing model used in commercial printing: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (black). All full-color printing combines these four ink colors to reproduce a wide spectrum of colors. Files intended for print should use CMYK color mode. See the file preparation guide for color setup.

Coated Paper Paper with a smooth, sealed surface that produces sharper images and more vibrant colors than uncoated stock. Available in gloss, matte, and satin finishes. Commonly used for photography books, art books, and full-color interiors. See Paper and Materials for options.

Color Management The process of controlling how colors are represented and reproduced across devices and output methods. Proper color management involves calibrated monitors, correct ICC profiles, and CMYK file preparation.

Copyright Page A page near the front of your book (typically the reverse side of the title page) that includes the copyright notice, ISBN, Library of Congress data, printing credits, and legal disclaimers.

Cover Stock The heavier paper or cardstock used for your book’s cover. Cover stock is measured in points (pt) of thickness. A standard softcover book typically uses 10pt C1S cover stock. Hardcover books use printed or cloth-wrapped board.

Cream Paper Interior paper with a warm, off-white tone. Cream paper is standard for novels, memoirs, and other text-heavy books because it reduces contrast and eye strain during extended reading. Sometimes called natural or ivory stock. See Paper and Materials.

Crop Marks Small lines printed at the corners of a page that indicate where the paper should be trimmed after printing. Crop marks are part of the prepress file setup and are removed during trimming.

Crossover An image or design element that spans across two facing pages in a spread. Crossovers require careful alignment during printing and binding to ensure the image lines up across the gutter.

D

Digest Size A common book trim size, typically 5.5 x 8.5 inches. Popular for novels, memoirs, and general nonfiction.

Digital Printing A printing method where files print directly from a digital source (such as a PDF) onto paper without printing plates. Digital printing has minimal setup costs and suits short-run book production (25 to 5,000 copies). Origin Books uses Canon digital presses.

DPI (Dots Per Inch) A measurement of print resolution. Higher DPI means finer detail and sharper images. Interior images should be at least 300 DPI at their final printed size. Text is typically rendered at 600 DPI or higher. See the file preparation guide.

Dust Jacket A removable paper cover that wraps around a hardcover book. Dust jackets serve both a protective and decorative purpose and typically include cover art, author information, synopsis, and blurbs.

E

eBook A digital version of your book formatted for reading on electronic devices. Common eBook formats include EPUB and MOBI. Origin Books offers eBook conversion services. See Design Services.

Embossing A finishing technique that creates a raised, three-dimensional effect on the cover by pressing the material between two dies. The reverse process (creating a depressed impression) is debossing.

Endsheets (Endpapers) The pages at the beginning and end of a hardcover book that connect the text block to the cover boards. Endsheets can be plain white, colored, or custom printed with designs, maps, or patterns.

EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) A type of hot-melt adhesive used in perfect binding. EVA glue bonds pages to the cover at the spine. PUR adhesive offers a stronger, more flexible bond for high-use books.

F

Foil Stamping A finishing technique that applies metallic or colored foil to the cover using a heated die. Commonly used on hardcover books for the title and author name on the spine and front cover. Origin Books offers foil stamping in gold, silver, matte black, and custom colors.

Font A specific size, weight, and style of a typeface used in your book’s design. All fonts must be embedded in your print-ready PDF. See the file preparation guide.

French Flaps Extended front and back cover panels on a softcover book that fold inward, similar to dust jacket flaps. French flaps provide space for author biographies, synopses, or blurbs.

Front Matter The pages before the main body of your book: half-title page, title page, copyright page, dedication, table of contents, foreword, preface, and acknowledgments.

Full Bleed A design in which printed elements extend to the edge of the trimmed page with no white border. Full bleed requires artwork to extend 0.125 inches beyond the final trim size. See the file preparation guide.

G

Galley An early version of a book used for proofreading and review before the final print run. Sometimes used interchangeably with ARC.

Gloss Lamination A thin, shiny plastic film applied to the cover that enhances color vibrancy and protects against scuffing, moisture, and fingerprints.

Grain Direction The direction in which paper fibers are aligned. In book printing, the grain should run parallel to the spine (grain long) so pages turn smoothly and the book lies flat.

GSM (Grams per Square Meter) A metric measurement of paper weight. Standard office paper is about 80 GSM. Typical book interior paper ranges from 80 to 120 GSM.

Gutter The inner margin of a page where it meets the binding. The gutter must be wide enough to keep text from disappearing into the spine, especially in thicker books.

H

Hardcover A binding style that uses rigid boards covered in printed paper, cloth, or leather. Hardcover books are more durable than softcover and suit collectible editions, library placement, and premium formats.

Head and Tail Bands Decorative fabric strips at the top and bottom of a hardcover book’s spine. Primarily an aesthetic detail that adds a finished look to hardcover binding.

I

ICC Profile A standardized file that describes the color characteristics of a device or color space. Using the correct ICC profile when preparing files ensures accurate color reproduction in the printed book.

Imposition The arrangement of multiple pages on a single press sheet so that when printed, folded, and trimmed, pages appear in the correct order. Handled during prepress.

Ink Coverage The percentage of a printed page covered with ink. High ink coverage (solid color or dark images) can affect paper handling and drying time.

Interior The pages inside your book, distinct from the cover. Interior specifications include paper stock, color mode (black-and-white or full color), and page count.

ISBN (International Standard Book Number) A unique 13-digit identifier assigned to each edition of a book. Required for commercial distribution through bookstores and online retailers. Purchased through Bowker (myidentifiers.com) in the United States. See the ISBN guide.

K

Kerning The adjustment of space between individual letter pairs in typeset text. Proper kerning improves readability and gives text a polished appearance.

Kiss Cut A cutting method where only the top layer of a laminated or stickered material is cut, leaving the backing intact. Not common in standard book printing but used for special inserts.

L

Lamination A thin plastic film applied to the cover for protection and appearance. Gloss lamination (shiny, color-enhancing) and matte lamination (soft, non-reflective) are the two standard types.

Layout The arrangement of text, images, headings, and other design elements on a page. Interior layout is a key component of professional book design. See Design Services.

Leading The vertical space between lines of text, measured baseline to baseline. Proper leading improves readability. Also called line spacing.

M

Matte Lamination A thin plastic film with a soft, non-reflective finish applied to book covers. Popular for literary fiction, memoirs, and nonfiction. Resists fingerprints better than gloss.

Mockup A digital or physical representation of what your finished book will look like. Useful for marketing before or during printing.

O

Offset Printing A printing method using etched metal plates to transfer ink onto paper via a rubber blanket. Cost-effective for large print runs (typically over 1,000 to 2,000 copies) but requires significant setup. For short runs, digital printing is more economical.

Opacity The degree to which light passes through paper. Higher opacity means less show-through from the opposite side. Important for books with text or images on both sides of each page.

Overprint A technique where one ink color prints on top of another without knocking out the underlying color. Used in file preparation to prevent gaps between adjacent colors.

P

Page Count The total number of pages in your book, including all front matter, body text, and back matter. Page counts are typically required in multiples of 2. Some binding methods require multiples of 4 or more.

Paper Stock The specific type of paper used for interior pages. Defined by weight, color (white or cream), finish (coated or uncoated), and opacity. See Paper and Materials.

Paper Weight A measurement of paper thickness and density, expressed in pounds (lb) in the United States: 60lb or 70lb text stock. Heavier paper feels more substantial and has better opacity.

PDF (Portable Document Format) The standard file format for submitting book files to a printer. Print-ready PDFs should be high resolution (300 DPI minimum for images), use CMYK color mode, and include proper bleed and trim marks. See the file preparation guide.

Perfect Binding The standard binding method for softcover books. Pages are gathered into a block, the spine edge is ground smooth, and adhesive bonds the pages to a wraparound cover. Creates the flat, squared spine seen on most paperbacks.

POD (Print on Demand) A printing model where books are produced individually as orders arrive. POD eliminates upfront inventory but costs more per unit than short-run printing, where a specific quantity (100 or 500 copies) prints at once.

PPI (Pages Per Inch) A measurement of paper bulk. Lower PPI numbers mean thicker paper and a wider spine.

Prepress All preparation steps between receiving files and starting the print run: file review, color correction, imposition, and proofing.

Proof A test version of your book produced before the full print run. Proofs may be digital (on-screen PDF) or physical (printed sample). Reviewing and approving your proof is a required step before printing.

PUR (Polyurethane Reactive) A premium adhesive for perfect binding that creates a stronger, more flexible bond than EVA glue. Resistant to heat and humidity. PUR-bound books lie flatter when opened.

R

Resolution The amount of detail in a digital image, measured in DPI or PPI. For print, images should be at least 300 DPI at final output size. Low-resolution images appear blurry or pixelated when printed.

RGB The color model used by screens and monitors: Red, Green, Blue. RGB produces a wider range of colors than CMYK. Files must be converted to CMYK before submitting to a printer.

Ribbon Marker A fabric ribbon bound into the spine of a hardcover book that serves as a built-in bookmark. Available in a variety of colors.

S

Saddle Stitch A binding method where folded sheets are nested together and stapled through the spine fold. Used for thinner publications (booklets, catalogs) with page counts under 80 pages.

SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) A certification program for responsible forest management. Origin Books uses Rainforest Alliance certified paper stocks, which include SFI-certified options. See Sustainable Book Printing.

Short Run A print quantity from 25 to 5,000 copies. Short-run printing minimizes upfront investment and reduces unsold inventory. Digital printing makes short-run production economically practical.

Signature A large sheet of paper that is printed and folded to create a section of pages. Signatures are gathered in sequence and bound together to form the book block.

Softcover A binding style using a flexible cover, typically 10pt C1S cardstock, wrapped around a perfect-bound or PUR-bound text block. Also called paperback. The most common format for self-published titles.

Spine The narrow edge of a book visible on a shelf. Displays the title, author name, and optionally a publisher logo. Spine width depends on page count and paper thickness.

Spot UV A glossy, clear coating applied to specific areas of a book cover to create contrast with the surrounding surface. Origin Books offers 3D Spot UV with multiple thickness levels.

Spread Two facing pages in an open book, viewed as a single unit. Elements crossing the gutter from one page to the other are crossover elements.

Swatch A small sample of paper, fabric, or color used as a reference. Paper swatches help evaluate weight, texture, color, and opacity before choosing a stock.

T

Trim Size The final dimensions of your book after pages are cut. Common trim sizes: 5.5 x 8.5 inches, 6 x 9 inches, 8.5 x 11 inches.

Typography The selection and arrangement of type (fonts, sizes, spacing, layout) to make text readable and visually consistent.

U

Uncoated Paper Paper without a surface coating, with a natural, slightly textured feel. Absorbs more ink than coated stock, producing softer colors. Standard for novels, memoirs, and text-heavy books. See Paper and Materials.

UV Coating A liquid coating applied to printed covers and cured with ultraviolet light, creating a hard, glossy, protective surface. More durable than aqueous coating.

V

Varnish A clear coating applied to a printed surface for protection or aesthetic effect. Available in gloss, matte, or satin. Can be applied to the entire surface (flood varnish) or specific areas (spot varnish).

W

White Space Empty areas on a page free of text, images, or other elements. Effective use of white space improves readability and reduces visual clutter.

Wire-O Binding A binding method using a double-loop wire spine. Wire-O allows books to lie flat and fold back on themselves. A premium alternative to plastic spiral binding, popular for cookbooks, manuals, and workbooks.

Last updated: January 2026