Preparing your project for printing.
What is Typesetting?
Generally speaking, typesetting is the process of converting your text into a professional-looking PDF that you can use for printing. All major print-on-demand (POD) services, such as Amazon KDP, accept formatted PDFs. Typesetting is often underestimated, and it’s easy to understand why: if it is done well, you don’t notice it at all. It’s like a good paint job in your living room. If a friend comes over and comments about anything but the color…it’s probably not a good sign.
Here’s what we will do in typesetting:
- Determine the best trim size (physical dimensions of the book)
- Set appropriate margins
- Style chapter titles
- Choose a fitting font and font size
- Style drop caps (if requested)
- Add fleurons (fancy scene breaks)
- Make sure pages don’t break in awkward places
- Set word spacing for optimal readability
- Style the headers, footers, and page numbers
- Format the front matter (copyright page, dedication, etc.)
After typesetting, you may want to have your book proofread as a final, final pass before publishing.
The end result of the process will be:
- a PDF, designed to meet the guidelines of all major printing companies and
- a fully formatted ebook, ready for online distribution.
How Much Does Typesetting Cost?
The typical cost is $250 plus $3 per 1,000 words. If you have a lot of images, tables, etc., please get in touch for an exact quote.
