Standard time is 3-4 weeks for perfect bound books and 5-6 weeks for case-bound books. However, if circumstances require faster delivery, we can accommodate.

Standard sizes are 5 3/8 x 8 3/8, 5-1/2 x 8-1/2, 6 x 9, 7 x 10, 8-1/2 x 11 and 9 x 12.

500 of any bind style.

Binding may be perfect bound, layflat, saddle stitch, spiral, wire-o (regular wire-o or semi-concealed), plastic coil, or case bound (adhesive, side sewn, smythe sewn, thread seal). See examples of our binding options here.

Yes. It allows us better quality control, faster turn around and a lower final price.

Generally, first-time customers are set up with 50% down and balance before shipping.

Bang Printing specializes in so many types of books, but our main niche is 1 or 2 color text web runs (500-100,000) and short run 4c text (500-10,000) runs. We offer virtually all bindings in house and all covers are produced sheet fed.

Yes. We will drop ship for a minimal number of drop shipments. There is a shipping and handling charge associated with it.

8, 10, or 12 point weight with varnish (the least durable), aqueous, UV coating, or layflat film lamination in gloss or matte. Also, spot finishes, foil stamping, and embossing are available upon request at additional cost.

We have both Mac and PC workstations. We can accept application files from QuarkXPress 6, PageMaker 7, InDesign CS, Illustrator CS, PhotoShop CS, or Freehand MX (or earlier versions of these software). We do not accept application files from Microsoft Word.

We also accept PDF files that are built to our specifications (see the downloads section for instructions). We prefer that you send your cover files to us as application files. It is not unusual for us to need to tweak a spine dimension, add bleeds, adjust hinges, etc., so it really helps us out if we have your application files to use for this purpose.

A special note about books prepared in Microsoft Word. We cannot accept these application files because they are very unpredictable when transferred from computer to computer. Word does not have the capability to report the fonts that were used to build the document or warn us when a font is missing or has been replaced by a different one. These problems along with others cause the text on the pages to reflow and the graphics to behave unpredictably. The best way for you to submit your book if you've prepared it in Microsoft Word is to send us a PDF file. The problem is that most PDF files created directly from Word do not have the fonts embedded properly. The solution we've found that works wonderfully is to use a little application called "PDF995" to create a good PDF file from Word. It is available at www.pdf995.com. It is a free download that is quick and easy to install and use.

We have a FTP site located at ftp.bangprinting.com. You may contact your Customer Service Representative to receive a user name and password.

The Library of Congress has a very helpful website that explains the information that is printed on the copyright page. The website describes what CIP (Cataloging In Publication), ISBN (International Standard Serial Number), and PCN (Pre-assigned Control Number) are and what they are used for. The website can be found at: www.loc.gov.

An ISBN number can be obtained at www.isbn.org. They have very detailed instructions on the application process and filling out the required form.

It is very quick and easy to order a bar code online. There is a list of some of the companies that provide this service at www.isbn.org. When you order your barcode, it is best to order it as a digital file (rather than film). It does not matter if it is PC or Mac format, but it should be a .eps file with all fonts converted to outlines. You can have it e-mailed directly to us from the barcode company. Just give them your Bang Printing salesperson's e-mail address and tell them to put your book title in the subject line when it is sent to us. They may ask you what our dot gain is when you order your barcode. It is 18% - 20%, which is standard with most printers.

When an item on your pages or your cover goes right off the edge of the page on the final trimmed book, it is said to have "bleed." It can be a photo, a rule, a shaded box, type, or any other kind of object. When an item is meant to bleed off the edge of the page, it must be set up in your page layout software to extend past the edge of the page at least 1/8". (You set up your page at actual trim size, then extend the bleeding object past the edge of the page.)

Yes. Dust jackets and case bound covers can be very tricky to lay out, and even worse if you do not have something showing you the exact dimensions of all of the elements. Our job planning department can prepare a layout that shows the dimensions of the entire spread along with the hinges, wrap, spine width, flap widths, etc. We will need to know some of the final specs of your book before a layout can be created: Final page count, paper stock that the text is printing on, binding style, trim size of book, and in the case of a dust jacket, the width of the flaps that you desire. Typically, books that are 5" - 6.5" wide will have a 3" flap, anything over 6.5" wide will have a 3.5" flap. Contact your salesperson or customer service person with this information and he or she will have a layout prepared.

There is not really a standard for margin widths. It really varies depending on the style of the book and the look you're going for. We do not recommend ever having anything print any closer to the final trim than 1/4" (unless it is meant to bleed off the edge.) Usually a 6" x 9" or 7" x 10" book looks best with margins of about 1/2" at the top, bottom, and face and 5/8" at the gutter. Usually if your book has a larger trim size (8.5" x 11" or 9" x 12") your margins look better if they are a bit wider. It is always a good idea to make the gutter margin a little wider than the face to allow for a little bit being "lost" where the pages curve into the binding. Some bindings lay flatter than others so it is not as big of an issue with those (saddle stitched, smythe sewn, spiral, wire-o, plastic coil, layflat bindings).

The best way to prepare a PDF file for us is to use the instructions in the Downloads section of this website. Once you've followed the instructions and generated a PDF file, you can e-mail it to your salesperson or customer service person for us to check. We will check it over for you and let you know if there are any problems that need to be addressed.

We follow industry standard which is ± 10% of quantity ordered. This allows for manufacturing process.

1 and 2 color web sizes are available in 16's, 24's, 32's, and 48's. For sheet fed text breaks are available in 8's, 16's, 24's, and 32's.

Our spine widths range from 1/8 up to 2-1/4 inches for perfect bound books or book blocks.

Divide the number of pages by two. Multiply this number by the caliper shown below for your selected paper stock. Add the cover thickness for front and back covers. Then add .005 for glue. If laminating then add .0055. The final number needs to be rounded down to the nearest 1/32. Use the decimal equivalent chart below.

PAPER STOCK CALIPERS

Husky Offset    Somerset Gloss   Somerset Matte

50# 0.0039      60# 0.0029         60# 0.0032

60# 0.0045      70# 0.0034         70# 0.0038

70# 0.0053      80# 0.0039         80# 0.0044

 

Glatfelter Natural

50# 0.005

55# 0.0055

 

COVER WEIGHT CALIPERS

8pt 0.008

10pt 0.010

12pt 0.012

 

DECIMAL EQUIVALENTS FOR EACH 1/32

1/32    .03125          11/32  .34375       21/32  .65625      31/32   .96875

2/32    .0625            12/32  .375           22/32  .6875        32/32  1

3/32    .09375          13/32  .40625       23/32  .71875 

4/32    .125              14/32  .4375         24/32  .75

5/32    .15625          15/32  .46875       25/32  .78125

6/32    .1875            16/32  .5               26/32  .8125

7/32    .21875          17/32  .53125       27/32  .84375

8/32    .25                18/32  .5625         28/32  .875

9/32    .28125          19/32  .59375       29/32  .90625

10/32  .3125            20/32  .625           30/32  .9375