Custom Scratch Off Book Printing
Scratch off books are rising in popularity with adults. But for scratch off book printing, customization is key. From the scratcher’s color to the paper and binding method, every detail contributes to the overall experience. At QinPrinting, we believe that active design for a specific customer base and top-quality printing will give your scratch-off books a much more competitive edge in the marketplace. Based on over 25 years of success in the offset printing industry, let’s explore the essential factors you need to consider when creating the perfect scratch-off book. Just add our expert, caring team, state-of-the-art printing technology, and unbeatable customer service, and you have a winning formula ready to go.
Scratch-Off Book Ideas
Scratch-off books are just as popular as conventional coloring and activity books. They’re made for both grownups and kids, and there are lots of different genres to choose from. The most popular examples of this type of book are engaging challenge activity titles designed for couples to explore aspects of their relationship, for families to engage and have fun, or for friendship based activities and challenges. The scratchers for these books should be soft enough to scratch away easily with a fingernail. Which is where our innovative soft-scratch formula comes in.
Soft Scratch: A Technical Breakthrough
Have you ever tried to scratch off the surface on a scratch-off product and found that you needed to use a coin or knife to do it? And even then, the scratch material didn’t come off completely and left scores in the paper itself? Well, at QinPrinting, we set our technical team a special task: to discover how we could create a scratch material that was adhesive enough to stick to the area needed but soft enough to come off even by using a fingernail and without damaging the paper. Of course, we knew they’d succeed as we have the best technical team on the planet!
The result?
Our Special Soft-Scratch Formula
You won’t find anything exactly like it anywhere else. One of the most significant advantages we offer in scratch-off book printing is the unique ability to create softer scratchers. Many suppliers struggle to produce scratchers that are easy to scratch. But with the application of science, we have mastered the art. Our softer scratchers ensure a seamless and enjoyable experience, allowing users to uncover hidden content effortlessly with just their fingernails.
Scratcher Colors
Silver, gold, and black scratchers are the classic choices for scratch-off books. However, if you desire custom scratcher colors, we can accommodate your needs if you’re ordering larger quantities in your print run. Otherwise, custom colors may not be cost-effective for you. But if you’re printing over ten thousand copies in one go, why not let your creativity shine by opting for unique scratcher colors that align with your brand or design concept? The cheaper cost-per-unit of printing longer runs should balance out the added cost of choosing custom colors.
Scratcher Shapes
With scratcher shapes, the possibilities are endless. We can create any custom shape you wish, adding a personal touch to your scratch-off books. Round, square, triangular, hexagonal, silhouettes of animals, people, and objects, and anything else besides, it’s all possible with our superb scratch-off book printing service and our unique soft-scratcher formula.
How Many Scratchers to A Page?
Good question! The answer depends on the size and number of your scratchers and the size of your pages. But the key point is to remember that you can have multiple scratchers on each page. Why settle for just one scratcher when you can have a dozen or more? In your scratch-off book, we can incorporate multiple scratchers to help you give more value to your readers and offer them an immersive and interactive experience. Unlock surprises, reveal hidden clues, and elevate the excitement with multiple scratchers throughout your book.
The Best Paper for A Scratch-Off Book
Choosing the right paper for your scratch-off book is crucial. Coated paper, laminated paper, and smooth surfaced uncoated paper are all ideal for scratch-off printing. You can apply coatings and laminates on either side of the paper for scratch-off printing, which can be gloss, matte, or soft-touch. Most uncoated “wood-free” paper is not suitable for scratch-off printing. However, the smoother surfaced varieties can work, but we’ll need to run a test first to make sure. So please contact us if you’d like to use uncoated paper for your scratch-off book.
Scratch-off books typically have artwork, like cartoon, icons, or other vivid images. We advise you to use either glossy or matte art paper or smooth uncoated paper for your prints. Whether you choose a glossy or matte finish, with these papers, your book’s pictures will ‘pop’ from the page. Books with full-color layouts and little writing look best on glossy paper and matte paper, whereas books with longer passages of written content and fewer pictures could look better on smooth uncoated paper. Uncoated paper is the best option if your book also needs users to write on it. All scratch-off elements work well printed on a laminated surface, too.
For sewn perfect binding and sewn hardcover binding, we advise you to use 200 gsm / 135 lb coated paper for the inside pages of your scratch-off book if the page count is 32 or less. Scratch-off books work best when printed on coated paper of 128 gsm (86 lb), 157 gsm (106 lb), or 200 gsm (135 lb). Keep in mind that children’s books endure a lot of abuse, so it’s best to choose thicker, more robust paper to withstand the worst wear and tear if your books are aimed at a juvenile audience.
For board book binding, we advise you to choose 190 gsm (128 lb), 250 gsm (169 lb), 300 gsm (203 lb), or 350 gsm (237 lb) C1S paper glued together. We can print on both the coated and the uncoated sides.
The paper you choose for your scratch-off book’s cover will depend on the binding style, too. And the binding style will depend on your page count, target readership, and your budget. So, let’s look at binding possibilities for your scratch-off book next.
Scratch-Off Book Binding Options
The binding method plays a significant role in scratch-off book printing. Each binding suits specific parameters. Depending on your preference, you can choose any of the following options:
Choose between self-covered board book binding and hardcover board book binding. Self-covered board book binding is with the front and back faces wrapped with a printed sheet which also covers the spine. Hardcover board book binding is with a hardcover added after the interior front and back faces are wrapped together
In this binding method, we perforate the pages by drilling holes down one side and then bind them together using a coated wire double-coil. We might also add cover sheets or even soft vinyl covers
Loose pages
Loose pages can be “singles” or collections, which we can put in a cover folder to keep them together and protect them
This is the same binding style more commonly known as “paperback” or “softcover” binding
With hardcovers the pages are in a block which is glued or glued and sewn into a paper covered cardboard casing. This is an unusual choice for a scratch-off book, but if you have a more complex, creative book idea in mind, perhaps for an adult readership, you may wish to select this option
Each method offers unique advantages and limitations. For perfect binding and sewn hardcover binding, which only makes sense if you have lots of pages, it’s important to note that scratchers should be positioned on specific pages only to make sure that they are not damaged during the binding process. You can’t have scratchers on all the pages when you opt for these bindings because we prepare the pages in “signatures” which we then stitch together, collate, and fix into a hard outer casing or a printed cover sheet. While we print images and text on both sides of the signatures, the scratchers need to be positioned on the inner folds only.
That said, in preparing your designs for scratch-off book printing, you’ll need to understand how to position them on the page. This is essential to make sure that your scratchers are visible, accessible, and don’t get damaged before the end-user enjoys them. Here are the fundamental factors you need to know to execute the best scratcher positioning.
Scratcher Positioning Tips
1. The scratchers should be applied before binding, making sure that they are at least 20mm away from the binding and cutting sides to prevent any damage.
2. Allow an additional 1.5 mm space around the scratch area to provide a safe zone for placement and to prevent critical elements from being covered by the scratch-off coating.
3. Ensure all content that needs to be hidden under the scratch-off surface is within the scratchers, leaving a 1.5mm margin of error on each edge to maintain clarity and readability.
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Talk to Us!
At QinPrinting, we provide a full suite of scratch-off book printing solutions, ranging from helping with your design process and deciding on paper and other materials to assisting with imagery and file development and providing a variety of premium finishes. We have a minimum order quantity (MOQ) because we are an offset printing firm. But to keep our services accessible and cost-effective, we’ve set our minimum order quantity (MOQ) at only 100 pieces each run, while most offset printers require 500 or even 1,000 prints. However, keep in mind that the greater the number of units you purchase, the lower the per-unit pricing will be.
If you’re keen to print a beautiful, high-quality scratch-off book — and personal customer service matters to you as much as a world-class product — then we should talk. Get in touch today to chat through your needs or to ask for a no-obligation quote. We can’t wait to help you make the scratch-off book of your dreams!