a guide to preparing your booklet for print
TRANSCRIPT
A Guide to Preparing your Booklet for Print
www.alpha-graphics.net
courtesy of:
Celebrating 40 years! 1972-2012
Copyright Alpha Graphics, Inc. 2013
Alpha Graphics, Inc. is a specialized printing and graphic design boutique run by experts in the field. As a result, we offer premier work and sensitivity to design needs in the local business and museum community. Every job from every client receives the same dedicated care every step of the way.
• Alpha Colors™ custom color transfers
• Professional design services
• Large format posters and banners, up to 64” wide
• Vinyl banners (one day use or premium, indoor & outdoor)
• Pull-up banners including hardware, trade show displays &
graphics
• Signage (including adhesive, window graphics, point of
purchase display and menu boards)
• Cut vinyl and other exhibit graphics
• Digital printing (catalogs, booklets, brochures)
• Invitations, stationery, greeting cards and letterhead
• Short-run letterpress printing
• Photograph printing (large format) and framing
• Fine art reproduction giclée prints up to 44“ wide (digital
files of 300 dpi or better recommended)
• Litho film negatives and positives
• Finishing services including lamination and mounting
on a variety of substrates and finishes, trimming,
folding, twin loop, spiral and GBC binding
• Decals on t-shirts and other specialty media (short run)
Alpha Graphics, Inc.
File Setup - Pages and Bleeds
For saddle stitching/sewing, your page count must be divisible by 4. For Wir-o, coil, perfect or other single sheet binding, your page count must be divisible by 2.
when folded in half, each sheet of paper gives you
4 pages, or one leaf
Set your bleed in the Document Setup menu to .125” on all sides.
When laying out images that bleed, drag the handles out beyond the artboard to the bleed box (shown in red here.)
correct
incorrect
Pantone® (PMS) Colors
Pantone® colors are a way to make sure your final product looks like what you have in mind–choosing colors on the screen can be misleading. Choose the correct color book for your paper (uncoated or coated), and tag your colors from the PMS menus.
For our standard text papers, choose Solid Coated; if you are supply-ing uncoated papers, choose Solid Uncoated.
Our digital printing process is a good match for most PMS colors; consult a Solid-to-Process PMS book to see the shift in color between a solid ink and digital printing.
Colors Images
RGB or CMYK?
If you are using Pantone® colors, your images MUST be CMYK.
If you are not using Pantone® colors, your images can be either CMYK or RGB as long as they are all the same.
Make sure your images have a resolution of 150dpi or higher.
JPG Image, 72dpi, low resolution from web. File is 8KB
TIFF Image, 200dpi, high resolution. File is 2MB
Make sure to bleed images off the edge of the artboard as needed.
Colors Images
For saddle stitching, send your native ID file. Package your file to include all fonts and linked images (File>Package). Compress your new folder and save it with your name in the filename.
We will use InDesign’s Print as Booklet function to correctly impose your pages.
If you would like your covers printed on a heavier paper and you are perfect binding: set up a separate PDF with your cover as a double sided spread. Make sure to allow extra width for the spine, if necessary.
For saddle stitching, just tell us you need the cover on a heavier stock and we’ll pull it out of the booklet for printing.
If you are sewing signatures, let us know how many pages you need in each signature.
If in doubt, supply us with a mockup!
Saving your Files - InDesign Saving your Files - PDF
For Wir-o binding or perfect binding, you can either send your packaged InDesign files, or export as a PDF.
Save as “High Quality Print” with no color conversion.Make sure to save as single pages (not spreads)
Check Crop Marks and set the bleed to your document bleed.
Check your PDF to make sure it shows bleeds and crop marks.
Saving your Files - InDesign Saving your Files - PDF
Ready to send in files?
Compress your packaged InDesign folder, or send your high-res PDF.
Email your compressed file to [email protected] along with your printing specs.
If your file is very large, upload to our FTP site using a an FTP program like Fetch or Filezilla. Check our website for our current FTP information.
Or or use a free file-sending service like YouSendIt.com
You can also stop by during our normal business hours and drop off files on a CD or flash drive. Give us a call at 410-727-1400 for our current hours.
Specs to include in your email: quantity, type of paper, type of binding, number of pages, color or black and white, single or double sided, bleed or no bleed, final size (flat and/or folded), and finishing needed (trimming, folding, binding.)
Remember: Many of the tips in this booklet will translate to your other projects, such as short run printing of postcards, business cards, brochures and flyers, as well as posters and banners! Bleeds and crops in your design file are needed whenever your final print has a bleed.
If you ever have questions about preparing your files for print, give us a call and we can help.
Sending Files Binding
Binding styles offered:
Wir-o Binding Saddle Stitching
Coil Binding GBC Binding (Plastic Comb)
For Wir-o, coil or GBC let us know the size and color combs you need; special orders are available. We normally have black in a variety of sizes in stock.
We do not offer perfect binding but can print for it. Just let us know you will be perfect binding, and if you want us to trim any edges for you.
Sending Files Binding
Colors look different on every screen. If you are trying to match a specific color, use a Pantone® color.
Photos often print darker than they appear on the screen; quick adjustments in Photoshop can help adjust the brightness of your photos for better printing. Ask for a proof if you need one.
Avoid putting the edges of color blocks and photos on folds for best registration.
Avoid using rules around the edges of artboards as cut marks.
As of 1/2012 we are using CS5.5 but can open any version.
Paper Limitations
We can print on papers ranging from 20# bond up to 120# cover, or 300gsm. Heavier and duplexed papers will not run.
Heavily textured papers may not have even toner coverage (this can sometimes be a nice vintage-looking effect.) We cannot print on fibrous papers or papers with inclusions (flowers, paper pieces, threads.) Deckled edges are not recommended.
If you are supplying your own paper, please provide extra sheets in case of jamming. Any extra will be returned to you.
Some recommended brands: Mohawk, Neehah, Cougar, Carolina, and Finch (all have extensive lines for digital printing.) Choose papers rated for digital printing.
Other questions?
Just ask!410.727.1400
Tips and Hints Standard Papers
Tips and Hints Standard Papers
Xpedx 120# cover
Hammermill 100# cover
Hammermill 80# cover
Mohawk 100# text
Mohawk 80# text
These are papers we normally have in stock, in 11x17 and 12x18.
Some papers are available in 13x19.
Alpha Graphics, Inc.
3000 Chestnut AvenueSuite 101
Baltimore, MD 21211www.alpha-graphics.net
Alpha Graphics, Inc. offers a 15% student discount for cash payments. Just bring your student ID!
give us a call: 410-727-1400send us an email: [email protected]
visit our website: www.alpha-graphics.netfind us on Facebook: Alpha Graphics, Inc.
follow us on Twitter: alphagraphics0stop by anytime: Monday-Friday 8-6
(call ahead for hours)
This booklet is 12 pages, printed on 80# text and saddle stitched.