Preparing your artwork for booklets

ooklets share one setup, with a few things that depend on how they are bound. This covers stapled (saddle-stitched), wire-bound and perfect-bound booklets. Set the basics below, then check the note for your binding. For the full press detail, see our press file checklist.

The basics, for every booklet

  • Supply single pages, in reading order, not spreads. Send page 1 (the front cover), then 2, 3, 4 and so on. We impose them for print.
  • PDF only, ideally PDF/X-4, with fonts embedded or outlined.
  • CMYK, Coated FOGRA39. RGB, Pantone and spot colours will be converted, which can shift colour, so convert them yourself first. Use a rich black for large solids (see the checklist) and 100% K for small black text.
  • 300 ppi at the finished size for any images.
  • 3mm bleed on all sides, and keep text and important content 4mm inside the trim, with extra on the bound edge (see below).

Page count and binding

  • Stapled (saddle-stitched): total page count in multiples of 4, since each folded sheet makes four pages. Best for lower page counts.
  • Wire-bound: total page count in multiples of 2. Holes are punched along the binding edge, so keep content at least 9mm from that edge, and 4mm from the other three.
  • Perfect-bound: total page count in multiples of 2, with a minimum of 40 pages to give a bindable spine. Keep content 7mm from the spine (binding) edge, and 4mm from the others.
  • For perfect-bound, the cover is a separate piece that wraps the spine. The spine width depends on the stock and page count, so we confirm it for you once those are set. Ask us for the spine width before you finish your cover.

Creep

On stapled booklets especially, the inner pages push outwards slightly when the booklet is folded, so their outer edge is trimmed a little more. This is called creep. We adjust for it when we impose your booklet, but keep important content away from the trim edge so nothing is lost. Read more about how it works on our creep explainer blog.

Your file checklist

  • Single pages, in reading order (not spreads)
  • Correct page count for your binding: multiples of 4 stapled, multiples of 2 wire and perfect bound
  • PDF/X-4, fonts embedded or outlined
  • CMYK, Coated FOGRA39
  • 300 ppi images
  • 3mm bleed, 4mm safe, with 7mm at a perfect-bound spine or 9mm at a wire-bound edge

Sending your file

  • Booklet files can be large, so most people use a file-transfer service such as WeTransfer, then send a quick email to say it is on the way.
  • Smaller files (under 10 MB) can be emailed.
  • Local? Bring it in on a USB stick.

Proofs and approval

  • We send a PDF proof before printing, so you can check the pages, order and layout.
  • On-screen colour depends on your own monitor, so the proof confirms layout and content rather than an exact colour match.
  • Please check your proof carefully, especially page order and spelling. Anything you approve is what we print, errors included. You are also confirming you hold the rights to any images or logos used. Approval is given in writing and is contractually binding for the work. Full details are in our terms and conditions.

Turnaround

Turnaround varies by binding and quantity. Once your proof is approved, you can check the estimated time on the product page or your quote.

If we come back to you, it is usually one of these

  • Pages supplied as spreads rather than single pages.
  • The page count does not match the binding (not a multiple of 4 for stapled, or of 2 for wire and perfect bound).
  • Content sits in the binding margin and would be lost.
  • No bleed, the file is RGB, images are low-resolution, or fonts are not embedded or outlined.