How to set up cover for A5 mini-book

[DelPro]

Hello everybody,

I have to do a job that includes making a separate .pdf (print) file with designed cover for a mini-book (I believe Americans call this a booklet).

I just have to do a cover for it, nothing else.

It is going to be a saddle stitch booklet with 50 pages ("normal" paper that most books have).

Cover paper will be the one that most magazines have (shinier and a little bit thicker than body paper).

Size of booklet -> vertical A5 (148mm - 210mm) with 3mm bleed.

Cover will only have content outside (not inside)!

My questions are: How to properly set up an InDesign file to make that cover and do I need to make a spine regarding that it will have 50 pages?

How should you guys approach this (how many pages, what about facing pages option etc...).

Thank you very much

[dave c courtemanche]

If you're book will be saddle stitched, you don't need a spine, as a stapled book doesn't have one. Since it's a one sided cover, how you create the document depends on how the books are being reproduced.

If the covers are run separately and being merged with the insides (either in production or post), you can just create an A4 landscape doc, with the back cover on the left and front cover on the right. These can be printed, then merged with the insides.

If the covers are part of the insides, you're better off creating a 2 page A5 doc (facing or otherwise), with front cover / back cover as the 2 pages. Then, this PDF can be merged with the insides and the copier operator will designate what to print cover on / insides on. This is how my machine runs - I load coverstock in one tray and insides in another. Then through the driver, I specify how to run the book.

Bottom line, you need to speak with the person producing the book. They can best tell you how they want the file.

[DelPro]

Great answer, thanks. However, what bugs my mind a little is how can A4 be enough to cover 50 pages without it being a little bit bigger than the rest of pages it covers...

I just cut 1 magazine that i have at home (also saddle stitched) and the cover spread is like 1cm longer than the inside spreads. Can you explain that for me if you have time, pelase. Do they make cover spread wider or something?

[rob day]

Great answer, thanks. However, what bugs my mind a little is how can A4 be enough to cover 50 pages without it being a little bit bigger than the rest of pages it covers...

When the printer imposes the pages they would allow for "creep" in the imposition. Creep has to be handled in the imposition and not in the layout. Saddle stitch almost never has a spine unless something unusual is happening in the bindery. If the book is perfect bound there would be a spine and you could potentially have 50 pages.

With saddle stitch all of the pages get folded together, so you have to work in 4s—here's 8 pages, two sheets folded

[DelPro]

I actually know for that rule about 4s . I just wasn't really precise with numbers as I was told "about 50 pages total" anyways.

Regarding the size of cover, you want to say that I don't need to worry about those things? English is not my mother language so I struggle with understading the word "creep" haha

So, as far as i understand you guys, I'm safe with just making horizontal A4 cover (left side back outside cover, right side front ouside cover) for separate print / or making two A5 pages if cover is part of insides?

[rob day · Accepted solution]

English is not my mother language so I struggle with understading the word "creep" haha

https://printhouse.co.uk/2012/01/what-is-creep/

Assuming this will be professionally printed and bound, the printer's imposition software will compensate for the folded sheets pushing away from the binding. You should not attempt to make any adjustment—just set the document dimensions to the final trim size.

I don't think you want to help the printer in any way with the imposition. If you need to provide a separate document for the cover it can be setup as 4 facing pages with the cover on page 1 and the back cover on page 4. Let the printer impose it the way they want to on the press sheet:

[Stephen Marsh]

By all means ASK the printer, let them know of your concerns and have them satisfy you that this will be accounted for and will not be a problem… but don’t try to second guess them with your setup.

Again, assume nothing and ask the printer how they wish for the file to be supplied. Such as one complete file for a 52 page job or perhaps as a separate file for the 48 page text section and another separate file for the 4 page cover section. The setup should be in standard single pages or perhaps in readers spreads, again dictated by the printer (sequential page order, not imposed order).

[rob day]

It is going to be a saddle stitch booklet with 50 pages

When you saddle stitch the pages have to be multiples of 4.