Art-201 Project-7:
Brochure Design – Fall 2013

Posted by: Ping

Project Description:
Design a multi-page booklet in Adobe InDesign and place an imposition for a printing purpose (for a press form)
Project Dateline: November 19, 2013

The brochure is one of the staples of the print media diet for production managers, designers, and communications professionals. Its role as an image and information vehicle for services and products it a versatile and diverse tool, mostly containing promotional material or product information.

How to create an interesting brochure?

  1. Design a brochure with an unusual shape
  2. Create a brochure a unique color palette
  3. Use 30% graphics (photos and illustrations) and 70% text
  4. Have a fun theme
  5. Start with a recognizable theme and use elements from that in your brochure design
  6. Set the Important titles in large text, and define type hierarchies
  7. Allocate content (type and images) to grids, and apply unique grid styles

Common Brochure Types and Their Typical Production Times
There are three most common brochure types with typical specifications, along with the length of time you might expect each job to take once it has been designed, approved, and released to the printer in the real world.

• Pamphlet: 5.5 X 8.5 (folded three panels / 1/1 no photos)
Pre-press: 5 business days
Print: One business day
Binding / Finishing: One business day

• Booklet: 8.5 X 11 (saddle stitched)
16 pages: self cover 2/2: 8 duotone photos
Pre-press: 7 business days
Print: 2 business days
Binding / Finishing: One business day

• Brochure: 6.5 X 9 (saddle stitched)
16 pages: self cover 4 color photos
Pre-press: 8 business days
Print: 3 business days
Binding / Finishing: 3 business days

Project Requirement and Technical Specifications:

  • Brochure Type: Self Cover Booklet
  • Theme: Any theme that interests you
  • Size: 5.5″ X 8.5″
  • Page: 16 pages self cover
  • Date Range of Pre-press: 7 days
  • Typeface: 4 typefaces
  • Color Mode: CMYK Process Color or Spot PMS Color
  • Photo: Full color photos or duotone images
  • Image Mode and Resolution: All images need to be saved as tiff format, and to be converted to CMYK color mode or use spot colors if printing with PMS solid colors. Digital cameras take pictures in RGB mode, so they must be manually converted using Adobe Photoshop. For best reproduction, images should have a resolution of 300 dpi (dots per inch).
  • Package: Package folder ready for printing.
    If you create a package folder, Adobe InDesign will collect all images and all fonts for your output (to prevent missing font and missing image problems)
  • Printing File: Press Quality PDF export for printing.
    No matter which printing method you want to choose; i.e. via a copy shop inkjet printer or via an offset printing process, your final printing file should be saved as a pdf format.