Welcome to our blog post that provides a beginner's guide on how to arrange pages for booklet printing. If you're new to the world of booklet printing it's understandable if you feel a bit overwhelmed by all the terms and setup involved. Fret not - we've got you covered.
In this blog post, we'll discuss the setup required for each type and offer some tips on margins, page bleed and how much space to leave on each edge depending on the binding method.
Saddle Stitched Books
Saddle stitching is the most common method used for binding booklets. It involves folding a stack of pages in half and stapling them along the fold to create a booklet. To arrange pages for saddle stitched booklets effectively follow these parameters when setting up your document:
Page Size
The page size should match the size of your booklet (obviously !). For instance, if your booklet will be A4 size set the page size accordingly, then add bleed
Orientation
Choose whether your design and layout work best in portrait or landscape orientation. Typically booklets are printed in portrait orientation.
Make sure to arrange the pages of your booklet in order starting from page 1 and ending with the final page. Before submitting Art it is recommended to check that the pages are correctly ordered. Check, recheck... then check again !
Margin
For saddle-stitched booklets, it's important to leave a margin of 3mm on all sides. This ensures that important content won't get cut off during printing and trimming.
Since saddle-stitched booklets are folded in half it's essential to have a bleed of 3mm on the top, bottom and outer edges of each page. This will prevent any borders from appearing after trimming.
Perfect Bound Books
If you prefer a Novel-type appearance, perfect-bound books are the way to go. Unlike saddle stitch books wire bound/spiral booklets, or Coilbound books, Perfect Bound Books involve glueing the pages together at the spine resulting in a polished finish. To set up your document for bound books follow these steps:
1. Page Size
Ensure that the page size matches the size of your booklet (as per above, with Saddle Stitch Books)
2. Orientation
Most Opt for portrait orientation when creating Perfectly bound books. You can choose Landscape, but be aware this often is more expensive due to a larger flat sheet for the cover
3. Page Order
Arrange the pages sequentially from page 1 to the final page. Keep the cover files and the inner files separate
4. Margins
Leave a margin of 3mm on all sides for perfect bound booklets as well.
5. Page Bleed
It is recommended to have a bleed of 3mm on all sides for bound books. This will guarantee correct edges after trimming.
Coil, Wire-Bound, or Spiral Bound Books
Coil bound books, also known as plastic coil books are similar, to wire bound (or Spiral Bound) booklets. Wire Bound books use a metal spine, whilst Coil Binding utilize continuous plastic coils to bind the pages. These booklets are perfect if you want your documents to lay flat when open and accommodate several pages compared to saddle-stitched or perfect-bound booklets. Follow these steps to prepare your document :
1. Page Size
Make sure to set the page size to match the size of your booklet.
2. Orientation
Matters less with this application. Portrait and Landscape Books will be relatively similar in cost (unless A3 or bigger, and bound on the Lond Edge)
3. Page Order
Unlike saddle-stitched or perfectly bound booklets, coil bound books require a page order. Arrange the pages in sets of two where the first page is followed by the page and so on. This arrangement ensures that when the booklet is bound every two pages will face each other.
4. Margins
Leave a margin of 3mm on all sides for coil-bound/wire-bound booklets.
5. Page Bleed
The recommended bleed for coil-bound books is also 3mm, on all sides.
Whether you're making a booklet, for business or personal use it's crucial to grasp the binding options and how to structure your pages accordingly. By adhering to these guidelines and organizing your pages with the order, margins and bleeds you can ensure that your booklet is printed accurately and exudes professionalism.
Now that you have an understanding of page arrangement for booklet printing feel free to unleash your creativity with designs and layouts! Keep in mind that a crafted booklet has the power to leave a lasting impression on your audience, while effectively showcasing your brand or message.
So don't hesitate to explore binding types and create booklets that truly stand out from the crowd. To assess how it looks on paper consider saving and printing your document at home or in the office. If the layout or design doesn't meet your expectations don't hesitate to make adjustments until you're satisfied, then submit to your printing services provider.
With preparation, you can effortlessly create captivating and informative booklets. So let those ideas flow and bring your booklet visions to life!
References
"How to Create a Booklet in Microsoft Word" by Techwalla; [link](https;//www.techwalla.com/articles/how to create a booklet, in microsoft word)
"Choosing the Right Book Binding Type" by AlphaGraphics.
You can check out an article titled "How to Set Up Margins, for Booklet Printing" by Peernet available at their website https;//www.peernet.com/support/knowledge base/how to set up margins for booklet printing/.
Another helpful resource is a guide called "Print Booklets and PDF Portfolios" from the Adobe Help Center, which you can access here; https;//helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/how to/print booklets pdf portfolios.html.
