While they may seem similar enough on the surface, cheap book printing and book printing for cheap contain a world of differences between them. You shouldn’t have to compromise on quality book printing, no matter your budget, and so below we take a look at some of the ways in which you can bring down the costs of your book printing without bringing down the quality of the final product.

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What Is Cheap Book Printing?

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In short, cheap book printing is exactly what it sounds like - book printing done at a low cost and with low quality. Some book printers are able to print projects cheaply because of the corners they cut and the shortcuts they make. Without stringent measures and top-tier quality control, printing work is rushed and lacks the appropriate attention paid to the publication, meaning that you end up with a finished product that doesn’t actually feel finished at all.

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When a cheap book printer rushes your work, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll receive your work quickly, either. With many Australian printers actually printing your work at printers based overseas, it can take long periods of time before you even receive the final publication. Sometimes, this might be the only version of your work that you do receive, with no samples, proofs or questions answered along the way. For self-published authors and indie writers, proofs are an especially important step in the book printing process. Without a printed proof, you could be ordering hundreds of copies of your book with none of them looking like how you imagined they would. 

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So, What Is Book Printing For Cheap?

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On the other hand, book printing for cheap is what you’ll be looking for if your budget is small but your project is hugely important - as all projects are! Book printing for cheap is all about printing your book at an affordable price, but with top-notch quality.

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One way that your book printer can work alongside you to ensure your project is printed with the highest quality at the lowest price is by seeking out a book printer local to you. At Foliofox, we print all of our books and publications right here in Melbourne, with a helpful team on hand to answer any questions you might have along the way. This makes the journey of bringing your book to life a seamless task, as you know your book won’t have to travel far to make it into your hands. Plus, we provide proofs for you to have a look over before we send your order to print, so we can make sure together that your work of art is going to look exactly the way you intended it to before we hit print.

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How Can I Print A Quality Book For Cheap?

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Printing a great book at a low cost doesn’t have to mean you sacrifice all the nice bits you were envisaging your final product with. There are plenty of ways to substitute paper, binding and cover materials to bring down the price of your book printing job. 

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Comparing paper types

Selecting an affordable type of paper to print your book on is a key way to bring down the costs of the overall job. We offer a wide range of paper types - from gloss and silk (or satin) to uncoated and premium uncoated - each with their own sub-type - like gloss HD, standard silk, recycled uncoated and creamy bookpaper. To keep your book printing affordable, you could consider opting for standard uncoated paper, our most versatile and economical paper stock that offers both incredible smoothness and great durability - perfect for a standard book. 

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Alternatively, if you’re interested in printing your project with a little more luxury in mind, instead of going for something on the most premium end of the spectrum - like from our premium uncoated range - you could consider selecting something more affordable but that still holds that elegant feel - like our standard silk paper with a matt laminated finish.

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Comparing binding methods

There are a few binding methods that you can consider, however these will vary from project to project, depending on what you’re printing. While saddle stitch is the cheapest binding method, it works best when applied to booklets, magazines, programs and shorter publications that are usually up to about 64 pages. If your book fits into any of these types of categories, saddle stitch will be your most affordable option. 

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Next, we have spiral (or coil) binding, great for books that need to lay completely flat when opened. This binding method suits things like workbooks, planners and calendars best, so you probably wouldn’t opt for spiral binding if you’re printing a novel. 

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You’ll find that perfect binding (PUR binding) is the go-to choice for novels and other softcover books. This versatile binding type is the ideal choice for all kinds of books that are thicker than a magazine, providing durability and longevity thanks to the high-strength binding adhesive we use (PUR). Plus, it’s still relatively low-cost, so you won’t have to fork out much to achieve the highest quality in your book binding choice.

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Hardcover vs softcover

It’s no secret that when it comes to choosing a more affordable option between printing your book with a hardcover or softcover, a softcover will always be the cheapest option. We understand, though, that hardcovers play an important role in a book’s existence, whether it’s marking a special edition, wrapping up a bundle of memories with a cover that says ‘luxury’, or providing the tangible feel of something elegant in your hands. A way to appease both your wallet and your aesthetic desires is considering printing a large proportion of your book run with a softcover, and then a select number of books with a hardcover. This way, your hardcover edition will be even more valuable thanks to its exclusivity.

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Ultimately, high-quality book printing doesn’t have to be high-cost. By considering the ways in which you can bring down the price of your printed book without compromising on the look, feel or quality of the work, you can meet your budget comfortably while achieving the best version of your printed work. 

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To learn more about our affordable book printing services, get in touch with our team today. We're here to help you navigate the evolving world of book printing with confidence.