Document setup instructions

Question

It has been said previously that the instructions of my printing company are vague, so I don't understand now if the jacket (back cover + front cover + spine) will be cut out from the same piece of paper, or each of them separately?

Because if only 1 piece of paper, then I will need to add extra spacing only for the boundary of the jacket as a whole.

If separate pieces, then I will need to add the safety margins and bleeds around each of the 3 pages.

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Above it's possible to download the 2 guidance documents for the setup (PDFs).

If anyone could take a look at it to determine the answer?

Thanks in advance.

rob day · Accepted Answer

But why is my bleed shown per spread and not per page?
I don't understand the printing terms you use, but if you can tell it in my
terms, how do I determine if the pages will be cut out individually or as a
spread? Oh wait a moment obviously pages can't be cut out individually,
everything must be cut out as a spread, including the jacket. For sure for
staple stitching.
But for perfect binding are they still cut out as a spread, or will be
glued to the spine individually?

But why is my bleed shown per spread and not per page?

Your printer is asking you to export Spreads not Pages—they want 2 PDFs, one for the entire 3 panel cover, and if needed, one for whatever is printing on the other side of the sheet (the inside front and back covers)

Export as Spreads not Pages

The exported PDF—2 pages

J E L · Answer

Why not, I'll weigh in, too. I've printed dozens and dozens of magazines and books. I'm assuming your jacket doesn't have flaps, and it's paper over board for hardcover or simply paper for a softcover. It will be printed on one sheet and folded. Ask your printer for measurements like these below. They need to give you the spine width based on the paper used. Don't try to calculate it yourself unless they provide a calculator tool and you can input the correct paper type. Create one document in InDesign accordingly. Remember, the bleed area has a separate section on the Document Setup panel.

I use guidelines to mark out the spine area in my workspace. If your cover prints on both sides, make a copy of the first page in the same document and replace the content. Output the file to PDF. Check in PDF Properties at the bottom of the Description page (first tab) to make sure you have the right, final “Full Cover” size (Acrobat will round up).

Perfect binding might work (FYI, a 90-page LIFE magazine used staples). Trying to read and get type placed correctly on a spine wrapping 52 pages is going to be interesting, though. Wishing you luck on all fronts!

(PDF check)

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