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Adobe InDesign/setting up magazine for print

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Expert: Ken Black - 3/2/2010


Question
Hi Ken,
I am doing a magazine for a friend of mine who was not happy with the current designer and asked me to help. Whilst I am able to use InDesign for various things, I am not sure on how to use the setup that has the full magazine as pages/spreads.

I have a question about a heading that my friend wants to go across the double page spread. Will this be OK for printing or will the heading that goes across be cut and cropped?

From what I can tell the document is properly set up for printing, with bleed and trim and margin..I just am not sure about the heading?

Thanks

Answer

PagesExample
Hi Lillien,

Attached is an image of a 12 page document. In it I have created a headline in two scenarios.

The first is across 2 pages that will not be in the same signature when it prints, they will be joined in the collating and stitching phase. This headline will get cut in half when the document is imposed and made ready to go to press.

For the most part, it should look ok depending on how the printer sets up the imposition and whether they take into account this critical crossover.

Several things can happen in this situation. If the document has a large number of pages, "creep" may be added to the page position during imposition in order to keep the margins uniform when stitched and cut.

This will cause the crossover to begin to overlap in the middle and cause the headline to look odd. If the crossover is taken into account and creep is not added to these pages, the headline may line up if great care is taken in the folding, collating, stitching and trimming phase. More often than not, a bit of shifting occurs in situations such as this.

In the Second scenario, the headline crosses over the center spread of the document. The center spread will not have it's pages separated in the imposition and the headline should remain in tact throughout the process.

In either scenario, it would be best to try and make the headline split between letters at the trim in the center, even adding a bit of kerning to widen the gap a bit will help considerably. This way you will not have any actual letters getting split by a trim, fold or imposition.

As always, communicate with the printer whenever you have concerns about the finished product or your set up. Every one of us tends to have a different production process and thus different advice for different situations.

Thanks,

Ken Black

www.bestprintingonline.com

Ken Black

Expertise

With over 20 years experience in graphic arts as well as working as a preflight and prepress technician for Best Printing Online, I can answer any questions relating to graphic design and printing. This includes but is not limited to Adobe Indesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Quark Xpress and just about any other graphics related software.

Experience

Currently employed by Best Printing Online, I have been working as a graphic designer and printing professional for over 20 years. My experiences range from original design work including layout, illustration and photography to prepress production and troubleshooting. I have done consulting and training for some of the smallest print shops to the largest design agencies and printers in the industry.

Education/Credentials
Occupational Certificate in Darkroom and Printing Technologies from back when light tables and contacting frames were cool. Attended McHenry County College, Columbia College Chicago and Northern Illinois University and strive to attain new knowledge in this field wherever it may be hiding.

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