Step 1: Collect your contents
This may be photos of your vacation to Australia or that novel you finally finished; a pitch to a prospective client or your grandmother's watercolors.
Step 2: What's the purpose of your book?
Now think about what kind of book you'd like to have and who's going to read it. Would you like hardcover or softcover? Large format or small? Is it going to be a one-of-a-kind masterpiece, go to a few close friends or will folks on every street corner be reading it.
Step 3: Design your book
Or let us do it for you. Our professional creative team knows all the latest digital tools to make your book stand out. We also know our system perfectly-so we get it right the first time.
If you'd like to create the design yourself, please visit our Preparing Your Files page.
Be sure to look at the Sending Us Your Materials page. Please provide us with duplicate copies of anything important or special and keep your originals. Though we'll treat your content with the utmost care, we cannot take responsibility for lost or damaged items.
Step 4: Proof the Design
You'll get to see an electronic proof of your design before we print the first copy. Make sure to check the order of images, spelling, captions, etc. We can easily make any changes you'd like. If you design your book on your own, we assume you have proofed your own file.
Step 5: Choose Cover Options & Book Treatments
For hardcover books, you'll need to choose a cover style, check out the swatches to see what materials are available. We try to keep a variety in stock, but we don't always have every combination. We can often special order exactly what you want, but if your project is urgent, have a second choice in mind.
There are also a variety of cover options and book treatments to choose from, check out the services section for more information on these. If you're looking for something and don't see it offered, we can make it custom for you.
If you're making a softcover book, there are fewer options, but still some important choices. We use a high-gloss lamination on your cover for extra protection.
We're always happy to work with you to create custom bindings and treatments for your book-try us out, you'll be amazed by the individuality and innovation we put into every book.
Step 6: FCB Produces Your Book
So your book is designed, the cover options navigated. Now we'll produce it for you. Your first book will be ready to pick up or ship in three to five days.
We'll print your pages with a high-quality laser printer on acid-free, smooth, bright paper that handles text and images very well.
Next we'll bind and trim the book to the right size, and create your cover-all the cover decorations are done by hand by one of our designers, so you know your book will look great!
Finally we secure the book block into the cover. The book has to sit overnight to cure the adhesive in the binding.
Step 7: The wait is over!
You get your book and check it out. If all looks good, we can make additional copies or post it on our online bookstore to sell.
The beauty of our system is that you don't have to order all your books at once. We keep your files archived, so you can order more at anytime in the future. All your future books will be discounted off the price of that first book.
So that's how a Fastback® Creative Book™ is made!
