At 48 Hour Books, we are known for our fast, high-quality book printing. A common question we get asked is, “Can you print magazines?” While we may not have the traditional print materials associated with the magazines you see at the store, we can print a high-end version.
Let’s go over the print materials we recommend for magazine printing with 48 Hour Books:
The traditional magazine size for US magazines is 8.5 x 11, or letter size. This is the size of standard piece of paper and the size a Word Document is set up for. This makes formatting your magazine in Word easy since you don’t have to alter the dimensions. At 48 Hour Books, we require PDF files of your inside pages and cover, so if you need some additional help with formatting your magazine, you can download our free book template set up to size 8.5 x 11 with margins ready to go.
The closest binding style associated with magazine printing is our perfect binding, or paperback binding. If your magazine has less than 36 pages, you can also opt for saddle-stich binding, which is stapled, often used for programs and pamphlets.
Since magazines often have a gloss finish, we recommend our standard 10 pt. C1S Gloss UV cover. This cover option will give your magazine cover that shine typically associated with magazines. However, this is ultimately your magazine, so if you’re more attracted to a matte finish for a sleek look, we recommend our 10 pt. C1S Silk Laminate cover. We don’t recommend upgrading the thickness of your magazine cover to 12 pt. if you want the look and feel of a traditional magazine.
Choosing a paper type for magazine printing is where the options will differ the most from traditional magazine printing. Because magazine paper is usually quite thin, paper used for book printing is automatically thicker. And because magazines contain either glossy or matte paper, this leaves you with two coated paper options with 48 Hour Books: 80# Gloss Text and 80# Silk (matte) Text paper. These are the two paper types we always recommend for books that contain a lot of color. If your magazine is text-heavy, opt for Silk Text paper so that the shine doesn’t get in the way of easy reading with Gloss Text paper – but both are great options!
If you have critical color matching for your magazine, for the cover or inside pages, we also recommend ordering a printed proof with your order. A printed proof is one book that we will print and ship to you to look at in person to examine the color and print materials before your full run goes to print. This provides extra insurance that you will be happy with the final product!
Magazine printing relies heavily on an attractive cover. Regardless of subject matter, the cover should be enticing, often including bold typography and some design elements. If you need help designing your magazine cover, we offer custom cover design.
Designing the layout of your magazine will most likely be the most challenging part of the magazine printing process, especially if it includes a mix of art/photography and text. Each page of the magazine should be formatted the way you want the magazine to print before being uploaded to us. If you need help with formatting your magazine and photo placement, please reach out to us ahead of time and we can quote you on book formatting services.
Wherever you are at in the magazine printing process, 48 Hour Books is here to support you with online resources and unmatched customer service. Unlike other companies, we a readily available to answer all your questions of the phone or via email and online chat. And if you need help with formatting and design, we are happy to connect you with one of our expert prepress techs so you can feel confident your files are ready before placing an order with us. Contact us today to get started!
For more resources, check out our video gallery filled with tutorials or our FAQ page!
Ready to print your magazine? Place an order today!
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