Working with Edition One Books
By the time we're printing your book, the hardest part is well past over. Whether you're penning your first novel, your last thesis, or editing a photo documentary, content creation and organization is the real work of book making. We're here to manufacture your books properly. Once you send us your files, we will work hard to make your project beautifully.
File creation - Your job (or your designer's)
Edition One Books does not lock you into preset formats. Your book can be any format you want within our minimum and maximum sizes: Spine Height can be from 4" - 12", and Book Width From 4" - 14". We build and decorate your covers to order, and nothing is 'off the shelf'.
Offering this type of truly custom product prevents us from automating the production of your book, and so we've chosen not to offer the type of book template software that is common with other online book companies. We've tried that software, and we think it is cumbersome and limiting.
In order for us to print your book, we need a multi-page docment. In most cases this will be a PDF file created with a page layout application or word processor. The most common applications are Adobe InDesign for art and photo books, and Microsoft Word for text based books. Other perfectly adequate options include Adobe Photoshop, Quark, Apple's Pages & iPhoto, and Apple's Aperture. How you create your PDF is not too important.
Get started - Free test prints
We are happy to offer complimentary test prints to anyone who requests them (via email.) We can also send a swatchbook including our stock materials with your prints. In order for us to make this offer, we have to be strict about the type of files sent:
Free Test Prints: up to 10 pages, page size of 10" x 8" , must be PDF.
For more info on PDF creation, please see our Downloads and Support page.
Planning your book - Choose your options
The cover type you choose does not affect your contents file preparation. Both soft and hardcover books are printed the same way and on the same paper. The only difference is the cover and decoration options. Use the following chart to focus your project:
A basic hardcover book would be bound with your choice of cloth color. You are welcome to add any or all of the decoration options listed above. For foil stamping, you will send us EPS, PDF, or Illustrator files with your logo or text in black on a white background. Inset images will require a simple image file adjusted to size - i.e. TIFF or JPEG. Dust Jackets are a bit more complicated. We will work with you to figure out the right dimensions for your book.
Getting it together - What to send in
All Books: You send us your contents in PDF format. This is one multi-page PDF set up with our specifications (see our downloads and support page.)
Softcover Books: In addition to the contents file, we need a separate cover file. This will be a different dimension than your page size - we will work with you to set up this file.
Hardcover Books: Only the content file is needed. Other files are needed for options below.
Foil Stamping: We have metal dies made for stamping your books. We need your text or logo sent to us as a simple black on white graphic file. EPS, PDF, and Illustrator files are acceptable.
Inset Image: This is really easy. You just size an image file for the inset on the cover, then send it to us. TIFF or JPEG is fine.
Communications and Transactions - There's no shopping cart
You'll find our contact information on our contacts page. Each book project we work on is different, and each requires individual attention. We don't have a shopping cart on our website or online checkout because those things are not compatible with our truly custom products.
In order to get started with us, please send us an email or give us a call. We're going to ask you what you're looking to make, and then offer some test prints and guidance as needed. Once we've established what we'll be making for you, we will email you an invoice. We accept checks, cash, and all major credit cards. International orders are welcome.
ED1 02/5/10