We do not produce mass market (pulp) paperbacks, coffee-table books, books shorter than 100 pages or longer than 600 pages, or those with alternative bindings, inserts, dust jackets, or other specialty-novelty specifications. All covers have glossy, full-color designs; interiors are B&W only.

The submission requirements for previously published books are simple: just send in three clean copies. We will scan the old book and prepare it for re-release using the latest POD technologies, that make it possible for most books to stay in print almost indefinitely. A new cover, and a few new pages at the front or back of the book are standard features.

The UP system is also ideal for releasing new works with a minimum of risk or expense, by submitting a manuscript on disk in a common file format.

UP produces paperback and hardcover books in 5.5x8.5," 6x9" and 8.25x11" trim sizes. In many cases we can adjust books of slightly different dimensions to fit, provided that the finished product is professional in appearance.

Guidelines for scanning previously-published books

The original book block must be preserved in its entirety without changes. However, you may new pages to the front or back of the old book. A new four-color cover design is also included.

Inside the book, line art (images in black and white with no shades of gray) reproduces better than images that require halftones, such as photographs.

Photos may be included, provided they have good contrast. (For detailed information about interior artwork please click HERE.) In order to insure good reproduction, we prefer to work with original photographs, but can also accept 300-600 dpi files in TIF, JPG, or BMP formats in sizes of 4x5" or larger. Preparing a new halftone from a photograph (or an image file) may add a few dollars to prepress costs, but is well worth the extra expense in order to improve a book's appearance, and you will receive a firm quote for any added costs before work begins.

Naturally, you must have rights to all of the material in the book, including both words and images.

Guidelines for submitting new works on disk

The UP system also makes it possible to test market new works by submitting manuscripts in standard word processing formats. This approach allows the publisher to move manuscripts directly from editorial to production, without incurring costs for in-house book design and typesetting.

Alternatively, if you already have an application file in QuarkXPress, Adobe PageMaker, or Adobe InDesign that needs no changes, we will work to accommodate your file and are happy to send you UP logos, an ISBN for the book, an EAN barcode image file, and the language required on the copyright page.

You may also submit a PDF of your book (print optimized) if it is compatible with the highly detailed technical specifications required by each of our printers.

Please remember that on-demand printing is substantially different from both traditional offset lithography and from desktop publishing. We also use multiple printers, each of which has different specifications. Our design shop is intimately familiar with the details, and almost always achieves better, faster and more economical results when we create the production files for you.

Finally, in many cases it may be possible to submit camera-ready originals, negatives or "mechanicals" used in old-style printing.

Whatever the submission method, please feel free to contact us by e-mail beforehand, to discuss the option that will produce the best results.