What are paper weights and what should I choose?
Trade Paperback and many hardback books are printed on 50#, 55# or 60# paper. This refers to the thickness, with 60# being a heavier paper. 50# is an acceptable industry standard and doesn’t make the book too heavy; 60# can drive a 200 page book over 1 lbs.making it more expensive to ship (see explanation). Back to Top What Cover Stock should I use? Cover stock is usually offered in 10 or 12 pt. 10 pt is perfectly acceptable and, with lay-flat lamination, looks very good. When spec-ing a cover with lamination, this is expressed in an RFQ as C1S (Coat 1 Side). While a 12 pt cover is thicker (and many people think thicker is better), again, this contributes to the weight of the book, making it costlier to ship (see explanation). Hardcover dust jackets are usually 10 pt. Back to Top Which is better, off-white or white paper? For paperback white is preferable. Hardcover is a matter of choice. Many novels use off-white. Beagle Bay, Inc can help you decide on paper types, weights and cover t
