Format is an editorial decision

Trim size does not merely surround a finished text. It changes line length, page count, spine width, cover proportions, paper use, manufacturing cost and the way a reader handles the book.

That is why a printable PDF should not simply be scaled into another size. A different format requires a fresh layout decision. Begin with use: will the book be carried, consulted at a desk, kept open while working, or read continuously? Then compare the formats capable of serving that use.

Price belongs in the comparison, but it should not define the object before the reading experience is understood. The cheapest specification may contain every word and still make the wrong book.

A format is an editorial contract made visible in material form.

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