As a culmination of your educational journey, creating a thesis paper is a highly significant milestone and an undertaking that should be a great source of pride. For many students, this academic research paper marks the end of their degree program and a fresh, new beginning as a professional in their field of study.
Depending on university policy, you may have to print and bind your thesis in book format. To do this, you'll need to take the following steps: research design options, find a publishing company, and place your order.
While crafting your thesis may have been a long, painstaking endeavor during the school year, getting it printed is the easy part. At Book1One, we'll walk you through each step of this process.
Research Thesis Design Options
A publishing company will take your research paper and turn it into a beautifully bound book. But what will the final product look like? Figuring out how your thesis should look is the first step. Do you want a cloth or leather cover? Do the pages need to be in color to highlight graphs and images, or will they be printed with sharp, black text?
While there are several design elements to consider, the choices can often be narrowed down by your university. Find out if your school has thesis guidelines students are required to follow. Learning these guidelines can help inform your next steps forward. Depending on the university, these requirements may include:
- Cover material and color
- Paper size and weight
- Single- or double-sided printing
- Binding options
- Number of copies required
If you're unsure of where to look for these guidelines, consult your academic adviser, who should be able to give this information to you or show you where to find it.
If your school has no guidelines, it will be up to you to design your book in a way that puts your hard work in the best possible light. Take a step-by-step approach to this part of your project:
- Step 1: Start by exploring cover options – this is the part that's most noticeable at first glance. Faux leather covers create an upscale appearance while adding an element of durability to your final work. Softcover designs are also a popular choice for many students, as they're typically more cost-effective.
- Step 2: Next, select a color for the cover. Many publishers offer thesis covers in several shades. While a black or navy cover offers a sleek, professional appearance, selecting your school's color is another option for your project.
- Step 3: Finally, choose the ideal paper type. A heavier paper stock not only lends a premium feel, but it's also ideal for theses that are printed on both sides of the paper. This helps ensure each page is easy to read and offers a crisp, clean appearance throughout.
A publishing company can help you make any final decisions throughout the process. Many companies are well-versed in this type of book printing and can provide samples for your review.
Find a Thesis Publishing Company
After you've either learned what your university expects or settled on a design of your own, it's time to research publishing companies that have exactly what you need. From online self-publishing companies to local printing establishments near campus, there are many places to print your thesis. Some of the factors that may go into this decision include:
- Printing options: Most local and online publishers should offer a variety of cover, paper, and binding options. Well before it's time to order, make sure they have what you need to ensure your thesis will come out just right.
- Delivery timeline: Between the time it takes you to finalize your thesis and when it's due, will the company be able to deliver the final product? Make sure to leave enough time for you to review your newly bound thesis once it's complete.
- Price per item: The price of having a thesis bound varies by company and is often affected by your design choices. If you're on a tight budget, explore pricing options before partnering with a publisher. Many companies will provide a preliminary price quote for quick reference.
- Minimum quantity requirements: Some printing companies require a minimum order. If you only need one or two copies of your thesis, but your prospective publishing company requires a minimum of five, you may want to opt for someplace different to conserve valuable time, money, and resources.
If you're not sure where to go to have your thesis bound, your peers or university adviser may have some suggestions as to where to start your search.
Print Your Thesis Paper
Once you've nailed down a publisher, it's time to craft the final product. By the time you've hit this step, your thesis should be thoroughly edited, proofread for errors, and ready to go. Having a second pair of eyes can be essential in catching hidden typos that may have been overlooked during your revisions. Asking a peer or professor to give it a once-over can save you in the end.
Next, review the printing guidelines. During this stage, it's important to find out if any of your design choices will affect your work. Here are just a few things to consider:
- Margin sizes: Some binding processes require larger margins, while others do not. Format your document accordingly to ensure words won't get cut off during production.
- Length: Some bindings have a page limit. Make sure your paper choice and thesis length won't conflict with the binding you've selected.
- Special features: Some publishing companies specialize in a variety of elegant features, such as foil stamping. If you have a special feature in mind, make sure the other elements of your design are in alignment with this choice.
A self-publishing company should offer some guidelines as to how to place your order. Many online companies request a simple PDF, while others may prefer other file formats or even a hard copy of your paper. As far as placing your order, it's always a good idea to give your publishing company ample time for production. Many orders can be delivered within a couple of weeks. However, some offer rush ordering options (often at an added expense) for clients who are shorter on time.
Additionally, some companies can provide a proof copy. While this service likely also comes with an additional fee, it gives students a chance to review their work before receiving the final product. If you're considering this service, leave ample time to finalize your paper.
Once you've received your thesis, make sure to look it over from cover to cover to ensure it's exactly the way you've envisioned before submission.
Conclusion
Up until this point in their academic career, most students have never even considered binding a research paper. However, theses and dissertations are typically the exceptions to the rule. After researching design options, finding the ideal publishing company, and placing your order, it's time to wait for the final product to be delivered to your hands.
When your thesis is bound and delivered, you'll have a keepsake from your college career that you can look back on for years to come.