Got It Covered
Material concerns
To select the right materials for the project, says Brice Draper, vice president of sales and marketing, Permalin Products, New York City, consider the project's direction, its cost and aesthetics, and the durability of materials used. Start with the budget, he says, and select materials that would fit into your budget. Next, consider the trim size. "The larger the size, obviously, the more durable you have to think," says Draper. Depending on the expected amount of use and the book's shelf life, different finishes could be considered (a Bible, Draper points out, is an example of a book that must have a durable cover, since it's expected to be used on a daily basis). Make sure that intensiveness of treatment of interior text and the cover are balanced, especially if you decide to invest a considerable sum into the book's text. Also, Draper advises, ask yourself the following questions: What is the thickness of the spine? What is the retail cost to a consumer? What kind of edition will it be, deluxe or standard? Does the book have a jacket? Is your audience a one-shot retail buyer or a repeat mail-order buyer?