PRINTING LITERARY BOOKS

Literature – Paperback, sewn or hardback. And much more

Novels, short stories, essays, narratives: literature is extraordinarily rich.
From the plainest books to book-objects, Sepec offers an equally rich range of services.
From the first print run to the fast reprint, we produce your titles in France, in our own workshops, in offset as well as digital.

Choosing the paper

In literature generally, the paper has to be opaque, pleasant in the hand and light.
Bulky papers — uncoated and thick for their weight — give the book volume without making it heavy. Ivory or cream shades soften reading, while whites suit more contemporary series.

At Sepec you will always find the paper suited to your project.
We offer a wide variety of papers and weights.
We also keep a large paper stock so as to stay as responsive as possible.
All our papers are PEFC certified.

Paperback, sewn or hardback. And much more

Perfect binding with hotmelt or PUR adhesive, for a strong and economical book, with a laminated cover and, if you wish, flaps.
For soft-cover books with a high extent and editions meant to last, sewn and glued binding is ideal.
For higher-end, collector's or prestige editions, hardcover binding gives the book a nobler look while offering a very long life.

The literary quality of a book owes nothing to its appearance, yet appearance still plays a considerable part in the decision to buy and in the reader's experience.
Dust jackets, belly bands, hot foil stamping and edge printing are among the many embellishment options we master and carry out entirely in our own workshops.

Printing literary books at Sepec, in brief

Novels, short stories, narratives, essays and non-fiction.
Pocket and large formats.
A wide and varied choice of PEFC certified papers.
Perfect binding (hotmelt or PUR), sewn and glued, or hardcover.
Flaps, rounded corners, inserts, laminated covers, edge printing, foil stamping, spot varnish, and more.
Short and medium runs, from a hundred to several tens of thousands of copies. Offset or digital.

First print run and reprints

A title that starts slowly then finds its readers is best handled in successive runs: we archive your files and reprint identically, digitally for small quantities and in offset as soon as the volume justifies it. That is often cheaper, and sounder, than an ambitious first run left in store or pulped.
Sepec also provides a practical, well-designed client area so that you can follow and steer your printing and reprinting projects with ease.

Which binding for which book?

Novel, narrative, essay	Perfect binding
Reference work, high extent	Sewn and glued binding
Large format, prestige edition	Hardcover binding
Carefully crafted literary edition, illustrated text	Exposed sewing

Frequently asked questions

Which paper should I choose for a novel?

A bulky paper in most cases: its high bulk gives thickness to the spine without weighing the book down. It feels pleasant in the hand and makes for comfortable reading. A cream or ivory shade gives a warm tone and is easier on the eye over a long read.

Offset or digital for a first print run?

Digital lets you start with a small quantity and reprint as sales come in; offset becomes more attractive as soon as the run grows, generally as you approach a thousand copies. The tipping point depends above all on the format and the extent. We can price both scenarios and advise you on where that point lies for your project.

Can a title be reprinted identically later on?

Yes. We archive your print files: a reprint starts from the same imposition, with the same paper and the same binding, without any new prepress work. We also provide a powerful client area that lets you follow and manage your reprints easily.

Do you check files before printing?

Your files are systematically checked to ensure a faithful, high-quality print. You then approve a proof from your client area (or on paper, as an option), and nothing goes to press before your agreement.