Indesign and pdfs
October 26, 2009 at 11:15 AM You should all be at the stage where you're working on rough page designs and taking your pencil sketches to the computer for more precise page designs.
You should be using Indesign when laying out your book and it is important to set your files up correctly now to avoid extra work at the end when preparing your final files for printing. Providing print-ready pdf files is becoming the industry standard for sending projects to print.
Here's a link to an article that describes the basics of setting up Indesign files for printing. (download pdf here.)
Things to remember:
- for typical print jobs, image files must be at 300dpi at actual print size. You may be able to get away with a lower resolution for digital printing on this project; consult with your output provider.
- include at least 0.125" - 0.25" bleed around your document when setting it up. Again, consult with your printer or review the specs on their website.
Blurb: pdf to book resource
Lulu: how to make a pdf
Blitzprint: pdf info
Using someplace else? Ask them for their pdf requirements. They usually can provide detailed instructions.
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