Valenna can print just the covers: a custom front-and-back cover pair for A5 or A4 notebooks, on card, board or rigid board, with optional lamination or a PVC outer cover. Use it for a physical cover colour sample, for notebooks you bind yourself, or for replacement covers on notebooks you already have.

Cover-only printing does not include interior pages or wire binding. If you want the finished, bound notebook, order a complete custom notebook.

📋 Cover-only printing at a glance

🔀 Cover only, or a complete notebook?

See cover printing vs a complete notebook and the custom notebook printing guide.

🎨 Order a physical cover proof

Screen colour can differ from print, so a physical cover is the reliable way to judge colour, material and finish before ordering complete notebooks. Cover-only printing works as a paid sample: supply the front and back artwork in one PDF at the finished size, choose the board, finish and protection you want to assess, and order the quantity you need. Previous customers may sometimes receive a free sample at our discretion, but this is not guaranteed.

🛡️ Cover finishes and protection

• Glossy gives stronger sheen and colour contrast. Matte reduces glare and shows fingerprints less.
• Lamination (gloss or matte) is a film bonded to the printed cover.
• Clear PVC is a transparent separate outer cover that leaves the artwork fully visible. Frosted PVC is translucent and softens the artwork beneath.

These improve resistance to everyday handling, but none is completely dirt-proof, stain-proof or indestructible. Finish does not change the board weight. Read cover finishes and protective options.

🔧 Replacement covers: size, holes and wire

1. Measure your finished cover size and the page block before ordering. Size, trim, pitch and wire capacity must all be compatible, and a universal fit is not guaranteed.
2. Covers are supplied unpunched. If you need us to punch them, say in the Notes whether the notebook uses 2:1 or 3:1 wire pitch. It must match the existing page-hole pattern.
3. Wire binding is permanent. The old wire cannot be reused, so rebinding needs a new wire element sized for the whole stack. Cover-only printing does not include replacement wire or binding unless we confirm it separately.

🖨️ Preparing the artwork

• ✅ Supply the front and back cover designs together in one print-ready PDF at the selected A5 or A4 size, as a clearly identified pair.
• ✅ Keep important text, logos and graphics away from the outer edges.
• ✅ Allow for roughly 2 to 6 mm of trimming when white borders are removed.
• ✅ Check colour, image resolution and page orientation before upload.

🛒 How to order

1. Prepare your front-and-back cover PDF.
2. Open the custom notebook printing page and choose the cover-only option.
3. Select size, board, finish and any protection.
4. Add punching and pitch details in the Notes if you need them.
5. Upload your PDF, add to cart, choose shipping and pay.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Do the covers come with pages or wire?

No. Cover-only printing supplies the printed front and back cover pair only.

Can I use this as a colour sample?

Yes. It is a paid physical sample that shows real print colour on your chosen board and finish.

Will it fit my existing notebook?

Only if size, trim, pitch and wire capacity match. Measure first. A universal fit is not guaranteed.

Are the covers punched?

Not by default. Request punching in Notes and state the 2:1 or 3:1 pitch.

👉 Next steps and help

• Order cover-only printing
• How to upload your design
• Questions before you order? Use the contact form, email support@valenna.co.za or WhatsApp 061 500 4106. Include your size, board, finish and, for replacements, the wire pitch so we can answer in one reply.