Book Design & Typesetting

Choose the right trim size and page design

Trim size is a marketing decision as much as a design one. We compare the common KDP and IngramSpark sizes, when to pick 5×8 versus 6×9, how spine width scales with page count, and how the choice shapes typography, margins, and perceived value on the shelf. Get this right early and every downstream layout decision becomes easier.

Typography that respects the reader

Readable body text is invisible — and much harder to achieve than it looks. These posts cover font pairing for fiction and non-fiction, ideal measure and leading, hyphenation and justification, chapter openers, drop caps, running heads, and the small details like true small caps and old-style figures that quietly signal quality on every spread.

Interior layout for fiction, non-fiction, and picture books

Different genres need different rulebooks. A literary novel wants generous margins and a single restrained display face. A business book needs pull quotes, sidebars, and a clear heading hierarchy. A picture book demands full-bleed art and gutter-aware composition. We show you the conventions readers expect for each, and where breaking them is genuinely worth it.

Ship print-ready files without last-minute panic

PDF/X, embedded fonts, correct bleed, colour space, and a proof copy in your hands before you hit publish — these are the boring steps that stop returns and one-star reviews. Our checklists walk you through the KDP and IngramSpark requirements so your first proof arrives right, not almost right.

Frequently asked questions