Durability
Greyboard and a sewn block take thousands of openings. The book lasts for generations without falling apart into sections.
PRODUCTS · HARDCOVER
Hardcover book printing.
Sewn book block, greyboard, case-making and finishing — we produce luxury editions, photo books, monographs and children's books at our printing house at 7 Heidelberg Street in Sofia. Runs from 100 to 50,000 copies, delivery across Bulgaria and the EU.
- Sewn block · thread
- Flat or rounded spine
- Heidelberg · FOGRA39
- Quote within 60 min
01 WHY HARDCOVER
An edition that stays on the shelf.
A hardcover turns a print run into an object with weight and value. It protects the block for decades, opens without breaking the spine, and signals quality before it is even opened — which is why it is the standard for luxury and collectible editions.
Perceived value
Weight, bulk and finish that justify a higher cover price and make the edition worth giving as a gift.
Creative freedom
Cloth, paper, foil, embossing, gilt edges, ribbon and endpapers — the cover becomes part of the message.
02 ANATOMY
What a hardcover is made of.
A hardcover is an assembly of several parts. Understanding them helps you pick the right materials at the prepress stage and get an accurate quote.
BLOCK
Sewn book block
Signatures are sewn with thread, then glued into a block. Unlike plain perfect binding, a sewn block lets the book open almost flat (lay-flat) and gives far greater mechanical strength — essential for albums and high page counts.
DETAILS
Headband and ribbon
The headband is the decorative band at the top and bottom of the spine — recommended above a 10 mm spine. The ribbon marker is sewn into the spine and can be any colour you choose. Small details that signal high-end craftsmanship.
SPINE
Flat and rounded spine
A flat spine is the standard and handles the full thickness range — we make it for blocks up to around 40–45 mm. A rounded spine spreads the stress when opened and gives a classic look; it is an aesthetic choice, not a requirement. The choice depends on the character of the edition.
LUXURY
Gilt edges and foil
The block edges can be gilded or coloured, and the spine and boards can carry raised hot-foil stamping. This is the finish for anniversary, presentation and collector editions that turns a book into an object.
Endpapers
The leaves (4+4 pp.) that join the block to the boards. White, coloured or printed — often carrying a map, pattern or dedication.
Greyboard
The board of the cover, usually 2–3 mm. It sets the rigidity and weight; thicker board makes the edition feel more substantial.
Cover materials
Boards are covered in paper + lamination or in bookbinding cloth — depending on budget and feel.
Foam padding
A thin layer of foam under the covering for a soft, padded touch. A favourite for children's books, journals and gift editions.
03 FINISHING
The finish you can feel.
Hot-foil stamping
Gold, silver, copper, coloured or holographic foil on the board, spine or jacket — for a logo, title or accent.
Embossing and debossing
Raised or recessed blind/foiled relief that adds tactile depth to titles and emblems.
Spot UV varnish
Gloss varnish only on chosen elements of a matte board — a matte/gloss contrast with no extra colour.
Lamination
Matte, gloss or soft-touch lamination that protects the board and defines how it feels.
Gilt edges
Gold, silver or coloured block edges — a classic finish for luxury and anniversary editions.
Jacket and slipcase
A removable jacket with flaps or a protective slipcase for box sets and collector runs.
04 SPECIFICATIONS
Typical brief and files.
Typical brief
Format170×240 · 210×297 · 290×320
Extent24 – 512 pp.
Text paperoffset / matte / gloss 90–170 g/m²
Coverboard 2–3 mm · paper / bookbinding cloth
Spineflat or rounded
Bindingsewn block (thread)
Run100 – 50,000
Print files
FormatPDF · PDF/X-4
Resolutionmin. 300 dpi
Colour modelCMYK
ProfileCoatedFogra39 / ISOcoated_V2
Bleed5 mm
Fontsembedded or outlined
Full prepress requirements Indicative pricing
From≈ €500100 copies · A5 · 24 pages
Up to≈ €35,0005,000 copies · 290×290 mm · 400 pages
Indicative prices, excluding VAT. The final price depends on format, extent, run, paper and finishing — exact quote within 60 minutes.
05 IDEAL FOR
Who hardcover is for.
Luxury editions and monographs
Art, architecture, history — books where the paper and binding are part of the content.
Photo books
A sewn block that lies flat and dense paper that renders colour without compromise.
Children's books
Rounded corners, foam padding and a tough cover that survives daily use.
Corporate and anniversary
Presentation editions for anniversaries that stay on the desk, not in a drawer.
Fiction
Collector and gift series with hardcover, ribbon and foil on the spine.
Encyclopedias and almanacs
Thick blocks with a rounded spine and sewn block for long-term use.
06 PROCESS
From file to finished book.
- 01
Brief and quote
You describe format, extent, run and materials. We return a quote within 60 minutes during working hours.
- 02
Prepress
We check the files against PDF/X-4 and FOGRA39 — bleed, resolution, colours, fonts.
- 03
Proofing
A digital or contract proof you approve before printing.
- 04
Binding
Sewing the block, board, flat or rounded spine, headband and ribbon.
- 05
Finishing
Foil, embossing, varnish, gilt edges, jacket or slipcase as briefed.
- 06
QC and delivery
Quality control, packing and delivery across Bulgaria and the EU.
07 COMPLETED PROJECTS
Books we have produced.
08 FREQUENT QUESTIONS
Before you order.
What is the difference between a flat and a rounded spine?
A flat spine is level and is our standard — we make it for blocks up to around 40–45 mm. A rounded spine is curved, spreads the stress when opening and gives a classic look; it is an aesthetic choice, not a functional requirement.
Is there a minimum page count for a hardcover?
There is no strict page minimum — we also make thin editions, for example children's books of around 24 pages. The practical requirement is that the book block is thicker than about 2–2.5 mm, which we achieve with heavier paper. On thicker spines we add a headband for a more finished look.
What is the minimum run?
We work roughly from 100 to 50,000 copies. For the exact run and lead time send us your brief — we reply within 60 minutes during working hours.
What files do you accept?
PDF/X-4, minimum 300 dpi, CMYK, CoatedFogra39 / ISOcoated_V2 profile, with 5 mm bleed and embedded fonts. The full requirements are on the prepress page.
Can I have coloured endpapers, ribbon and headband?
Yes. Endpapers can be coloured or printed, and the ribbon and headband in the colour of your choice, to complement the cover design.
What cover finishing do you offer?
Hot-foil stamping, embossing and debossing, spot UV varnish, matte / gloss / soft-touch lamination, gilt edges, jacket and slipcase.
Do you deliver outside Bulgaria?
Yes — we deliver across Bulgaria and the whole European Union. The lead time depends on the run and finishing, and is given with the quote.