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What are your standard turn-around times?
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.
What are your standard trim sizes?
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.
What is your minimum print run?
500 of any bind style.
What binding options are available?
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.
Do you do all your binding in-house?
Yes. It allows us better quality control, faster turn around and a lower final price.
What are your standard payment terms?
Generally, first-time customers are set up with 50% down
and balance before shipping.
Is my book an economical "fit" for Bang Printing?
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.
Will you do drop shipments?
Yes. We will drop ship for a minimal number of drop shipments. There is a shipping and handling
charge associated with it.
What cover options do I have?
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.
What type of electronic files do you accept?
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.
Do you have a FTP site I can download/upload large files to?
We have a FTP site located at ftp.bangprinting.com. You may contact your Customer
Service Representative to receive a user name and password.
Where can I get information for the copyright page of my book?
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.
Where do I go to get an ISBN number for my book?
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.
Once I've obtained my ISBN number, where do I get a bar code?
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.
What is "bleed" and how do I set up my files to account for it?
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.)
Can you provide a layout showing the dimensions of my dust jacket or case bound cover?
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.
How wide should my margins be?
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).
How do I know if the PDF file that I've created will work for Bang Printing?
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.
What is your policy on overs and unders?
We follow industry standard which is
± 10% of quantity
ordered. This allows for manufacturing process.
What are the signature breaks?
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.
What is the minimum and maximum spine width?
Our spine widths range from 1/8 up to 2-1/4 inches for
perfect bound books or book blocks.
How do I figure spine thickness on perfect bound books?
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
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