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Saturday & Sunday: Closed
Your Publishing Journey
Follow these steps in order. Each one links to the resource or tool you need.
1
Write and Edit Your Manuscript
Before you think about printing, make sure your manuscript is complete and edited. Consider hiring a professional editor or proofreader — print is permanent, and errors are costly to fix after press.
2
Format Your Interior
Your manuscript needs to be formatted for print — this means setting proper margins, choosing a readable typeface, sizing your pages, and formatting chapter headings, headers, and footers. You can do this yourself in Microsoft Word or Adobe InDesign, or use our formatting service.
3
Design Your Cover
Your cover is the first thing readers see. It needs to be print-ready: the correct trim size, 0.125" bleed on all sides, a calculated spine width, and CMYK colour mode. A professionally designed cover dramatically improves sales.
4
Understand ISBNs
An ISBN (International Standard Book Number) identifies your book in retail and distribution systems. If you plan to sell through bookstores, Amazon, or distributors, you need one. If you're printing for personal use or private distribution, you don't. In Canada, ISBNs are free through Library and Archives Canada.
5
Choose Your Format and Specs
Decide on your trim size, binding type, paper stock, and cover finish. These choices affect cost, feel, and how your book reads. Our Book Genre page shows common spec combinations for different types of books.
6
Get Your Price and Place Your Order
Once your specs are set, use our Instant Quote tool for orders under 500 copies, or our Custom Quote form for bulk runs. Upload your print-ready files at checkout — or save your order and upload later.
7
Track Your Production
After your order is placed and your file is approved, you can track your production progress in real time — from file review through press, binding, quality assurance, and shipping.
✦ FREE RESOURCE
Download Your Free Self-Publishing Guide
Everything you need to know to take your work from concept to a professionally published book. Written by the Sure Print & Design production team.
- ✓Step-by-step publishing roadmap
- ✓Interior formatting guidelines
- ✓Cover design best practices
- ✓ISBN registration walkthrough
- ✓Binding and paper selection guide
- ✓Copyright and rights basics
No sign-up or email required.
SURE PRINT & DESIGNPRINTED IN ONTARIO
Self-Publishing Guide
Step-by-step manual for self-publishers
Key Concepts for First-Time Publishers
Familiarize yourself with these core fundamentals to make informed decisions for your book.
Print Terminology
Bleed: The extra 0.125" edge added to files to prevent white margins during trimming.
Trim Size: The final physical dimensions of your printed book (e.g. 5.5"x8.5" or 6"x9").
Spine: The edge of the book where pages are bound. Thicker books require calculated dimensions.
CMYK: The colour spectrum used for printing. Convert RGB images to CMYK before submission.
GSM: Grams per square meter, measuring paper density. Thicker papers have a higher GSM.
Perfect Bound: The standard paperback binding using industrial hot glue at the spine.
Rights & Royalties
As a self-publisher, you retain 100% of the rights to your work. Sure Print & Design is a print manufacturer — we hold no rights to your content and charge only for production. There are no royalty fees, contracts, or exclusivity agreements.
Copyright in Canada applies automatically to original works as soon as they are written down. You do not need to register copyright to be protected, though formal registration provides a clean legal paper trail.
Learn about Canadian copyright ↗What an ISBN Is (and Isn't)
An ISBN does not provide copyright protection and does not make your book 'official.' It is strictly a product identifier used by retail bookstores, libraries, and online networks (like Amazon) to catalog your publication.
You need one to sell your book through commercial venues. You do not need an ISBN for books meant for private distribution, family, or business archives. Canadian ISBNs are free.
Apply for a free Canadian ISBN ↗Ready to Print Your First Book?
Configure your page count, paper choices, binding, and quantity to get a real price estimate in under 60 seconds.