Not all books are designed to be read from left to right. Books written in languages such as Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Urdu are traditionally read from right to left (RTL). Manga and some other publications may also be designed to open and read from the right side.
For publishers and self-publishers, printing a right-to-left book requires more than simply changing the direction of the text. The entire book—including the interior pages, cover, pagination, and binding setup—needs to be prepared according to the intended reading direction.
Here are some important things to consider when preparing a right-to-left book for printing.
What Is a Right-to-Left Book?
A right-to-left book is designed so that the reader begins reading from the right-hand side of the book and progresses toward the left.
In a typical left-to-right book, the front cover is on the right when the book is lying open in front of you, and the first page is turned from right to left.
With a right-to-left book, the orientation is reversed. The reader begins from the opposite side, and the pages are turned in the opposite direction.
The key point is that the entire book is produced as an RTL publication, rather than simply mirroring individual pages.
The Cover Needs to Be Set Up Differently
One of the most important considerations is the cover.
For a conventional left-to-right book, the front cover is positioned on the right side of the cover spread, followed by the spine and back cover.
For a right-to-left book, the front cover is positioned on the left side of the cover spread when the cover artwork is viewed as a flat spread.
The spine remains between the front and back covers, but the overall cover orientation is reversed to accommodate the reading direction.
When preparing your print-ready cover, make sure the front cover, spine, and back cover are arranged specifically for an RTL book. A cover designed for a standard LTR book should not simply be submitted as-is.
Interior Pages Must Follow the Correct Reading Order
The interior PDF also needs to follow the intended reading direction.
For a standard left-to-right book, the first page is positioned according to conventional LTR pagination. With an RTL book, the page sequence and layout need to be prepared for right-to-left reading.
This is especially important when your book contains:
- Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, or Urdu text
- Illustrations or photographs
- Charts and diagrams
- Tables
- Captions
- Chapter headings
- Running headers and footers
- Page numbers
- Full-page artwork
Elements that normally appear on the left or right side of a page may need to be repositioned for the RTL layout.
Page Numbers and Pagination
Pagination is another area that requires attention.
The placement of page numbers should be consistent with the RTL design of the book. Depending on the language and publishing conventions being followed, the location and sequence of page numbers may differ from those used in an English-language book.
For example, if your design places page numbers toward the outside edge of each page, the positioning needs to be appropriate for an RTL book.
It is also important to make sure that your PDF pages are submitted in the correct reading order, rather than manually reversing the PDF unless your printer has specifically requested that format.
Binding Direction Matters
The binding itself does not necessarily change, but the orientation of the bound book does.
For example, a perfect-bound RTL book will still have a spine, front cover, and back cover. However, the book must be manufactured so that the reader opens it from the correct side.
The same principle applies to other binding types, including:
- Perfect binding
- Hardcover binding
- Smyth-sewn binding
- Saddle stitching
- Coil or wire-o binding
When requesting a quote, be sure to tell your printer that the book is right-to-left. This allows the production team to account for the correct orientation when preparing the job.
What About Manga and Other Reversed Books?
Some books are designed to be read from right to left even when the language itself is not necessarily an RTL language.
Japanese manga is a common example. Traditional Japanese manga is generally read from right to left, with the reader beginning at what would conventionally be considered the "back" of a Western book.
This means the page sequence, artwork, speech bubbles, and overall book orientation must all be designed for RTL reading.
If you're printing manga, graphic novels, comics, or other illustrated publications, it is particularly important to confirm the intended reading direction before submitting your files.
Don't Mirror the Artwork Unless It Is Intended
A common misconception is that an RTL book requires all artwork to be mirrored.
This is not necessarily the case.
The layout and reading direction may be reversed, but photographs, illustrations, logos, maps, and other artwork should generally remain in their intended orientation unless the design specifically calls for mirroring.
For example, a person's face should not suddenly appear reversed simply because the book reads from right to left.
Instead, the artwork should be positioned appropriately within the RTL page layout.
Check Your PDF Before Sending It to Print
Before submitting your files, it is a good idea to review the entire book as a reader would experience it.
Ask yourself:
- Does the book open from the correct side?
- Is the front cover positioned correctly?
- Does the first page appear in the correct location?
- Are the pages in the correct reading order?
- Are page numbers positioned correctly?
- Are headers and footers oriented properly?
- Are illustrations and diagrams positioned correctly?
- Do tables and charts read naturally from right to left?
- Are chapter openings and section breaks consistent?
- Is the spine text oriented correctly?
A careful review can help prevent costly production errors.
Tell Your Printer That the Book Is Right-to-Left
Planning to print a right-to-left book? When requesting a quote, you must let us know that the book is RTL and provide your final specifications. This gives the production team the information they need to review the project and prepare it correctly for printing.