Colouring Book Printing
Bring illustrations to life with colouring book printing made for pencils, pens and creative use.
At 4edge, we professionally print colouring books for publishers, artists, illustrators, businesses, schools and organisations. Choose from perfect bound or staple bound formats, with writable uncoated inner pages and a range of sizes, cover stocks and finishes to create colouring books for children, adults, education, wellbeing, promotions and branded projects.
With expert artwork support, cost-effective digital printing and reliable UK production, we make it easy to produce high-quality colouring books with clear linework, practical paper choices and a professional finish.
The Benefits of Online Colouring Book Printing
Writable uncoated inner pages
Cost-effective digital printing
Expert artwork checking
Personal customer support
Printed in Hockley, Essex
Colouring Book Specifications
Colouring book sizes
| Size | Width (mm) | Height (mm) |
|---|---|---|
| A4 | 210 | 297 |
| A5 | 148 | 210 |
| A6 | 105 | 148 |
| DL | 99 | 210 |
- Custom sizes
Inner paper types
- Uncoated: 90-150 gsm
Inner pages should use an uncoated, writable stock suitable for pencils, pens and colouring.
Binding options
- Perfect bound (PUR)
- Staple bound / saddle stitched
Cover options
- Self cover
- 250 gsm cover stock
- 300 gsm cover stock
- 350 gsm cover stock
Finishes
- Matt lamination
- Gloss lamination
- Soft-touch lamination
How to Print Your Colouring Books
The files you need to supply depend on the binding option you choose.
Staple bound colouring books
Supply one print-ready PDF containing all pages in reading order as single pages, not spreads. The cover pages should be included in the same PDF and the total page count must be in multiples of four.
Perfect bound colouring books
Please provide two print-ready PDF files:
- Cover PDF – outer and inner cover spreads, including the spine
- Inner pages PDF – all pages supplied in reading order as single pages, not spreads
The correct spine width depends on the number of pages and chosen paper stock. The 4edge team can confirm the required dimensions before you supply final artwork.
Do not provide the spine as a separate file.
Colour and image quality
For the best print results:
- Set artwork to CMYK colour
- Use images at 300 dpi
- Set black linework and text to 100% black where appropriate
- Convert greyscale artwork to greyscale before supplying it
RGB artwork can be converted to CMYK, but some colours may change during conversion.
Bleed and quiet areas
Where artwork runs to the edge of the page, add 3 mm bleed around the outer edges.
Keep important content at least 3 mm inside all trim edges.
Additional quiet areas are required for the following:
- Perfect bound colouring books – 5 mm on the binding edge of inner pages
Keep linework, page numbers and other important content outside these areas.
Lamination
Where lamination is selected, it is applied to the outer cover surface.
Before Supplying Your Artwork
Please check that:
- The artwork matches the quoted finished size
- The correct file setup has been used for the chosen binding
- Inner pages are supplied as single pages in reading order
- Staple bound page counts are in multiples of four
- All fonts are embedded
- Images and linework are supplied at suitable resolution
- Bleed and quiet areas have been included
- Any required blank pages are present
Please review your proof carefully before approving your colouring book for print.
Need help?
Call 01702 200243 to speak to the 4edge customer service team.
Email: admin@4edge.co.uk
Colouring Book Printers in Essex
4edge provides professional colouring book printing for publishers, artists, illustrators, businesses, schools and organisations across the UK.
Based in Hockley, Essex, we print and finish colouring books in the UK using digital production and a choice of perfect bound or staple bound formats. Our team can support your project from artwork preparation and proofing through to printing, finishing and delivery.
Print-ready files can be retained to make future reorders straightforward, whether you are producing children's colouring books, adult colouring books, educational activity books or branded projects.
What binding options are available for colouring books?
4edge offers perfect bound (PUR) and staple bound / saddle stitched colouring books.
What size should a colouring book be?
A4 is a popular choice where larger illustrations need plenty of space, while A5 and A6 provide more compact formats. DL is also available for narrower layouts.
Can I choose a custom colouring book size?
Yes. 4edge can produce custom sizes by cutting down from standard industry sizes, such as A4, depending on your chosen specification.
What paper is best for a colouring book?
Colouring book inner pages should use uncoated paper that can be drawn or coloured on easily. 4edge offers writable uncoated stocks from 90-150 gsm for this product.
Can I use silk or gloss paper for colouring book inner pages?
Silk and gloss papers are not recommended for colouring book inner pages because the coated surface is less suitable for pencils, pens and colouring. Uncoated paper is the preferred option.
Should I supply single pages or spreads?
Please supply pages as individual pages in reading order, not spreads. Staple bound colouring books are supplied as one print-ready PDF. Perfect bound colouring books require a separate cover PDF and inner pages PDF.
How is the spine width calculated?
For perfect bound colouring books, the spine width depends on the number of pages and the thickness of your chosen paper stock. The 4edge team can calculate the correct spine width and provide the dimensions needed for your cover artwork. Staple bound colouring books do not require a spine.
Can artwork run to the edge of the page?
Yes. Where artwork runs to the edge, add 3 mm bleed around the outer edges and keep important content at least 3 mm inside the trim. Perfect bound inner pages require a 5 mm quiet area on the binding edge.
Can I check my colouring book before printing?
Yes. Please review your proof carefully before production, checking page order, linework, image quality, cover artwork and, where applicable, the spine.
Is VAT charged on printed colouring books?
Printed colouring books are normally zero-rated for VAT in the UK where they meet the relevant requirements.