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Where to print a hardcopy of a book created in Pages?

1

1brajesh

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 18, 2020
84
10
Hello,

I've written a book using Pages, using one of the book templates provided in Pages.
Now I want to print this book.

I recall Apple used to let me an album from photos, so I was wondering if there was something similar from Pages?

I thought there should be some support to print the book via Apple.
How can I get my book printed from Pages?

If I can't do it via pages, anyone recommend a good printing company that can help print the book in Pages format?

thank you.
 
I'm not sure what you mean. Do you have a link you can point me to?
 
@svanstrom's suggestion is your best bet but, as he says, they're going to want a PDF.

And, speaking as a book designer who's worked with one very large and several smaller printing outfits, they will have some specific PDF specs, such as PDF/X-1a:2001.

Say more about your book, in particular whether it has elaborate formatting, illustrations, etc.

I can tell you what my standard procedure is:

-- begin with a Word document (which you can export from Pages)
-- import that into Adobe InDesign
-- create the book
-- export the proper PDF and upload to a printer
-- many printers will give you a "cover template" or at least tell you how to set up the cover they want.

You don't say how "professional" you want your book to be, or whether you're willing to spend money. If the answer is "not so much," then I suggest finding a student or beginning designer who can use InDesign, and asking them to make it for you.

These days, when I upload Kindles for my clients, I see that Amazon is prompting me to have them make a paperback from the Kindle. I don't need that service, but you might explore it.

Feel free to message me if you want more information. And no, I'm not looking for work.
 
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Hello @monokakata thank you for the detailed reply.
I wasn't aware of all this!

Whenever I export from Pages to Word, it never looks the same.
This is why I was hoping that some "book printing system" could directly take it from Pages.

My book is fairly simple.
It's simple text formatting, and about 15 pictures (some are going to be keynote slides, others will be photographs).

I saw that Pages has a book template and so I was excited that I could do everything in Pages.

I'm in the "not so much" category for spending money.

I've published a mini-book on Kindle and I had to do the pdf path.

So it seems like PDF is the way to go?

I'm willing to find a student to help me with Indesign.
What's the advantage of Adobe InDesign?
 
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Why don't you explore what happens when you use Pages to export a PDF? If that PDF is formatted the way you want, then you're likely in pretty good shape -- although it's likely that a printer will want to see the PDF in a standard format such as 5.5 x 8 or 6 x 9. If you're using another page size, you might have to go back to Pages and adjust.

Consider asking around or searching for a printer. They are out there. As I said, some are quite large and others are smaller and you'd be dealing with an owner directly. Then ask them what they want from you, and go from there.

The advantage of InDesign is that it allows you to produce just about any kind of book you want. You have complete control over fonts, spacing, margins, etc. and you have true proportional spacing and various kinds of justification, over which you have considerable control. And what it outputs is what printers like.

You need to ask yourself what kind of book you want. If you want something that looks as though it came from a publishing house, then you're going to have to go in a certain direction. But if you want something that looks OK, that no one will diss as "amateurish" then you do have options.

Really, though, in your situation I'd work backwards from a printer, to learn precisely what they'd want to see from you.

Almost all of my clients use Ingram/Spark with its printing arm Lightning Source. You can find them on the web, and although they don't give personalized service you can download various documents that show what they expect.

If that outfit doesn't suit, and you can't find anybody else, let me know and I'll dig back to see what other printers my clients have used. I can think of two but I'd have to dig for their names and contact info.

And finally, do explore Amazon. Perhaps what used to be called CreateSpace (but is now KDP) is just what you need.
 
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thank you @monokakata I'll look into the details of what you have suggested and get back to you if I have any questions, this insight and information you've provided is much appreciated :)
 
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This is good to know @pmiles - I'm not doing a photo book right now but I'm glad its still doable this way !
 
1brajesh said:
Hello,

I've written a book using Pages, using one of the book templates provided in Pages.
Now I want to print this book.

I recall Apple used to let me an album from photos, so I was wondering if there was something similar from Pages?

I thought there should be some support to print the book via Apple.
How can I get my book printed from Pages?

If I can't do it via pages, anyone recommend a good printing company that can help print the book in Pages format?

thank you.
Click to expand...
What kind of book? Under the file command, theres a menu of choices depending what you want. Consider File -> Print. Page Setup, Export, and Publish to Apple Books might help too. Click Help then type print a book and it will tell you how to create your first document, use templates, and set up facing pages. Good luck. R
 
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HillCountry said:
What kind of book? Under the file command, theres a menu of choices depending what you want. Consider File -> Print. Page Setup, Export, and Publish to Apple Books might help too. Click Help then type print a book and it will tell you how to create your first document, use templates, and set up facing pages. Good luck. R
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
HillCountry said:
What part of printing is causing you problems? I don't know how you can write a book, but not know how to print it. Did you print a chapter at a time to edit or is this the first time anyone has read it? Is it a thousand page novel or a four page brochure? Since the previous answers aren't what you want, perhaps you could scan the links below and


Custom Brochure Printing & Design | VistaPrint

Design a full-color custom brochure and tell your customers your complete story. Perfect as handouts, takeaways or mailing inserts, and can be used in almost every industry.
www.vistaprint.com www.vistaprint.com
Click to expand...
lol - your suggestions appreciated
 
I fear @HillCountry isn't familiar with book printing (as opposed to brochures, posters, reports, etc). Also I note that Apple Books is an e-book operation, not a print one. So it's of no help to the OP.

I found a link to a printer that one of my clients used. I never saw the end result, but the client reported they were pleased. And I do remember that working with these people was easy.

Home | Art Book Printing, Digital Book Printing | Bookmobile

Bookmobile is the answer to all your book printing needs. We offer a variety of book printing services such as custom art book printing and more.
www.bookmobile.com

and another, same situation (never saw the final but reported happiness all around).

www.tps1.com

Total Printing Systems - The next chapter in book manufacturing.

Total Printing Systems is a short run book printer offering single to full color on covers and interiors in all bind styles.
www.tps1.com www.tps1.com

Take a look at what they offer.
 
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Sorry, Monokakata is right. I didn't mean anything about the quality of your writing.

So, congratulations on getting the hard part done.
 
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