Cover File Specifications for Print

File Formats

Cover has to be submitted as a single file in one of the following formats:
- jpg/jpeg
- tiff
- pdf
Cover can be coloured or black & white.
The images used should be of at least 300 DPI/PPI.
All the images should be flattened.
File's colorspace should Grayscale or CMYK.
You can use photoshop, coreldraw etc. to create the images. Convert them to tiff/PDF/jpg before submitting on Pothi.com. If you want to avoid proprietary tools for image editing, you can use open source alternatives like GIMP and Inkspace. You can also avail of our cover design services, or our free-to-use cover creator.

Manuscripts in RTL Languages

For manuscripts in RTL languages, the order of elements in the cover needs to be reversed. The cover file should be a single file with the front cover on the left hand side, followed by the spine, and then the back cover.

Pre-requisites for Cover Design

The size of the cover you need depends on

Page size of the interior
Number of pages
Type of Binding

To know the number of pages you must have the interior of the book formatted. See the specifications for interior formatting here.

You also need to decide on the type of binding to be used. The availability of a binding type depends on the number of pages in the interior. Check out the binding options here and decide on the one you would use for your book.

Cover Structure

Important terms used in describing cover:

Spine:

Spine is the part of the cover that covers the thickness of the book. It falls between the front and the back cover. Spine is applicable only to the perfect bound and hard bound books. There is no spine in the saddle stitched books.
Bleed:

The covers for saddle-stitched and perfect bound books should have bleed around them. Bleed is not the part of the final cover when the book is ready. It refers to extra area around the cover that gets cut off. Bleed should be an extension of the background of the cover, but no text or graphics that are meant to appear in the final book should appear in the bleed. The reason for putting bleed on the cover is that trimming of the book can never be exact. There will always be slight variation. So, if the background of the cover is not extended, you may see a thin white strip on the edges of the cover.
Flap:

The covers for hard bound books need to have flaps. When the cover is pasted on the board, part of it is folded inside to give a smooth look to the book and to completely hide the board. This folded part is referred to as flap. Like bleed this part should be an extension of the background of the cover, but should not contain text or graphics as it will be covered by the end paper of the book.

The structure of the cover for various binding types is demonstrated below.

Saddle stitched (centre stapled)

Bleed height: 0.2"
Bleed height: 0.2"
Bleed width: 0.2"
Back cover
Front cover
Bleed width: 0.2"
Bleed height: 0.2"
Bleed height: 0.2"

Soft cover

Bleed height: 0.2"
Bleed height: 0.2"
Bleed width: 0.2"
Back cover
Spine width: 0.001968" x no.of pages
Front cover
Bleed width: 0.2"
Bleed height: 0.2"
Bleed height: 0.2"

Hard cover (case binding)

Flap height: 0.787"
Flap height: 0.787"
Flap width: 0.787"
Back cover
Spine width: 0.157" + 0.001968" x no.of pages
Front cover
Flap width: 0.787"
Flap height: 0.787"
Flap height: 0.787"

Best Practices

Don't put text and images (except background) right up to the edge. It is not a good aesthetic choice and content on the edge is also in danger of getting cut off.
Include all information you want printed on the book. Pothi.com doesn't include anything from its side on the files submitted for publishing.
Understand technicalities of image size and keep them in mind while designing the cover.

Cover Size

There should be no extra white space around the actual cover with bleed/flap. The cover should be submitted in the exact size as described next. There should be no crop marks on the cover either.
Bleed/flap must be equal on all the sides.

Specifications for file submissions

File Formats

Manuscripts in RTL Languages

Pre-requisites for Cover Design

Cover Structure

Spine:

Bleed:

Flap:

Saddle stitched (centre stapled)

Soft cover

Hard cover (case binding)

Best Practices

Cover Size

Cover Design Help

Size of Book	Binding Type	Cover Dimensions (Portrait)	Cover Dimensions (Landscape)
5" x 7"	Saddle Stitched (Center Stapled)	Width (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on left) + 5 (back) + 5 (front) + 0.2 (bleed on right) Height (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on top) + 7 + 0.2 (bleed on bottom)	Width (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on left) + 7 (back) + (front) + 0.2 (bleed on right) Height (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on top) + 5 + 0.2 (bleed on bottom)
	Softcover	Width (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on Left) + 5 (back) + 0.001968 xNumber of pages in your file (Spine) + 5 (front) + 0.2 (bleed on right) Height (in inches) = 0.2 (bleed on top)+ 7 + 0.2 (bleed on bottom)	Width (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on Left) + 7 (back) + 0.001968 xNumber of pages in your file (Spine) + 7 (front) + 0.2 (bleed on right) Height (in inches) = 0.2 (bleed on top)+ 5 + 0.2 (bleed on bottom)
	Hardcover (Case Binding)	Width (in inches) = 0.787 (Flap on Left) + 5.276 (back) + [0.157+ 0.001968 xNumber of pages in your file] (Spine) + 5.276 (front) + 0.787 (Flap on right) Height (in inches) = 0.787 (Flap on top)+ 7.394 + 0.787 (flap on bottom)	Width (in inches) = 0.787 (Flap on Left) + 7.276 (back) + [0.157+ 0.001968 xNumber of pages in your file] (Spine) + 7.276 (front) + 0.787 (Flap on right) Height (in inches) = 0.787 (Flap on top)+ 5.394 + 0.787 (flap on bottom)
5" x 8"	Saddle Stitched (Center Stapled)	Width (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on left) + 5 (back) + 5 (front) + 0.2 (bleed on right) Height (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on top) + 8 + 0.2 (bleed on bottom)	Width (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on left) + 8 (back) + 8 (front) + 0.2 (bleed on right) Height (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on top) + 5 + 0.2 (bleed on bottom)
	Softcover	Width (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on Left) + 5 (back) + 0.001968 xNumber of pages in your file (Spine) + 5 (front) + 0.2 (bleed on right) Height (in inches) = 0.2 (bleed on top)+ 8 + 0.2 (bleed on bottom)	Width (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on Left) + 8 (back) + 0.001968 xNumber of pages in your file (Spine) + 8 (front) + 0.2 (bleed on right) Height (in inches) = 0.2 (bleed on top)+ 5 + 0.2 (bleed on bottom)
	Hardcover (Case Binding)	Width (in inches) = 0.787 (Flap on Left) + 5.276 (back) + [0.157+ 0.001968 xNumber of pages in your file (Spine)] + 5.276 (front) + 0.787 (Flap on right) Height (in inches) = 0.787 (Flap on top)+ 8.394 + 0.787 (flap on bottom)	Width (in inches) = 0.787 (Flap on Left) + 8.276 (back) + [0.157+ 0.001968 xNumber of pages in your file (Spine)] + 8.276 (front) + 0.787 (Flap on right) Height (in inches) = 0.787 (Flap on top)+ 5.394 + 0.787 (flap on bottom)
A5	Saddle Stitched (Center Stapled)	Width (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on left) + 5.83 (back) + 5.83 (front) + 0.2 (bleed on right)Height (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on top) + 8.27 + 0.2 (bleed on bottom) Height (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on top) + 8.27 + 0.2 (bleed on bottom)	Width (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on left) + 8.27 (back) + 8.27 (front) + 0.2 (bleed on right)Height (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on top) + 8.27 + 0.2 (bleed on bottom) Height (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on top) + 5.83 + 0.2 (bleed on bottom)
	Softcover	Width (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on Left) + 5.83 (back) + 0.001968 xNumber of pages in your file (Spine) + 5.83 (front) + 0.2 (bleed on right) Height (in inches) = 0.2 (bleed on top)+ 8.27 + 0.2 (bleed on bottom)	Width (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on Left) + 8.27 (back) + 0.001968 xNumber of pages in your file (Spine) + 8.27 (front) + 0.2 (bleed on right) Height (in inches) = 0.2 (bleed on top)+ 5.83 + 0.2 (bleed on bottom)
	Hardcover (Case Binding)	Width (in inches) = 0.787 (Flap on Left) + 6.106 (back) + [0.157+ 0.001968 xNumber of pages in your file] (Spine) + 6.106 (front) + 0.787 (Flap on right) Height (in inches) = 0.787 (Flap on top)+ 8.664 + 0.787 (flap on bottom)	Width (in inches) = 0.787 (Flap on Left) + 8.546 (back) + [0.157+ 0.001968 xNumber of pages in your file] (Spine) + 8.546 (front) + 0.787 (Flap on right) Height (in inches) = 0.787 (Flap on top)+ 6.224 + 0.787 (flap on bottom)
5.5" x 8.5"	Saddle Stitched (Center Stapled)	Width (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on left) + 5.5 (back) + 5.5 (front) + 0.2 (bleed on right) Height (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on top) + 8.5 + 0.2 (bleed on bottom)	Width (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on left) + 8.5 (back) + 8.5 (front) + 0.2 (bleed on right) Height (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on top) + 5.5 + 0.2 (bleed on bottom)
	Softcover	Width (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on Left) + 5.5 (back) + 0.001968 xNumber of pages in your file (Spine) + 5.5 (front) + 0.2 (bleed on right) Height (in inches) = 0.2 (bleed on top)+ 8.5 + 0.2 (bleed on bottom)	Width (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on Left) + 8.5 (back) + 0.001968 xNumber of pages in your file (Spine) + 8.5 (front) + 0.2 (bleed on right) Height (in inches) = 0.2 (bleed on top)+ 5.5 + 0.2 (bleed on bottom)
	Hardcover (Case Binding)	Width (in inches) = 0.787 (Flap on Left) + 5.776 (back) + [0.157+ 0.001968 xNumber of pages in your file] (Spine) + 5.776 (front) + 0.787 (Flap on right) Height (in inches) = 0.787 (Flap on top)+ 8.894 + 0.787 (flap on bottom)	Width (in inches) = 0.787 (Flap on Left) + 8.776 (back) + [0.157+ 0.001968 xNumber of pages in your file] (Spine) + 8.776 (front) + 0.787 (Flap on right) Height (in inches) = 0.787 (Flap on top)+ 5.894 + 0.787 (flap on bottom)
6" x 9"	Saddle Stitched (Center Stapled)	Width (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on left) + 6 (back) + 6 (front) + 0.2 (bleed on right) Height (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on top) + 9 + 0.2 (bleed on bottom)	Width (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on left) + 9 (back) + 9 (front) + 0.2 (bleed on right) Height (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on top) + 6 + 0.2 (bleed on bottom)
	Softcover	Width (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on Left) + 6 (back) + 0.001968 xNumber of pages in your file (Spine) + 6 (front) + 0.2 (bleed on right) Height (in inches) = 0.2 (bleed on top)+ 9 + 0.2 (bleed on bottom)	Width (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on Left) + 9 (back) + 0.001968 xNumber of pages in your file (Spine) + 9 (front) + 0.2 (bleed on right) Height (in inches) = 0.2 (bleed on top)+ 6 + 0.2 (bleed on bottom)
	Hardcover (Case Binding)	Width (in inches) = 0.787 (Flap on Left) + 6.276 (back) + [0.157+ 0.001968 xNumber of pages in your file] (Spine) + 6.276 (front) + 0.787 (Flap on right) Height (in inches) = 0.787 (Flap on top)+ 9.394 + 0.787 (flap on bottom)	Width (in inches) = 0.787 (Flap on Left) + 9.276 (back) + [0.157+ 0.001968 xNumber of pages in your file] (Spine) + 9.276 (front) + 0.787 (Flap on right) Height (in inches) = 0.787 (Flap on top)+ 6.394 + 0.787 (flap on bottom)
7" x 9"	Saddle Stitched (Center Stapled)	Width (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on left) + 7 (back) + 7 (front) + 0.2 (bleed on right) Height (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on top) + 9 + 0.2 (bleed on bottom)	Landscape option not available.
	Softcover	Width (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on Left) + 7 (back) + 0.001968 xNumber of pages in your file (Spine) + 7 (front) + 0.2 (bleed on right) Height (in inches) = 0.2 (bleed on top)+ 9 + 0.2 (bleed on bottom)	Landscape option not available.
	Hardcover (Case Binding)	Width (in inches) = 0.787 (Flap on Left) + 7.276 (back) + [0.157+ 0.001968 xNumber of pages in your file] (Spine) + 7.276 (front) + 0.787 (Flap on right) Height (in inches) = 0.787 (Flap on top)+ 9.394 + 0.787 (flap on bottom)	Landscape option not available.
A4	Saddle Stitched (Center Stapled)	Width (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on left) + 8.27 (back) + 8.27 (front) + 0.2 (bleed on right) Height (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on top) + 11.69 + 0.2 (bleed on bottom)	Landscape option not available.
	Softcover	Width (in inches) = 0.2 (Bleed on Left) + 8.27 (back) + 0.001968 xNumber of pages in your file (Spine) + 8.27 (front) + 0.2 (bleed on right) Height (in inches) = 0.2 (bleed on top)+ 11.69 + 0.2 (bleed on bottom)	Landscape option not available.
	Hardcover (Case Binding)	Width (in inches) = 0.787 (Flap on Left) + 8.546 (back) + [0.157+ 0.001968 xNumber of pages in your file] (Spine) + 8.546 (front) + 0.787 (Flap on right) Height (in inches) = 0.787 (Flap on top)+ 12.084 + 0.787 (flap on bottom)	Landscape option not available.