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Lookbook Printing
At QinPrinting, we love elevating the profiles of creative artists, designers, and engineers—amateur or professional—with stunning custom lookbooks. 25 years of success in the industry, an expert team, state-of-the-art technological wizardry, and unrivaled customer service sustain our first-class reputation in the creative industries worldwide. Let us help you to make a lookbook that’s both beautiful and effective.
Lookbook Printing Instant Quote
Common Lookbook Sizes
The dimensions of your lookbook will depend on the photographs you include, the number of images, the text, layout, and orientation, among other factors. A landscape-oriented portfolio-style lookbook of full-color art photography will be larger, for example; while an artisan jeweler may opt for a smaller, more intimate format suggestive of the qualities of handmade crafts.
- Common sizes for many of the lookbooks we print are 8.5″ by 11″, 5.5″ by 8.5″, 148 mm x 210 mm, 6″ by 9″ and 9″ by 6″.
Smaller sizes are practical if you need to mail out a lot of copies. Larger sizes make a stronger impression. You’re not limited to the suggestions above. At QinPrinting, we specialize in creating unique, custom lookbooks in any size or format you desire. Just remember that extensive customization will mean higher costs and possibly slower turnaround times, as we’ll need to do additional pre-press and setup work. But for many clients, the investment in making something that really stands out often proves be worthwhile. It’s always your decision.
Lookbook Paper Options
While most lookbooks contain both images and text, the trend in contemporary design is toward more photography and less text. In most cases, you’ll need to pick paper that gives sharp photo reproduction and clear text. We recommend gloss or matte text paper for vibrant, faithful color, perfect contrast, and fine detail. If you want your lookbook to reflect eco-friendliness and a natural aesthetic, you can opt for uncoated paper.
Cover Paper
- 200 gsm / 74 lb gloss cover paper
- 250 gsm / 92 lb gloss cover paper
- 300 gsm / 111 lb gloss cover paper
- 350 gsm / 129 lb gloss cover paper
- 200 gsm / 74 lb matte cover paper
- 250 gsm / 92 lb matte cover paper
- 300 gsm / 111 lb matte cover paper
Interior Paper
- 128 gsm / 86 lb gloss text paper
- 157 gsm / 106 lb gloss text paper
- 200 gsm / 135 lb gloss text paper
- 128 gsm / 86 lb matte text paper
- 157 gsm / 106 lb matte text paper
- 200 gsm / 135 lb matte text paper
Hardcover Paper
- 157 gsm / 58 lb coated cover paper wrapped on 2 mm grey board
- 157 gsm / 58 lb coated cover paper wrapped on 2.5 mm grey board
- 157 gsm / 58 lb coated cover paper wrapped on 3 mm grey board
- Other paper, vinyl, or leatherette wrapped on grayboard
Bindings for Lookbooks
While we’ll make your lookbook in any shape and size you like, the choice of binding matters, too, for reasons of appearance and durability alike. Let’s look at the most common, professional-looking options. You can open all the following bindings flat.
We use this binding style for standard paperback lookbooks. We collate the interior pages into a block, glued together, and then glued into a wrap-around cover made of heavier art paper or lightweight card stock. For lookbooks with a higher page count, this is a great option.
We use this binding style for a lot of lookbooks we print. We collate the interior pages into sets called signatures, which are then sewn together and fixed into a wrap-around cover made of heavier art paper or lightweight card stock. For lookbooks with a moderate page count that need to lay flat, this is a great option.
To saddle stitch your lookbook, we fold the printed interior sheets and stack them inside the cover sheet before stapling them together down the curved edge. Saddle stitch is only possible with a page count divisible by four, up to a maximum of 64 pages. But to make sure the lookbook is neat and lies flat, we recommend a limit of 48 pages or fewer for this style of binding.
This binding is another popular choice for lookbooks destined to “do the rounds” presenting examples of work to potential clients, for its practicality and flexibility. We punch or drill holes into the pages down one side and then bind them with a plastic coil which spirals through the holes. We crimp the coil at both ends so the pages don’t come loose. You can turn the pages of a spiral-bound lookbook through 360° and also lay the open lookbook completely flat. We can laminate the pages to make them extra-resistant to UV light.
In this binding, we organize the interior pages into signatures which are then printed, cut, and sewn, and glued into a hard casing covered by a printed sheet which forms the cover. This binding is the most durable and high-end, especially if you add a dust jacket, end sheet papers, and a marker ribbon, for example.
Whichever binding style you choose, we like to make it easy for you to design your lookbook. So, you can use one of our ready-made design templates if you like. And please ask us for paper samples. We’ll be happy to send them to you in the mail. The samples are free, so you need only pay the mailing charges.
Why Choose QinPrinting to Print Your Lookbook
QinPrinting ensures your lookbook stands out with quality, affordability, and tailored options.
Stunning Quality
Vibrant colors and sharp details to showcase your brand.
Dedicated Support
Expert file checks and personalized assistance.
Affordable Solutions
Competitive pricing without sacrificing excellence.
Custom Design Options
Flexible choices for paper, finishes, and sizes.
QinPrinting Rated Excellent for Lookbook Printing
From start to finish, Jane was incredibly informative and helpful.
Also great communication.
My books arrived, and are beautiful!
Jane was prompt and had GREAT attention to detail were exceptional. Most of my emails were answered within 24 hours, and Jane went above and beyond by sending pictures, samples, and clear explanations to help me understand all the technical aspects of book printing. She even reviewed my proofs thoroughly and pointed out a few important adjustments I needed to make to my PDF files.
Shipping was faster than expected, and when I compared the final copies from Qin Printing with those from IngramSpark, Qin’s quality was far superior. The materials looked more polished; paper is higher quality, and the print was crisper. Each book was carefully wrapped.
I ended up saving 75% of my printing budget, and communicating in English was no issue at all. It felt like Jane cared about the project as much as I did. I can’t recommend her and Qin Printing enough. Thank you so much for helping bring my book to life!
FAQs
You can get an immediate insight into the cost of printing your custom lookbook by checking our at-a-glance price charts.
Saddle Stitch Lookbook Printing Price Chart (8.5″ x 11″)
| Quantity | 100pcs | 500pcs | 1000pcs | 2000pcs | 5000pcs | 10000pcs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24pp + 4pp | $2.66 each $266 total | $0.75 each $373 total | $0.48 each $480 total | $0.35 each $707 total | $0.29 each $1,471 total | $0.26 each $2,644 total |
| 32pp + 4pp | $3.10 each $310 total | $0.88 each $439 total | $0.56 each $561 total | $0.42 each $845 total | $0.36 each $1,781 total | $0.33 each $3,278 total |
| 40pp + 4pp | $3.69 each $369 total | $1.05 each $526 total | $0.68 each $682 total | $0.51 each $1,016 total | $0.43 each $2,139 total | $0.39 each $3,884 total |
- Cover: 200 gsm / 74 lb coated cover paper with matte lamination
- Interior: 128 gsm / 87 lb coated text paper, full color printing
- Please note that all prices are EXW our facility and do not include shipping costs.
Paperback Lookbook Printing Price Chart (8.5″ x 11″)
| Quantity | 100pcs | 500pcs | 1000pcs | 2000pcs | 5000pcs | 10000pcs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64pp + 4pp | $5.46 each $546 total | $1.56 each $779 total | $1.00 each $997 total | $0.76 each $1,522 total | $0.64 each $3,220 total | $0.60 each $6,032 total |
| 80pp + 4pp | $6.50 each $650 total | $1.86 each $930 total | $1.20 each $1,204 total | $0.92 each $1,840 total | $0.78 each $3,913 total | $0.73 each $7,322 total |
| 128pp + 4pp | $9.60 each $960 total | $2.80 each $1,398 total | $1.82 each $1,824 total | $1.41 each $2,818 total | $1.19 each $5,937 total | $1.12 each $11,161 total |
- Cover: 250 gsm / 92 lb coated cover paper with matte lamination
- Interior: 128 gsm / 87 lb coated text paper
- Please note that all prices are EXW our facility and do not include shipping costs.
Feel free to share your artwork with us through email, Sprend, or WeTransfer to [email protected]. Or send us a share link via Dropbox or Google Drive.
No. Website images are generally low resolution. For high-quality lookbook printing, images or photos should be at least 300 dpi to ensure clear, crisp results.
For printing purposes, we require artwork in high-resolution PDF format, which includes 0.125 inches / 3 mm bleed.
Offset printing uses the CMYK color space.
You can get acquainted with our quality, products, and paper stocks by ordering a sample pack from here.
Let's Talk!
If you’re an independent creative professional or work for an agency or corporation and you want to print a lavish lookbook of unrivaled quality and at an unbeatable price, 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 your lookbook the best!
