Although almost the last step in the process, think about your printing and binding method before you start your book project. Talk to a printer. They can give you advice on low-tech and new technologies that will yield good results at the lowest costs. Sometimes the printing and binding methods will dictate certain design and layout requirements. For example, sidestitching requires extra room for the inner margin and some binding methods don't allow you to open the book flat or are better for books with fewer pages. /p]
- Photocopies - For photocopying from your printed original, it's usually best to use a laser original for the sharpest results. Print some test text and photos and photocopy them before you proceed too far. It may take some experimentation to get your photographs to copy well.
- Digital Printing - Discuss both photocopying and digital printing options for small runs with your printer. Color digital printing costs a lot less than it used to.
- Covers - If full color isn't an affordable option for the book itself, a color cover can dress up your book. A good heavy stock will help your labor of love withstand wear and tear. You may even want to expend a little extra on the cover to have it embossed with the family name. Another nice option would be a diecut where a photo of the family shows through.
- Binding - Some fairly inexpensive binding options include saddlestitch (for booklets, small histories), sidestitching (you'll need to allow extra inner margin room), various spiral bindings, and thermal binding.
