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SEWN BOOK
PRINTING & BINDING
SOLUTIONS

Sewn books are ideal when durability, layflat properties, aesthetic appeal, and archival quality are important considerations.

FROM 20 COPIES TO AS MANY AS YOU LIKE

We're professional printers and bookbinders. You can expect the same standard and quality for your book that you would find in your favourite bookstore.

SEWN BOOK SIZES

Choose the best size for your project

1

210 x 148mm

2

228 x 152mm

3

240 x 170mm

4

250 x 190mm

5

297 x 210mm

6

216 x 216mm

PRICING CALCULATOR

Work out the best costs and options for your sewn book.

COVER TYPE




ONE COLOUR TEXT







FULL COLOUR TEXT






You must select either text as 1 colour or full colour. Colour is significantly more expensive than black and white.

 Copies

Mininmum – 20 Maximum – None

Text pages

Minimum - 64 thereafter must be multiples of 8 for sewn

PRICING FOR SEWN BOOKS

1

210 x 148mm
(8.3 x 5.8 in)

2

228 x 152mm
(9.0 x 6.0 in)

3

240 x 170mm
(9.4 x 6.7 in)

4

250 x 190mm
(9.8 x 7.4 in)

5

297 x 210mm
(11.6 x 8.3 in)

6

216 x 216mm
(8.5 x 8.5 in)

Pricing per book incl VAT
Unit cost R100.00 R100.00 R120.00 R180.00 R180.00 R180.00
Total cost for 20 copies R2000.00 R2000.00 R2400.00 R3600.00 R3600.00 R3600.00

DESCRIPTION

20 Copies
40 Pages
Soft Cover
90gsm Creamy
100gsm satin paper

Prices shown include VAT @ 15%.

HOW TO PLACE AN ORDER

COUNTING PAGES AND MINIMUM PAGE REQUIREMENTS

'Page' in this instance means one side of each piece of paper. Or think of it as "how many pages have I written?". When counting pages, factor in title, contents, dedication, index, credit, glossary and blank pages in the count. In book production, even blank pages are included in the count. The minimum number of pages for a sewn book is 64. Thereafter pages must be multiples of 8. This is important as pages are sewn together to form the book block and these minimum requirements are essential for this type of binding.

ADVANTAGES OF
SEWN BINDING

Durability - Sewn binding is highiy durable and long-lasting The stitching provides extra strength to the book spine an ideal choice for books that will be subjected to heavy use or need to withstand regular opening and closing.

Flexibility - Sewn binding allows the book to lay flat when opened, making it easier to read and work with. This feature is particularly beneficial for textbooks, manuals, cookbooks, journals and diaries.

Aesthetics - Sewn binding often gives a more professional and traditional appearance to books. The visible stitching on the spine adds a touch of craftsmanship and elegance, making it a popular choice for high-quality hardcover books, art books, and special editions.

Archival Quality - Sewn binding is commonly used for books that require long-term preservation, such as archival collections, important documents, or historical records.

SPINE CALCULATOR

The number of pages or paper choice affects the spine thickness. Use our calculator to work out the thickness of your book.



READ MORE

PREPARING
YOUR PAGES

A guide to format your manuscript in a way that can be printed

READ MORE

DESIGNING
YOUR COVER

Download our free software or templates to prepare your cover design. Or we can introduce you to a designer.

READ MORE

WILL MY BOOKNEED A BARCODE

We can organise an ISBN barcode for you.

READ MORE

SPINE THICKNESS

Your book pages need to fit into their cover. Artwork files for the cover will include the spine at a specific width. While you can design your cover at any stage, the print files should only be finalised once you are certain of your final page count.

Number of pages and paper choice affect the spine thickness. Use our calculator to work out the spine thickness of your book.


COUNTING PAGES

Page count means the number of page faces, or numbered pages.... or how many pages have I written? Include all pages in the count - blank, acknowledgement, title, contents, index, glossary and any other.


PAPER CHOICE AND SPINE THICKNESS

Different types of paper have varying thickness and densities. When used in book printing, the choice of paper type can impact the overall thickness of the book.

SEWN SPINE CALCULATOR

PAGE COUNT



CALCULATE
SPINE THICKNESS IN MM

100gsm Coated

22

115gsm Coated

22

130gsm Coated

16

150gsm Coated

22

80gsm White bond

16

70gsm Creamy bond

22

90gsm White cartridge

16

120gsm White cartridge

22

90gsm Cream munken

16

COATED PAPER

Our coated paper options for sewn books are available in 100gsm, 115gsm, 130gsm and 150gsm. It is used for all full colour print work. The coating on coated paper results in a smooth and even surface. This smoothness allows for excellent print quality and enhances the sharpness and clarity of images and text. It minimises the absorption of ink.

WHITE BOND PAPER

A type of uncoated paper only avalable for one colour black printing. It ls widely recognised for its versatility, affordability, and avalability. Unlike coated paper, white bond paper does not have a surface coating. It has a plain untreated surface that is neither glossy or smooth. This uncoated surface alows for easy writing with pens, pencils and other writing instruments which is a great option for journals and diaries. It is also commonly used for printing documents, memos, letters, reports, forms, and novels.

WHITE CARTRIDGE PAPER

An uncoated paper similar to bond paper but a more premium finish and available in 90gsm and 120gsm. Popular for journals and diaries particularly when worried about show though if working with certain writing instruments. Available for one colour black printing.

CREAMY MUNKEN PAPER

This is a popular paper choice for printing. It is a speciality high-quality uncoated paper known for its smooth, creamy colour and excellent printability. It has a distinctive creamy off-white colour, which gives printed materials a warm and elegant look. This subtle and natural tone adds a touch of sophistication to printed text. Available for one colour black printing.

DESIGNING YOUR COVER

There are a few ways to tackle this stage.

Use our software to design your cover click here.

Prepare your artwork using the software of your choice - so long as it will allow you to prepare a print ready pdf file.

Brief a professional designer to prepare cover artwork for you. We can introduce you to a designer if you prefer.

SUBMITTING COVER
ARTWORK

Submit your cover as a single page pdf - back cover on the left, spine in the middle and front cover on the right.

Make sure all dimensions are correct, proof it carefully one last time and then upload it below.

UPLOAD YOUR PDF

COVER TEMPLATE
AND GUIDES

COVER GUIDELINES

ISBN

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD BOOK NUMBER

This is a number that uniquely identifies any published book. We can provide you with an ISBN number or you can use your own ISBN if you already have one.

If you intend selling your book it should include an ISBN number on the back cover and on the copyright page. There is an additional charge for this service of R300 incl VAT if you choose it.

Included in the ISBN fee we will also print and deliver an extra copy of your book to the National Library for their records.

To take advantage of this service you will need to pay for the ISBN number in advance so you can include it in your artwork before you submit it through to us.

Once you have ordered and paid for your ISBN number we will issue you with the ISBN number to include in the book and also the scannable ISBN barcode for the back cover.

Click below to purchase your ISBN number.

BUY YOUR ISBN