Accordion Booklet Artwork Setup Guide

There are two options when it comes to preparing your artwork for an accordion book project:

1. Layout the artwork by INDIVIDUAL PAGE
2. Layout the artwork by UNFOLDED SHEET SIZE.

Regardless of the option you select, We HIGHLY RECOMMEND printing prototypes of the book before uploading any artwork files to ensure everything appears how you expect.

File Setup by Individual Page

Follow the below instructions when setting up your artwork in your chosen design program.

Page Count = quoted page count (we count both sides of each panel as a page—e.g. an eight-page accordion has four pages per side of the unfolded sheet)

Page 1 = Front cover of the folded accordion.

Last Page = Back cover of the folded accordion.

Document Size = quoted page width x quoted page height

Bleed = 0.125” on all four sides. Be sure to extend the background artwork to the full bleed.

Margin = 0.125” on all four sides. Keep all crucial text and artwork within this margin to avoid the potential for anything being trimmed off during production.

File Setup by Unfolded Sheet Size

Follow the below instructions when setting up your artwork in your chosen design program.

Page Count = 2.

Page 1 = front side of the accordion.

Page 2 = back side of the accordion

Please communicate to your Account and/or Prepress Manager(s) which specific panels arethe FRONT COVER and BACK COVER of the folded accordion.

Document Size = unfolded trim width x quoted page height

Bleed = 0.125” on all four sides. Be sure to extend the background artwork to the full bleed.

Margin = 0.125” on all four sides. Keep all crucial text and artwork within this margin to avoid the potential for anything being trimmed off during production.

Submitting Your Artwork

We will need 1 multiple-page PDF exported in accordance with to our recommended settings linked below.

File Export Settings

Adobe InDesign – Follow the “Export Settings” as highlighted on this page.

Adobe Illustrator –  Follow the “Export Settings” as highlighted on this page.

Adobe Photoshop –  Follow the “Export Settings” as highlighted on this page.

Can I see an example of print-ready artwork?

Of course! Please download this PDF here for an example of print-ready artwork for a 3” x 5” 12-page accordion booklet formatted by panel.

Please download this PDF here for an example of print-ready artwork for a 3” x 5” 16-page accordion booklet formatted by unfolded sheet.