You’ve reached a crossroads. The last page has been written, and your book file is ready to be uploaded to the printer. Perhaps the most important decision in your printing journey remains: hardcover or paperback?
Hardcover books, also known as case bound books, are incredibly durable and aesthetically pleasing. Typically used for more prestigious publications and children’s books. Case covers are wrapped with either your printed design, an unprinted cloth or a leatherette case material that is often accentuated with protective dust jackets.
Paperback, softcover, and perfect bound books are also widely used in the publishing industry and beloved for their versatility, professional appearance, and pricing, and are ideal for novels, trade publications, journals, and more.
But which is the right choice for your book?
Consider the following factors:
- Price – Hardcover books cost more than their paperback counterparts. On the and are largely considered more prestigious by industry insiders and book lovers, at large. Paperbacks are a more economic option – both for the writer and the reader – and are typically purchased by consumers with the expectation that gradual wear and tear or damage may make a repeated purchase necessary. Common and compact, they are also inexpensive to ship.
- Function: Hardcovers have become synonymous with durability, collectability, and long-term value. Paperbacks, on the other hand, are designed to be portable, pliable, and lightweight.
Ultimately, deciding on the best binding option for your book will depend on its genre and determining who your audience is (and what their preferences would be when turning to the first page.)
Novelists and children’s book authors may opt for the more prestigious hardcover – also ideal for cookbooks, textbooks, and artbooks – whereas paperbacks can be better suited for association or trade publications, graphic novels, non-fiction, and educational materials.
The Gasch Printing team implements state-of-the-art, in-house binding equipment, and meticulous attention to detail to print high-quality books for everyone from first-time authors to book publishing companies.
Our company specializes in paperback and perfect bound books. While many of our competitors cannot handle a smaller page count in paperback, we can accommodate as few as 18 pages using this process. Call us at 833-473-6348 to learn more and to get started.