Photoshop — How to set up a bookmark file for a commercial printing company

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Below are some images and words that might assist you in creating and preparing a bookmark file when using Adobe Photoshop. The images are from an Apple-Mac; if you have a PC, then the images might be a bit different, but the overall approach is the same.

 

 

How to create a bookmark file when using Adobe Photoshop

Photoshop is not a program that was designed for bookmarks, stationery, brochers and the like. It is an image manipulation program that is normally used on photographs.

Having written the above, Photoshop can be used to vreate excellent bookmark files, but the Photoshop bookmark file must be correctly configured from the very beginning.

Choose File > New (see below).

 

You will then be presented with the below dialogue box.

  1. Name the file. The name should contain two parts:
    • The person or organisation that the bookmark is for — in our example the bookmark is for the Roslyn House bead and breakfast.
    • The type of product that you are creating — in our example we are creating a standard bookmark.
  2. Place in the correct Width and Height. You must be very careful with the size of the file, as this is where Photoshop can be a bit troublesome, so make sure you pay attention. Photoshop does NOT allow for Bleeds (more about this later), so you MUST make allowances for Bleeds when entering the Width and Height of your bookmark.
    • Standard bookmarks are 50mm wide x 150mm high, but you should create a file that measures 56mm wide and 156mm high.
    • Jumbo bookmarks are 50mm wide x 200mm high, but you should create a file that measures 56mm wide and 206mm high
  3. Ensure that the Resolution is set at 300 pixel per inch. You can have a file with a higher Resolution (e.g.: 600ppi), but you MUST NOT have a Resolution that is less than 300ppi (e.g.: 150ppi).
  4. Ensure that the Color Mode drop-down menu is et at CMYK.

Once the correct information is entered into the dialogue box, go and click the "OK" button.

 

Below are three images.

  • The left-hand image is an empty Photoshop bookmark file.
  • The centre image is a Photoshop bookmark file that has trim and Safety Margin lines in it.
  • The right-hand image is of a completed Photoshop bookmark file.

When you design your bookmark in Adobe Photoshop:

  1. You MUST make sure that all vital text abd vital images kept inside the inner safety margin lines — this is what has been done on the right-hand file.
  2. If background colours or images are going to go to the very edge of the finished bookmark, then you must ensure that those background colours or images go past the outer trim line and continue to the very edge of the file — this is what has been done with the background colours on the right-hand file.

 

Now, here is how to place the trim lines and the Safety Margin lines onto your Adobe Photoshop bookmark file. Below is an image of the top left side of a Photoshop bookmark file.

  • Place the mouse on the ruler at the top of the file, hold the mouse down, and drag the mouse down until the mouse is 3mm inside the edge of the file (you can see the 3mm line on the left-handside ruler). You have just created the top trim line, and this is where the bookmark will be trimmed down to size after it has been printed.
  • Place the mouse on the ruler at the top of the file, hold the mouse down, and drag the mouse down until the mouse is 8mm inside the edge of the file (you can see the 8mm line on the left-handside ruler). You have just created the top Safety Margin line. All vital text and images MUST be kept inside this line.
  • Place the mouse on the ruler at the left-hand side of the file, hold the mouse down, and drag the mouse across until the mouse is 3mm inside the edge of the file (you can see the 3mm line on the top ruler). You have just created the left-hand  trim line, and this is where the bookmark will be trimmed down to size after it has been printed.
  • Place the mouse on the ruler at the left-hand side of the file, hold the mouse down, and drag the mouse across until the mouse is 8mm inside the edge of the file (you can see the 8mm line on the top ruler). You have just created the left-hand Safety Margin line. All vital text and images MUST be kept inside this line.

Now, scroll down to the bottom right of the file, and do the same for the right-side and bottom of the Photoshop bookmark file.

 

You can now start designing your bookmark in Photoshop. Just remember to have all vital text and images inside the Safety Margin line, and remember that anything that is to be printed right to the edge of the finished bookmark must continue to the very edge of the file.

Once you have finished, you can save your file and send it to your commercial printer.

 

Whilst commercial printing companies, including TheOnlinePrinter, readily accept Adobe Photoshop bookmark files, you should note that Adobe Photoshop bookmark files are not foolproof, and they can present some problems. Specifically:

  • Your commercial printer might not be licensed to use the fonts that you have used, and this can create problems when your commercial printer tries to create a press-ready file from your Adobe Photoshop bookmark file.
  • Adobe Photoshop bookmark files are normally quite stable when they are sent over the Internet or via E-mail to a printing company, but the stability of an Adobe Photoshop bookmark file is not guaranteed.
  • Adobe Photoshop bookmark files can be quite large.

To overcome the above mentioned issues, TheOnlinePrinter suggests that you outline the text and convert the Photoshop file to a press-ready PDF.

 

How to outline text on an Adobe Photoshop bookmark file

Photoshop is just great when outlining text — although the Photoshop program calls it Convert to Shape.

First, choose Select > All Layers (see below).

 

 Second, choose Layer > Type > Convert to Shape (see below).

You should now save your Photoshop file. however, you might want to give the file another name (e.g.: add the word "Outlined" to the start of the file name), because you might want to change the words at a later time.

 

How to convert an Adobe Photoshop bookmark file to a press-ready PDF

Converting an Adobe Photoshop bookmark file to a press-ready PDF is very easy.

First, choose File > Save As.

You will then be presented with the Save As dialogue box (see below).

  • Make sure that the Format drop-down menu near the bottom of the dialogue box is set at Photoshop PDF.
  • Click the Save button.

 

The screen will change to the Save Adobe PDF dialogue box (see below), and the General tab in the left-hand list should be highlighted in blue.

  • Set the Adobe PDF Preset drop-down menu (i.e.: the very top drop-down menu) at Press Quanilty.
  • Now click the Compression tag in the left-hand list.

 

The Save Adobe PDF dialogue box will change and the Compression tab in the left-hand list should be highlighted in blue (see below).

  • Ensure that the first dropdown menu in the Options box has Bicubic Downsampling To selected.
  • Ensure the Bicubic Downsampling To is set at 300 pixels per inch, and the "for images above" box is set at 450.

If the boxes are correctly filled in, then click the Save PDF button.

 

You now have a file that is a 100% press-ready PDF, and you can send it to your commercial printing company.