Booklets require a different set up than other Primoprint products. To ensure your file is prepared properly, you will need to follow these simple instructions to avoid potential delays:
• Booklet files should be submitted as a multi-page PDF in paginated order. The cover is page 1. The inside cover is page 2, and so on. We can accept single page PDFs for each page provided they are appropriately named.
• Do not submit as readers or printers spreads. We will perform the page imposition on our end.
• The bleed should be 0.125" on all sides or a total of 0.25" overall. The safe area for each page is 0.25" in from the trim line on all sides. For example, if you are creating files for an 8.5" x 11" finished booklet, the file size with bleed should be 8.75" x 11.25". Anything not intended to bleed should appear at least 0.375" in from the edge of the page to allow for any shift during production. Adhering to this will enable us to set up your crossovers properly.
Crossovers in booklets are frequent and require a bit of extra attention. A crossover is an image, text, or another graphic element that goes from one page to another. For the best results, we would recommend avoiding text or thin lines to prevent a noticeable misalignment. Large photos work best with crossovers, but we recommend avoiding the use of photos with faces in the fold area. It is essential to make sure that any crossover design is as seamless as possible since we cannot guarantee exact crossover alignment on the finished booklets due to the intensive bindery processes.
If you are creating your artwork as spreads or facing pages using a program like InDesign or another layout software, the file must be saved or exported as single page PDF's. The easiest way to achieve this is to include your bleeds when creating your document.
Creating your document using InDesign
When creating your new document, make your page size the finished booklet size and set your margins to 0.25" (see screenshot below). This area is your "safe area," and anything not intended to bleed should appear clearly inside this margin to allow for any shift during bindery.
After setting the size and margins, click on "More Options" on the right, which will reveal the Bleed and Slug settings (shown below). Enter 0.125" as the bleed size in all boxes.
Now the document should look like the image below and is ready for your design. The outermost line is the bleed line, the black outline shows the trim line, and the inner pink line is the safe line for trimming. Anything intended to bleed when the booklet is cut to size should extend to or beyond the bleed line. And, as stated above, anything not intended to bleed should appear clearly inside the pink line
Once you have finished your design and are ready to export your booklet as a PDF, be sure to click the "Use Document Bleed Settings" box under the "Marks and Bleeds" tab on the left side of the Export Adobe PDF settings menu, as shown below.
Due to the custom nature of this product, our file uploader will not accept your file directly. You will need to email your file to us at [email protected] with the order number in the subject line. If the file is too large to email, we can accept a link to the file via Google Drive or DropBox, or you may try sending via a free, large file transfer service. Please be sure that the shared file link, if used, does not require us to request permission to download. We require a direct link to your file.
Once your file is received, our processing staff will review it for any potential problems and will notify you of any issues before production.
We hope you found this article helpful. Please feel free to reach out should you have any questions.