Memoir Book printing
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Hardcover and Paperback Memoir Books
While dozens of binding options for books exist, the two most suited to memoir books are “perfect bound” — the industry term for what is more commonly known as a paperback or softcover — and hardcover, also called hardback or hard case binding. Paperbacks are cheaper and quicker to produce, but hardcovers look more professional and authoritative, have higher perceived value, and are more durable.
Perfect bound memoirs: With a paperback book, the cover is a single sheet of heavier paper or cardstock, coated on one side for printing, which wraps around the interior pages to form a front cover, a spine area, and a back cover. The interior pages are collated in a block, glued together down one side and then glued into the cover along the spine with a strong, flexible adhesive. Finally, the cover and pages are all trimmed to be uniform, creating the “perfect” binding.
Hardcover bound memoirs: Hardcovers have a cardboard cover wrapped in printed paper. The interior pages are sewn together in folded batches, known as signatures, and then collated and sewn and glued into the casing. The inside of the covers at the front and back are glued onto the “end papers”, which are then positioned between the covers and the first and last pages of the interior.
Book Special Fnishes Options
Here are some popular surface finishes that can enhance your memoir book’s appearance and durability:
Shiny and reflective, perfect for vibrant graphics and photos.
Glossy highlights on specific areas for a striking contrast.
Smooth and non-reflective for a simple yet professional design.
Similar to matte lamination, but the resulting surface has a delightful, almost velvet feel.
A glossy finish applied to specific areas for a bold and distinct look.
Metallic or pigmented foil for a shiny, eye-catching effect.
Raised designs for added texture and elegance.
A recessed design that creates a tactile impression on the cover, adding texture and sophistication.
Thin metallic foil—usually gold, silver, or bronze—is applied to the trimmed edges of your book's pages.
Custom patterns and images are sprayed on the edges for a truly unique appearance.
Coated Paper vs. Uncoated Paper
Use uncoated paper for a classic, narrative-driven memoir with minimal imagery.
Choose coated paper (especially matte) if your memoir includes a lot of family photos, scanned letters, or archival materials.
Uncoated Paper
Uncoated Paper (Matte / Natural Finish)
Best for: A classic, literary feel and easy readability
- Soft, natural texture: Offers a traditional, book-like experience—perfect for storytelling and personal reflection.
- Great for text-heavy layouts: The surface reduces glare and enhances readability, even under various lighting conditions.
- Writable surface: Excellent if you want readers to annotate or gift a signed copy.
- Drawback: Not suitable for high-saturation images; colors may appear slightly muted.
| GSM / lb | Thickness |
|---|---|
| 80 gsm / 54 lb Text | 0.097 mm |
| 100 gsm / 68 lb Text | 0.118 mm |
| 120 gsm / 81 lb Text | 0.140 mm |
| 140 gsm / 95 lb Text | 0.160 mm |
| 160 gsm / 108 lb Text | 0.183 mm |
| 180 gsm / 122 lb Text | 0.200 mm |
Coated Paper
Best for: Memoirs with lots of photos, documents, or visual elements
- Crisp image reproduction: Enhances photo quality and detail, making it ideal for image-rich memoirs.
- Polished appearance: Feels more “premium,” especially with matte coating for a modern look.
- Less absorbent: Ink won’t smudge, but also not ideal for handwritten notes or personalization.
| GSM / LB | Gloss Art Paper Thickness | Matte Art Paper Thickness |
|---|---|---|
| 80 gsm / 54 lb Text | 0.065 mm | 0.072 mm |
| 105 gsm / 71 lb Text | 0.086 mm | 0.090 mm |
| 128 gsm / 86 lb Text | 0.105 mm | 0.110 mm |
| 157 gsm / 106 lb Text | 0.136 mm | 0.140 mm |
| 200 gsm / 135 lb Text | 0.178 mm | 0.200 mm |
| 250 gsm / 92 lb Cover | 0.225 mm | 0.250 mm |
| 300 gsm / 111 lb Cover | 0.270 mm | 0.285 mm |
| 350 gsm / 129 lb Cover | 0.410 mm | - |
Black-and-White vs Full Color Memoir Book Printing
When you decide to print a memoir book, you can choose to have the interior printed in either full color or in black and white. This option affects both the appearance and the pricing of your book. When making your decision, it is critical to grasp both the procedure and the advantages of each option.
Full color memoir printing is typically used for shorter memoirs that include photographs, combining images and text to create vivid and engaging scenes. It adds value to the book, piques the reader’s interest, and brings the narrative to life.
Black-and-white memoir printing is generally chosen for longer memoirs that focus solely on text, using words to convey stories. In most cases, the interior of a black-and-white memoir book is uncoated paper. Black-and-white printing is also more economical than full color printing.
Free File Checking Service
Not sure if your files are print-ready? You’ve nothing to worry about! Our team will check your files for free to make sure everything’s in order—things like page size, bleed, color mode, and image resolution. If something’s off, we’ll let you know and suggest how to fix it before anything goes to print.
Need help to prepare your files? We’ve put together a step-by-step guide you can check out here.
And if you’re still unsure, just reach out. We’re always happy to take a look and answer your questions.
Printing File Requirements
It is important to understand how to prepare your finished digital files for printing. Here are a few useful tips to help you when preparing files to be printed.
You will need to add a "bleed zone" of 0.125" around all your pages.
Convert your color space from RGB to CMYK
Make sure the resolution for your images is 300 DPI.
Export your files in PDF format for the best results.
To learn more, see our File Checking Guidelines or get in touch directly. We offer an expert file-checking service, free to all our customers.
FAQs
The most popular book sizes for memoirs are:
- 5.5″ x 8.5″
- 6.0″ x 9.0″
However, you are not limited to only these options; it is completely possible to customize the size of your memoir book. We are more than happy to advise you about any practical and technical requirements if you would like a non-standard size for your book.
How much it costs to print your memoirs depends on several factors such as the number of pages and copies, the paper stock you choose, and the binding style. The most popular bindings for most memoirs are paperback (also called perfect bound) and hardcover.
In the meantime, you can get a ballpark idea of the cost of printing your memoir book from the charts below:
Softcover Memoir Book Printing Price Chart (5.5″ x 8.5″)
| Quantity | 100pcs | 500pcs | 1000pcs | 2000pcs | 5000pcs | 10000pcs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80pp | $11.27 each $1,127 total | $3.17 each $1,584 total | $2.33 each $2,330 total | $1.96 each $3,912 total | $1.67 each $8,345 total | $1.60 each $15,956 total |
| 112pp | $14.09 each $1,409 total | $3.98 each $1,989 total | $2.85 each $2,848 total | $2.34 each $4,678 total | $1.96 each $9,802 total | $1.87 each $18,728 total |
| 192pp | $21.15 each $2,115 total | $6.00 each $3,000 total | $4.14 each $4,138 total | $3.31 each $6,619 total | $2.69 each $13,432 total | $2.56 each $25,633 total |
- Cover: 250 gsm / 92 lb coated cover paper with matte lamination
- Interior: 100 gsm / 67 lb uncoated text paper
Hardcover Memoir Book Printing Price Chart (6″ x 9″)
| Quantity | 100pcs | 500pcs | 1000pcs | 2000pcs | 5000pcs | 10000pcs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80pp | $10.60 each $1,060 total | $2.86 each $1,429 total | $2.04 each $2,039 total | $1.70 each $3,392 total | $1.44 each $7,175 total | $1.37 each $13,706 total |
| 128pp | $14.53 each $1,453 total | $3.93 each $1,966 total | $2.72 each $2,723 total | $2.18 each $4,357 total | $1.77 each $8,864 total | $1.69 each $16,894 total |
| 176pp | $18.45 each $1,845 total | $5.01 each $2,503 total | $3.38 each $3,384 total | $2.65 each $5,297 total | $2.11 each $10,553 total | $2.01 each $20,082 total |
- Cover: 250 gsm / 92 lb coated cover paper with matte lamination
- Interior: 100 gsm / 67 lb uncoated text paper
Try our easy and convenient online Printing Cost Calculator.
You can utilize our online quote calculator to obtain EXW prices and click “Shipping Cost” button to get the shipping cost. Alternatively, you can reach out to us directly through the Contact Us form or by sending your printing requirements via email at [email protected].
Upon receiving your request, we’ll promptly provide you with a quote and proceed to the next step accordingly.
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.
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.
We offer free design templates for book formats along with an expert artwork file-checking service.
You can download on this page.
Why Print Your Memoir at QinPrinting?
At QinPrinting, we specialize in luxury memoir printing, offering high-quality finishes, precise color matching, and premium materials. We aim to create visually stunning memoirs that captivate readers and showcase your work with elegance and sophistication.
25+ Years of Expertise
Over two decades of experience in printing high-quality children’s books.
Premium Quality Materials
Glossy or matte paper, durable bindings, and vibrant color reproduction.
Customizable Options
Choose paper weight, cover finish, and binding type to suit your vision.
Expert Support
Dedicated team offering assistance throughout the entire printing process.
QinPrinting Reviews
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!
Let's Talk!
Designing and printing your memoirs — either as an heirloom for your family and a gift for your friends, or to self-publish and sell commercially — is always an enriching and satisfying project to complete. Get in touch today to discuss your needs or to ask for a no-obligation quote. We can’t wait to help you make your memoir book something of which you and your family can be truly proud for generations to come!
