Expert: James Fritz - 12/2/2009

Question
Hello James. First, I apologize if this is too much information for you, but it helps me to put it all into words. I also have photos of the printed brochure that I'm trying to duplicate, size-wise, if I need to send those at some point.

I'm currently in the process of designing an information booklet of services for a client. It's a rather complex booklet in terms of design and print(to me) and I need help deciding how to set up the document(s), mostly for final output. The client will see what they need to see design-wise. I just want it to be print-ready when it goes off to the printer. I'm modeling it exactly to a brochure that their sister company had designed that I have in front of me so I can see the exact size and shape of the final brochure that I will create.

The final folded-down size is 9"x6". It's laid out horizontally and is spiral-bound. There aren't "spreads" because they're not attached to one another because it's a spiral bind but if you unfolded it it would be 18"x6".

The inside pages are not "tabbed" but they start shorter (i.e. the first one is 9"x4.875") and by the 7th inside page it is 9x6. So the inside pages get progressively taller because there is a description at the bottom of each that you could see while looking at the first inside page. These aren't "spreads" either, they're just pages, taller and taller, front and back.

That's easy enough for me, just measure the page and design it. But what I'm not familiar with is this indented die cut at the spine that measures 1.25" on each page for the binding. Each page is not bound to the last four spirals on the spine and there is an indented notch that gets progressively larger as I flip through the pages. How would I set this up in InDesign? Do I specify that that is a die cut (if it even is) or just tell the printer to cut the bottom unused portions of the papers while keeping the whole inside pages of the document the same size?

To add to my confusion, the cover page is also a folder pocket on the inside that has a glued tab. I've never created a folded pocket of this size before and don't know where to start in InDesign. Do I tear the brochure apart and create my page as that size or what? Then, the back cover page is a DVD/business card slot on the inside. How do I specify THAT in my document?

I honestly don't know where to start even on the set-up of my document, let alone the design and they want to see something by the end of this week. We don't have a printer yet, but if you told me to go to one to get the answers I would get the client to agree on one pretty quickly as I'm desperate for some insight.

Really, any tips on this type of document creation/die-cutting set-up/multiple-sized page booklets would be more than beneficial. This is the first time I've felt too clueless to do my own job.  

Answer
Hi Ashley,

You are asking a very complicated question and I wish I had a simple answer for you, but the answer is really to talk to your printer. Custom folds and sizes require a template to be designed by the printer. Since it is not possible to create a layout inside InDesign will all of these crazy folds and different size pages, you will essentially need to find out the final unfolded size of the layout. On top of that layout you will need to place a graphic (dieline eps) that will act as a guide for the entire layout. After laying everything out you will want to print it out and mock it up to ensure that everything fits in the correct location and nothing is upside down.

Regarding die-cuts, here is a link to a tutorial on how to setup die-cuts in InDesign.
http://indesignsecrets.com/making-a-die-cut-shape-in-indesign.php

I hope this helps, but you really need to talk to your printer before you begin to setup the file.

Good Luck!