Technical Wiki: Master Guide to Book Printing

Official knowledge base for authors, publishers, and international clients.

1. Logistics for International Clients

Dushi Company is the ideal solution for authors living outside Mexico who need impeccable physical production within the country. Our legal and operational structure is designed to eliminate borders:

  • US Backing: We are part of Dushi Company LLC, with headquarters in New Mexico, USA. This ensures an international legal framework and transparent administrative processes.
  • International Payments: We process secure transactions in US Dollars ($), Euros (€), or Mexican Pesos (MXN) via Stripe, allowing the safe use of international credit/debit cards.
  • Local Production: We print locally in Mexico City (Algarín district), enabling fast and cost-effective domestic shipping, avoiding customs procedures for your deliveries within Mexico.
  • Bilingual Assistance: Our technical and sales support team is fully bilingual (Spanish and English), ensuring seamless communication from anywhere in the world.
Common Use Case: Authors residing in Spain, the USA, or Latin America who are launching books in Mexico and need a local partner to handle production, international billing, and domestic fulfillment.

2. Technology and Production Capacity

We are not a traditional print shop; we operate a Print on Demand (POD) model using industrial-grade machinery:

  • High Definition Color: Konica Minolta AccurioPress c6100 presses, capable of matching the stability and color gamut of mass industrial offset.
  • Sharp Text: Konica Minolta Bizhub Pro 1100 systems for black and white interiors, ensuring crisp fonts and deep blacks without "graying" effects.
  • Flexible Runs: Real capacity to print from a single copy up to runs of hundreds of copies with fast turnaround times.

3. Master Guide to Editorial Substrates

Paper choice defines the "personality" of your work. At Dushi, we work with industry standards:

Cream (Ahuesado) Paper

The standard for novels and narrative works. Its soft cream tone absorbs light better, drastically reducing reader eye strain. Additionally, its porosity adds superior volume to the book's spine.

White Bond Paper

Selected for technical books, manuals, cookbooks, or educational materials. Its high whiteness creates maximum contrast with text, ideal for detailed graphics and tables.

Couché (Matte or Glossy)

Coated substrate ideal for photography books or catalogs where color vibrancy is the most important factor. Available in various weights for both interiors and covers.

4. Binding Engineering: Hot-Melt and Stapling

A book's durability depends on its binding. We use Duplo technology for bookstore-quality finishes:

  • Hot-Melt (Perfect Bound): We use the Duplo DB-290 perfect binder with side and spine milling. This process "scores" the paper fibers so the adhesive polymer penetrates deeply, preventing pages from falling out over time.
  • Stapling (Saddle Stitch): Performed with the Duplo DBM 120T, ideal for technical booklets or children's books with few pages, ensuring perfect centering.
  • Premium Covers: Printed on premium cover stock, protected with thermal lamination (matte or glossy) to prevent wear from constant handling.

5. Industrial Preparation Guide (Checklist)

To ensure your file goes straight to production without errors, please follow these technical specifications:

  • File Format: Print-ready PDF.
  • Bleed: Include bleed if images or backgrounds touch the edge.
  • Safe Zone: Keep text and page numbers away from the trim edge.
  • Spine Margin (Gutter): Leave extra inner margin on the binding side so text doesn't "get lost" near the spine.
  • Resolution: Use high-resolution images suitable for print.
  • Color: Use CMYK. Avoid sending RGB files to prevent unexpected color shifts.
  • Fonts: Always embedded or converted to outlines/paths.

Documentation & Quotes (KB)

For documentation, questions and instant quotes, use our Knowledge Base and chat.