Graphic Novel Printing with 48 Hour Books

May 24, 2026

Marcy G.

At 48 Hour Books, we are known for our fast, high-quality book printing. A common question we’re asked is, “Can you print graphic novels?” We can and have printed many!

When you think of a graphic novel, your mind may go straight to a traditional comic book. However, graphic novels in stores more closely resemble a traditional book. Since there are many variations of graphic novels you see on the shelves, we are going to go over some common book material options associated with graphic novel printing.

Let’s go over the print materials we recommend for graphic novel printing with 48 Hour Books:

Sizing

When researching traditional sizes for graphic novels, the results varied. While there was no clear-cut answers, this just means there’s a lot of flexibility in determining the size based on genre and personal preference. For example, manga graphic novels are typically 5 x 7.5 inches, while other genres opt for a larger size to allow for easy reading amidst detailed graphics and illustrations. Sizes also vary for portrait versus landscape printing, so this will factor into how you want your graphic novel to read based on your graphics.

Some other common sizes listed are 9 x 12 inches and 6.625 x 10.25 inches. All sizes we have listed so far would fall under a special trim size. When you print with 48 Hour Books, we provide standard book sizes to choose from, so when you place your order for your graphic novel, simply select the next size up from your book size and list the trim size in the “customer comments” section on our online order form so we know to trim to that size.

Binding

When choosing your binding, there are three main options to consider: case binding (hardcover), perfect binding (paperback), and saddle-stich (stapled).

While you may not typically associate hardcover book printing with graphic novels, they do exist, especially if you have a high page count or want to go for a special-edition look. This would also allow you to price your graphic novel higher for its limited-edition quality.

Perfect binding is a solid, traditional choice for graphic novels. Paperback books are great for easy travel or reading on-the-go.

If your graphic novel is for kids or has a low page count less than 36 pages, opt for saddle-stitch binding, traditionally used for pamphlets and programs.

Cover Finishes

48 Hour Books offers many cover finishes to choose from, but for graphic novel printing we recommend our standard 10 pt. C1S Gloss UV cover. This cover option will give your graphic novel cover that shine typically associated with comic books. However, this is ultimately your preference, so if you’re more attracted to a matte finish for a sleek look, we recommend our 10 pt. C1S Silk Laminate cover. We don’t recommend upgrading the thickness of your cover if you are printing a paperback book to 12 pt. if you want the look and feel of a traditional graphic novel.

Paper

Choosing a paper type for graphic novel printing is pretty cut and dry. Since graphic novels are heavily comprised of artwork, you will want to choose a paper type that showcases art and illustrations the best. This leaves you with two coated paper options with 48 Hour Books: 80# Gloss Text and 80# Silk (matte) Text paper. These are the two paper types we always recommend for books that contain a lot of color. If your graphic novel is text-heavy, opt for Silk Text paper so that the shine doesn’t get in the way of easy reading with Gloss Text paper – but both are great options!

If you have critical color matching for your graphic novel, for the cover or inside pages, we also recommend ordering a printed proof with your order. A printed proof is one book that we will print and ship to you to look at in person to examine the color and print materials before your full run goes to print. This provides extra insurance that you will be happy with the final product!

Design & Layout

Graphic Novel printing relies heavily on design aesthetic and artwork, meaning your cover should showcase the brilliant art that lies inside to give potential readers an idea of the design aesthetic before even opening the book. If you need help designing your magazine cover, we offer custom cover design.

Designing the layout of your graphic novel will most likely be the most challenging part of the graphic novel printing process because it is comprised of so much artwork and therefore will be designed using a design software program like InDesign. We require PDF files of your book, so your design files should be converted before they are uploaded to us. Each page of the book should be formatted the way you want the graphic novel to print, and the files should be set up to the same size you want your book to print. If you need help with formatting your graphic novel, please reach out to us ahead of time and we can quote you on book formatting services.

48 Hour Books – We’re Here to Help

Wherever you are at in the graphic novel printing process, 48 Hour Books is here to support you with online resources and unmatched customer service. Unlike other companies, we a readily available to answer all your questions of the phone or via email and online chat. And if you need help with formatting and design, we are happy to connect you with one of our expert prepress techs so you can feel confident your files are ready before placing an order with us. Contact us today to get started!

For more resources, check out our video gallery filled with tutorials or our FAQ page!

Ready to print your graphic novel? Place an order today!

https://www.48hrbooks.com/book-binding/case-binding

https://www.48hrbooks.com/book-design/book-formatting

https://www.48hrbooks.com/book-design/book-formatting/book-templates

https://www.48hrbooks.com/how-to-videos

https://www.48hrbooks.com/book-printing/single-book-printing

https://www.48hrbooks.com/book-binding/perfect-binding

https://www.48hrbooks.com/faq

https://www.48hrbooks.com/paper-types

https://www.48hrbooks.com/book-binding/saddle-stitch-binding

https://www.48hrbooks.com/book-design/covers