Single InDesign file for soft-cover and hard-cover books?

Question

Hello Friends. I the past, I had one InDesign file for my softcover book, and another file for the hardcover of the same book. The two InDesign files are identical, except for some measurements. For my new books, I'm thinking, there may be a way to have only one InDesign file that covers both options. Did you run into sumething like this, do you have any ideas how this can be accomplished? Thanks a lot.

Talal-Itani · Accepted Answer

If you use the 3-page cover construction, the cover file would technically have 3 pages, but in two spreads.

You could get tricky with Parent page elements that would be then shared to each cover layout, but it's probably best to make each its own standalone layout. That means you'll use most elements twice in the file.

I was just rereading your precious messages, to try to grasp things. How about, a single spread, for the paperback, then, a script that changes the dimensions, to make it hardcover. Won't that work?

James Gifford—NitroPress · Answer

The short answer is yes, you could design a single layout that would work for both softcover (trade paperback) and hardcover (wrap on boards). (I don't think you could do a single file for both softcover and a dust jacket, though.)

To be honest, I don't think it's a good idea or that there's much advantage to it. If you want to keep one source file for consistency of layout, content, images, etc., then have two pages, one sized and optimized for softcover, the other for hardcover wrap. Use the three-page spread model and, ideally, a background image that does not require precise horizontal placement (such as color breaks meant to go right on the spine edges).

But you could do one file, one page for both by using the page size (actually, the 3-page spread size) for softcover and either bleed or slug extensions to expand the size for hardcover wrap. This will require background images or elements that extend to the limits of the bleed or slug, while not losing any design or content value when trimmed to the page size. Most likely, the HC layout will need about one half inch additional top and bottom, and about an inch in total width — but work very closely to your print service's given template sizes and dimensions.

The other issue will be spine thickness, which is about ten percent thicker or so for hardcover. It's easy enough to center content on the spine page, but allowing for the extra width and for things like cover flex gutters (1/8 inch or so between the spine edge and the start of cover content, basically needed on HC only), the front and rear cover art really should be moved out from the spine to accommodate. You can do a design that is tolerant of spine variations, but it will have a varying look on each edition.

I'd really recommend using one file, two pages, optimized page+bleed sizes for each layout, though.

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