How to properly prepare a file for a folded brochure

To prepare a file for a folded brochure, you need to carefully follow several steps:

1. Insert your content according to the template guidelines: safe area, cut line, fold line, and bleed.

2. Place text and graphics following the orientation indicated in the template.

3. Refer to the page numbers shown on the template to understand the reading order (first page, last page, how it opens).

4. Use the Online Designer to create the brochure from scratch or to verify that all graphic elements are correctly positioned on the template.

1.BLEED, CUT, FOLD, AND SAFE AREA

Both in the template and in the Online Designer, you will find guides to help you correctly position your graphic elements.

The template looks like this:

• Bleed: The bleed is the area between the pink line (indicating the cut) and the green line (marking the bleed limit). Therefore, the green line labeled “Bleed” in the template indicates how far background elements should extend in order to avoid white edges along the perimeter after cutting — which would result in an undesired visual outcome. Bleed is necessary because a perfectly precise cut cannot be guaranteed, and a margin of error of 1 mm must always be considered for this product.

• Cut: The magenta line, located just inside the bleed area within the template, represents the reference guide for the cutting phase during production.

• Fold: The dashed red lines in the template indicate where the folds will be made. Do not place text too close to these lines if you want it to remain clearly visible in the final product.

• Safe Area: The solid red line in the template is called the Safe Area and defines the perimeter within which all important elements should be placed. This ensures they are not cut off or placed too close to the edge. It's essential to consider this line because during the folding and cutting process, a 1 mm deviation is normal. Keeping key elements within the Safe Area helps avoid undesired visual results.

Here is an example of a graphic design with elements correctly positioned according to the template's guide lines, along with the corresponding printed result: 

Here is the same example, but with the graphic elements incorrectly positioned according to the template guidelines, along with the resulting printed outcome:

If you use the Online Designer, the lines may appear in different colors, but the same rules as those in the template apply.

2. 3. READ THE ORIENTATION AND PAGE NUMBERS INDICATED IN THE TEMPLATE

The template includes numbers that indicate the reading order of the brochure and help you quickly identify the front cover (number 1) and the back cover (the highest number). These numbers are oriented according to the page’s reading direction, so you will immediately know if you need to rotate your text 180°.

Here is an example of a design with graphic elements correctly positioned according to the template guidelines:

4. USING DESIGNER

The Designer is a very useful tool for two reasons:

• You can create your folded brochure without the need for graphic editing software.

• If you have used the template to design your brochure, you can upload the PDF into the Designer and preview a 3D representation of the finished product, ensuring that everything is arranged as expected.

Example of using the Designer to obtain a 3D preview: