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How to Design a Photobook?

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

Download Photobook 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 simple steps to prepare your Photobook for print:

  1. Choose Photobook binding type, size and orientation
    Select one of the available sizes at Cloudprinter.com to design and prepare your Photobook for printing. Choose which fits you best — landscape, portrait, or square page orientation. There are 2 types of Photobooks available due to the binding method — Softcover (Perfect binding) or Hardcover (Case wrap) Photobook.
    *Mind the number of pages 
    The number of pages in your Photobook should always be multiple of 2, at a minimun 24 pages.
    *Mind the number of files
    The print-ready files for a Photobook consist of 2 separate files: the cover and pageblock file.
  2. Set Photobook bleeds
    Depending on the binding type, you will need to set specific types of bleeds. The templates that we offer are lines, and measurements for the bleed, squeeze, wrap, and spine depending on the cover type. Make sure your information is within the bleed limits; colors, background images and the layout of your Photobook design extend to the bleeds area as well, so that there are no white edges after cutting your Photobook. We also recommend avoiding placing text or important information inside of the safe zone — the 3 mm (0.125 in) inside of the cutting edge in order not to be clipped when cutting your Photobook. This way, you won't lose any data while you design your Photobook .
  3. Determine Photobook spine width
    Spine width depends on the binding type: Softcover (Perfect binding) or Hardcover (Case wrap) and the material chosen for the pageblock (the thicker material chosen, the wider spine width becomes). You can easily calculate the spine width of your Photobook with our spine width calculator. Keep in mind that when the spine width changes, the overall width of the PDF of you cover changes either. 
  4. Prepare Photobook file for printing
    • Set 300 DPI resolution;
    • Choose RGB colour model;
    • Save the file in PDF/X-4.

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

You may create your Photobook design using Adobe InDesign as well, here is a useful video how to save your PDF for printing via Cloudprinter.com: