Preparing a brochure for printing
Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2025 9:32 am
Everything used to be simpler! Back in kindergarten, I would carve a beautiful design out of a potato, dip it in paint, and then happily stamp all over the paper (sometimes even the table). Now I'm sitting in front of my finished brochure and have to prepare it for printing. Help! If you feel the same way, this is the right blog post for you. Read how to properly prepare a brochure for printing and avoid mistakes.
You've created a brochure, added text, images, and graphics, and now you're ready to lithuania phone number data have it printed. Unfortunately, errors often creep in, meaning the result doesn't meet your expectations. The colors are wrong, images or text are blemished, or the binding obscures part of the text. To avoid these errors, you should consider a few things when creating the document.
Download: Checklist brochure
The document format | The bleed
Let's assume you want to create a brochure in DIN A4 format. In order for the printer to process your file correctly, a so-called bleed (approximately 2-3 mm) must be added around your document. The bleed, also called the trim, refers to the edge that extends beyond the final format of the printed matter and is removed by the cutting machine.
If you don't add the bleed, white edges may appear after the cut. If you have backgrounds or graphics that extend to the edge of the page, these must also be oversized, i.e., beyond the actual document format (e.g., DIN A4), to prevent white edges, so-called white edges, from appearing at the edges.
The reason for this is as follows: Since multiple documents are printed simultaneously on large sheets, printing and cutting differences arise. To compensate for these and provide a certain buffer, a bleed must be added. This is then trimmed off by the printer after printing to ensure a clean edge and the correct final format.
The PDF that you then send to the printer must be 2-3 mm larger than the actual format you want to receive.
You've created a brochure, added text, images, and graphics, and now you're ready to lithuania phone number data have it printed. Unfortunately, errors often creep in, meaning the result doesn't meet your expectations. The colors are wrong, images or text are blemished, or the binding obscures part of the text. To avoid these errors, you should consider a few things when creating the document.
Download: Checklist brochure
The document format | The bleed
Let's assume you want to create a brochure in DIN A4 format. In order for the printer to process your file correctly, a so-called bleed (approximately 2-3 mm) must be added around your document. The bleed, also called the trim, refers to the edge that extends beyond the final format of the printed matter and is removed by the cutting machine.
If you don't add the bleed, white edges may appear after the cut. If you have backgrounds or graphics that extend to the edge of the page, these must also be oversized, i.e., beyond the actual document format (e.g., DIN A4), to prevent white edges, so-called white edges, from appearing at the edges.
The reason for this is as follows: Since multiple documents are printed simultaneously on large sheets, printing and cutting differences arise. To compensate for these and provide a certain buffer, a bleed must be added. This is then trimmed off by the printer after printing to ensure a clean edge and the correct final format.
The PDF that you then send to the printer must be 2-3 mm larger than the actual format you want to receive.