Hardcover photo book or softcover: how to choose
A hardcover uses rigid boards; a softcover is flexible. Compare page limits, cover wrap, weight and delivered cost for the same book, then choose for its storage and handling.
A hardcover has rigid boards and a spine around the pages. A softcover is heavier card wrapped round them. The pages inside can be the same in both.
The cover changes the weight, the price, how the book stands on a shelf and how many pages it can hold. It does not change the paper unless you choose different paper too.
Make your photobook
Arrange your photos on A4 pages, check the proof and order a printed copy.
| Point | Hardcover | Softcover |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Rigid boards and a spine round the pages | Heavy card wrapped round the pages |
| How pages are joined | Can be sewn or glued; ask for this exact format | Can be glued, stitched or otherwise joined; check the chosen product |
| Cover styles | Printed, cloth or linen, dust jacket | Printed card, sometimes laminated |
| Weight | Heavier | Lighter |
| Cost | Higher | Lower |
| Page limits | Set by the printer for each binding | Set by the printer; thin books are common |
| Spine text | Usually room for it | Only above a certain thickness |
| Wear | Boards protect pages; corners can dent | Corners crease and covers can curl |
| On the shelf | Stands upright and stays straight | Can bow if stored loosely |
| Suits | The kept copy, a gift, a family book | Holidays, events, many copies, posting |
How each is put together
Blurb lists image-wrapped boards, linen with a dust jacket and softcover as different cover choices. Those examples describe that supplier's range, not a specification for every printer.
Ask separately how the pages are joined and whether a sample opens comfortably. A rigid cover does not guarantee lay-flat pages, heavier paper or a longer-lasting binding.
Three kinds of hard cover
Which one suits depends on where the book lives and how it will be handled.
- Printed cover: a photo printed on the outside and wrapped round the boards. The image is the whole cover, so scuffs show on dark areas.
- Cloth or linen: fabric over boards, often with a stamped title or a window for one photo. Hides wear well and keeps photos for the inside.
- Dust jacket: a printed paper jacket over plain boards. It can come off for reading and protects the boards, but it can tear.
Page count and the spine
Each binding has its own minimum and maximum page count, set by the printer. Read both for the cover you want before planning chapters.
Spine text needs a spine wide enough to print on. A softcover with few pages may have no room, so the book cannot be identified on a shelf.
On a printed hardcover the image wraps round the board edges, so a strip on every side folds inside. Keep the title and faces well away from the cover edge.
Weight and posting
Boards add weight, and a heavier parcel can cost more to post. If several copies are going by post, price the delivery for each cover before deciding.
A hardcover's corners dent if the book moves inside its packaging. A softcover bends. Both need a stiff envelope or a box that fits them.
Which suits which book
For frequent handling, inspect the corners and hinges on a sample. If children will read the book, also consider its weight, page edges and whether they can turn pages comfortably.
Softcover suits a holiday, a school year, a party book with copies for guests and anything posted to many people. Store it flat or upright between other books so it stays straight.
Save quotes for both covers at identical page count, paper and size. If an option forces a different paper or binding, record that difference rather than attributing it all to the cover.
Steps
Decide how it will be used
Write where the book will live and who will handle it. A shelf and years of use points to boards; a bag or a letterbox points to card.
Check the page limits
Read the minimum and maximum page counts for both covers at your size. Choose the cover whose range fits the spreads you have.
Pick the cover style
For a hardcover, choose printed, fabric or jacketed. Use a printed cover when one photo says the whole book, and fabric when none does.
Set the cover safely
Keep the title and any face well inside the edge, since it wraps round the boards. Add spine text only if the spine is wide enough.
Questions
Is a hardcover photo book worth the extra?
It depends on the exact book and use. Compare a sample, the delivered price and storage space. Flexible covers can suit a kept book too when their weight and handling suit the reader.
Does a hardcover mean the pages are thicker?
No. The cover and the paper are separate choices. A hardcover can hold thin pages, and a softcover can hold heavy ones.
Can a softcover photo book have a title on the spine?
Only if the spine is thick enough. Printers usually set a minimum page count for spine text; below it, put the title on the front cover only.