Question 1

What types of book formats does Blurb offer?

Accepted Answer

Blurb offers creators a variety of book formats and customization features for creating, printing, and selling their books. Blurb's primary formats include photo books, trade books, and magazines. In addition to these formats, you can leverage a complete range of personalization capabilities from fully customizable templates and backgrounds to different cover types and paper finishes.

Question 2

Can you explain the features of Layflat Photo Books?

Accepted Answer

Layflat photo books offer an immersive photographic experience with actual panoramic spreads extending across the book's width without interruption at the binding. These hardcover ImageWrap books start at 20 pages and can expand to 110, allowing you to showcase a vast collection of images. For vivid colors and sharpness, you can opt for archival-quality paper options. Creating a layflat photo book is a breeze with the help of tools like Blurb's BookWright, Blurb plugins for Adobe InDesign and Lightroom, and the PDF to Book uploader tool.

Question 3

Are there different cover options available for each book format?

Accepted Answer

Depending on your book's format, Blurb offers three main types of book covers: softcover, hardcover with a dust jacket, and hardcover with ImageWrap. Softcover books feature a flexible, high-gloss laminated cover and perfect binding, while the hardcover options provide a more robust and durable cover for the books.

Question 4

What are the size options for Blurb's photo books and trade books?

Accepted Answer

Blurb's selection of sizes caters to a range of bookmaking possibilities, especially photo books and trade books. For photo books, choices include Mini Square (5x5 in., 13x13 cm.), Small Square (7x7 in., 18x18 cm.), Standard Portrait (8x10 in., 20x25 cm.), Standard Landscape (10x8 in., 25x20 cm.), Large Landscape (13x11 in., 33x28 cm.) and Large Square (12x12 in., 30x30 cm.). Trade book options are available in three sizes: Small (5x8 in., 13x20 cm.), Medium (6x9 in., 15x23 cm.), and Large (8x10 in., 20x25 cm.). For exact dimensions, visit our book sizes and specifications page. The trim size you choose for your book will influence cover options and paper types while shaping the overall presentation of your content.

Question 5

Can I customize the cover of my photo book or trade book?

Accepted Answer

Blurb empowers you to fully customize the cover of your photo book or trade book with a range of design options and tools. With Blurb’s BookWright software, create a cohesive image that spans across the entire cover for a striking effect. The platform's user-friendly interface offers extensive personalization capabilities to ensure your cover reflects your creative vision. Utilize an assortment of free templates and design aids provided by Blurb, along with professional advice on crafting an attention-grabbing cover using bold typography and thematic elements tailored to current trends. Moreover, select from various types of covers, including softcover, hardcover, and layflat options, to best showcase your work in the style it deserves.

Question 6

How does the quality of Blurb's printing compare for different formats?

Accepted Answer

Blurb tailors its print quality to each book format's specific needs. For example, photo books offer premium printing quality in six sizes and vibrant colors on photo-quality paper for crisp image resolution and a stunning visual experience. In contrast, trade books offer standard and economy printing options across three sizes—standard provides better print quality while economy offers cost savings ideal for larger print runs or retail purposes. Magazines come with premium printing choices for higher fidelity. Ultimately, Blurb allows customers to balance their preferences between high-grade print results and affordability based on their project requirements.

Question 7

What is the price range for different book formats on Blurb?

Accepted Answer

We offer a range of prices depending on format, size, and other book features. Also, when it comes to printing your book, we offer print-on-demand services, so you can print only as many books as you need with no minimum volume requirements or inventory to manage.

Question 8

How long does it take to print and deliver a book in a specific format?

Accepted Answer

The printing and binding process for all book formats with Blurb typically takes 4-5 business days. However, you choose the delivery time when placing the order. It's important to note that these estimates are subject to change based on the specific options you chose for your book format. So, consult with Blurb directly for the most precise printing and shipping timeline information.

Question 9

Is there a minimum or maximum page count for each book format?

Accepted Answer

Each Blurb book format has specific minimum and maximum page count requirements. For photo books with standard paper, the range is 20 to 440 pages. Other photo book papers we offer have page count requirements from a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 240. Layflat photo books can have between 20 and 110 pages. Trade books must contain at least 24 but no more than 480 pages. Magazine options require a minimum of 20 up to a maximum of 240 pages and must be arranged in multiples of four.

Question 10

Can I order a sample before committing to a large print run?

Accepted Answer

Blurb offers the option to order a proof copy of your book or magazine, allowing you to evaluate the print quality, layout, and overall design before proceeding with a larger print run. A proof copy is just a single copy of your book. Simply upload the book, place it in your cart, and set the quantity of printed copies to one. After reviewing and approving this sample for any needed adjustments, you can confidently proceed with your bulk order.

Question 11

How user-friendly is the book design process on Blurb's platform?

Accepted Answer

Blurb's book design process is highly user-friendly, catering to both novices and seasoned book designers alike. It features the free BookWright software, which is straightforward to download and use for creating books. The platform also boasts intuitive drag-and-drop functionality, allowing effortless reorganization of images and page layouts. For those with more advanced skills or specific design needs, we offer Blurb plugins for Adobe InDesign and Lightroom. Blurb offers a diverse array of custom format options, including layflat photo books, among others, and numerous paper choices, further enhancing its user-friendliness by accommodating a wide range of preferences and projects.

Question 12

How does Blurb support authors in selecting the best format for their content?

Accepted Answer

Blurb assists authors in choosing the optimal format for their content by providing a suite of tools and resources tailored to diverse publishing needs. The user-friendly BookWright design tool comes with an array of customizable templates suitable for different book types, while Blurb plugins for Adobe software offer advanced formatting control. A wide selection of custom formats—including layflat photo books—and paper options ensures that authors can match the physical attributes of their book to its subject matter. Additionally, Blurb's blog offers a wealth of professional design tips and guidance to help creators assemble their work in a format that makes the most sense for their content.

Choose a book format.

Photo Books

Mini Square

Small Square

Standard Portrait

Standard Landscape

Large Landscape

Large Square

Trade Books

Magazines

Compare all types of book formats

Layflat Photo Books

Cover Options	Photo Books	Trade Books	Magazines
Softcover	Photo Books	Trade Books	Magazines
ImageWrap, Hardcover	Photo Books	Trade Books	Magazines
Dust Jacket, Hardcover	Photo Books	Trade Books	Magazines
Paper Quality	Photo Books	Trade Books	Magazines
Photo Quality Paper	Photo Books	Trade Books	Magazines
Standard Book Paper	Photo Books	Trade Books	Magazines
Premium Lustre - Layflat Paper	Photo Books	Trade Books	Magazines
Print Quality	Photo Books	Trade Books	Magazines
Premium Printing	Photo Books	Trade Books	Magazines
Standard Printing	Photo Books	Trade Books	Magazines
Economy Printing	Photo Books	Trade Books	Magazines
Distribution Options	Photo Books	Trade Books	Magazines
Sell through Blurb and your own website	Photo Books	Trade Books	Magazines
Sell on Amazon.com US store only	Photo Books	Trade Books	Magazines
Sell on Amazon & Beyond Worldwide through Ingram	Photo Books	Trade Books	Magazines
Pre-sell With Kickstarter	Photo Books	Trade Books	Magazines
Creation Tools	Photo Books	Trade Books	Magazines
BookWright Free downloadable software	Photo Books	Trade Books	Magazines
Adobe InDesign Free downloadable Plug-in	Photo Books	Trade Books	Magazines
PDF Uploader Upload your PDF	Photo Books	Trade Books	Magazines
Adobe Lightroom Blurb integrated in Lightroom Classic	Photo Books	Trade Books	Magazines