If you look closely at the back cover of a self-cover board book, you’ll notice a subtle score (or fold) running parallel to the spine along the binding edge. This fold sits approximately the same distance away from the spine as the spine width itself. It’s part of the board book’s construction that allows the cover to open and close.

When designing your back cover, it’s helpful to be aware of this fold. Some authors prefer to keep text, barcodes, and other important design elements clear of that area so nothing crosses the fold. Others design straight across it without any adjustments. Both approaches are very common—it mostly comes down to personal preference and how you want your layout to look.

When the book is brand new, you’ll barely notice the fold. But over time, as the book is opened and closed again and again (especially by enthusiastic little readers), that fold will begin to show signs of wear. Knowing where it is during the design stage simply gives you the option to plan around it if you’d like.

If you do want to avoid placing text or important elements across the fold, a simple rule of thumb can help. The fold will be positioned roughly the same distance from the spine as the spine width itself. It’s also a good idea to leave about 3mm of extra margin beyond that.

For example, if your spine is 10mm wide, you should avoid placing text on the back cover within 13mm of the spine (10mm spine width + 3mm margin). This gives a little extra breathing room and ensures important content won’t sit directly on the fold.

If your concerned about the location of this fold impacting your design, make sure you tell your PufferPrint print specialist during the pre-print stage so we can double check your print files.