With hundreds of available paper stocks, the decision of which paper to use for your print run can be overwhelming. Most of all, it's a decision determined by the type of book you are printing. A children's or coffee table book? You'll need a thick glossy sheet to help your color images stand out. A novel? Go cheap.
Let's start by clearing up a point of confusion among many looking to print their first book: the difference between bond and offset paper weights. When you purchase paper for your copy machine or home printer, you'll note paper is listed as something like 20# bond. What that means is that when the paper is manufactured at 17 x 22", 500 sheets of that paper weighs 20 pounds. However, offset paper for printing plants is manufactured in 25 x 38" sheets, which is 2.5 times larger than bond paper. So 500 sheets of that same paper stock now weigh 50 pounds. Thus, 20# bond is the same as 50# offset.
That 50# offset paper proves to be fine for many books. If your book has no or few images and no color inside, there is little reason to print on a much thicker paper. Save your money. You may want to check the pricing for 60# offset, but I usually don't recommend printing on paper much thicker than that for most novels, etc.
Don't assume that the 20# bond paper you saw at Office Depot is going to be identical to the 50# offset paper you asked your printer to use. It won't be. Different paper manufacturers produce their papers with different brightness, different opacity, etc. So always ask for paper samples from your printer.
Choosing paper stock for a book printed in full color is sometimes a little trickier. You may want to go with a glossy paper stock to make any images "pop" a little more. However, glossy stock often feels thinner than standard paper stock.
Also, if your book is full color, a thicker paper may be necessary to make your book have a nicer feel to it and justify your sale price. If printing in the U.S., I usually recommend no lighter than a 70# or 80# gloss. If printing overseas, don't go lighter than 120 gsm.
I'll say it again: Samples, samples, samples. Don't be shy about asking your printer for paper samples. It's probably the most expensive choice you'll make when printing your book; make sure you get it right!
Always ask for your book covers to include gloss lamination. Standard paperback cover stock is 10 pt. C1S. A C1S cover means that it is coated on one side for durability and to help the colors "pop" a little more. If your book is on the large side, consider bumping up to a 12 pt. cover for extra durability.
About the Author:
Josh Prizer has helped hundreds of people get a book printed. He is a book printing guru. For help with childrens book publishing, request his Free 7-Part Mini-Course.
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