Preparing Layouts

Preparing Layouts

Keep these guidelines in mind when creating electronic files for print:

  • Set your electronic document (page) size to the final trim size of your book.
  • Be sure to include any blank pages needed to complete your electronic file.
  • Trim marks should be offset 10pt or 0.125 inches to ensure that marks do not appear on the page when the book is printed.
  • Spreads should be created by placing single pages side by side. This way a picture that should bleed from one page to another across the gutter can be placed as a single image, leaving no chance for misalignment.
  • Master pages are an excellent way to ensure consistency throughout your file. Page numbers, headers and footers are just some of the element types you should put on your master pages.
  • The minimum recommended text margin is 0.5 inches. A margin of 0.75 inches in the gutter ensures that the text will be easily readable.
  • Using style sheets will save time and ensure consistency throughout the text in your files. Style sheets allow you to adjust a text attribute to a style that will apply throughout the layout file.
  • Always keep a list of ALL fonts used in ALL files. This includes layouts and drawing programs such as InDesign and Illustrator.
  • Any objects that come within 0.25 inches of the trim should extend 0.125 inches past the edge of the page to allow for bleed needed for trimming of your book. No bleed is needed in the gutter except for books with spiral/wire-o binding.
  • Avoid reversing (white) fine serif or script fonts smaller than 12 points out of a coloured background. The font becomes hard to read in the final printed piece and may fill in on press.
  • Avoid extreme resizing of scanned images in the layout application. Resizing below 50% or above 120% should be done in Photoshop. Consider replacing images that are enlarging above 120% because resizing alters the effective resolution. (See Scanning section)

Covers & Dustjackets

For hard covers, soft covers and dustjackets templates can be downloaded to assist in setting up cover components. Use the measurements on the template to setup your InDesign or QuarkXPress document for the correct cover size. The spine width is affected by the page count, paper selection and binding style. Ensure that you have the correct specs for more accurate sizing.

Endsheets

Endsheet files should be setup in spreads where the file width is twice the width of the trim size of the book. The endsheet at the front of the book with printing across the spread is called “F2-F3”. If the back side of the front endsheet also has printing this spread is called “F4-F1”. On the back of the front endsheet panel F1 plus 3/16 inches of F4 will be covered with glue. The endsheet at the back of the book with printing across the spread is called “B2-B3”. If the front side of the back endsheet also has printing this spread is called “B4-B1”. On the front of the back endsheet panel B4 plus 3/16 inches of B1 will be covered with glue. The 3/16 inch glue strip area is used to attach the interior pages to the cover.


Use the following prefixes when labeling endsheet files.

  • F4-F1 – back of front endsheet
  • F2-F3 – front endsheet
  • B4-B1 – front of back endsheet
  • B2-B3 – back endsheet

Multi-Language Setup

The purpose of creating multi-language files is to reuse the Cyan, Magenta and Yellow plates by only exchanging the Black plate for each language edition of the book. By reusing the common plates the total number of plates used is reduced, lowering the printing cost.

When preparing files for printing on press we output plates for each colour that will be printed. For colour books this means four plates (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) need to be printed.

With any modern desktop publishing program there is a convenient way to create a multi-language file using layers. Using layers is an effective way of keeping common elements identical between languages. Layers are really convenient for toggling between languages when designing the layout. When using layers the language changes need to be restricted to the Black plate only. Changes between languages do not need to be limited to text. Any changes between languages must be limited to using Black only. Watch out for images that contain text directly in the image. Some examples are signs, notes, books and other consumer products.