Note that you can print your document on the paper of your choice and mail it to us for Fabric Hard Cover Binding and for Printed Hard Cover Binding.
If we print your document, we can only do so with a PDF file.
We do not edit your PDF file. Your PDF file is printed exactly as you provide it. But you can choose Single or Double-sided printing in the Quote/Order process.
We need less than 1/4 inch margins for binding. So, you can make your margins any size you want.
Common margins range from 1-inch for left/right to 1.5-inch for left/right
WARNING about Alternating Margins for Double-Sided printing:
The following does not concern you if (1) your left and right margins are the same size, or (2) if you’re printing single-sided
If your left and right margins are not the same size and you want Double-Sided printing, then the margins for even-numbered pages must be the reverse of margins on odd-numbered pages. Alternating your margins in this manner ensures that your prints line-up when held up to the light. You can avoid this concern by making left and right margins the same size.
You can specify the PDF page numbers to print in Color instead of choosing the more expensive option to print all pages in color.
WARNING: When you choose the option to print specific pages in color, do not list the page numbers that will print on paper. Instead, list the PDF page numbers as shown below:
In most cases, a PDF file will keep the font, margin, and other settings that were used to create the document, even when you open the PDF file on a different computer. Other common file formats frequently don’t do that. A PDF file means that your document will most likely print exactly as you want. There will be no surprise or disappointment. Many other file formats require that the fonts and software settings be identical on the source computer and the computer that will be used for printing.
Option 1: Save your Word file as a PDF file from inside Word. Many other programs also allow you to save as PDF instead of the default format.
Just open your document in Microsoft Word or in the program you created it in and SAVE AS pdf. Very simple!
Option 2: Create a PDF online at one of the following:
- http://www.freepdfconvert.com/
- http://www.zamzar.com/
- http://www.cometdocs.com/
- http://en.pdf24.org/onlineConverter.html
Search the web for “convert files to pdf” or “pdf printer” for more options.
Option 3: Create a PDF on your computer:
Go to Google and search for “free pdf printer.”
You’ll be given a large number of sites where you can download free or shareware PDF printer programs. Select one, download and install on your computer. After installing it, follow these steps:
- Open your Word file or other file.
- Click print.
- Instead of selecting a physical printer, you will select the .pdf printer you just installed.
- Name your file when prompted.
For all 3 options, please carefully go through your new PDF file to make sure the fonts, formatting, and margins remained the way you want them. Also, make sure that your document is the size you want for binding. U.S. Letter size paper is not the same as European letter size paper. U.S. letter size measures 8.5 x 11 inches. European letter size is A4, and measures 8.27 x 11.69 inches. If you submit A4 document and you choose 8.5 x 11 printing/binding or vice-versa, we will contact you to send a new file. That may delay your order!
More than 99% of PDF files print exactly on our end as it appears on your own computer. But sometimes, if you use any special font for your document (including, but not limited to, foreign language font or special characters such as mathematical symbols or accents), your document might not print properly. This happens because we have only a limited number of fonts on our systems. If we do not have your special font on our system, Adobe Acrobat will automatically substitute the closest matching font on our system. This could be the wrong font.
In order to be certain that your document will print exactly as it displays on your computer, you must embed your fonts.
Below are 3 ways to Embed fonts in your PDF file:
Method 1: Embed your fonts in Microsoft Word:
1. Within MS Word click File “Save As”
2. From the “ Save As Type” drop down menu choose “PDF”
3. Click on “Options”
4. Under “PDF Options” check off “ISO 19005-1 compliant (PDF/A)”
5. Click “OK” to create the PDF
6. Fonts are now embedded
Method 2: Embed your fonts using Adobe Acrobat:
All full versions of Adobe Acrobat will embed your font, but you must make sure to select the option.
NOTE: Acrobat Reader is not a full version. You cannot embed your fonts with Acrobat Reader.
You can embed your fonts using Adobe Acrobat 9.0 as follows:
- Open Acrobat Distiller
- Click Settings in the menu bar
- Click Edit PDF Settings
- Click Fonts in the left panel
- Make sure “Embed all fonts” is selected, as shown below.
- Click OK (no need to click OK if option is already selected).
- Close Acrobat Distiller.
- Make your PDF file as usual.
Method 3: Embed your fonts with 3rd party PDF software:
Go to Google and search for “free pdf printer.”
You’ll be given a large number of sites where you can download free or shareware PDF printer programs. Select one, download and install on your computer. After installing, look for the Embed Fonts option (not all free PDF printer software have font Embedding option) and select the option. Then follow these steps:
- Open your Word file or other file.
- Click print.
- Instead of selecting a physical printer, you will select the pdf printer you just installed.
- Name your file when prompted.
NOTE: You cannot embed your fonts with online PDF conversion services. Online PDF conversion services do not allow you to upload your special fonts. The special fonts used in your document file MUST be installed on the same computer as your PDF conversion software.
We prefer a single PDF file because documents submitted in multiple files are more likely to contain errors and problems. The typical problems include inconsistent page numbering, repeating pages, and missing pages. These problems are made worse if you want specific pages printed in color, because the wrong page numbers could be listed for color printing when you submit multiple PDF files for 1 document.
Follow these instructions to combine 2 or more PDF files into 1 PDF file
Method 1: Combine your PDF files for FREE online at:
or Search the web for “merge pdf files online” for more options.
NOTE: Above services may have file size limits.
Method 2: Combine your PDF files for FREE on your computer:
Go to this site: http://www.adolix.com/split-merge-pdf/
Download and install Adolix Split & Merge PDF.
Follow the instructions in our Adolix Instructions file.
We need your file(s) only AFTER you have placed your order. Our Quote/Order forms will prompt you to upload your files in the Quote/Ordering process. We also accept files that are smaller than 10 megs as email attachments.
If you want your document printed Double-Sided, be careful to make sure that your PDF pages are arranged to print exactly as you want them. Please click on the link below for instructions on how to:
- make sure that the pages you want to face each other will face each other, and
- make sure that the first page of each chapter or section will begin on the correct side of the page.
IMPORTANT: we do not alter your PDF file in any way. The content and margins of your PDF file will be printed exactly as you provide it to us.
For single-sided printing, the pages in your PDF file will appear after each other in your bound book in the same way they appear in your PDF file.
For double-sided printing, the pages will also appear after each other, except that the PDF pages with Even numbers will print on the reverse side of PDF pages with Odd numbers, as shown below.
PHD Book Binding considers the information in your electronic or paper document to be completely confidential. The contents of your document will never be reproduced in whole or in part or disclosed to a third party without your prior written consent. If after we have filled your order you want additional copies of your document produced, you must make the request with the same email address you used for placing the initial order. Otherwise, you must submit a new document file.