Ordering a printed book online seems simple these days—just upload a file, select the parameters, and confirm the order. In practice, this is where most problems arise. Many of these problems stem not from the technology itself, but from poorly designed files or hasty decisions made in a hurry.
Self-publishing authors, training companies, and first-time publishers often only learn of errors after the book has been printed. At that point, corrections become costly or even impossible. So it's worth knowing the most common pitfalls before placing your order.
Below you will find an overview of the most common mistakes along with practical tips on how to avoid them.
Too small margins, especially on the spine side
One of the most common problems is an overly narrow internal margin. Everything looks correct in a PDF file, but once bound, the text or page number sinks into the spine, making it difficult to read. This is especially true for glued books and publications with longer pages. In novels and textbooks, this error can be particularly troublesome, impeding the reading experience. In training materials and company books, it can make tables or important sections of text partially inaccessible.
It's worth remembering that the inner margin should be significantly larger than the outer one. A safe distance from the spine is usually a minimum of 15-20 mm, and even more for thicker blocks. It's better to leave a little more space than risk the content disappearing into the binding.
No bleeds or incorrect preparation of them
Bleeds are areas of graphics or background that extend beyond the net size of the page. Their absence results in white stripes at the edges after the book is trimmed. This mistake immediately diminishes the impression of professionalism, especially on covers and pages with solid backgrounds or photos extending to the edge.
The lack of bleeds is particularly noticeable in photo albums, catalogs, and books. In text publications, the problem is less common, but if the page contains colored graphic elements or a background, bleeds become necessary. A 3mm bleed is standard on all sides. It's important that graphics and backgrounds actually extend beyond the trim line, not just "pressed" against the edges of the net format.
Low quality photos and graphics
Photos that look good on screen often turn out blurry or pixelated when printed. This is a classic mistake resulting from using low-resolution files or highly compressed graphics downloaded from the internet.
In self-publishing, this problem often arises with books containing the author's own photos, screenshots, or amateur illustrations. In corporate publications and albums, poor image quality can detract from the overall visual impact.
It's a good idea to prepare graphics for printing at 300 dpi resolution at the target size. Enlarging small files rarely produces satisfactory results. If a book relies on photos, it's better to check their quality beforehand than to discover a problem after receiving the finished print run.
Unembedded fonts and text problems
Another common oversight is the failure to embed fonts in a PDF file. As a result, some characters may change during print preparation, and the text may appear different from the original. This is especially true for less popular typefaces, special characters, and publications with many footnotes. The problem is less noticeable in novels and guides, but in scientific, technical, or business books, it can significantly impair readability. Before sending the file, it's worth checking that all fonts are embedded and that the text doesn't "split" when the PDF is opened on another computer.
It's also a good habit to carefully check page numbers, table of contents, and illustration captions. Minor inconsistencies that escape the screen become very apparent in the finished book.
The spine of the cover was counted incorrectly
With perfect binding, the spine must be precisely calculated in width. This depends on the number of pages and the type of paper. A spine that is too narrow or too wide causes text and graphics to shift and the cover to look unsightly.
This mistake is especially common when designing covers yourself. Authors and companies often estimate the spine width "by eye," which is rarely accurate in practice. As a result, the title on the spine may extend beyond its width or be unevenly spaced.
It's safest to use a spine calculator or request a calculation based on the exact paper dimensions and page count. With thicker books, even a difference of a few millimeters can be noticeable.
Sending a draft instead of a final file
Many people want to get production started quickly, so they send a file that hasn't been fully proofread yet. Typos, blank pages, outdated numbers, misaligned graphics, or missing elements are only revealed after printing. In self-publishing, this mistake can be particularly emotionally costly – a book that took months to develop is released with simple, avoidable flaws. In corporate and training publications, substantive or technical errors undermine the credibility of the entire material. It's worth treating the final PDF as the version that will be delivered to the reader. Reading it after export, rather than just in the layout program, often allows you to spot things that were previously missed.
Skipping the proof copy on the first print run
With larger orders, the desire to save time and money causes authors to forgo a proof print. Meanwhile, a physical copy allows for the evaluation of what isn't visible on screen—the actual text size, the appearance of the paper, the way the book opens, and the quality of the cover.
For novels, guides, and training materials, a single proof copy is often sufficient to identify issues with margins, contrast, or composition. For albums and publications with large numbers of photos, it can be essential.
Book printing starting at 1 copy allows you to check the effect without purchasing the entire print run. This is one of the easiest ways to avoid disappointment after receiving a large batch of books.
Most problems that arise when ordering print a book online can be predicted and eliminated before the order is placed. Most errors occur during file preparation – margins, bleeds, quality of graphics, fonts, and spine. A conscious approach to these elements allows you to avoid costly corrections and go through the entire process much more smoothly.
If you're ordering a book for the first time, it's worth taking the extra time to review the file and, if possible, see a physical proof before a larger production. This caution usually pays off in a better end result and fewer surprises.