Yearbook Design Specifications
Our manufacturing process requires incoming files that meet certain design specifications. These specifications are unique to each yearbook size and binding style.
Part of the requirement is no crop marks and no white borders on the image files. Images need to fill the full bleed size. For saddle stitch we will account for creep.
Step 1 Choose the book type you want us to make: Saddle-Stitched Perfect Bound Soft Cover Hard Cover
Step 2 Refer to the design templates for page size, safe area and bleed to design your yearbook. Saddle-Stitched pgs 4-5 Perfect Bound Soft Cover pgs 6-7 Hard Cover pgs 8-14
Step 3 Read pages 2-3 for general information.
Step 4 Use the instructions on page 15 to generate a high-quality PDF of your yearbook and submit to Studio Source Yearbooks for printing.
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Bleed and Safe Areas
For all yearbook sizes and binding styles, all covers and inside pages are full bleed. Images must fill the entire bleed area.
Safe areas keep content from getting too close to the edge of a page. Any text or key images should stay within the safe area. Only background or bleed images should fall outside the safe area. See below:
WRONGImage does not fill to bleed size, leaving a white border around the outside.
CORRECTImage fills the entire bleed area. No white border around the outside.
Bleed Area
Safe Area
Bleed Area
Safe Area
WRONGCritical content falls beyond the safe area, too close to the edge of the book.
Bleed Area
Safe Area
CORRECTCritical content stays within the safe area, away from the edge of the book.
Bleed Area
Safe Area
Fig. 1A
Fig. 1B
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General Layout
For all yearbook sizes and binding styles, page 1 falls on a right-hand facing single page.
Two-page spreads with facing pages begin on pages 2 and 3.For design purposes, spreads with shared backgrounds or continuous content, should fall on facing pages, i.e. 2-3, 4-5, 6-7 etc.
Front Cover Inside Cover Page 1 Page 2 Page 3
Front Cover Inside Cover Page 1
WRONG
Front Cover Inside Cover Page 1 Page 2 Page 3
CORRECT
Fig.
2A
Fig.
2B
Fig.
2B
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Inside pages
Bleed .175”Fore edge
Safe Area .375”
Safe Area .375”
Saddle-Stitched leFt-haNd SiNGle PaGeBleed size 8.75x11.25
Final size 8.5x11Safe
Are
a .3
75”
Safe
Are
a .3
75”
Bleed .125”top & bottom
Bleed .075”Bind side
Bleed .075”Bind side
Safe Area .375”
Safe Area .375”
Saddle-Stitched RiGht-haNd SiNGle PaGeBleed size 8.75x11.25
Final size 8.5x11Safe
Are
a .3
75”
Safe
Are
a .3
75”
Bleed .125”top & bottom
Bleed .175”Fore edge
Saddle-StitchedFront and back cover spread
Bleed .125”All sides
Safe
Are
a .5
”
Safe Area .5”
sAddle-stitched coverBleed size 17.25 x 11.25
Safe Area .5”
Safe Area .5”
Safe Area .5”
Safe
Are
a .5
”
Safe
Are
a G
utte
r 1”
Fig.
3A
Fig.
3B
Frontback
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Saddle-StitchedCenter spread
To create a center spread with a continuous image across both pages, the two pages must be set up to cross over the fold with 0.075” of repeat image on the bind edge. That repeat will be digitally trimmed off and then the remaining images will align for the crossover. For example:
These two pages comprise a center spread:
Left Right
Will render as this in the center spread.
Fig.
3C
Fig.
3D
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Perfect Bound Soft CoverFront and back cover spreads
Bleed .125”All sides
Safe
Are
a .5
”
Safe Area .5”
perfect bound soft cover bookbleed size 17.25 x 11.25
final size 17 x 11
Safe
Are
a G
utte
r .5
”
Safe
Are
a G
utte
r .5
”
Safe Area .5”
Safe Area .5”
Safe Area .5”
Safe
Are
a .5
”
Spine .07-.042” depending on page count
Here is a list of the spine thickness used for perfect bound soft cover books of various page counts:
Pages Spine
20 0.07 30 0.10 40 0.13 50 0.15 60 0.18 70 0.21 80 0.23 90 0.26 100 0.28 110 0.31 120 0.34 130 0.36 140 0.39 150 0.42
Fig.
4A
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Perfect Bound Soft CoverInside pages
Bleed .125”All sides
Safe Area .375”
Safe Area .375”
perfect bound soft cover single pAgebleed size 8.75 x 11.25
final size 8.5 x 11Safe
Are
a .3
75”
Safe
Are
a .3
75”
Fig.
4B
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Hard CoverA note about hard covers...
Cover files are the same size for any number of pages and thickness of the spine. The overall image should be long enough to accommodate the thickest spine. Thinner spines are adjusted for by more trim, if necessary.
The difference between thinner and thicker spines can alter the placement of the image on the front and back cover so that the image “lands” correctly and with no critical content lost in the trim, wrap or across the spine. We call this the “Cover Safe-Zone”. We always center the cover on the spine. You may wish to adjust the placement of the images for the front and the back to allow for the thickness of the spine.
This illustrates the effect that spine width has on cover image placement:
Fig.
5A
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Safe Area/Wrap 1”
hard cover Book0-89 pagesFinal size 20 x 13
Spin
e .3
2”
Safe
Are
a G
utte
r 1
”
Safe
Are
a G
utte
r 1
”
Safe Area/Wrap 1”
Safe Area/Wrap 1” Safe Area/Wrap 1”
Safe
Are
a/W
rap
1”
Safe
Are
a/W
rap
1”
Hard CoverHere is a list of the spines thickness used for hard cover books of various page ranges. The radius of the spine fold is included in the total thickness:
Hard cover 0-89 pages
Page Qty Spine Radius Total Spine Incl. Radius
0 - 89 pgs 0.32 0.1875 = 0.5075
90 - 99 pgs 0.4 0.1875 = 0.5875
100-130 pgs 0.5 0.1875 = 0.6875
131-160 pgs 0.6 0.1875 = 0.7875
161-190 pgs 0.7 0.1875 = 0.8875
191-220 pgs 0.8 0.1875 = 0.9875
221-250 pgs 0.9 0.1875 = 1.0875
251-280 pgs 1.0 0.1875 = 1.1875
281-300 pgs 1.1 0.1875 = 1.2875
Fig.
5B
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Hard Cover
Safe Area/Wrap 1”
hard cover Book90-99 pagesFinal size 20 x 13
Spin
e .4
”
Safe
Are
a G
utte
r 1
”
Safe
Are
a G
utte
r 1
”
Safe Area/Wrap 1”
Safe Area/Wrap 1” Safe Area/Wrap 1”
Safe
Are
a/W
rap
1”
Safe
Are
a/W
rap
1”
Hard cover 90-99 pages
Safe Area/Wrap 1”
hard cover Book100-130 pages
Final size 20 x 13
Spin
e .5
”
Safe
Are
a G
utte
r 1
”
Safe
Are
a G
utte
r 1
”
Safe Area/Wrap 1”
Safe Area/Wrap 1” Safe Area/Wrap 1”
Safe
Are
a/W
rap
1”
Safe
Are
a/W
rap
1”
Hard cover 100-130 pages
Fig.
5C
Fig.
5D
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Hard Cover
Safe Area/Wrap 1”
hard cover Book131-160 pages
Final size 20 x 13
Spin
e .6
”
Safe
Are
a G
utte
r 1
”
Safe
Are
a G
utte
r 1
”
Safe Area/Wrap 1”
Safe Area/Wrap 1” Safe Area/Wrap 1”
Safe
Are
a/W
rap
1”
Safe
Are
a/W
rap
1”
Hard cover 131-160 pages
Fig.
5E
Safe Area/Wrap 1”
hard cover Book161-190 pages
Final size 20 x 13
Spin
e .7
”
Safe
Are
a G
utte
r 1
”
Safe
Are
a G
utte
r 1
”
Safe Area/Wrap 1”
Safe Area/Wrap 1” Safe Area/Wrap 1”
Safe
Are
a/W
rap
1”
Safe
Are
a/W
rap
1”
Hard cover 161-190 pages
Fig.
5F
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Hard Cover
Safe Area/Wrap 1”
hard cover Book191-220 pages
Final size 20 x 13
Spin
e .8
”
Safe
Are
a G
utte
r 1
”
Safe
Are
a G
utte
r 1
”
Safe Area/Wrap 1”
Safe Area/Wrap 1” Safe Area/Wrap 1”
Safe
Are
a/W
rap
1”
Safe
Are
a/W
rap
1”
Hard cover 191-220 pages
Fig.
5G
Safe Area/Wrap 1”
hard cover Book221-250 pages
Final size 20 x 13
Spin
e .9
”
Safe
Are
a G
utte
r 1
”
Safe
Are
a G
utte
r 1
”
Safe Area/Wrap 1”
Safe Area/Wrap 1” Safe Area/Wrap 1”
Safe
Are
a/W
rap
1”
Safe
Are
a/W
rap
1”
Hard cover 221-250 pages
Fig.
5H
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Hard Cover
Safe Area/Wrap 1”
hard cover Book251-280 pages
Final size 20 x 13
Spin
e 1
.0”
Safe
Are
a G
utte
r 1
”
Safe
Are
a G
utte
r 1
”
Safe Area/Wrap 1”
Safe Area/Wrap 1” Safe Area/Wrap 1”
Safe
Are
a/W
rap
1”
Safe
Are
a/W
rap
1”
Hard cover 251-280 pages
Fig.
5I
Safe Area/Wrap 1”
hard cover Book281-300 pages
Final size 20 x 13
Spin
e 1
.1”
Safe
Are
a G
utte
r 1
”
Safe
Are
a G
utte
r 1
”
Safe Area/Wrap 1”
Safe Area/Wrap 1” Safe Area/Wrap 1”
Safe
Are
a/W
rap
1”
Safe
Are
a/W
rap
1”
Hard cover 281-300 pages
Fig.
5J
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Hard CoverInside pages
Bleed .125”All sides
Safe Area .375”
Safe Area .375”
hArd cover Album side - leftfinal size 8.5x11
Safe
Are
a .3
75”
Gut
ter
Safe
Are
a .5
”
Bleed .125”All sides
Safe
Are
a .7
5”
Safe Area .375”
Safe Area .375”
hArd cover Album 2-pAge spreAdFinal size 17x11
Safe Area .375”
Safe Area .375”
Safe
Are
a .3
75
”
Safe
Are
a .3
75
”
Bleed .125”All sides
Safe Area .375”
Safe Area .375”
hArd cover Album side - rightFinal size 8.5x11
Gut
ter
Safe
Are
a .5
”
Safe
Are
a .3
75”
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Exporting files to PDF for printing
The simplest file to submit for printing is a PDF. For this to work, the export settings have to match the printing criteria. You can convert your photos to CMYK prior to exporting, or let the PDF creator do the job for you.
Two PDFs are needed. One file for the front and back cover spread. And a separate file of the inside pages. Follow the steps below for creating both files, changing only the page range in step 5.
1. Proof and finalize your layout for printing.
2. Check for any other errors (RGB or low res images, missing images or fonts)
3. Select <File/Export> and choose the correct Adobe PDF (Print).
Tip: Save your settings as a ‘Yearbook’ style for easy selection.
4. Choose a location for the final PDF file and name it ?????? (any preference here Mike?)
5. In the dialogue, check the following Settings:
General • Choose PDF 5.0 • Choose Page Range (page 1 for cover; 2-your last page for inside pages) • Export Spreads • View PDF after Exporting (so you can see if it worked) • Optimize or Fast Web View (makes previews easier)
Compression • Make sure all settings are as per the example:
Marks and Bleeds • Check boxes for: Use Document Bleed Settings and Include Slug Area.
Output • Check: ‘Convert to Destination’ and ‘US Web Coated’ This will convert any remaining RGB images to CMYK.
6. Export the file for printing.
• Address any warnings that might appear.