The hardcover weight combined with a removable dust jacket can make this design more suited to books that are not subject to constant, rugged use (a dust jacket on a kids book is bound to go its separate way). LIMITATIONS:There is no option to emboss or print on the linen book covers underneath the dust jacket, but your local bindery or print shop might be able to do this for you. Publishing houses often release first edition fiction, nonfiction, and some poetry books in hardcover with dust jackets (followed by a softcover edition six months to a year later). Some authors choose this traditional design for novels, essays, or cookbooks while others may reserve it for high-profile art and photography books, keepsake projects, or limited editions. As with ImageWrap hardcovers, you get a choice of end sheet* colors (2 color options for trade books, 5 color options for perfect-bound photo books).īENEFITS: If you’re going for a luxurious look and feel, dust jacket flaps over classic linen book covers add instant prestige. THE BASICS:This type of book cover features a full-color, glossy dust jacket with flaps that wrap around your linen hardcover book (slate-grey linen for trade books, and a choice of black, oatmeal, or charcoal linen for photo books.) Images and text can be printed on the front, back, and spine of the dust jacket. (If you plan to order more than 300 copies of your book, we offer custom book options which may include printing on the inside of your cover.) 03 Hardcover with Dust Jacket *What are end sheets? How can they be used?Įnd sheets are the pieces of paper glued to the inside of your hardcover book, lining the front and back cover. But being heavy is ok for books that tend to stay at home (reference guides, cookbooks, yearbooks, coffee table books).

Hardcover books are heftier and can be a bit trickier to transport (unless they’re slim). If you’re making a Layflat Photo Book, ImageWrap is the only cover type available.

LIMITATIONS: What you see is what you get-as in, no cover flaps. For the higher printing cost, you get lasting durability (think: children’s books, cookbooks) and more of a high-end feel (perfect for keepsake albums, or photography, art, and design books). You also get a choice of end sheet colors, depending on your book format (2 color options for trade books, 5 color options for perfect-bound photo books).īENEFITS: It’s a sturdy, stand-alone book design that looks great on display and stands up to heavy use. Your cover image will be printed directly on the front and back cover and spine. THE BASICS: Our ImageWrap hardcover books feature a durable matte finish and library binding, as well as end sheets*. No surprise here: With heavy use, softcover books are more susceptible to visible wear and tear than hardcover. (If you’re making a magazine, you can print on the inside front and back covers, as well as on the outside front and back covers.) Softcover is also not available for Blurb’s large-format photo books or Layflat books. LIMITATIONS: The softcover design is fairly simple-no cover flaps or end sheets*. Many authors and publishers choose softcover designs for novels, poetry, memoirs, short stories or essays, travel guides, comics/graphic novels, literary journals, how-to guides, and art and business catalogs. Softcover books are also lightweight, accessible, and portable, making them perfect for the everyday commuter, long-distance traveler, and bedtime reader. If you’re printing a trade book, the softcover option gives you the lowest cost per copy. You know those paperbacks you love to read (and reread) and carry around in your bag because they’re easy to handle? Yep, classic softcover books.īENEFITS: It’s a popular, versatile, and economical way to print photo books and trade books.

You can print on the front, back, and spine of the book. THE BASICS: Our softcover books feature a flexible, high-gloss laminated cover and durable library binding. Let’s take a closer look at the 3 different types of book covers available at Blurb so you can find the right fit for your project.

Just think about some of your favorite books (better yet, grab one off the shelf!), and consider how the size, shape, texture, and weight of each one contributes to the book’s personality.Ĭhances are, your choice of book cover will be based on more than one thing: personal style and aesthetic, durability, cost, page length, the book’s purpose and audience, and the kind of reading experience you hope to create. The type of book cover you choose-softcover or hardcover-also plays a big part in the overall look and feel of your publication. When you’re self-publishing a book, there are lots of exciting design choices to make, from selecting a book format, size, and paper type to creating unique page layouts.

Glossy black book cover