Hardback Templates and Cover Design
Hardback / PPC
When it comes to designing/laying out your Printed Paper Case (PPC) hardback cover there are a few things you need to know that will help you understand the diagram on the right. With the information below we are basing the measurements as if we were creating a PPC hardback for an A5 (210x 148mm) book with an 18mm spine.
Firstly, you need to know the height and width of the boards. The height of the boards will be 216mm (an overhang of 3mm over the text) and the width will be 148mm. The 8mm hinge that you see on the diagram is the space between the spine board and cover board. This needs to be considered when designing your cover. We suggest that the front and back design is centred from the edge of the boards rather than from the spine. But this is entirely your choice.
Now with a PPC hardback, we require a 20mm bleed. This may seem quite extensive but we need to make sure we have enough cover to wrap around the boards. Please make sure that no important elements are in this area.
The measurements
20 + 148 + 8 + 18 + 8 + 148 + 20 = 370 (width of PPC hardback)
bleed + board width + hinge + spine + board width + hinge + bleed = width
20 + 216 + 20 = 256 (height of PPC hardback)
bleed + board height + bleed = height
*Click the image below to enlarge
Dustjacket Cover Design
With the information below we are basing the measurements as if we were creating a dustjacket for an A5 (210mm x 148mm) hardback with an 18mm spine.
Firstly, you need to know the finished height of the hardback cover will be slightly bigger than the actual size of your book (the boards need to be bigger than the text). Height wise, you add 6mm which means it would be 216mm. Then with the board width, you add 8mm meaning the width would be 156mm.
You also need to decide on how big/wide you would like the flaps/gatefold. For these, we usually suggest a minimum width of half the book size, so ours would measure 74mm.
Now you must remember the 3mm bleed we require around all edges of the dustjacket.
One more thing to know is that we require a minimum of a 5mm wraparound on the edge of your front and back cover design to make sure that the design has a neat finish and look.
The measurements
3 + 78 + 5 + 156 + 18 + 156 + 5 + 78 + 3 = 502 (width of our dustjacket)
Bleed + flap + wraparound + board width + spine + board width + wraparound + flap + bleed = width
3 + 216 + 3 = 222 (height of our dustjacket)
bleed + board height + bleed= height
*Click the image below to enlarge
