{"id":455226,"date":"2021-10-31T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-31T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/?p=455226"},"modified":"2025-08-07T14:47:20","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T13:47:20","slug":"choosing-the-right-book-printing-service-for-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/choosing-the-right-book-printing-service-for-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Choosing The Right Book Printing Service For You"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Given the choice, would you rather see your name on the cover of an ebook<\/a> or a paper book? Would you rather see your name in pixels or in print? Would you rather hold an amorphous concept of your book, cached away in an ebook reader or the actual physical object, you know, the one that allows you to feel the weight of your words?  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Okay! I\u2019m aware that I\u2019m asking increasingly leading questions. Nor do I want to disparage ebooks as an effective route into self-publishing<\/a>. But there\u2019s still a romance and joy to seeing your words on an actual page. Not to mention the practical advantages of having something you can press into someone else\u2019s hands, and even (if you\u2019re feeling expansive) autograph for them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Get Your Book Printed?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are some big names that, as a self-published author, you may choose to publish under who will print and distribute for you. They tend to take\u202fa hefty cut from the sale price for themselves but do cover a large percentage of the hassle. Plus their print-on-demand service means you can have your book in your hands in a matter of days.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what if you want to go at it alone and retain full control? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a self-published author, the advantages of printing a book are clear. Although there are also obvious disadvantages. Most notably, while it doesn\u2019t take too long for those self-publishing to find out how to create a decent and marketable ebook, book printing is a tougher and opaquer proposition.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are several potential pitfalls and many important questions to answer before you can proceed with confidence. This article will give you the guidance you need to help you choose the best printing services. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Are Book Printing Services?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps the easiest way to describe book printing services is to explain what they are not. They are not publishers. They do not (generally) offer the kind of distribution and marketing services you would expect from a conventional publisher, and they do not (generally, again) offer editorial advice. At the most fundamental level, a book printer\u2019s job is to take your finished digital manuscript and turn it into a print copy.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That may sound straightforward, but the more you look into custom book printing the more questions you are likely to have. But before we get onto those, let\u2019s answer a few basics.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many (if not, most) self-published authors opt to print their books via Amazon. Their KDP service<\/a> ensures distribution of ebooks, along with paperback and, more recently, even hardback options! Although they take a hefty cut from the sale price for themselves, it does cover a large percentage of the hassle and their print-on-demand service means you can have your book in your hands in a matter of days.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But some authors want more control \u2013 and more profit. A lot of what you decide to do will depend on the kind of printing you go for. There are two main methods of paperback and hardback book printing: print on demand and offset printing.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s take a quick look at those:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Print On Demand Book Printing<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As the name suggests, print on demand book printing is a form of printing where a book is produced once it has been ordered. Digital book printing technology enables printers to produce books in the exact quantity required with a rapid turnaround so that a customer can order a book on a website, or from a bookshop, and expect to have it within days.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s particularly useful for self-published<\/a> book printing. It means you don\u2019t need to worry about storage because you have no inventory. Printers are able to do single book printing, or many print several on demand books at once, depending on the orders that come in. On demand book printing services are also often integrated with sales and distribution channels, meaning your book is generally only a few clicks away from your potential readers. Importantly, there are also fewer upfront costs because once the files are loaded onto the printer\u2019s system, the individual production cost for each book is absorbed at the point of sale. (Which is to say, the book printing cost is deducted from the sale price and you and the store get the remainder.) The most well known and reliable Print on Demand services are IngramSpark and KDP via Amazon. Let’s look into each of these options more closely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

IngramSpark<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

IngramSpark <\/a>is a service that allows authors to self-publish print books and ebooks. There is lots of information on their website in order to learn more about self-publishing, help you choose the best printing option for your book, and how to create files<\/a> for uploading your book. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The costs of uploading a book with IngramSpark:<\/p>\n\n\n\n