Questions, answered.

A single flat PDF with pages in final order, A4 page size, fonts embedded. Word files reflow between computers, so we only print from PDF. Editable or fillable PDFs can cause printing problems; export a standard PDF.

Free converters: ilovepdf.com, smallpdf.com, pdf2go.com.

Yes. Print whatever is in your PDF; colour pages are included in the price.

Top and bottom 25–30 mm, binding (left) edge 30 mm, outside edge 25 mm. Do not add a separate gutter offset for odd and even pages; a symmetrical 30 mm inside margin is enough for hardcover binding.

If images run to the edge of the page, add 3 mm bleed. See our guides on bleed and margin.

Double-sided is our standard. It is what most PhD theses use and it keeps the book a sensible thickness. If your university requires single-sided, say so in the order notes.

From about 10 pages up to 500 pages (250 sheets double-sided). Longer theses are bound in two volumes; email [email protected] and we will quote it.

Standard A4 (210 × 297 mm), which is what New Zealand universities require. For A3 or landscape theses, contact us before ordering.

Gold foil is stamped exactly as typed and cannot be changed afterwards, which is why the order form shows a live preview and asks you to confirm the spelling before paying. If we make an error on our side, we rebind at no charge.

100gsm premium white paper for every thesis. It is smooth, opaque enough for double-sided printing and archival quality.

Roughly 1 mm per 10 pages double-sided: 200 pages is about 20 mm, 400 pages about 40 mm. The exact thickness depends on paper and colour coverage.

Front cover: your title and your name, in capitals. Spine: your name, degree and year, spaced along the spine. The degree keeps its own case (PhD stays PhD). Titles fit about six lines of 24 characters; names on the spine up to 28 characters, so use initials for long names. You can choose spine-only lettering instead.

Buckram cloth in black, royal blue, emerald green and burgundy. Leatherette in black, burgundy, blue and green. Black buckram is the most common choice for university copies.

Black and burgundy leatherette are a thick grain: spine lettering only stamps cleanly on books over about 300 pages, so for thinner keepsake copies we suggest buckram or the blue and green leatherette.

Our hardcover binding is A4, buckram-covered with gold lettering, which is the specification NZ universities use for hardbound deposit and library copies. Most universities now deposit a digital copy and leave hardbound copies to the student, so check your faculty's current guidelines and put any required wording in the order notes.

Yes. Enter your department, the library or any New Zealand address as the delivery address at checkout.

Yes. We courier anywhere in New Zealand for a flat $10.50 and email you the tracking number when it ships.

Standard turnaround is five working days from when we have your file and payment. A 48-hour rush adds 50% to the binding price. The order page shows the exact ready-by date before you pay.

Yes. Upload your PDF and we print it on 100gsm paper, double-sided, including colour pages. The only extras are a 48-hour rush (50% of the binding price) and courier delivery ($10.50). GST is added at checkout.

We do not post samples, but you are welcome to visit the Botany Downs workshop by appointment to see finished theses and the buckram colours in person.

If the error is ours we reprint and rebind at no charge and cover the return courier. If the problem is in the supplied file, we will tell you what we found and quote a reprint.

Before printing starts, yes, free of charge. Once printing has started, contact us straight away and we will do what we can; fees may apply for work already done.

Visa, Mastercard, debit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay, processed securely through Stripe. Bank transfer is available on request.

Yes. Choose 'Email it to us' in the order form, pay, then email the PDF to [email protected] with your order number in the subject. Your turnaround starts when we receive the file.

Two or three: one for the university or department, one for the supervisor and one to keep. PhD candidates often order four or five. The price per copy drops at two and three copies.

We rebind Bibles, family heirlooms and damaged hardbacks. Email a few photos to [email protected] and we will quote.

Yes. Hardcover family histories, memoirs, poetry and recipe books in A4 at the same flat price as a thesis, with the same colours and gold lettering, straight from the order form. A4 spiral binding for reports and drafts is $23 a copy. Other sizes are quoted by email.