This section of our site is dedicated to helping you understand some issues and concerns about setting up your print project correctly.

Digital Page Setup

Make sure your document setup is exactly the same as the trim size. If your book is to be printed 6 x 9, then use 6 x 9 as your digital page size. It is incorrect to set up a 6 x 9 image area on an 8.5 x 11 digital page size. For a Book With a Spine When creating covers digitally, put your spine, front cover, and back cover all on one page as a separate digital file or document. The back cover starts at the left, followed by the spine and the front cover. Inside covers should be laid out in a similar manner. Be sure to specify the appropriate PMS colors in the file to eliminate extra charges. Call your account executive if you need a cover or dust jacket dimension sheet.

Does Your Job Include Bleeds?

If there is an object on your page that is to bleed (an item intended to go right to the edge of the page), make sure it extends a full 1/8-inch off the digital page size. If the bleeds are not set up correctly, there may be white space at the edge of the page when your book is trimmed.

Font Usage

Be careful about font usage. Make sure there is a printer and screen font for every font you use in your digital file. Avoid using attributes to stylize your fonts; use the correct screen font for the desired effect. For example, if you want Helvetica Bold, use the Helvetica Bold font. It is important not to use Helvetica and then apply a bold attribute to it. Problems occur when using attributes instead of the correct font. (See Fonts for more information.)

Fonts play a vital part in digital imaging – if they are not used correctly, many problems can occur and possibly cause your digital file not to print.