Set Up Your Page Size Before You Start
Begin with the finished trim size of the publication, then build the artwork around that size. If your book is A5, or your magazine is A4, set the document to that exact finished size so pagination, image placement and page numbers stay accurate from the first page to the last.
For items that will be saddle stitched, perfect bound or case bound, page order and page count must be planned properly before export. Allow for the binding method, especially on thicker books where the inner pages may move slightly into the spine fold. Our prepress checks look for these issues early, but a clean setup from the start always saves time.
Bleed, Margins and Safe Area Rules
Bleed is needed wherever artwork, colour blocks or images run off the edge of the page. A standard 3 mm bleed on all sides is usually suitable for print work, including books and magazines. Keep important text and logos inside the safe area so nothing is trimmed too close to the edge.
- Add 3 mm bleed to every side unless your layout brief says otherwise.
- Keep body text at least 5 mm inside the trim line.
- For stitched sections, allow a wider inner margin near the spine.
- Avoid placing page numbers, folios or captions too close to the trim.
If the design has full-page images, let them extend into the bleed area right through the spread. That helps prevent white edges after trimming, which can happen when pages shift a little during finishing.
Use the Right Image Resolution
Images should be high enough quality for print, not just for screen viewing. For most book and magazine pages, 300 dpi at final size is the safe standard for photos and detailed artwork. If an image is enlarged too much, it can print soft or pixellated, especially on coated paper where detail is more visible.
Line art, logos and text placed inside images need extra care. If they are low resolution, they may show rough edges once printed. Avoid taking artwork from WhatsApp screenshots or web images if you can help it, because those files are usually too small for clean reproduction.
- Photos: 300 dpi at final size.
- Line art: use vector or very high resolution files.
- Do not upscale small images to fit a page.
- Check that linked images are not missing before export.
Choose Print-Safe Colours and Black Settings
Always prepare files in CMYK for print, unless we have asked for a different setup for a specific job. RGB files can shift colour when converted later, which may affect skin tones, brand colours and dark backgrounds. For magazines with strong colour coverage, this step matters even more because different paper stocks can change the final look.
Use rich black only where suitable and avoid using it for small text. Small black text should normally be set as 100 percent black only, otherwise registration problems can make it look fuzzy. On coated stock, deep blacks hold well, but on uncoated paper the same colour may print lighter. That is normal, so proofing is important.
Export Files in a Format That Prints Cleanly
PDF is usually the best export format for print-ready artwork. Embed fonts, flatten only where needed and make sure all pages are exported in the correct order. When sending spreads, check whether the job needs single pages or reader spreads, because the wrong format can cause page breaks or binding problems.
- Export as high quality PDF with bleed included.
- Embed all fonts and keep them editable where possible.
- Do not lock pages in a way that stops checking or correction.
- Keep linked images in their original location until the file is approved.
If your software allows it, include trim marks and bleed marks, but keep them outside the finished page. A clean export helps our prepress team in Industria move faster, especially when books and magazines need packing and dispatch to publishers nationwide.
Final Checks Before You Send the Files
Before submitting artwork, read through the pages on screen at full size and also print a small proof where possible. Check spelling, page numbers, image placement and whether any elements sit too close to the edge. In long publications, one missing page or a shifted caption can hold up the whole job.
- Confirm page count matches the brief.
- Check bleeds on every page with artwork to the edge.
- Review margins, especially on the spine side.
- Make sure images are linked, correct and high enough resolution.
- Confirm the export is the final approved version.
For stitched, bound or finished publications, the final trim and fold can move a little, so a careful last review is worth the time. If you are unsure about a setup detail, send the file through the enquiry form and our team can advise before print begins.
