How to Print a Children Book: The Complete Guide for Self-Published Authors
You have written the story. Now, what’s next? For the first author, the path from the finished manuscript to the illustration book can feel exciting but also confusing. Many questions come into mind. Who is responsible for the illustration? How much does it cost? What size should it be? How do I find a trusted printer?
We have helped thousands of self-publishers around the world print books. That’s why we know where to stumble. So, in this guide, we will carefully explain the whole process in easy-to-understand words.
Step 1: Find the Right Illustrator First
Before thinking about printing, first you need an illustration. And finding the right illustrator is one of the most important decisions.
You can also find talented freelance illustrators on platforms like Behance, Fiverr Pro and Reedsy. When searching for a work, focus on style and art materials. Watercolor paintings have a dream-like atmosphere. Digital art is clean and powerful. Pencils and ink paintings have a classic appeal. Visit the local library to see what’s catching your eyes on children’s books. The style of the illustrator should be in harmony with the atmosphere of the story.
How much it costs depends on the experience of the illustrator and the complexity of the work. The 32-page picture book usually requires about 20 illustrations. The price is generally between $650 and $980 per book, and between $3,000 and $12,000 per picture book. Experienced illustrators have higher rates, but they are usually worth it.
Step 2: Get the Contract Right
After finding the illustrator, don’t skip the contract. Because it protects both sides. The contract must clearly state the project schedule, payment time, limitation of the number of revisions, and the response if either of them fails to meet the deadline. You should also specify the copyright. In many self-publishing agreements, the author pays a flat fee and the copyright transfers to the author when the payment is completed.
Illustrators may reserve the right to post their work in their portfolio. In addition, when the illustration is used for the product at a later date, the royalty clause is generally established. Documenting these before starting work can greatly prevent later troubles.
Step 3: Work Closely With Your Illustrator
Good illustrations don’t happen in isolation. They are the result of a conversation between you and the illustrator.
The illustrator thinks in “picture” and you think in “words.” The difference can be misleading. So let’s tell you as concretely as possible. Instead of saying, “I don’t like this,” you can say “I feel that the expression of the character on page 8 is too firm. Can we make her be more surprised? “These types of specific feedback will help illustrators draw up exactly what you want.
In the case of a standard 32-page picture book, remember that it takes 3-6 months to produce an illustration. If there is a strict delivery time, let’s take it into account at an early stage. Rushing an illustrator usually leads to an increase in costs and results tend to be bad.
Also, decide in advance the arrangement of illustrations and sentences. Is it placed under each illustration or is it incorporated into the illustration? This affects the file configuration for printing. It is easier to plan now than to fix it later.
Step 4: Prepare Your Files for Print
Many authors tend to make mistakes in this step, but this can be completely prevented. Make sure the file color mode is CMYK, not RGB. RGB is used for screen display, but CMYK is used for printing. When you submit an RGB file, the colors are very different in the finished book. Also, set the image resolution to 300 DPI or more. If it is lower, it will be blurred when printing.
Add a 3mm bleed to all four sides of the artwork. This margin prevents the white edge from remaining after trimming. We have a free template that you can do this easily. Contact us and we will send you the appropriate setting according to the size of the book you selected. Check all files before printing. If there is any defect, we will contact you before printing one page.
Step 5: Choose Your Book Format and Size
Well, from here is the fun part. It is the stage to decide what kind of look and feel the book actually takes.
Hardcover is the most popular choice in children’s illustration books. It gives a professional impression, is durable, and has a luxury feeling in the hands of children. By applying foil stamping, embossing, matte finishing, etc., the cover can be further distinguished.
Board books are the best choice for babies and toddlers. The page is made of thick cardboard, so it does not break or break. The board book is printed in A4, A5 and A6 sizes using 300-350 GSM C1S paper. Safe, durable and very popular with children.
Perfect binding (soft cover) is suitable for books with many pages. Reliable and affordable. Saddle stitch binding is suitable for short books with a small number of pages. Both have a clean and professional finish.
For sizes, portrait (210 × 297mm), square (150 × 150mm or 8 ′ ′ × 8 ′ ′), and landscape that can post spacious illustrations with open view is common. What size is best for your story? If you tell us the contents of the book, we will propose the optimal size.
Step 6: Pick Your Paper and Finishing Options
The paper you choose affects the finish of the illustration and the texture of the book.
We recommend 128-200 GSM of art paper for this paper. The color is beautiful and not too heavy. 250-350 GSM C1S are standard on the cover. It is durable and suitable for finishing. We use eco-friendly soya based ink, and FSC certified paper is also available, so it is safe for children, and it is finished in a book that is friendly to the environment.
You can choose from glossy laminate (vivid and glossy finish), matte laminate (soft and luxurious finish), spot UV (gloss part of the cover), or foil stamping that gives metallic effect to the title or illustration. These fine ideas make a big difference when books are lined up on the bookshelves.
Step 7: Get a Sample, Then Print
Before entering the full production of your order, we will produce a real or digital proofreading to obtain your approval. So you can check the color, book binding, thickness of paper, etc. When the customer is satisfied, we will move to full-scale production for the first time.
This process is more important than many people think. Most of the printing problems are found when the author omits proofreading, rather than found in a printing office. Never skip the proof.
After approval, production takes 8-13 business days. We ship door-to-door to the United States, UK, Canada, Australia, and Middle East and all over the world. There is no need to arrange customs clearance or shipping. We will handle it all for you.
Why Self-Publishers Choose Us
Since 2002, we have been printing books in Shenzhen, China. Printing in China can achieve the same or higher quality as local printing companies at a small cost. The authors often say that they paid three to four times the cost for printing the same finish before finding us.
Each order includes all of the following services: Free file check, free proofreading before mass printing, short delivery, vivid offset printing quality, eco-friendly materials, and direct delivery to your home anywhere in the world. We are trusted by more than 10,000 authors and publishers. We would like to help you.