Funeral Program Design help

[LizzieM72]

Hi

I need to create a funeral program and I am still a beginner to Indesign. What would be the best size to set my margins and bleed too? I found various articles, all with different sizes. I want to put a frame around the page and if possible I want to be able to print it and fold it - without needing to cut it afterward (the margins must be spaced equally all round). The paper size is an A4.

 I have trouble doing this. When I export a file to PDF, I am always left with about 1mm that needs to be cut off on 2 sides. How do I fix this problem so that my frame would be in the center when I fold the funeral program/booklet? I am scared if I take this to a print shop, they might have the same problem.

Is PDF the best format to export my file? I would also like to know a little bit more about grids and guidelines 

and how best to use them to set up the funeral program.

Thank you in advance

 

[John Mensinger · Accepted solution]

You don't have bleed in the design, so the bleed can stay at 0.

"When I export a file to PDF, I am always left with about 1mm that needs to be cut off on 2 sides."

You say that's a result of export, but the image you posted shows the uneven margins on a physical print. That has nothing to do with PDF; it's the printer. Every printer has a "printable area" of the page, and due to the way they handle the paper, the "printable area" margins are disparate on the leading and trailing edges. The way to fix that is to make your margins larger all around, and do not select "fit to printable area" or "fit to printer margins" in the print driver. Center your artwork on the InDesign page with ample margins, export to PDF and print at actual size.

[LizzieM72]

Thank you so much

[Test Screen Name · Accepted solution]

If you want to print to the edge of a finished piece, then trimming is a normal part of the process for pretty much everyone. If you want a result that is exactly A4 you need to print oversized and trim down. There is a special paper size called SRA4 designed for exactly that. I recommend you look at trimming machines with a view to getting a good result without too much effort and too much inaccuracy. 

[LizzieM72]

Thank you very much