[CREATESPACE] Ready, aim...?

[villagewordsmith]

So I have the manuscript ready, but I'm new to this and am wondering what sizes CreateSpace can print? My book is a how-to edition with both text and an accompanying set of worksheets which I'm thinking would work best in two separate volumes - the text in 5x8.5 with saddle or perfect binding, and the worksheets in an 8.5x11 with saddle binding. Alternatively, I could put the worksheets into a spiral bound edition deliverable on request to anyone who purchases the book at no extra charge other than shipping. What's the best route to take?

[Seisa]

Welcome! I added the required bracketed tag to your post. Please remember to do this in the future.

CreateSpace can print just about any size up to (and including) 8.5 X 11", but there are certain sizes that are "industry standard" and can be reproduced by their print partners, so are eligible for Expanded Distribution. You can find these trim sizes at https://www.createspace.com/Products/Book/#content4.

CreateSpace only produces perfect-bound paperbacks. If you want saddle-stitched, you can look into IngramSpark, but they'll only do saddle-stitched binding in certain sizes and page counts.

[walton]

More specifically: CS can print/trim any size between 4 "x 6" up to 8.5" x 11.69" (B&W) or 11" (color).

As Sarah mentioned, there are 15 sizes that are Industry Standard sizes (availability, like the maximum number of pages depends on the paper choice and whether it's B&W or color).

You will probably get more answers to your questions if you post in the General forum.

[Michelle]

To avoid the possibility of reformatting later on down the track, I'd be inclined to go with one of the trim sizes KDP Print supports. We already know a merger between CS and KDP is forthcoming, but what we don't know is which options will be available in the future.

[walton]

This is merely anecdotal . . . but when BookSurge became CreateSpace, I had a book that was outside the permitted size, but CS honored it. I would think/hope/expect that KDP Print would honor books with custom trim sizes.

As a practical matter, CS has been around long enough that many people would no longer have the source files to adjust. Imagine if tens of thousands, perhaps hundred's of thousands, of titles were junked because they did not conform to KDP's trim sizes!?

But, heck, I was wrong about CDs replacing vinyl records, water in bottles, Trump becoming president (related, see my Ferengi post in humor) so who knows.

[Michelle]

Because of CS'S/Amazon's typical secrecy, never assume anything just because it happened in the past. Always look ahead, not behind.