What We Need to Know to Give You an Estimate
Morgan Printing specializes in short run book printing
and newsletters. Many variables affect the cost of printing a
book. The most important of these are outlined below:
QUANTITY: Requesting several variables is a good idea
(e.g., 300, 500, 750). If this is your first book project and
your marketing is not in place, you may want to limit your book
run to 500 in order to establish your market and finalize your
product. 
PAGE SIZE: Standard sizes are 5.5x8.5", 6x9",
and 8.5x11". (Other sizes are cut from these sizes.)
NUMBER OF PAGES: Including text and front matter (total
page count needs to be divisible by four; on larger quantities
divisible by eight).
TEXT PAPER: We use a house standard acid-free 60# white
offset book paper and an acid-free 60# natural (cream) recycled
book paper that we buy in large quantities. Specialty papers
or heavier paper may be selected for an additional charge.
INK FOR TEXT: Please specify if other than black ink.
NUMBER OF GRAPHICS, photographs, or illustrations in text
and how they are provided. Usually line art is not a problem,
but photographs or gray screens will reproduce better if made
into halftones. If you plan to provide us with scans, we will
let you know at what dpi they need to be scanned (which differs
depending on the printing press). If we scan your graphics, the
scan price varies depending on quantity.
TYPE OF BINDING: If 64 pages or more, we can perfect bind
(like a paperback book); if less than 64 pages, we can staple
(saddle stitch) the book or use thicker paper if perfect binding
is desired. We also plasticoil and hardbind books. Hardbound
books are either Smythe sewn or are a hardcase on a paperback
book (less expensive).
COVER PAPER: We recommend 10ptC1S with a gloss lamination
for most perfectbound books. We use a varnish on some covers
and print some publications on uncoated paper.
COVER PRINTING: Black ink costs the least. As you add
colors of ink the price increases, up to 4-color process ink.
Hardbound books usually have a gold stamp and a dust jacket may
or may not be wanted. Sometimes a printed cover glued onto the
hardcasing is preferred.
COPY PROVIDED: Will the copy be camera-ready 600 dpi laserprints?
Or will it be postscript compatible digital files with hardcopy
proof in Quark, PageMaker, InDesign or PDF? Or would you like
assistance with cover and page layout? Color or grayscale scans
should be 300 dpi, and line art scans should be 600-1200 dpi.
Morgan Printing also offers page layout and cover design services.
Some of our recent designs are shown in our Cover
Design Portfolio. Please feel free to call to discuss your
publication(s). Custom production quotes are given on specific
projects.
