Regular paper is wood pulp — it absorbs water because the fibers are porous. Synthetic paper is made from polyester resin, which is a plastic. Plastic doesn't absorb water; it repels it. The waterproof property is part of the material itself — not a coating applied over regular paper. There are no edges to delaminate, no film to peel, no way for water to get into the substrate. The ink, however, is not inherently waterproof — for applications involving harsh cleaning chemicals, UV coating provides an extra layer of ink protection.

Yes — the polyester surface handles all of the following safely:

• Soap and water
• Standard disinfectant wipes (Lysol, Clorox)
• Isopropyl alcohol (70%)
• Damp cloth with mild cleaning agents

For booklets wiped with strong solvents or harsh industrial cleaners daily, UV coating adds a protective layer over the printed ink. Ask us about this option when requesting your quote.

Synthetic plastic sheets resist folding. Saddle-stitch booklets require pages folded in half at the spine — synthetic paper won't accept that fold cleanly. Perfect binding requires adhesive glue on the spine, and most adhesives don't hold reliably on a plastic surface. Coil binding threads through punched holes and crimps mechanically — no folding, no glue. It works with plastic sheets at any page count, allows 360° page rotation, and lays completely flat when open.

For most field manuals with 20–60 pages, the standard configuration is:

• Interior pages: 8 mil — opaque, easy to turn, doesn't add excessive weight
• Cover: 11 or 14 mil — rigid protection for truck cabs, tool bags, rough daily handling

For 80–100 page booklets, consider 5 mil interior pages to reduce weight — but always use a thicker cover. The 5 mil sheet is semi-transparent and only appropriate for interior pages.

Yes — landscape and portrait are both available at no extra cost. Standard sizes:

• 8.5" × 11" — portrait, most common
• 5.5" × 8.5" — half-letter, compact field guide format
• 11" × 8.5" — landscape, opens to 11" × 17" viewing area
• 11" × 17" sheet — opens to a full 11" × 34" spread for maps and large diagrams

Custom sizes are available — contact us to discuss your project requirements.

Yes. We can add up to 5 custom-printed tabs on the 11" side of the booklet — useful for training manuals and reference guides with multiple sections. This is a custom add-on not yet in the online calculator. Call us at 1-877-421-0668 to include tabs in your quote.

• File format: PDF, CMYK color mode, 300 DPI images
• Page setup: Export as single pages (not spreads)
• Bleed: 0.125" on all sides where artwork runs to the edge
• Binding edge margin: Keep all text and critical content at least 0.5" from the binding edge
• Page count: Count every side — front cover, all interior sides, back cover. Must be an even number.

Our team reviews every file before it goes to production. We'll flag issues and contact you before printing anything.

Same-day production is available for qualifying orders — contact us to confirm availability for your quantity and configuration. Everything is produced in-house at our Oakland Park, Florida facility, so we have direct control over turnaround with no third-party delays. Standard turnaround options appear in the calculator when you configure your job.

We recommend adding them for booklets in rough environments — truck cabs, tool bags, marine vessels, outdoor packs. The clear polypropylene front protects your printed cover from scratches without hiding the artwork. The black vinyl back provides a rigid backing that prevents the booklet from bowing. Both are selectable in the calculator and meaningfully extend the working life of the booklet.