Custom Edge Printing & Metallic Gilding

Add-On Pricing Calculator

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*this is an add on; add the cost to your book order.
*edge gilding and digital printing cost the same.

We Offer Two Edge Pptions:

Digitally Printed Edges (full-color artwork)
Metallic Gilding (gold, silver, or copper)
Available for perfect bound and hardcover
Minimum thickness requirement: 10mm
Turnaround: +3–5 business days

This is an add-on. First, use our calculator to get your base book price. If you want to add it to your project, mention it on the order form and we’ll follow up. You’ll need to send the edge artwork along with your book files.

What Is Edge Printing and Gilding?

Edge printing adds color or artwork to the trimmed edges of your book pages, so the design shows when the book is closed. You may also hear it called page-edge printing, printed edges, or decorated edges. Solid-color finishes are often called sprayed edges or painted edges. Metallic finishes are usually called gilded edges or gilt edges (gold, silver, or copper).

Collection of books featuring decorative printed page edges in various colors and patterns.

Quick Background

Edge treatments have been used for centuries, especially on religious and ceremonial books, because they made a book look more prestigious. As a bonus, they also helped protect the page edges from dust and moisture. Metallic gilding in particular became a classic “royal” finish. Today, modern production makes it much more flexible. We can still do classic gilded edges, and we can also use newer digital printing methods to add full color patterns and artwork on the edges for a special look.

In recent years, decorative edges have made a big comeback. You’ll see them often on special edition releases, especially on thick fiction books like romance and fantasy, where the page block becomes part of the design. They’re also popular in Kickstarter campaigns, where printed-edge editions are often offered as limited rewards for early or premium backers.

Close-up of a vintage leather-bound Book of Common Prayer with gold-gilded page edges.

The Book of Common Prayer (1846) — Printed by George E. Eyre & William Spottiswoode (Queen’s Printers). Leather cover with gold-gilded edges.

How We Apply Edge Treatments

Printed Edge Procedure

For printed edges, we start with the book block already bound and trimmed, but not yet case-in (no hardcover attached). We bundle multiple book blocks together into a larger clamped stack, then run the stack through a belt-fed digital edge printer. An inkjet printhead sprays the design directly onto the book edges with digitally controlled precision, using high-quality, fast-drying ink to ensure clean, consistent results. After printing, the blocks go back to finishing for the normal case-in (cover attachment) process.

Metallic / Foil Edge Procedure

The preparation is the same as printed edges, the book blocks are bound and trimmed, but not yet case-in, then bundled into a larger clamped stack. Next, we lightly sand the edge surface with a fine-grit sander to make it smooth for better adhesion. We apply the metallic film, then use a heated roller/press to bond the film onto the edges. After it sets, we trim off the excess film for a clean, finished edge.

How to Prepare the Files

Metallic Gilding

No artwork file is needed. We offer three standard metallic colors: gold, silver, and copper. Just tell us which color you want when you place the order. If you’re looking for a different metallic color, feel free to ask us for availability.

Gold

Silver

Copper

Printed Edge

There are a few limitations, please read this before you start.

*Interior limitation: avoid full-bleed pages

If your interior pages are full bleed all the way to the trim, the edge can look messy and the printed design may not hold cleanly. For best results, keep a clean margin at the trim with little to no heavy ink coverage right at the edge. If your book must be full bleed, tell us first and we’ll advise what’s realistic.

If only some pages are full bleed, that’s usually fine. Just know that the cleaner the page edges are, the cleaner the printed edge will look.

*Use the thickness calculator and template

To set up the artwork correctly, you need the book block thickness. Start with your trim size, then use our thickness calculator to get the book block thickness based on your page count and paper. Once you have the thickness, download our template and update it to match your book.

Download Edge Printing Template

*Files we expect

You only need to submit one file. Modify our printed-edge template, place your edge artwork into the template, and export it as a CMYK PDF. If you only want the side edge printed, simply leave the top and bottom sections of the template blank.

Edge printing artwork setup guide showing bleed and layout areas.

FAQs

Will the printed edges rub off, scratch, or flake?

In normal use, they hold up well. Just keep in mind the edge of a book is the part that gets bumped the most from shelving, sliding in and out of boxes, and general handling. We run the finish with proper curing and thickness control, so under normal handling, it should be fine.

Can the edge color bleed onto the page faces?

In most cases, it’s not an issue. We clamp the book block properly and apply the finish in a controlled way to keep the edges clean. If your interior has heavy ink right at the trim, we’ll take a quick look and let you know the best approach before production.

Do printed edges affect readability or cause pages to stick?

If done correctly, no, your book will read and flip normally. The finish is applied while the pages are tightly clamped, so we control the application and drying to keep it on the edge only.

Does gilding prevent yellowing?

Gilding can help protect the edge surface from dust and minor moisture exposure, but it won’t completedly stop paper from aging overall. Yellowing is usually driven by the paper’s chemistry and oxidation, not just air touching the edges. However, with gilding, it does somewhat seal the edge surface and reduce air exposure in some way, but it’s not a complete barrier.

Will the edge design line up perfectly and look identical on every copy?

Expect it to look consistent overall, but not “laser-perfect” like a flat printed sheet. We bind books with Smyth sewing using individual signatures, and with edge printing you may see faint signature lines. This can become more noticeable after the book has been used, since the signatures can shift slightly over time.