Binding with special finish hardback cover

With Pixartprinting, you can print books or catalogues with a special finish hardback cover. Special finishes allow you to highlight certain details of the artwork, such as the title of the book or the image on the cover. Resistant, durable and authoritative, hardback books are the ideal solution for all kinds of needs: company catalogues, prestigious publications, photo collections, university dissertations or novels. Print your publishing product in small quantities too, from as little as one copy! You can do so in just a few clicks on this page.

What is Special Finish Hardback Binding?

Special Finish Hardback Binding is a premium, durable binding method that uses a hard cardboard cover to protect and bind your publication. It provides an authoritative, elegant look, making it ideal for high-quality editorial products. The addition of a special finish further enhances the cover by allowing you to apply artistic details such as 3D varnish or foil stamping in gold or silver, making your cover truly stand out.

Custom hardback cover with special finishes

At Pixartprinting, “customisation” is the name of the game. We offer a wide range of configuration options to create the product you want: format, number of pages, paper for the pages and cover, lamination, and special finishes. Special finishes allow you to highlight certain details of the cover. You can choose 3D varnish to give the print a 3D effect or gold or silver foil to make certain details shine. Your books with a special finish hardback cover will have a premium, elegant look.

Our tips for your special finish cover

You can tell us which parts of the artwork to apply the special finish to using the dedicated layer on the print file. Download the Template and use it to set up your file:

• The artwork in the Finishing layer must not contain gradients, halftone screens or transparency, must consist of vector graphics and must use the Finishing colour swatch.
• You can make the finishes any shape you like, giving you more creative freedom.
• We recommend using a font size of at least 10 pt and a line weight of at least 1 pt.
• Finally, we recommend avoiding placing finishes over creases, to prevent the varnish or coating from breaking.

Special Finish Options for Hardback Binding

Pixartprinting offers the following special finish options for hardback binding:

• 3D Varnish: This finish creates a raised effect on printed areas, giving your book a three-dimensional appearance that captures attention and highlights specific cover details, such as titles or images.
• Gold Foil: Add a touch of elegance with gold foil, giving a shiny and sophisticated effect. Ideal for titles, logos, or decorative details, this technique adds a luxurious appearance to your book.
• Silver Foil: Similar to gold foil but with a sleek, modern silver effect. Perfect for those seeking an elegant look that’s less bold than gold.

Related products

Pixartprinting offers a wide range of binding options in addition to special finish hardback binding. Find out more in our Magazines, Books and Catalogues section.

Special Finish Hardback vs. Other Binding Types

Special Finish Hardback binding is one of the most durable and elegant options for high-quality editorial products, but it is not the only binding option available for your projects. Here’s a comparison of the main binding types:

• Hardback Binding: Ideal for premium, long-lasting products such as novels, photo collections, and high-end catalogues. It provides maximum durability and an authoritative look.
• Perfect Binding: Recommended for thicker publications such as books and magazines with a high page count. It uses glue to bind the pages together.
• Sewn Binding: Offers durability and a high-quality aesthetic, perfect for premium publications intended for long-term use, such as art books or collectible editions.
• Wire-O Binding: Ideal for manuals, notebooks, and publications that need to lay flat. It allows full 360° opening but does not offer the same level of durability as hardback binding.

Special Finish Hardback binding offers the perfect balance of durability, elegance, and premium appearance, making it ideal for high-end publications.

Order Your Prints with Special Finish Hardback Binding

Order your prints with Special Finish Hardback Binding online. You can specify which areas of your artwork to enhance with the special finish by using the dedicated layer within your print file. Download the Template and follow the instructions to correctly set up your print file.

Select your preferred customisation options, such as format, number of pages (including the cover), and the type of paper for the page printing. Submit your order and upload your PDF in just a few clicks to complete the purchase. You will receive your new books with Special Finish Hardback Binding directly at your office with timely delivery!

In the price grid, you can view the online quote, automatically estimated while configuring your product. There is no minimum order quantity: you can even order a single copy of your publication.

Paper and Lamination Options

For Special Finish Hardback Binding, you can choose the following paper types for your cover and inner pages:

Cover Paper

• Classic Demimatt – Matte Coated 300 gsm
• Classic Gloss – Gloss Coated 300 gsm

Inside Pages

• Classic Demimatt – Matte Coated 170 gsm
• Classic Gloss – Gloss Coated 170 gsm
• Extraprint – Brilliant White Smooth Uncoated 160 gsm
• Rembrandt – Stipple Textured Uncoated 120 gsm
• Underwood – Woodstock Birch 170 gsm
• Recycled 120 gsm

Lamination Options

Lamination is available exclusively for the cover, on both the front and back sides. Choose from:

• If the cover is made with Classic Demimatt – Matte Coated paper, two lamination options are available: Matte or Soft Touch.
• If the cover is made with Classic Gloss – Gloss Coated paper, the only available lamination option is Gloss.

Technical specifications required for creating the file

To ensure perfect printing and achieve a professional result, it is essential to follow certain technical specifications. You can find them in the instructions file available for free download. Here's a summary:

• File format: PDF at 1:1 scale (not password-protected)
• Colours: all files must be submitted in CMYK with the Fogra 39 color profile
• Resolution: the optimal resolution for printing is 300 dpi
• Crop marks: export the PDF without crop marks or registration marks
• Bleed: each page must include a 3 mm bleed on all sides
• Text positioning: text must be positioned 15 mm from the inner margin and 5 mm from the outer margins
• Font: must be embedded in the PDF and not converted to outlines or paths
• Minimum vector path thickness: 0.25 pt
• Minimum font size: 6 pt to ensure perfect readability
• Special Finish: Embellishments must be vector-based, set to overprint, placed on a dedicated Finishing layer, and assigned the spot color swatch “Finishing” (0, 50, 100, 0)