Expert: Ken Black - 8/4/2010

Question
Hi Ken,

Many thanks. I am using InDesign CS3 to create a year book for our graduating medical class. I am a complete novice, before I get into the layout i was hoping you could assist me with setting up the appropriate page sizes for printing.
I am creating an 200mm by 200mm square, hard covered book with approx 170-200pages. I hope to have case binding with a 2.4mm board. To ensure I leave adequate room for binding what page set-up sizes would you suggest?
Many thanks.
Regards,
Helen

Answer
Hi Helen,

It will be imperative for you to discuss the printing and finishing details of your book with your printer or service provider, prior to completing the layout. Certain details for cover and spine layout will vary from one production facility to another.

As for the interior pages, you should only need to be concerned with the finished page size and initial bleed where necessary. The extra room necessary for head trims and grind off in the gutters should be determined by the printer themselves when they build the imposition for your book.

Take a look at our website's help center here:

http://www.bestprintingonline.com/bleed.htm

This page helps explain bleed and other important issues such as type safety.

One thing to keep in mind, since this will be a case bound, any where from 10 to 15 mm of the inside edge (along the spine) will be visually lost into the spine due to the casing's hinge. Again this space depends on the caliper (thickness of paper), number of pages, thickness of the board, space for gluing, and any specifications the printer may have in addition.

I can not stress enough the importance of working with your print provider from the earliest stages of this type of project. The last thing one wants to hear after working the many hours it takes to layout projects such as this, is that something needs to be re-done or worse, the job printed and things don't look at all how they were envisioned.

Thanks,

Ken Black

www.bestprintingonline.com