Understanding endsheets: a key element in photo book design
You just received your beautiful printed Mixbook, you open to the first page, and see that it’s blank. The photo pages you worked so hard on don’t start until the second page. And you’re pretty sure you didn’t leave any pages blank. What gives?
Don’t panic! The blank pages at the front and back of your photo book, located between the main content and the cover, are called endsheets. They’re a standard—and important—part of hardcover book-binding. To understand their purpose, we’ve answered all your endsheet FAQs below.
Endsheet FAQs
What are endsheets?
Endsheets, a.k.a. endpapers, endleaves, or flyleaves, are sheets of paper that connect the main pages of a book to the cover. There is one endsheet at the front of a book, between the front cover and first content page, and one at the back, between the last content page and back cover.
Most endsheets comprise a single, folded sheet of paper, typically a heavier paper than the content pages. One half is glued to the back side of the hardcover, while the other is loose, like the other pages in the book. The glued half is called the pastedown, and the un-glued half is the endsheet.
What are endsheets for?
Endsheets have several purposes. They help reinforce the structure of a book, making it stronger and more durable. Endsheets also improve a book’s appearance, concealing the raw paperboard of the hardcover. The smooth paper of the endsheet offers a more pleasing finish.
Mixbook’s endsheets are plain white. In other hardback books you might see solid-covered endsheets, decorative paper endsheets (marbled papers are common in vintage books), or endsheets with artwork that matches the theme of the book.
Do all Mixbooks have endsheets?
All hardcover Mixbooks feature white endsheets. However, softcover books and lay flat books do not have endsheets. See our Photo Book Pricing page for different cover and paper options.
Do endsheets appear in the Mixbook Studio™ design space?
No, you will not see endsheets in Mixbook Studio™ while you’re designing your photo book.
You’ll notice that your project starts with a single page instead of a two-page spread. The page to the left of the first page is blank—nothing can be added there because this is where the front endsheet (or the back of the front cover in a softcover book) will be. The same applies to the single page at the end of the book.
Concerned about accidentally leaving blank pages in your photo book? Don’t worry! Mixbook will show you a blank pages warning at checkout.
Are endsheets customizable?
No, nothing can be physically printed onto a Mixbook’s endsheets. All hardcover Mixbooks feature the standard plain white paper endsheets.
Can I write or draw on the endsheets?
Yes! When you receive your printed book, the endsheets are the perfect spot for hand-written notes or drawings. This is a nice touch for books you’re giving away as gifts. You could write your name, dates, or a personal message relevant to the content of the book. Use an acid-free, smudge-proof pen for the best results.
If you’re artistic, you could decorate a photo book’s endsheets in any way you desire. However, you should be careful with any materials that might smudge or wrinkle the pages.
Can I remove endsheets?
We don’t recommend removing endsheets. They serve a purpose, and removing them will negatively affect the structure, durability and visual appeal of your photo book.
Do you have more questions about endsheets?
We hope this explanation helped you to better understand what endsheets are and why they are present in your Mixbook.
If you have any questions, ask away in the comments below or shoot us an email at support@mixbook.com. We’re always more than happy to help. Happy Mixbooking!
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