Expert: Glen Demers - 4/21/2010

Question
Hi there,

I often have to PDF foldable brochures and programmes to show to my superiors who may not always have a great knowledge of design programs. They often don't understand where the centreline of a spread would go from a PDF of a spread and I can't figure out how to plot one. Surely there's a way to do it - any suggestions?

Thanks very much,
Leah

Answer
Hi Leah,

A lot of times I'll create a spot color of solid Magenta and name it dieline, score, perf etc. I will use these bright lines to show where the document will be diecut, scored or perforated. Because it's a spot color it can easily be turned off when plating.

You may also want to put these lines on their own layer. If you are putting a box around every page to show centerlines of spreads and trims, you should put them all on their own layer to ensure that all the boxes get turned off when going to print. You could then make a pdf proof with the lines showing and turn off that layer when sending the document to the printer. Make sure your printer knows that these lines do not print. Clearly mark your supplied proofs and put a note in the pasteboard area of your document.

At Bestprintingonline.com we routinely RIP files with these lines set to overprint. We can then make paper proofs with the lines in place to use as guides, and turn them off on the High Resolution Epson UltraChrome color proofs and plates.

Hope this helps,
Glen Demers
Prepress Technician, Best Printing Online
www.bestprintingonline.com

For more InDesign tips please visit our help pages here: http://www.bestprintingonline.com/indesign.htm