What are hardcover and softcover books?

Photobooks consist of two parts: the cover and the inner pages. The inner pages of both hard and softcover books are identical. In hardcover books, the cover is slightly larger than the inner pages, providing a protective buffer zone. The cover is printed on a single large piece of paper, which is then wrapped around thick cardboard, glued, and bound with the inner pages. In softcover books, the cover has the same dimensions as the inner pages but is made of slightly thicker cardstock. Softcover books are lighter and less expensive due to the more straightforward production process and low-touch production process.