How to Design a Calendar?

Learn how to design and print a Calendar globally with Cloudprinter.com in just a few simple steps.

Download Calendar templates in all available sizes in AI and PDF formats via the link. With the help of the templates, you can prepare the file for print in your Adobe Illustrator simply and easily.

*While preparing your file for print, you’ll have to exclude the bleeds layer.

Follow these steps to design and prepare your Calendar for print:

1. Choose Calendar type

There are 2 available types of binding for Calendars: Wire-O binding for Wall and Desk Calendars; and Saddle-stitched for Wall Calendars. Currently, Wire-O binding is available both for single-sided and double-sided Wall Calendars and for double-sided Desk Calendars, while Saddle-Stitched binding is only available for double-sided Wall Calendars. If you choose a single-sided Wall Calendar, keep in mind that the flipside remains blank. There's no hanging hole in this type of Calendar, the Calendar can be hung with the wire loop in the middle. By contrast, if you choose a double-sided Wall or Desk Calendar, the flipside is printed. The double-sided Wall Calendar comes with a hanging hole, which is 5 mm (0.197 in) in size and is placed at the bottom of the Calendar.

2. Choose Calendar size

Check available Calendar sizes on our website and choose the one that fits you best. You may opt for the portrait, landscape or square orientation.

3. Set Calendar bleeds

The next step is setting the bleed areas at each side of your Calendar to make sure all important information is kept safe. For this, simply add 3 mm (0.125 in) at each side of the Calendar. Make sure your information is within the bleed limits; colors, background images and the layout of your Calendar design extend to the bleeds area as well, so that there are no white edges after cutting. If you’re designing a Calendar with a Wire-O binding, keep in mind that there should be at least 10 mm (0.394 in) of safe zone on the Wire-O side in order not to clip important information while binding your Calendar. This way, you won't lose any data while you design your Calendar.

4. Add extra pages

Depending on your preferences, you can have additional pages in your Calendar:

• Additional pages

1 front page is added by default, while the 2nd one is optional — you can either add it or go without it. 

There is one more option — 1 front and 1 back can be added to your Calendar.

• Protective sheets

You can add protective sheets to your Calendar:

— 1 transparent PVC sheet at the front of your Calendar;

— 1 cardboard sheet at the back of your Calendar;

— 1 transparent PVC sheet at the front and 1 cardboard at the back of your Calendar.

There are several variations of the number of pages in your Calendar: 

— Calendar SS + 1 front sheet = 13 pages;

— Calendar SS + 2 front sheets = 14 pages;

— Calendar DS + 1 front sheet = 26 pages;

— Calendar DS + 2 front sheets = 28 pages;

— Calendar SAS DS = 28 pages (24 pages devoted to months, 4 cover pages (2 printed and 2 blank).

5.   Prepare Calendar file for printing

• • Set 300 DPI resolution;
  • Choose RGB colour model;
  • Save the file in PDF/X-4.

Well done! Now you can print your Calendar all over the world as close to the delivery destination as possible.

Calendars are printed on different types of paper, here is a useful link how to save a PDF file for printing on paper: