For all document printing – catalogues, brochures or any other media – standard formats and customized formats exist. Standard formats are so-called because their manufacture ensures optimal use of paper while taking into account machine limitations. Custom sizes are more original but generate a higher waste, as they do not optimize paper consumption.

Several factors influence the format choice:

The sales and marketing design choice of the type of catalogue you wish to print. This is the “final format” in our examples.

The available paper sheet sizes, which we will call the “sheet size” in our examples.

The technical possibilities (limits) of the machines.

The cost of the catalogue/brochure will depend on the number of pages that will fit on the chosen paper sheet format.

First, the number of pages that fit on a sheet of paper intended for printing is determined. Then we make cahiers by folding the printed sheet. We can have catalogues with cahiers of 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24, 32 or 64 pages.

Example: 6 pages

Example: 8 pages

Example: 24 pages

The format of an already trimmed (finished) catalogue also depends on the white margin, required for its manufacture.

For a catalogue with a square-glued spine (perfect binding), after choosing the sheet size here is what we have in standard dimensions for the finished catalogue size:

And for a paperback catalogue with a section-sewn (stitched and glued) spine, we have:

For standard formats, a catalogue, like any other printed medium, is referred to either by height or by width. In the first instance we speak of a “French” or “portrait” format, and in the second of “Italian” or “landscape”. The format can also be “square”.

Final formats also depend on machine limits, with a minimum size and a maximum size.

The table below shows the limits for the different manufacturing choices.

* All formats are in centimetres.

** The sizes may vary slightly from one printer to another depending on their machines.

Larger or smaller formats, outside the technical machine limits, are possible but with manual or semi-automatic intervention. Pulsio Print consultants are at your service to deal with these specific requests.

Several other technical factors influence the choice of format for a catalogue or brochure. These are the type of manufacture, the type of paper and the presence of printable elements near the outer edges.

To manufacture a glued catalogue (perfect binding), for example, we need to provide a margin of 2 or 3 mm beyond the final format width on the side of the spine that is to be glued (this is not necessary if the catalogue is to be sewn). Consequently, we must deduct 2-3 mm from the maximum possible size to ensure successful binding (see the different formats in the table above).

The cost of producing a catalogue or other printed product is closely linked to the size of the paper sheets available. It therefore depends on the choice of paper. For example, it is quite possible that a catalogue printed in A5 final format on offset paper will be cheaper than on coated paper, despite the fact that the price per ton for the two papers is the same. If all the parameters of the catalogue are identical and the paper price is as well, this difference can be explained by the unavailability of a suitable size for the chosen paper to be printed. In our A5 catalogue example, offset paper can be found in 64 x 90 cm size, which is the optimal size for A5 final format. Suppose then that this paper sheet size is not available for coated paper, and 70 × 100 cm must be used instead. The bottom line calculations for the sheets with dimensions of 70 x 100 cm will necessarily lead to a higher price for the coated paper version than for the offset paper version, whose sheets are available in optimal format.

It is also important to know that some papers exist in unique formats, including designer and art papers, which can create greater waste (more cutting) and therefore a higher cost.

The presence of printable elements in blank backgrounds near the edge of a catalogue (a frame for example), or the presence of elements that bleed (graphic elements that come up to the edge), decided on during the graphic design, require us to provide greater margins to avoid damaging the elements in question when cutting the catalogue into the final format.

In fact, the sheets of paper which pass through the machines are not printable from end to end. We are talking “maximum printable size”. There has to be an outer margin of about 8 mm. And if the final format of the catalogue is chosen such that after printing the pages arranged on the sheet cover it completely, then this outer margin must be used as a white margin for the pages. On the other hand, if this 8 mm margin is not white but contains bleeds and printable elements, then the printable paper sheet will contain fewer catalogue pages, which inevitably increases the number of sheets to be printed and hence production costs.

Choosing and optimizing your catalogue format is a complex process because of the sheer number of parameters to take into account. This is what makes the printer-client relationship of primary importance in guaranteeing project success.

Our Pulsio Print advisors are at your disposal at all times for any questions and personalised solutions.

Check our price: it’s free and it only takes seconds!

In the field of book publishing, but also for other printed documents, there are standard formats and custom formats. It can be assumed that standard formats are formats designed for optimal use of paper while taking into account machine limitations. Custom formats, on the other hand, are more original, but the paper consumption is not optimized and they cause higher waste.

The format depends on the type of book that the publisher wishes to publish (“finished book format” in our examples), the technical possibilities of the machines and the available sheet sizes (“sheet size” in our examples). The choice of the format of the finished product depends on the number of pages that will enter the format of the sheet and therefore the cost of the product.

The number of pages printed on a sheet of paper is determined first. Then the folded sheet will form signatures. Books can be composed of signatures of 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24, 32 or 64 pages.

Example 6 pages

Example 8 pages

Example 24 pages

The trimmed / finished formats depend on the white margin, in mm, needed for binding, as well as the capabilities of the machines, and of course the size of the sheets of paper.

As shown in the table below, depending on the “format of the sheet” the final mini and maxi finished formats of a perfect bound book can be the following:

And for a sewn book we will find:

For standard sizes, a book, like any other document, is printed either in the direction of the height (portrait format) or in the direction of the width (landscape format).

Landscape format

Portrait format 

Square format

Finished formats also depend on machine limits, with a minimum size and a maximum size.

*All formats are in centimeters.
** The sizes may vary slightly from one printer to another, depending on their machines.
Larger or smaller formats, outside the technical machine limits, are possible but with a “manual” or semi-automatic intervention. Pulsio Print advisors are at your service to answer these specific requests.

Several technical parameters influence the choice of a book format. We chose 3: the type of binding, the type of paper and the presence of printable elements near the outer edges of the book.

For a perfect bound book, for example, we need to provide a 2 or 3 mm cut on the bonded side. While for that of a sewn book this is not necessary. Therefore, we must deduce these 2-3 mm of the maximum format to ensure the bonding.

When choosing paper, you should know that the price depends on the sizes of paper sheets available. For example: a book printed on offset paper in A5 finished format will be cheaper than on the bulky paper, while the price per ton of paper is the same. If all the parameters of the book are the same and the paper price too, this difference may appear if the chosen paper is not available in the format required for printing. In our example of the offset paper book – we can find paper in format 64 X 90 cm – optimal format for the finished format A5, while suppose that this format is not available for the bulky paper that exists only in the 70 × 100 format. Printed on the sheets of 70X100 cm, the “bulky paper” version book will have a higher cost.

You should know that some papers exist in unique formats, including creative papers or art, which can determine a greater waste (more cutting) and therefore a higher cost.

When calculating the price and choosing the finished formats, it is essential to take into account the presence of printable elements near the edge of the book.

By the way, it is not possible to print on a margin of about 8 mm from the edge of the finished book format. That means that the paper can pass into the machine, but the printing to the edge can’t be done. This is not a problem when this margin is white, but a larger sheet of paper is required when there are some printable elements in this white margin.

In conclusion, the choice and optimization of the format of a book can be a complex process because of the multitude of parameters to be taken into account. This is one of the areas where a printer-publisher interaction is paramount.

Our consultants are at your service for personalized solutions to any of your projects.

Check our price: it’s free and it only takes seconds!