Frequently asked questions

Getting started

Supplying text and cover files

ISBNs

Binding style

Placing an ordering

Shipping and delivery

Getting started

Question What timescales should I allow for printing my book and can you give me a guide to the processes involved?
Answer On average it takes about three weeks from receiving your print ready PDF file to delivery of the bound books, but we can negotiate faster schedules to meet your specific needs.
Question Can MPG Biddles typeset my book?
Answer No, we do not offer this service in-house. If you are unable to provide us with print ready files or Adobe InDesign or Quark XPress files then we can recommend typesetters who can prepare your files to a print ready standard.
Question Why do I need an ISBN number and where can I get one from?
Answer An ISBN is an International Standard Book Number. If you wish to sell your publication through major bookselling chains, or internet booksellers, they will require you to have an ISBN to assist their internal processing and ordering systems.

The ISBN also provides access to Bibliographic Databases such as BookFind Online, which are organised using ISBNs as references. These databases are used by booksellers and libraries to provide information for customers. The ISBN therefore provides access to additional marketing tools which could help sales of your product.

ISBNs can be order from the UK ISBN Agency which is the national agency for the UK and Republic of Ireland.
The UK ISBN Agency can be contacted by any of the following:
Tel: +44 (0)870 777 8712 (9:00am - 5:00pm)
Fax: +44 (0)870 777 8714
Email: isbn.agency@nielsen.com
Post: ISBN Agency, 3rd Floor, Midas House, 62 Goldsworth Road, Woking, Surrey, GU21 6LQ, United Kingdom

For further information about ISBNs including costs and how long it takes to obtain an ISBN then please go to www.isbn.nielsenbookdata.co.uk
Question Is it true that ISBNs have changed from 10 to 13 digits?
Answer Yes, all ISBNs on reprints and new titles changed to a 13 digit format on 1 January 2007. Existing 10 digit numbers can be converted to the new 13 digit format. If you need help converting an existing 10 digit ISBN then why not use our free ISBN Converter?
Question How can I get my book listed on Amazon and other online book stores?
Answer For a book to be listed on Amazon UK and other online book stores it needs to be listed at Neilsen UK. They provide a key source of bibliographic data for books published in the UK and internationally that is used by Amazon, W H Smith, Tesco and sales staff at bookshops. The UK ISBN Agency is part of Neilsen UK and so by purchasing an ISBN your book will automatically be listed on all major online bookstores including Amazon.

For further details about Nielsen UK go to www.isbn.nielsenbook.co.uk
Question Do I have to mention the printer's name on the title verso page?
Answer The Printer's Imprint Act of 1961 states that books, journals, newspapers, periodicals, and most other matter printed in the UK must bear on the first or last leaf a legible statement of the printer's name and usual place of business (the 'Printer's imprint').
Question Where do I find a barcode?
Answer MPG Biddles can produce barcodes for their customers but do not offer this as a stand alone service. You will need to have obtained an ISBN number before your barcode can be made.
Question What about copyright?
Answer

Publishers and distributors in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland have a legal obligation to send one copy of each of their publications to the Legal Deposit Office of the British Library within one month of publication.

Items published and distributed in the United Kingdom and in Ireland are liable for deposit. The requirement remains, irrespective of the number of copies in a published edition, the price of individual copies, or the size of the publishing body. Items originally published elsewhere but distributed in the United Kingdom and in Ireland are also liable for deposit.

The right of the British Library to receive one copy of every publication distributed in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland is based on the Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003 and the Irish Copyright Act 1963 (currently being replaced by similar provisions in the Copyright and Related Rights Bill of 1999).

All publications (except newspapers) should be sent to:

Legal Deposit Office
The British Library
Boston Spa
Wetherby
West Yorkshire
LS23 7BY

Tel: +44 (0)1937 546268 (monographs) / 546267 (serials)
Fax: +44 (0)1937-546176
e: legal-deposit-books@bl.uk
e: legal-deposit-serials@bl.uk

Other Legal Deposit libraries

The deposit regulations of the Copyright Acts 1911 and 1963, with slightly different conditions, apply also to the other five legal deposit libraries:

  • the Bodleian Library, Oxford
  • the University Library, Cambridge
  • the National Library of Scotland
  • the Library of Trinity College, Dublin
  • the National Library of Wales

These libraries and are entitled to receive, free of charge, and inclusive of postage and packing, a copy of every work published in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

The Agent for the Legal Deposit Libraries is responsible for acquiring legal deposit material for these libraries. Enquiries about deposit with these libraries should be addressed to:

Agency for the Legal Deposit Libraries
100 Euston Street
London
NW1 2HQ

t: +44 (0)20 7388 5061
f: +44 (0)20 7383 3540
e: cma@cla.ac.uk
w : www.llgc.org.uk/cla

Further information can be found on The British Library's website
   
 
Question Are you a publishing company?
Answer MPG Biddles is a book manufacturer i.e. we print and bind books.  We are NOT a publisher. Our customers are publishers of books, journals and directories.

Supplying artwork

Question Help - I don’t understand Font Embedding! What does this mean and why is it so important?
Answer Embedding the fonts ensures that your document carries its own copies of the fonts you have used. Using embedded fonts guarantees that the reader of the PDF will see and reproduce the original font, regardless of whether or not they have the font installed on their system.
Question How should I supply cover artwork to MPG Biddles?
Answer Please see our page on preparing covers and jackets for printing at MPG Biddles.
Question I want to supply text files for printing at MPG Biddles?
Answer Please see our page on preparing print ready files for printing at MPG Biddles.
Question Can you accept film to produce my book?
Answer We no longer accept film or camera ready copy for producing books. All files must be supplied digitally.
Question How should I supply copy for MPG Biddles' digital web press?
Answer We would prefer digital files (PostScript or PDF) supplied via our FTP site or on CD-Rom. We can also download files from your FTP site. If you're planning to supply us with a previously printed copy of the book (for scanning), then please contact Katie Ward either by 'phoning 01553 764 728 or e-mail kward@mpg-biddles.co.uk
Question What about setting up bleeds?
Answer For all non-bled work, we require 10mm white paper from the image to trim (in the fore edge on Octavo jobs, at the foot of the page on Quarto jobs). This is necessary to allow the paper to be gripped properly on the press.
Question Can you run a test from my disks/electronic files to check the end result?
Answer Yes. We are always very happy to undertake tests as we feel that, not only should it ensure that your job will run smoothly and trouble free, but it contributes greatly to our fund of knowledge and expertise.
Question What proofs can you supply?
Answer
· Folded, imposed and digital
· Laser proofs from digital files
· Machine Scatter proofs
Question Why is the colour on my computer monitor or home printer different from my printed cover proof?
Answer

CMYK and RGB are two different colour models. The RGB colour model is used by televisions and computers monitors but most commercial colour printers use the CMYK process. At MPG Biddles we print all plate sections, covers, jackets and PPCs using this process.

So why is the difference important?

Most colours created on the RGB monitor can be duplicated using CMYK inks, but not all. As your RGB monitor is generating light, it can create some bright colours that can’t be duplicated on any CMYK printing press. Paper can only reflect light, so if you print the super-bright RGB colours in CMYK, they get a lot duller.

If you’re designing artwork in an RGB colour space (documents produced in Microsoft Publisher, for example, will be in RGB colour space) we will have to convert it to CMYK to print. Depending on your artwork, the colours might change a little from how they look in RGB or they might change a lot.

When sending artwork for printing you ought to provide all your images in CMYK. This way, if there are any colour shifts, you’ll be able to see them and take steps to correct the problem. If you supply RGB images, we will make the CMYK conversion, and you will see the result in the proof that we send you.. If you want to make any changes to your images at that point, your job may be delayed and incur additional charges. That is why it is important to supply your files in CMYK wherever possible.

Binding styles

Question Can you explain the different types of cover to bind books?
Answer Limp (paperback), cased (hardback) with printed paper case (PPC), cased (hardback) with wibalin (cloth), and jacketed.
Question Can you explain the difference between perfect, slot perforated and sewn binding?
Answer

The type of binding suitable for your product will depend upon a number of factors, and we are happy to offer technical advice to help you meet your budget and specific market requirements. MPG Biddles offers:

· Perfect (unsewn) binding: adhesive style in which the backs of gathered sections are cut off and the leaves are glued at the binding edge. If the book is to be case bound a lining is also added to the binding edge. This is the most economical form of binding.
· Slot perforated binding (sometimes known as notch or burst): adhesive binding in which a series of slots (or notches) are cut into the spine at folding stage to allow the adhesive to penetrate. The book is bound as complete sections, rather than leaves, and is therefore stronger than unsewn binding but cheaper than sewn binding.
· Sewn binding: after gathering the sections, a sewing machine inserts threads through the spine of each section and then uses further threads to join each section to each other, to form the book block. This is the strongest but most expensive form of binding.

Placing an order

Question How do I place an order with MPG Biddles?
Answer Once payment terms have been agreed then please either complete our order form or send us your own production order form. This can be sent via e-mail, post or uploaded with your files to our FTP site. Please quote our estimate number and confirm the following:
  • · Paperback or hardback
  • · Number of pages
  • · Number of copies
  • · Text paper
  • · Cover or jacket finish
  • · Delivery address(es)
  • · Invoice address (if different from the delivery address)
Question How can I check the status of my order?
Answer All MPG Biddles customers can access our online order management system - Press2Book - which provides unlimited access to your job data so you can monitor progress whenever, and wherever, it suits you.
Question How do I access Press2Book?
Answer We'll supply a secure user name and password for to you which will enable you to access the client login area of our website. In the interests of security, please do not disclose your personal log in details to anyone else. If you haven't received a password and you're an existing MPG Biddles client, send a password request to press2book@biddles.co.uk
Question What should I do if I'm having trouble logging into my account?
Answer Send an e-mail to press2book@mpg-biddles.co.uk or call either Nicky Prentis or Jo Palmer on (01553) 764728 for assistance.

Shipping and delivery

Question How will my books be packed and delivered?
Answer Books are usually supplied packed in cartons and the normal weight of each parcel/carton is 10 kg. UK deliveries are made by overnight courier or pallet track services. We can arrange deliveries to anywhere in the world.

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