Stitched booklets (saddle-stitched) are created by folding sheets of paper and securing them with metal staples through the fold. To ensure your booklet is bound and trimmed correctly, please follow these technical requirements.

Example File Setup

Example below shows a 12 page booklet.

Stitched booklets must be supplied as two separate PDF files. This allows the cover to be printed on a different paper stock if required.

PDF 1 (The Cover): A 4-page PDF containing:

1. Outside Front Cover

2. Inside Front Cover (Page 1 of your inner page)

3. Inside Back Cover (Penultimate page)

4. Outside Back Cover

PDF 2 (The Inners): A multi-page PDF containing all remaining internal pages in the correct reading order. The file must contain single pages (NOT Spreads).

Page Specifications

Because each sheet of paper folded in half creates four pages, your total page count must be divisible by 4.

• Reading Order: Supply pages in numerical order (from front to back). Do not supply them as printer spreads; our software will handle the imposition.
• Example: For a 12-page booklet, you would supply:
  Cover: 4 pages.Inners: 8 pages (All remaining internal pages in order)

Page Creep and Margins

In a stitched booklet, the thickness of the paper causes the inner pages to "push out" further than the outer one; this is known as Page Creep.

The Trim: Because the edges must be trimmed to keep the booklet flush, more paper is removed from the centre pages than the outer ones.

Safe Margins: While our software automatically adjusts for creep, we strongly recommend keeping all text and important images at least 5mm from the page edges to ensure no content is lost during trimming.

Folds: Avoid placing graphics across the centre page folds to prevent alignment issues caused by the physical fold and staple.

Need more help? Explore our additional support guides for expert advice on artwork setup, print file preparation, bleed and crop marks, colour setup, large format artwork and troubleshooting common print file issues.

Our support guides also cover paper stock selection, premium print finishes including spot UV and Scodix, preparing print-ready artwork and understanding the best setup for a wide range of printed products.

Before ordering, you can also use our artwork technical check tool to identify common artwork problems, including low resolution images, missing bleed, incorrect dimensions and RGB colour profiles.

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