Book jacket template tutorial for press

Book jacket template – a tutorial.

A book jacket template for a dust jacket … We explain the technical set-up when designing to print on press. We have many self-publishers who print books with us. Others are often looking for a measurement template to use, to lay out their dust jacket. We’ll discuss technical layout. If you found this post in a Google search, you may be searching for actual design templates to use for your book’s design. They are all custom, but we can supply the measurements to our clients.

First, let’s get our terms right …

Cover wrap

There are cloth or faux material cover wraps and printed paper cover wraps. Hardcover books can be bound with printing on a paper cover wrap, cloth, or a number of other materials. A cover wrap that prints on paper or material, glues to the boards of a hardcover book. There is extra margin that extends beyond the cover. This margin wraps over the top, bottom, and outside edges of the book.  It then glues to the inside front and back covers. A cover wrap is not a dust jacket.

Dust jacket — Standard or French fold styles

A dust jacket is a loose paper that folds around the bound book. The dust jacket flaps are tucked into the front and back cover. We manufacture standard and French fold style dust jackets. The French fold dust jacket is extra special, and addition most often to premium quality books.

While a cover wrap is integral to the construction of a hardcover book, a dust jacket is optional.

We provide our clients the custom measurements for their specific book title.

A book jacket template or dust jacket template, has a different design for each title.

Yes, we know you would like a to instantly download a book jacket template. But, it just doesn’t work that way, and here is why …

Variables for each book:

• book dimensions, like 8.5 x 11, etc.
• page count
• spine width
• thickness of text pages
• thickness of boards for a hardcover book
• the printer

Yes, even the printers have different standards they use internally. Each shop uses board that extends out beyond the text page on a hardcover book. Since we use several of the best printers, we will get you the details for your book jacket template when specifications and quotes are finalized.

Good news … you don’t have to worry about the details!

Instead, our clients can just give us their final specs, and we’ll take care of sending you the final measurements in the form of a book jacket template. It won’t be in InDesign, but it will give you all the details you or your designer will need to set up your dust jacket in InDesign.

Send us your final specs for:

• book dimensions, like 8.5 x 11, etc.
• page count

Optionally, you can request:

• a flap width for the two flaps, like a 4 inch flap

Most self-publishers and designers leave it up to us, but you can request a width.

We hope this clears up questions and your understanding of a book jacket template. But, if you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to contact us.