Let's talk about quality releases…
"Have you ever thought why some books give the feeling of a quality edition (the "expensive"), while others feel like a cheap book? Don't laugh, the reader almost always gets that feeling, even if they don't know exactly what makes it quality or cheap...
Imagine, then, that your own work was published as a ... cheap book, thus influencing the opinion of readers about its content. And believe me, it's not that hard to happen. So, in order to protect yourself, below we analyze some of the elements that make up a quality edition, as we mean it in the iWrite editions ateliers..."
Co-Founder & General Manager, iWrite Publications
There are many points that a creative team must pay attention to when working on the publication of a title, i.e. small points that are visible only to the experienced eye of a book designer but which combine to make up a quality result (the search for the "gestalt" as it is usually called between designers).
Below we mention only a small part of these points, which, if heeded, can form the first basis for the subsequent correct and creative development of the process of issuing a title. They are by no means enough, but they can give you a pretty important feel for what goes on inside successful book design ateliers worldwide...
Quality publishing means…
… tasteful and technically correct cover design
... easy-to-read layout for the inside of the book (technically and aesthetically)
… proper balance and placement of image and text
… right choice of paper for restful reading
... binding flexible and at the same time durable
... correct and intelligent design of the spine of the book
... conscious choice of laminating or not laminating the cover
... choice of eye-catching title and smart setting of it
... elements of the publication that make it ideal for promotional photography and an impressive presence on social media and M.M.E.
But let's look at everything in order...
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The secrets of a cover…
“What makes a cover good or bad? Many times we are asked this question, believing that everything is a matter of aesthetics. But the truth, for an experienced book designer, is that a good cover is only 50% aesthetic and 50% technical! It has happened many times to see a cover that could be really beautiful and successful, but in which the colors are not it is correct, it has not been "cut" in the right places, the correct paper or lamination method has not been used, etc.
So all of the above has to do with the correct technical design of a cover - back cover mockup, which can only be done by a professional book designer so that the final book that will be published is the same (or even better) than what we see on the screen of the computer!"
Chief Designer, iWrite Publications Atelier
Layout and enjoyable reading…
Result; Many books today are not pleasant to read, creating irritation in the reader, thus affecting his judgment of the author's writing ability.
But if a project's pagination is done right, it can raise the bar for the entire publication, creating fertile ground for positive reviews of its content! So what does “proper pagination” mean? Choosing a font that is easy to read and ideal for the project, choosing the right contrast between letters and background, choosing the ideal type of paper (so that it does not shine under the sun or from any kind of light source), correct distances of the text from the edges of the page and from the spine of the book and many more..."
Senior Designer, iWrite Publishing Atelier
The point is in the balance…
“Having an image or graphic in a book is, if nothing else, a positive thing, as it can add value to the final book. A simple addition, however, is not enough and if not done correctly it can have the opposite effect. What I mean; When paginating a text, the mistakes you can make are not many. But if you add images next to the text, it's much easier for amateurism to show up where you least expect it. For this reason, the balance between image and text is the A and Z. It is what gives the feeling of quality or, on the other hand, craftsmanship. In addition, it needs special attention to the correct use of black and white or color depending on the book, having sufficient bleed and clear cut points on each page and many more.
Therefore, if you cannot achieve this desired balance and there is no experience in the technical part, then it is better not to use images. On the other hand, if you are able to achieve all of the above, then your book will go up 2-3 levels…”
Senior Designers, iWrite Publications Atelier
The paper quality…
“Have you ever wondered why some books stand the test of time? Why do some peel easily or others leave ink marks on the hands? Why do some people smell bad or others have that enchanting smell of old paper?
The right choice of paper is a fundamental part of every edition and unfortunately in Greece it is not treated as it should be. For the most part, the choice of paper in publishing is based on availability and most of all… price. And the latter becomes particularly important if we consider that today the market is flooded with low-quality paper from Asian countries.
Any self-respecting publishing team, as we like to believe at iWrite, should give due consideration to this option. Personally, when we are asked to choose, our demands are high. Thus, we use almost exclusively Italian origin paper, from recyclable forests, in an ideal weight (from 85 to 170 grams for the interior), with the right texture to avoid polishing under any kind of light source and much more. Look for our books and you will know the difference…”
Co-Founder & General Manager, iWrite Publications
Bookbinding, flexible and durable…
"Being unrepentant bookworms, thousands of books have passed through our hands. Many of them did not withstand the passage of time, while on the other hand we also encountered books that were extremely durable but at the same time... unread! What I mean; Many times, in trying to make a book stand the test of time, the publisher makes the mistake of using very hard binding making it impossible to turn the pages of a book. At the other extreme, for reasons of flexibility or mainly economy, the pages of many titles often peel off after a few days.
It's all about balance, once again. In our editions, we have managed to create a special glue alloy, so that it is both durable, but also that the book does not lose its flexibility. The checks carried out on the books that come out of our printing units are permanent, thus ensuring an even result in all our publications!”
Quality Control of Books, iWrite Publications
A book should stand out everywhere…
“Almost always, we spend too much time on the cover, forgetting equally important small details. What do I want to say? Think about this… in a bookstore, how will your book be housed most of the time? Clearly, he will be in a prominent position for some time, hopefully for several months, but in the long run where do you think he will be? On the shelves of course, next to other books. So will its cover be seen? Of course not, but his back will be visible!
And a properly designed spine can set your work apart from the rest of a bookstore. All that is needed is a creative spirit, knowledge of the psychology of colors and experience in the publishing field. And in iWrite all this is abundant…”
Chief Designer, iWrite Publications Atelier
Book and promotion…
"Many may not know this, but certain books are ideal for a thematic photo shoot or interview, for a TV presentation or online reference. That is, they have the ability to lead to impressive images in a short time, making the life of journalists or people who want to promote our work easy and pleasant.
And I don't just mean the content... I'm talking about how the cover was designed, what paper was used (so it "writes on glass"), what colors were chosen, etc. There are many things that a publishing team has to keep in mind for their books to be ideal, when we talk about promoting them on the Internet, in print and on TV. And at iWrite, all of the above is now our property…”
Public Relations Manager, iWrite Publications
