Technical Glossary & Finishes
A guide to help you understand the technical terms and finishing options available for your book.
Cover Finishes
Spot UV varnish
Glossy or matte varnish applied to precise areas of the cover rather than the whole surface, creating a visual contrast and a distinct tactile feel. An elegant way to highlight a title, logo, or illustration.
Metallic foil stamping (hot foil)
Heat transfer of a metallic foil (gold, silver, copper…) onto precise areas using an engraved die. Adds real metallic shine and a slight relief, for a premium finish.
Cover die-cutting
A precise shape cut out of the cover using a custom die, creating a window or openwork pattern that reveals an inner element.
Lamination (gloss, matte, soft-touch matte)
Thin plastic film applied to the cover to protect it and give it a glossy, matte, or velvety “soft-touch” matte finish.
Rounded corners
Softened corners on the pages and cover, reducing the risk of dog-ears and tearing. Especially useful for children’s books.
Cover flaps
Folded extensions of the softcover turned inward, as on a premium paperback. Available only with perfect (flat-spine) binding.
Dust jacket
Removable protective wrap around a hardcover, printed on lighter paper. Serves both as protection and as marketing space for the title and author.
Softcover
Perfect binding (flat spine)
Classic softcover binding, with pages glued to the flat spine of the cover. The most common and most economical option.
Hardcover
Round-back binding
A variant with a rounded spine, giving a more traditional and sturdy look, often paired with hardcover binding.
Hardcover (casebound) binding
A rigid (cased) cover, more durable and perceived as higher quality than a softcover binding.
Board book
Built entirely from rigid board, designed for young children. Laminated or varnished pages, rounded corners, minimal text, and high resistance to heavy handling.
Genuine cloth binding
A woven fabric covering (cotton, linen, synthetic) applied to rigid boards, offering a distinctive texture and great durability. Traditionally a mark of premium binding.
Faux leather
A synthetic textile covering with a coating that mimics the grain and feel of leather. Good value for money, water-resistant, with even coloring.
Inner Elements
Edge staining (sprinkled edges)
Applying a color or pattern to the page edges, after assembly but before the cover is attached. Available in solid color or pattern, for a refined aesthetic touch — and historically, a protective function.
Metallic edge staining
A contemporary take on edge staining, using a metallic pigment for a bright, reflective effect.
Endpapers
The linking pages at the start and end of the book, structurally connecting the covers to the text block. Available blank, colored, or printed with a decorative element or illustration.
Headband
A small decorative woven band placed at the top and bottom of the spine, a traditional mark of quality in hardcover binding.
Ribbon bookmark
A fabric ribbon sewn directly into the binding to mark a page, permanently attached to the book — not to be confused with an inserted bookmark.
Inserted bookmark
A physical, standalone bookmark added separately inside the book during finishing.
Papers
Offset paper
Uncoated paper with a slightly textured, natural look. Well suited to black & white text.
Bulky (high-bulk) paper
A bulky, lightweight paper that gives the book more thickness for the same page count — useful for a more substantial feel without adding weight.
Coated paper (gloss / matte)
Paper with a coating that gives it a smooth surface, ideal for accurate color and photo reproduction.
Munken paper
A premium uncoated paper with a soft texture, in white or cream shade — particularly popular in literary publishing.
One-side coated board
Board coated on one side only, used in particular for board book binding.
Printed endpapers
Custom endpapers featuring a visual, color, or texture, available in black & white or color, single- or double-sided — an option for hardcover binding.
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