Hardcovers for books are printed on heavy paper with a protective dust jacket. There are many ways to make a hardcover for a book. You can use two pieces of cardboard or a thin foam core for the cover. However, you should know that the process is more complicated than making a soft paperback cover. The process requires a lot of time and money to complete.
Most hardcover books are made with an adhesive case wrap, but there are other techniques for making a hardcover. The first step is to determine how thick the paper is. This depends on the genre of the book and the length of the pages. For longer novels, it is best to use opaque paper stock. If you are printing a photo book, you may want to use a gloss paper.
Next, you will need to design your hardcover. You can do this using the IngramSpark platform, which is the largest printing company in the United States. They have a pricing calculator, which will allow you to see how much your hardcover will cost. It also prompts you to enter the price of your book. After completing this, you will upload your manuscript and cover artwork.
Alternatively, you can create a hardcover by gluing the spine of a paperback into the front of a new cover. Doing this requires a special type of glue. Fortunately, there are several easy methods to paste the spine of a book. To get the best results, start by preparing the spine and the cover.
Depending on how you’ve designed your book, you might need to make an extra sheet of paper. When you have this in place, you can start pasting the edges of the book. Make sure you have a clean cloth nearby to wipe away any excess glue.
Once the spine is glued, you should place the cover inside the book. You should leave space on the top and bottom of the spine so that the spine can bend when the book is open. A thin layer of PVA glue should hold the spine in place. Leave the book for at least four to six hours to allow the glue to dry.
Next, you will need to prepare the inner covers. This includes the pages that will be glued inside the cover. Normally, this is done with the help of an endsheet. Some authors opt to add blank pages to the front and back of the book.
Lastly, you will need to choose a type of binding for your book. This is different than binding a paperback, which only requires a binding tape. For a harder cover, you should have the pages trimmed to be slightly smaller than the book.
For your hardcover, you should consider adding a glossy dust jacket. This protects the underlying cover and is usually a decorative piece. Many reviews are placed on the back of the jacket. Depending on the design of your book, you can also add a decorative headband.
