Frequently Asked
Questions

Start by deciding on your book's trim size (e.g., 6x9 in. is a popular choice for novels), binding style (softcover, hardcover, coil, or saddle stitch), approximate page count, and how many copies you need. Once you have those basics, request a price quote from our website or call us at (408) 922-0682 and we'll walk you through the rest step by step.

We print novels, memoirs, poetry collections, children's books, cookbooks, workbooks, journals, course materials, photo books, manuals, and more. If it's a bound, printed product, we most likely do it. Contact us with your specific project and we'll confirm what's possible.

No - you can get an estimate as soon as you know your approximate page count, trim size, and binding type. Exact pricing is confirmed once you submit your final files, since page counts and specifications sometimes shift during editing.

Absolutely. Independent authors are some of our most valued customers. You don't need a publisher or literary agent - we work directly with you, from single-copy projects to large print runs.

Yes! Call us at (408) 922-0682 or email sales@newcyberian.com. Our team is happy to discuss your project, suggest options, and answer any questions before you commit to an order.

We prefer press-ready PDF files (PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-4). We also accept InDesign, Word, and other common formats, though we recommend converting to PDF before submission to ensure fonts, images, and layout are locked in exactly as intended. Please ensure all fonts are embedded and images are at least 300 DPI. For best results, keep your text inside the "Safe Zone" (at least 0.5" from the trim edge).

When it comes to printing, the golden rule for artwork resolution is 300 DPI (dots per inch). This ensures your images look crisp, clean, and professionally detailed on paper.

Whoa there, cowboy. Hold your pixel horses. That's not how resolution works.

Think of it like trying to turn a single slice of cheese into an entire pizza just by... stretching it really hard. The more you pull (or the more you try to artificially "create" resolution), the holes get bigger, the cheese gets weird, and it just becomes a pixelated disaster.

You can't create detail that isn't there in the original image. Low-resolution images (like 72 DPI from the web) are built for digital screens and will always look blurry, jagged, and sad in print, no matter how much you try to "blow them up."

Check out the comparison below: it's a tragic before-and-after of a low-res image versus a true high-res masterpiece. For your book, start with high-resolution originals, not pixel pizza.

When designing your book cover, achieving a perfect cut exactly on the edge is physically impossible due to slight shifting during the printing and trimming process.

A "bleed" is extra content (typically ⅛ inch / 3mm) that extends beyond the edge of your page. It prevents white slivers from appearing when pages are trimmed. If your design has color, images, or backgrounds that touch the edge of the page, your file must include bleed. Text and important elements should stay at least ¼ inch from the trim edge (the "safe zone").

• Bleed: This is the area where your artwork extends beyond the final trim line. It acts as a "buffer," so if the blade shifts slightly outward, you still see your design instead of a thin white paper strip.
• Safe Zone (Margins): This is the area inside the trim line where you keep critical elements like text and logos. If the blade shifts slightly inward, your important content remains safe and won't be cut off.

Providing bleed and respecting safe zones ensures your finished book looks exactly as intended, regardless of minor mechanical slips.

The spine width depends on three key factors: i) type of paper (uncoated, glossy, matte), ii) paper weight in lb., and iii) number of pages.

To get an accurate measurement, we recommend using our Book Width Calculator. Simply enter the paper type, paper weight, and the page coun, and it will instantly calculate the correct spine width for your book.

In design, color modes are defined differently depending on the medium. RGB (Red, Green, Blue) uses light and is used for digital screens. The standard for physical printing, however, is CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black), which mixes inks on paper.

The critical reason you must use CMYK mode when designing for print is color accuracy. Many vibrant colors visible in RGB mode physically cannot be perfectly reproduced by mixing inks. While most modern conversion is barely noticeable, highly saturated and bright colors—specifically vibrant blues, greens, oranges, and neon shades—are most susceptible to color shift when converting from RGB to CMYK. Because RGB (screen) has a wider color gamut than CMYK (print), these colors often become duller, darker, or "washed out" during conversion.

Designing entirely in CMYK prevents unexpected, muted results, ensuring the color on your finished book is what you intended.

This is a very common issue. In CMYK, a color defined as C=0, M=0, Y=0, K=100 (often called ”100% black“) may look very dark on your screen, but when printed, it can appear slightly gray or washed out - especially in large solid areas.

To achieve a deeper, richer black in print, you should use what’s called a ”rich black.“

Rich black combines black (K) with small amounts of cyan, magenta, and/or yellow to create a deeper, more saturated black.

Common rich black formula: C: 60%, M: 40%, Y: 40%, and K: 100%

Use 100% K black (C=0, M=0, Y=0, K=100): For small text, thin lines, and fine details to ensure sharp edges and avoids registration issues.

Use rich black (e.g., C60 M40 Y40 K100): For large solid areas, backgrounds, and heavy graphics to provide a deeper, more premium-looking black

We can provide templates and basic guidance. For more extensive layout and design work, we recommend working with a professional book designer or formatter. Contact us and we can discuss what level of assistance best fits your project.

We offer four main binding styles:

• Hardcover - Case-bound, premium look, ideal for gift books, memoirs, and long-lasting editions.
• Softcover (Perfect Bound) - Glue-bound spine, the most popular choice for novels, nonfiction, and poetry.
• Saddle Stitch - Stapled along the spine, best for shorter publications (up to ~64 pages) like booklets and children's books.
• Wire-O / Coil Binding - Lies flat when open, great for workbooks, manuals, and cookbooks.

Perfect Binding is the most common method for Softcover Paperbacks. The pages are stacked and glued into a wrap-around cover, creating a clean, squared-off spine that can be printed on with your title and author name.

Perfect-bound softcover is the industry standard for novels and memoirs - it's cost-effective, bookstore-ready, and looks professional. If you want a premium edition or plan to sell at a higher price point, hardcover is an excellent upgrade.

We print a wide range of trim sizes. Popular choices include 5x8, 5.5x8.5, 6x9 (standard trade), and 8.5x11. We also accommodate custom sizes - contact us if you need something specific.

Yes. We offer hardcovers with printed dust jackets as well as case-laminate hardcovers (where the cover art is printed directly on the case with no separate jacket). Both options are available - ask for a quote on each to compare.

General guidelines:

• Saddle Stitch: 8-64 pages (must be divisible by 4)
• Perfect Bound Softcover: 40-800+ pages
• Hardcover: 24-800+ pages
• Wire-O / Coil: 8-500+ pages

Contact us for projects outside these ranges.

We offer several interior paper options, including 50 lb and 60 lb uncoated white or cream text (popular for novels), as well as 70 lb and 80 lb coated stocks for full-color or image-heavy interiors. Cream paper is a favorite for fiction because it reduces eye strain on long reads.

Covers can be finished with gloss lamination (vibrant, shiny look - great for photography and bold graphics) or matte lamination (soft, elegant feel - popular for literary fiction and nonfiction). Matte covers show fingerprints less but photos may appear slightly less saturated.

Technically, there's no minimum! However, because setup costs are spread across the entire run, your unit price drops significantly as your quantity increases.

• Best Value: 250+ copies.
• Small Runs: We recommend at least 100 copies to keep your project budget-friendly.

Price depends on: trim size, page count, binding type, paper stock, cover finish, color vs. black-and-white interior, and quantity. Per-unit cost decreases significantly as quantity increases, so printing more copies lowers your cost per book.

Yes. We can provide a digital-press physical proof in approximately 14 days.

• Cost: $180 - $250 (varies by specifications).
• Process Note: Proofs are printed digitally, while bulk orders are printed via offset. You may notice minor differences in "look and feel" between the two.
• Free Alternative: Use our online flipbook to review your layout and design immediately.

Yes - unit pricing decreases as quantity increases. Whether you're ordering 100 or 5,000 copies, we'll provide a tiered quote so you can see the cost savings at different quantities. Many authors order a moderate first run and reorder as their book sells.

We accept major credit cards and business checks. Full payment or a deposit may be required before production begins. Contact us for payment terms on larger orders.

Absolutely! Accuracy is our priority. Every order includes a Free Online Flipbook proof that allows you to check the layout and page order virtually. You can also request a physical printed proof (additional cost and time apply) to check paper feel, color accuracy, and binding before your full run.

Review your proof carefully for:

• Typos, grammatical errors, and missing text
• Correct page order and chapter breaks
• Image placement, resolution, and cropping
• Cover design - title, author name, spine text, back cover copy, barcode placement
• Margins, headers, footers, and page numbers

Once you approve the proof, changes are not possible without reprinting.

Once production begins after your approval, changes are generally not possible. If you catch an error before plates are made, contact us immediately - we'll do our best to accommodate. Changes after production begins may require additional charges or a reprint.

If the finished books have a defect or error that is our fault and differs from your approved proof, we will work with you to make it right. Please contact us promptly with photos documenting the issue. Note that minor variations in color between a monitor and printed output are normal and not considered printing errors.

Production time varies based on quantity, binding type, and current workload. Typical turnaround is 3-4 weeks for a normal run, or 6-8 weeks for a gang-run after proof approval.

Yes. We regularly ship our premium books to authors in the USA, Canada, Australia, and Europe. We handle the logistics to ensure your books arrive safely and in pristine condition.

Yes - we offer drop shipping and fulfillment services. We can ship to multiple individual addresses or a single warehouse on your behalf. This is ideal for authors who sell direct-to-reader online. Contact us to discuss your fulfillment needs.

Yes, we regularly ship books directly to Amazon fulfillment centers. We are familiar with Amazon's FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) requirements and can help ensure your books are packed and labeled correctly.

Yes, local pickup is available at our San Jose, CA location at 1919 O'Toole Way, San Jose, CA 95131. Please coordinate with us in advance so your order is ready when you arrive.

An ISBN is not required to print your book - for example, if you're printing for personal use, a family memoir, or a corporate giveaway. However, if you plan to sell your book through bookstores, libraries, or online retailers like Amazon, you'll need an ISBN. In the US, ISBNs are purchased from Bowker (myidentifiers.com).

We do not issue ISBNs. As the publisher of record for your self-published book, you should purchase your own ISBN so that you retain full ownership and control. A free ISBN from a publishing platform (like KDP) would list that platform as the publisher, which limits your distribution flexibility.

If your cover includes a properly placed barcode (EAN-13 format linked to your ISBN), we will print it as part of your cover. If you need help generating or placing a barcode, let us know and we can advise on the correct specifications.

We are a printing company, not a distributor. We do not list your book in distribution catalogs or handle wholesale accounts. To get your book into bookstores, you would need to work separately with a distributor such as Ingram Content Group, or through a platform like IngramSpark. We can print the physical books; distribution is your next step.

If your files haven't changed, reorders are straightforward. Contact us with your original order details and the new quantity you need. We keep files on file for a period of time, so reprinting is typically faster and easier than the initial order.

Absolutely. Submit corrected files when placing your reorder. We'll treat it as a new version and provide a fresh proof for your approval. Keep in mind that changes to the page count may affect spine width and, consequently, the cover file - so update both if needed.

Yes. You can reuse your approved interior file and submit only a new cover file for the updated edition. Just confirm with us that the page count and trim size haven't changed so the spine width is still correct.