1. How to Prepare a Book for Printing in
InDesign
Creating a book with InDesign involves many details, but these basic steps will help ensure you
won't have any unpleasant surprises when you take your project to a commercial printer.
Instructions
1. Before you begin
o 1
Talk with your commercial printer about your choices for page size,
resolution needed for photos and graphics, page counts and files accepted
for print. Each printing operation and its press may have different
requirements which a printer will share, often in a prepared checklist,
before you begin your design.
o 2
Create paragraph styles for your body type, chapter headings, page
numbers and any other text elements you may use in the book, such as
footnotes, an index or sidebars. Setting styles for each element ensures
consistency and allows you to later adjust a style automatically across the
book.
o 3
Use fonts that work with InDesign and with your commercial printer.
Adobe recommends sticking with Microsoft OpenType, Type 1,
PostScript, or TrueType fonts. While other styles are readily available on
the Internet, they can create unexpected results if they don't match the
recommended type.
o 4
Design master pages for each type of page you have, including the first
page of a chapter, chapter body and pages for front matter (dedication,
contents and forward) and back matter (index, endnotes). This ensures
consistency throughout the book. Design the cover in a separate
document; it will have different dimensions from interior pages because of
the book's spine.
o 5

2. Transform any graphics or photos you use, such as resizing or skewing, in
the original files before placing them in the InDesign file. All color and
photos must by in CMYK mode.
2. After you finish
o 6
Verify all fonts and graphics you use by running File > Preflight and fix
any problems such as missing fonts or photos that need to be updated or
relinked.
o 7
Package your book if the printer wants your InDesign file and linked files
by choosing File > Package. Select Copy Fonts, Copy Linked Graphics
and Update Graphic Links in Package. Copy the package folder to a CD or
travel drive and take to the printer.
o 8
Export the InDesign file as a PDF if the printer prefers that format, which
is increasingly common. After you name the export file, a dialog box
appears, and a drop down menu asks which PDF preset to use, such as
PDF/X-1a:2001, an ISO standard for graphic content exchange. Your
printer will tell you which preset he will need.
More Resources
 Business Card Printing http://www.samedayprinting.com/business-card-
printing.html
 Flyer Printing http://www.samedayprinting.com/flyers.html
 Postcard Printing http://www.samedayprinting.com/postcards.html
 Poster Printing http://www.samedayprinting.com/posters.html
 Banner Printing http://www.samedayprinting.com/banners.html
 Brochure Printing http://www.samedayprinting.com/brochure-printing.html
 Sticker Printing http://www.samedayprinting.com/sticker-printing.html
 Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) Printing
http://www.samedayprinting.com/direct-mail-printing-eddm.html