Perfect Binding
File Set-Up Guide

Create a new file
File > New > Document

Intent
Print

Number of Pages
For our quick, easy method of setting up a cover file choose ‘2’ here.

Facing Pages
Leave unticked

Primary Text Frame
Leave unticked

Page Size
This is easy to work out…The height number is the height of your Zine. The width is the width of the back cover + the spine size through the centre + the width of the front cover. So for an A4 book with a 5mm spine the height will be 297mm and the width 210+5+210=425mm. For an A5 book with a 3mm spine the height will be 210mm and the width 148+3+148=299mm.

View paper size dimensions.

Orientation
If your height and width numbers are correct then this will correct itself to the right choice so you dont have to worry about picking an option here.

Columns
Type ‘2’ here.

Gutter
This is a clever little cheat that will save you loads of time and makes it easy to see where your spine is. Ask Ex Why Zed what size your spine needs to be and then input that number here. There are a selection of the most common spine sizes here. When the file opens you’ll see two guides through the centre to show you the spine – amazing hey!?

Margins
If you like, then you can add a margin guide around the page edge to make sure none of your content gets too near the edge. For example you can set the four margins to 5mm which will help you avoid placing important information within 5mm of the cover’s edge. InDesign shows your margins as pink lines on your page. On the image (right) the 3mm bleed is the outer line, then the black page edge and then the pink 5mm margin indicator.

Bleed and Slug
Adding ‘3mm’ in the top, bottom, left and right boxes here will add a red border on your InDesign artwork 3mm outside of the blank page edge to show where the bleed needs to extend to. For further info see the Bleed set up section above.

Click ‘OK’ and your new file will open.
You will now see a page identical to the one on the right. Brilliantly you can now see your back cover on the left, your spine through the centre and your front cover on the right. Easy!

Page two of your new cover file is shown to the right. This is the reverse of the outer cover- your inside cover is on the left, spine through the centre (this will be glued so don’t put any information within 8mm of the spine) and inside back cover on the right.

Number of Pages

This is the number of INSIDE pages you have. Page 1 of your text file is the first right hand page of your zine when you open the cover. Remember this has to be a multiple of two (a sheet of paper has a front AND a back) and you need an absolute minimum of 36 inside pages to be thick enough to glue and perfect bind.

Facing Pages

If you find it easier to design as double page spreads then leave this option ticked. If you are comfortable working in single pages then untick this box. Maybe try both ways before starting to see which you prefer.

Master Text Frame

Leave unticked

Page Size

Make sure the page size you specify is the same size as you intend your perfect bound Books to be printed. Use the presets on the drop down menu if you're going for a regular page size.

Click here for paper size dimensions.

Orientation

The left hand icon is portrait and the right hand one is landscape.

Columns

If you leave this on '1' you will just be given an artwork page. If you are more comfortable with a column structure then experiment with this option to give your pages a consistent structure.

Gutter

This relates to this distance between your columns. If you only have one column then there is no gutter and you can skip this box.

Margins

It can be useful to add a 5mm border round the page edge to prevent you adding content too near the edge.

Bleed and Slug

Add '3mm' in the top, bottom, left and right boxes here to add a border on your InDesign artwork 3mm outside the page edge to guide you where the bleed needs to extend to. For further information on bleed see the Bleed set up section.

Click 'OK' and your new file will open.

Your file will be identical to the one here on the right. You now have 60 pages of content to fill - Good luck!

Text pages onto 115gsm Uncoated FSC
36pp to 42pp Text = 3mm spine
44pp to 58pp Text = 4mm spine
60pp to 72pp Text = 5mm spine
74pp to 88pp Text = 6mm spine
90pp to 102pp Text = 7mm spine
104pp to 118pp Text = 8mm spine
120pp to 134pp Text = 9mm spine
136pp to 148pp Text = 10mm spine
200pp Text = 14mm spine

Text pages onto 130gsm Silk FSC
36pp to 40pp Text = 2mm spine
44pp to 52pp Text = 3mm spine
54pp to 70pp Text = 4mm spine
72pp to 88pp Text = 5mm spine
90pp to 106pp Text = 6mm spine
108pp to 124pp Text = 7mm spine
126pp to 144pp Text = 8mm spine
146pp to 162pp Text = 9mm spine
200pp Text = 12mm spine

Text pages onto 120gsm Evolution Uncoated
36pp to 38pp Text = 3mm spine
40pp to 50pp Text = 4mm spine
52pp to 64pp Text = 5mm spine
64pp to 76pp Text = 6mm spine
78pp to 90pp Text = 7mm spine
92pp to 104pp Text = 8mm spine
106pp to 116pp Text = 9mm spine
118pp to 130pp Text = 10mm spine
200pp Text = 14mm spine