Preparing a print-ready catalog can seem daunting, but following some key steps will ensure your catalog looks professional and effectively markets your products. As a professional China catalog printing manufacturer, here is my step-by-step guide on how to prepare catalog for print.
How to Prepare Catalog for Print
Gather High-Quality Images
The first step is gathering high-quality product images, as these bring life to your catalog. Strive for images that are:
- At least 300dpi resolution. Any lower and they will print pixelated and blurry.
- Shot on a white background. This creates a clean, consistent look across products.
- Well-lit and color corrected. Ensure proper lighting and color balance.
- Multiple angles. Get different perspectives to highlight key features.
- Lifestyle imagery. Consider some images showing products in use to tell a story.
- Consistent image sizes. Keep image dimensions similar for better page layout.
I recommend hiring a professional photographer, at least for your hero and flagship products. High-quality images get attention and sell products!
Organize Your Catalog Content
Next, organize the structure and content for your catalog. Plan out sections and categories relevant to your product line and customer interests.
For example, a clothing catalog could have men’s, women’s and children’s sections. Or it might be organized by category, like tops, bottoms, dresses, swimwear.
Within sections, arrange products thoughtfully, placing newer arrivals and sale items on prime real estate pages. This content organization boosts discovery and sales.
Choose the Right Software
Adobe InDesign is the industry standard software for laying out print catalogs. It handles multi-page documents with master pages, hyphenation, preflight checking and packaging files correctly for print.
If InDesign seems intimidating, try an alternative like LucidPress. It has catalog templates alongside handy tools for adding images, text and shapes. The learning curve is gentler, but advanced users may feel limited.
Catalog Layout Tips
When laying out your catalog pages, keep these tips in mind:
- White space – Don’t overcrowd pages. White space makes content less overwhelming.
- Alignment – Line up elements along an invisible grid for a clean aesthetic.
- Consistency – Format sections consistently so they feel cohesive.
- Hierarchy – Use fonts, sizes and color to create a visual hierarchy guiding readers.
- Highlights – Call out important products with frames, labels or background colors.
Focus on creating an easy-to-read, visually balanced catalog that effectively communicates your key messages and offerings.
Add Necessary Details
Don’t forget small but necessary details that polish your catalog!
- Page numbers
- Company logo and branding
- Contact details
- Website and social media links
- High-resolution cover images
- Compelling promotional text
- Clear calls-to-action
These details tie your catalog together, helping drive traffic and sales.
Set Up For Print
Before sending your catalog to print, you must prep your file correctly to avoid errors:
Use Printer Bleeds
Content needs to extend past the trim line to avoid white borders. Set printer bleeds so content prints to the edge.
Outline Fonts
Avoid missing font issues by outlining text, converting fonts to vector outlines.
Package The File
Use InDesign’s Package feature to collect links, fonts and assets into one folder.
Check Image Resolution
Double check images are 300dpi+ to print sharply. Upsample lower resolution images.
Following print prep best practices ensures a smooth printing process!
Choose Your Printer Carefully
With your print-ready catalog file complete, it’s time to pick a printer. I recommend finding printers with:
- Years of catalog printing experience
- A wide range of binding options
- Mail fulfillment services
- Customer service you vibe with
Narrow down printers and get quotes. Be sure to ask for paper quality and binding samples too. This major decision deserves due diligence to get your investmentcatalog printed flawlessly!
Conclusion
Preparing catalog for print has many moving pieces, but breaking down the process into manageable steps makes it less intimidating. Gather killer product images, organize engaging content, design an easy-to-navigate catalog, prep files for print and find the right printer.
Following this blueprint will ensure your catalog looks spectacular, effectively markets your products, and is an investment that pays dividends for years through increased sales and branding.