Use this guide to choose a binding, prepare your PDF, understand bleed, and select the right paper for your project.
Choose the finish that fits the page count and how the book will be used.
Sheets are folded in half and fastened with two staples through the fold. It is the most economical and fastest booklet binding.
Interior pages are gathered and glued into a wraparound cover, producing a clean square spine similar to a paperback book.
Pages are punched along one edge and held together with a durable plastic coil.
Booklet Boss accepts PDF artwork only for booklet orders.
Upload one complete, print-ready PDF. Do not upload separate page files, reader spreads, or native design files.
Supply pages in normal reading order: front cover first, back cover last. Our production workflow handles imposition.
Saddle-stitched booklet page counts must be divisible by four, including the cover. Examples: 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 pages.
Use 300 dpi images at their final printed size whenever possible. Enlarging small web images can make them appear soft or pixelated.
CMYK artwork is preferred. RGB files can be printed, but bright screen colors may shift when converted for print.
Export the final PDF with fonts embedded. Outlining specialty fonts before export is another safe option.
These three areas determine what prints to the edge and what stays safely inside the finished page.
Bleed is extra artwork extending beyond the final trim edge. It gives the cutter room to trim the booklet without leaving an unwanted white edge.
Standard bleed: ⅛ inch (0.125") on all four sides.
For an 8.5 × 11 finished page, a standard full-bleed PDF page is typically 8.75 × 11.25 inches. Printer marks may make the overall PDF larger; our preflight looks for the PDF trim and bleed boxes before judging the outside page size.
Keep important text, logos, page numbers, and critical images at least ¼ inch inside the trim edge. More space is wise near the binding edge.
Text stocks are used for interior pages. Cover stocks are thicker and add durability.
Lightweight, economical, and easy to write on. A practical choice for manuals, instructions, forms, and information-heavy booklets.
A little more substantial than 60#. It remains easy to write on while giving handbooks and manuals a more refined feel.
A smooth coated stock that makes photographs and color graphics look bright and crisp. A popular catalog and marketing choice.
Heavier and more substantial than 80# gloss. Ideal for premium catalogs, portfolios, and image-rich publications.
A smooth, low-glare coated stock. It offers strong color reproduction with a softer, more understated finish than gloss.
A premium, heavier silk text with excellent opacity and a refined feel. Well suited to corporate and high-end editorial work.
A durable coated cover with a bright gloss finish. Good color, moderate stiffness, and a cost-conscious professional look.
A sturdier gloss cover for catalogs and booklets that need more body and durability.
A thick, non-gloss cover that is easy to write or stamp on. Excellent for workbooks, manuals, and understated designs.
A smooth satin-style cover with lower glare than gloss. It feels polished without looking overly shiny.
A substantial premium cover with rich color, smooth feel, and a sophisticated low-glare finish.
Heavy cardstock coated on both sides. It provides the firmest, postcard-like cover feel in the standard Booklet Boss selection.
Send us your question, artwork concern, or project details. We will help you choose the right setup.