Planning for Print

As your files take shape, it’s important to build from the ground up. It’s not much fun to deconstruct a complex file and then reassemble it because it was built one-half inch too big or all the artwork uses the wrong six spot colors. Before you choose File > New, make sure you’ve established the following important specifications:

  • External document size. If you’re printing letterheads, that’s easy. But if you’re creating a piece that folds, such as a trifold brochure or a pocket folder, whip out the ruler and make sure you know the correct external dimensions before you go too far.

  • Adequate bleed. While one-eighth of an inch is standard bleed, some print service providers may request a larger value, especially on packaging ...

Get Real World Print Production with Adobe Creative Suite Applications now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.