Few formats in publishing have stood this test of time while remaining popular and practical, but one such format that has kept its place on the bookshelf is the soft cover book. Self-published or academic publisher, novelist, or casual reader, our soft cover book printing prepare to be dazzled by the affordable print, where paperback never looked better. In this in-depth guide, we’ll take a closer look at soft cover books: everything from their history and how they’re made all the way to their pros, cons, and best use cases.
What Is a Soft Cover Book?
A paperback, softback or softcover book is one with a flexible cover, not a hardcover. These books are commonly bound with perfect binding (glued spine) or saddle-stitch (stapled in the fold for thinner publications).
Soft cover books are everywhere — popular novels, how-to textbooks, self-help books, instruction manuals, catalogs, even cookbooks and children’s stories. They’re light, they’re cheap, and they’re easy to distribute; so they’re a book publishing darling for readers and publishers.
Soft Cover Photo Book
Originally, a leather photo book was a practical product to store photographs in but the modern version is typically not as sturdy as the original while the soft cover photo book is popular. A soft cover photo book is less rigid than a hardcover album, and also lighter and usually more affordable. Its streamlined, minimal form will satisfy those who want a casual, shareable way of presenting their memories. Photobooks to share your personal business—none of the soft, lightweight pages of photo books you put together fast—the beautifully printed gift that fits, even in the mail.
Soft Cover Book Printing
Authors and publishers have many choices when it comes to soft cover book printing. This print-style usually includes perfect binding (the book is glued on the spine) making the cover look clean and professional. An affordable print-on-demand format, soft cover printing is a cost-effective form of soft cover book printing for any print run size — from a handful of copies to the many thousands of copies. DIGITAL SOFT COVER PRINTING You can also have soft cover books produced on our digital presses.
Soft Cover Photo Book Printing
With the development of technology, so many printing options are within anyone’s reach, some soft-cover photo book included, whether you are an amateur photographer or a creative entrepreneur! Vibrant and lasting high quality prints are achieved by using professional photo fij paint with premium, fade resistant inks on semi-gloss or matte finish paper. Favorite among artists, bloggers and travelers, soft cover photo book printing brings a tactile experience of flipping through pages of visual storytelling. These books make great portfolio displays or as personalized friends and family gifts.
Soft Cover Book Protector
Use a soft cover book protector to prolong the life of your paperback. These sturdy, clear sleeves are designed to protect your books and display them beautifully on a shelf or coffee table, or any time you’re on the giant metallic bird in the sky that’s full of diapers and germs. The soft book cover protector provides a cost-effective solution to protect and maintain your books. Great for book lovers and readers, librarians and students of all ages and stages!
History / Evolution of the Soft Cover Book
Hardcover books have been with us for hundreds of years, but what we think of today as the common soft cover book is a 20th century invention. Penguin Books, established in 1935, is widely acknowledged as having been the first to bring the paperback to the UK. They wanted to make good literature available to the masses inexpensively.
This move revolutionized publishing. Readers could suddenly tote classics, thrillers or romance novels without breaking the bank or their back. It wasn’t long before soft cover books became the norm for mass-market sales.
Why Choose a Soft Cover Book?
The utilization of a soft cover book is efficient and cost effective. Here are the reasons that so many authors and publishers prefer the soft cover books to the hard cover editions:
Cost-Effective Production
They are more affordable than hard bound covers, and the covers themselves demand less material and are easier to bind, printing costs can be huge! This is particularly relevant for self-publishers on a budget.
Lightweight and Portable
Soft covers are more practical than hard covers in travel and everyday reading. Their bendability makes them easy to throw into a bag without creating unnecessary bulk.
Faster Turnaround Time
Paperback books are faster to produce than hardcovers, which involve special casing and other processes. For publishers who want to get books out fast, soft covers are perfect.
Wide Retail Distribution
Paperbacks are a lot more convenient to store for bookstores, online sellers, and libraries. Their common size makes them ideal for retail and for mailing.
Great for Promotional Material
Soft covers are great for ARCs, promotion samplers and for giveaways because they are less expensive.
Different Soft Cover Book Binding Styles
All soft cover books were not created equal. Various methods of binding are used according to the thickness, usage and the design of the bound material.
Perfect Binding
- The most popular type of soft cover binding
- Pages are bound to spine with tough, strong glue
- Perfect for novels, self-help books, and all other fiction
Saddle Stitching
- For books of lower page count (typically less than 64 pages)
- Pages are creased and centered within binding edges
- Frequently used in magazines, manuals, and short reports
Spiral or Coil Binding
- The holes are along the edge and a coil pieces through
- Great for workbooks, cookbooks and notebooks
- Enables the book to lie flat when open
There are pros and cons to each binding method, so the best choice really depends on your book’s content, length and purpose.
Designing a Soft Cover Book
Soft cover books design is important with regard to the appearance and practicality. Unlike for hardcovers, where the jacket can be additionally separated out, a softcover must contain all design elements in one big wraparound cover.
Essential Design Elements:
- Front cover: Name of book, author’s name, art, genre signals
- Spine: Title and author or graphic, logo of the publisher if available
- Back Cover: Blurb, barcode, ISBN and endorsements/reviews
Professional design software such as Adobe InDesign, or Canva (for beginners) would be great in formatting your book. Always work with CMYK colour profile for printings and with high-resolution images for clarity.
Soft Cover Book Printing Options
Printing a soft cover book? There are two primary soft cover printing methods:
Offset Printing
- Ideal for large production runs (500 plus)
- Decrease in unit costs with higher volumes
- Higher to set up, but amazing quality
Print on Demand (POD)
- Perfect for self-publishers looking for quantity 500 or less, and wanting it fast
- No inventory up front—books are printed as orders are placed
- Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, and Blurb are some companies that provide POD services
POD has transformed publishing, and allowed writers control of their stock and promotion.
Wondering about Soft Cover vs. Hard Cover Books
| Feature | Soft Cover Book | Hard Cover Book |
| Cost | Lower | Higher |
| Weight | Lightweight | Heavier |
| Durability | Less durable | More durable |
| Production Time | Shorter | Longer |
| Reader Appeal | Casual, everyday reading | Premium, collectible editions |
| Common Uses | Fiction, non-fiction, textbooks | Coffee table books, special releases |
Ideal Uses for Soft Cover Books
Who soft cover books are best for:
- Novels and Memoirs
- Self-Published Works
- Educational Texts and Workbooks
- Children’s Early Readers
- Religious and Inspirational Titles
- Conference Materials
- Marketing and Business Manuals
- Journals and Logbooks
Due to the fact soft covers are less expensive to produce, they are also ideal for giveaway in bulk and educational purposes.
Environmental Considerations
A number of publishers are going ‘green’ in their soft cover book production. Recycled paper, soy inks and digital print-on-demand work to minimize waste and carbon footprints.
Selecting sustainable media does not only attract eco-friendly consumers of your materials, but your publishing reflects the environmental standards of today.
Airhostess Publications How-To: Self Publish (a Soft Cover) Book
So if you are also gearing for the self-publishing of a soft cover book, here are a few tips:
- For an editor worth their salt, look here: You may have a soft cover, but you want a polished product.
- Have a Beautiful Cover: People really do judge books by their covers.
- Pick the Right Size: 5” x 8” or 6” x 9” are typical for fiction.
- Price the Book to Sell: Check similar titles in your genre.
- Publish Widely: Utilize such avenues as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and IngramSpark.
FAQs About Soft Cover Books
Q: What is the distinction between a soft cover and a paperback book?
A: There’s no major difference. “Soft cover” and “paperback” are treated as synonyms a lot of the time. Some may refer to spiral-bound or wire type of binding but to many, it may be called “soft cover”.
Q: How durable are soft cover books compared with hardbacks?
A: They are generally not as strong since they can bend more. But with a little TLC, soft cover books can have a long life.
Q: Can I get a color soft cover book?
A: Absolutely. Interior and covers can be printed in color, but at additional costs.
Q: How long to print soft cover book?
A: It depends on the type of printing – between a few days (POD) to a few weeks (offset printing).
Q: How many pages are there in a soft cover book?
A: Softcovers can be as few as 500 pages (perfect bound), depending on intent and the specific type of softcover binding used.
Q: What is a soft cover book?
A: A softcover book is also known as a paperback book, this is a book with a flexible, not a hard paper or cardstock cover. These novels are easy to handle, less expensive to produce, and widely used for novels, textbooks, manuals and other publications.
Q: How can I cover a soft cover book?
A: A clear plastic soft cover book protector will protect your soft cover book from scratches and spills. You can also store books upright on a shelf, stop folding down corners and use a bookmark instead of creasing pages. For particularly valuable or frequently used books, a padded book sleeve provides additional protection.
Q: What is soft cover book?
A: A soft cover book is one bound with a flexible cover, often made of paper or card stock. These are produced “on demand” using printing technology and are more affordable than hardcovers.
Q: How do you write a soft cover book?
A: Anyone can make a soft cover book with the right software and a bit of patience. You print the pages and cover on paper (use a good paper stock), then bind your book using perfect binding (glue) or saddle stitching (staples). You can do it yourself at home for small projects, or you may use professional soft cover book printing services for a polished output.
Final Thoughts
The soft cover format has been one of the most mutable and adaptable formats in recent publishing history. It’s reader-friendly, publisher-friendly, and wildly accessible. Whether it’s your first novel, educational material in book form, or even promotional and marketing materials, soft cover books do it all.
While we live in an age of digital convenience, there’s still something so personal and lasting about turning the pages of a soft cover book. Now that you know the benefits and uses, you’re ready to take the classic publishing method out for a spin!
