Indesign - Tabs (side of publication)

[sibelu72997086]

Hi there,

I was wondering if anyone could assist with working out how to correctly export an indesign document which contains tabs. The tabs sit outside of the artwork area to the right as they are will be used as dividers. There are only 5 tabs and 160 pages.

Hope this makes sense and someone can help!

Thanks

[Derek Cross · Accepted solution]

Increase the width of the page to include the tabs - they have to be within the artwork area if they are to be printed on, it may not matter if they are plain. You will need to produce a cutter guide so a forme cutter to the shape can be made. I suggest you discuss the matter with your printer (who may use a specialist finisher to undertake the work, if the tabs are "standard" size they may have already have a cutter guide in stock to use).

[sibelu72997086]

Hi Derek,

thank you for responding. this all makes sense... however then this will make all my other pages wider than I need?

[Derek Cross]

Presumably you'll be printing the dividers on heavier stock, so they'll be printed separately to the rest of the publication (if they are to be printed). You can decide whether you want the finishers to insert the dividers in place throughout the publication or have the user do it. The whole lot can be shrink wrapped into packs with a card backing to protect the tabs in transit.

Presumably they'll be drilled for a ring binder?

[sibelu72997086]

Are you suggesting that I create the pages with tabs in a separate exported document to the rest of the publication.

or as you suggested above to just extend the width of the publication so the tabs sit inside the artwork area - and create a cutter guide?

Sorry i'm just getting a little confused.

[Derek Cross]

Yes, obviously if they are to be produced on different stock the dividers will have to be printed separately.

I assume this publication will be supplied to users in a ring binder - is that correct?

If you are producing a small quantity of this publication you might consider buying the dividers from a stationers rather than producing them yourself.

[Derek Cross]

So Sibelu, how did this matter resolve itself? It's useful to get feedback we can all share.

Derek

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

You can extend the slug area and put the tabs in it. When you export/print, be sure to include the slug area. You can create your own crop marks for these pages using registration color lines.

A new notes: I would build the tab sections separately as Derek suggested, however, you can always create the PDF and use Acrobat to extract the dividers from the main document.