Watch the setup walkthrough
A short walkthrough of how to set up a lay-flat Wire-O book file, start to finish. Then grab the correctly-sized example below.
Quick file checklist
Tap each item as you confirm it before uploading.
00 / 09 doneWhat makes a press-ready Wire-O file
How Wire-O binding works
Wire-O threads a twin-loop metal coil through a row of holes punched along the binding edge. Pages turn a full 360 degrees and the book lies completely flat, which is why it is the go-to for cookbooks, notebooks, manuals, workbooks, planners and calendars. There is no set minimum or maximum page count. Each leaf is a single sheet printed on both sides, so pages are added two at a time. If your finished book is thicker than 1 inch, ask us about coil binding, an alternative that protects the coil from the weight of the book.
Page count and order
Build your file as single pages in reading order, not as reader or printer spreads. Count every page, including the front cover, inner covers and back cover, so your file matches your order. Page 1 is the outside front cover and the last page is the outside back cover. Our system imposes the pages for you, so you never have to work out which pages print together.
Mind the binding edge
The coil punches a row of holes along the binding edge and ends about 1/4 inch in. Keep text, page numbers and important artwork at least 3/8 inch clear of that edge so nothing reads into the coil. The binding edge alternates sides as the reader turns pages, so apply this margin to the bound side of every page.
Bleed, trim and safe zone
Printing, punching and trimming each introduce tiny shifts. Extend full-bleed artwork 1/8 inch past the trim on all four sides, and keep important text or logos at least 1/4 inch inside the trim on the open edges. This avoids white slivers at the edge and type being cut off.
Covers and stock
Wire-O covers are usually a heavier stock for durability, and soft-touch lamination is available for a premium matte finish. The cover is punched and bound just like the interior, so keep spine-side cover content clear of the binding edge too. Wire comes in black or white as standard; colored wire is available but may add cost and time.
Color and resolution
Build everything in CMYK so on-screen color matches the press. Convert RGB images and Pantone swatches before export, place raster images at 300 dpi at final size, embed or outline all fonts and flatten transparency. Export a single press-ready PDF (PDF/X-1a or X-4 work well).
Jobs with additional finishing
Jobs with additional finishing options bypass our automated proofing system entirely and go straight to a manual prepress review. Your soft proof may take up to 1 business day to be prepared, and our team may contact you if any file revisions are needed.
See our bindery guide for setup instructionsTemplates and how to use them
Download the template
- Open the price calculator and choose your size and options.
- Download the template that matches your specs, or resize the closest one to fit.
- Open it in Adobe InDesign or Illustrator, or in Canva.
Add your artwork
- Place your design on the artwork layer, using the template layer as a guide.
- Keep text and key art 3/8" clear of the binding edge so the coil does not catch it.
- Pull full-bleed art 1/8" past trim on the open edges and remove all template guides before exporting.
- Export one press-ready PDF as single pages, with fonts embedded and transparency flattened.
Wire-O, answered
There is no set minimum or maximum page count for Wire-O books, so the same coil binding works for a thin workbook or a thick manual. Each leaf is a single sheet printed front and back, so pages are added two at a time. If your finished book is thicker than 1 inch, ask us about coil binding, an alternative that protects the coil from the weight of the book.
We offer black or white wire as standard. Colored wire is also available, but it may add cost and extend production time, so let us know early if you want it.
The coil punches a row of holes along the binding edge and ends about 1/4 inch in. Keep text, logos and page numbers at least 3/8 inch clear of that edge so nothing important is lost. Full-bleed background art is fine, just not type or key elements.
Send single pages in reading order, starting with the front cover. Do not impose the file into printer spreads yourself. Our system handles imposition automatically based on your page count.
Yes. Count every page, including the front cover, inner covers and back cover. The outside front cover is page 1 and the outside back cover is your final page. Wire-O covers are punched and bound along with the interior unless you order a separate wrap cover.
Pick your size, including custom sizes, right in the book price calculator. Send a single press-ready PDF, and we also accept AI, INDD, PSD, EPS, JPG, PNG and TIFF.