Do you consider publishing your print book with tolino media? Here is a little overview of what we can offer to you: tolino media is a distribution platform for self-publishers. After accepting our general terms and conditions you can upload your files directly onto the platform by yourself. You can publish your ebook, publish your print book or print your book project with tolino media.

The following article focusses on how to publish your print book with tolino media.

What formats can I choose for my print book?

Tolino media offers you a wide range of formats to choose from:

• Klein („Small“): (125mm x 190mm)
• Klassik („Classic“): (135mm x 205mm)
• A5 („A“): (148mm x 210mm)
• Großformat („Large format“): (190mm x 270mm)
• Querformat („Landscape format“): (210mm x 150mm)
• Quadratisch Groß („Square Large“): (210mm x 210mm)
• A4 („A4“): (210mm x 297mm)

For each one of those formats you can choose between hard or softcover binding; either with a matte or glossy finish. We use FSC-certified 90gr paper only. You can choose here between a white or creme coloured paper. Select your preferred book specifications on our platform and try out our calculator for price estimates. Our platform will provide you with the required measurements for your PDFs.

Which distribution channels does tolino media offer for my printed book?

We list every print book published through us in the „Verzeichnis Lieferbarer Bücher„, the directory of deliverable books. This allows all online stores and local booksellers to find, list and order the book. We also list the print books in the catalougs of the major German stockists, so that (almost) every bookstore can order them easily and quickly. Unlike with the ebook, it is not possible to exclude a particular store or retailer from distribution.

Do I have to keep some specific financial aspects in mind?

At first, a little reminder. We are no tax office or tax consultant. You may have to declare your income in your tax declaration. As a distribution platform, we cannot and are not allowed to give you any advice on that financial subjects. Please get yourself the current information about the regulations affecting you from your tax office or tax consultant.

Please inform yourself about possible taxes that affect you. On our platform, we use a „reverse charge“ system for foreign accounts. This means that we always pay the author’s royalty without VAT, regardless of whether you are subject to VAT in your country. Please inform yourself whether and in which form you have to pay sales tax to your tax authority.

When asking for your bank details, we also offer a non-sepa option for authors in foreign countries. Please note that we need your bank details in IBAN format, otherwise no automatic payment can be made. The settlement threshold for non-sepa accounts is 500€. If you do not reach the threshold in one month, your royalty will first be displayed as „open royalty“ and then billed in a following month.

More information can be found in our FAQ and on our blog.

Am I ready to upload my files?

To publish your print book, you need a valid book block and cover jacket, each in a PDF format. In both cases, note the corresponding dimensions are determined by the measurement calculator for your specific book project.

Please be aware that your book block for paperback binding can hold between 24 up to 880 pages, while a hard cover binding can include 52 to 852 pages in total. The sum of your pages has to be dividable by four.

Your imprint must be placed with correct information on your second page. Please keep in mind to leave blank approx. 50mm from the upper edge of the imprint page and 30mm from the bottom edge for the FSC certification and the printer’s note.

Ready for upload?

• In order to print your book project in good quality, our platform needs graphic images designed with a minimum of 300 dpi and saved within the CYMK colour spectrum. If you can select a specific colour profile in your design software of choice, please select ISO Coated v2 300% eci.
• Please check that any line drawings used in the book have a minimum resolution of 900 dpi.
• Do you have lines with a line width below 0,25mm in your PDF? If you want to see them properly in your future print book, please correct them to a minimum line width of 0,25mm.
• Fonts must be embedded in the PDF. Please make sure that you either choose license free fonts or you have acquired the licences for fonts used in your document. Attention: The font Crimson Italic cannot be processed by some printers. Therefore, do not use this one.
• Your file has no transparencies or special colours and you have already exported it in PDF/X-3 standard with no print marks? Great job.
• Is the final file size below 500 MB? Perfect.

For further information, you check out our guidelines for printfiles or – with a little help of a browser extension to  generate subtitles – this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3vWvDHsl74.

What do I have to consider for my cover jacket design?

For your cover jacket some requirements are needed. Here is a little checklist for you what to keep in mind when creating your print cover jacket:

• Adhere to the required measures for your specific book project which has been calculated by our platform especially for your book. These are the requirements necessary for your chosen book specifications and meta data.
• You want a print book with hardcover binding? Please keep in mind to add a cover fold of 8mm each on both sides of the spine.
• For a print book a trim is required: If you select paperback binding, that will be 3mm on each side. For hardcover books the required trim is 17mm on all sides. Also check out our guidelines to create and export a PDF with correct trim.
• Please write the author’s name and your book title on the front of your cover jacket (U1) and if applicable, add them to the spine of your book as well.
• We create a unique barcode for your book. Please download the barcode for your print book. Keep in mind to add it undistorted on the outer back of your cover jacket (U4). It is important that you position your barcode at least 15mm away from the bottom edge. Please do not change size or colour of the barcode file.
• In order to print your book project in good quality, our platform needs graphic images designed with a minimum of 300 dpi and saved within the CYMK colour spectrum. If you can select a specific colour profile in your design software of choice, please select ISO Coated v2 300% eci.
• Please check that any line drawings have a minimum resolution of 900 dpi.
• Do you have lines with a line width below 0,25mm in your PDF? If you want to see them properly in your future print book, please correct them to a minimum line width of 0,25mm.
• Fonts must be embedded in the PDF. Please make sure that you either choose license free fonts or you have acquired the licences for fonts used in your document. Attention: The font Crimson Italic cannot be processed by some printers. Therefore, do not use this one.
• Your file has no transparencies or special colors and you have already exported it in PDF/X-3 standard with no print marks? Great job.
• Is the final file size below 500 MB? Perfect.

For further information, you can this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHFZUpRCVYg und download our helpful checklist in the FAQ.

Upload your data

You can upload your files to our platform by yourself directly or you can watch our following video with English subtitles to take a walk with us through our publishing process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYw5dQHnxmk.

How can I promote my book?

Finding more potential readers can be hard as upcoming author. That is why it is important to take marketing measures for your book by yourself. Take a look at our blog articles about marketing on our website. Here, you can get some marketing tips for your book. Keep in mind that marketing should always be at the forefront during your entire publishing endeavours – both, before and after you published your book. Here are some tips on how to do so: Marketing Archive – tolino media Blog.

Another great marketing tool can be reading clubs and gatherings. They can lead to great reviews for your book and expand your overall readership.