Leatai stationary
11 F., No. 168, Jiankang Rd., Zhonghe Dist., New Taipei City 235, Taiwan
The principle behind the “K” number in printing and binding refers to the number of impositions that can be made on a large sheet of paper. The respective “K” size refers to the final product produced from each imposition.
For example, a standard A5 planner, or 25K planner, measures approximately 15 x 21 cm. This means 25 impositions can be made on a 1K(Shiroku Ban) sheet measuring 31″x 43″. Conversely, only 16 impositions can be made on a GK(kikuban) sheet measuring 25″x 35″; hence, the term G16K.
Similarly, terms like 25K planners or 16K planners can result in different final product sizes if other manufacturers use different large sheet sizes.
To learn more about book, notebook, or paper sizes, refer to the article： Paper Size Guide: Understanding Common Sizes like B3, A4, B5, 8K, 16K, and More! A Comprehensive Size Chart for Easy Reference!
When printing paper, you often hear terms like gang-run printing, single-color printing, two-color printing, four-color printing, and open-plate printing. Here’s a brief explanation of how to choose the printing method:
Standard printing uses CMYK four-color printing, also known as four-color printing. This method covers most color printing needs. Specializing printing is used if special colors, such as gold, silver, or other non-CMYK colors, are required.
CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key plate (black). Each color value can be set from 0 to 100. The more colors used, the more printing plates are needed, which increases the essential cost.
Standard single-color printing refers to the single black K value, while two-color printing refers to any two values. Regardless of the number of colors, the total color value on the manuscript should not exceed 250 to avoid ink not drying correctly and causing smudging.
In the printing process, the primary processing unit is per thousand impressions per color. In lay terms, this is the introductory price for printing one color a thousand times. Additional costs include plate fees and subsequent processing. Therefore, if the quantity exceeds a thousand, the unit price will be higher due to the cost spread.
For small print runs, we recommend using gang-run printing. This method combines multiple print jobs on one plate, reducing overall costs, but there may be a color deviation of about 10%, which is normal.
Suppose the finished product requires specific color matching. In that case, it is recommended that a separate plate be opened and that on-site color matching be performed during the print run to ensure it meets expectations.
There are thousands of types of paper to choose from. For advertising pages, we recommend coated paper, which offers better readability; for inner pages, we recommend uncoated paper suitable for writing.
The unit for paper is measured in “um,” and even if papers from different manufacturers share the same name and weight, the actual feel may differ.
Leatai offers a selection of paper samples from various manufacturers, allowing you to choose on-site and create the most unique product.
For more about paper or customization processes, refer to the Custom Planners Service – Planner Customization, Printing – Leatai.
If you are creating print-ready files yourself, please pay attention to the following key points:
1. Please provide vector files. The final files should be in AI or CDR format, with text converted to outlines or curves. To avoid unexpected results, do not use Word to output files as PDFs.
2. To prevent incompatibility, save Illustrator files as CS5 or below and CorelDraw files as version 12 or below. Do not use Word or other word processing software to save as PDF.
3. Use CMYK colors for the file, with a resolution of 350 dpi. Do not use four-color black for black areas; the total color value should not exceed 250.
4. Avoid using DFKai-SB and PMingLiU fonts, as these fonts may have overlapping strokes that can cause issues when converted to outlines.
5. The line thickness for advertisement and inner pages should be at least 0.2 mm, and for cover designs, at least 0.4 mm. Do not scale images.
Paper generally uses gang-run printing, single-color printing, and four-color printing. Leather primarily utilizes digital printing and inkjet printing. Due to the different material characteristics, the processing methods must be adjusted accordingly to achieve printing. As a result, the color rendering effects also differ.
When paper mills ship large sheets of paper, they do so in “reams” as the base unit, where one ream equals 500 sheets. These sheets are typically in shirokuban or similar large sizes, not cut into sizes like A5 or B5. Consequently, a specific number of reams may be required to meet an order’s basic material unit. If the order quantity does not meet these base thresholds, the basic costs still need to be covered.
Therefore, ordering only a few dozen planners, for example, would be cost-ineffective for consumers, which is why a minimum order quantity is suggested.
Learn more about our custom notebook production, printing, and small-scale customization services.
Before mass production, if a sample is needed to confirm the product’s correctness, the order must be over 1,000 pcs. A sampling fee will be charged based on actual conditions, generally around 100~200 USD, and limited to one instance. The internal pages for proofing are digital samples, not the official production versions.
Proofing typically takes 10~15 days, and once confirmed without errors, the production timeline begins.
Since business planners are across various fields, production can extend to property handover packages, car handover packages, or gift boxes. This covers a range of crafted paper products and business leather goods.
Yes, we categorize by the type of binding: hardcover, paperback, loose-leaf, removable, and spiral-bound. Here are some examples of our past custom notebooks:
Leatai stationary
11 F., No. 168, Jiankang Rd., Zhonghe Dist., New Taipei City 235, Taiwan