Final Brochure & Evaluation of the Process - Jennie Clark

The Final Product

I have now finished the long process of putting the brochure together! The end product can be seen below. I am very happy with the final brochure, i think it looks professional and would be something that the brand could actually use. I have also learnt a lot about booklet printing along the way.

 

Problems

I am extremely happy with how the brochure has come out, but the process has not been quick or easy and i have learnt a lot along the way. I encountered a lot of problems within the process that i had not anticipated.

•  Printing Alignment - As everything that i was printing was to be printed double sided, the printers had a lot of problems lining up the paper so the print was directly aligned on each side of the sheet. The pages seemed not to be as much of a problem as the cover. The cover was never aligned properly on both sides, which meant that i had to cut off 7mm from one end, and 3mm and 2mm from the top and bottom sides. 7mm is obviously a huge amount when it comes to precisily measuring a fold out cover so that it fits the whole brochure. 

• Cutting Down the Pages - As i had taken off the amounts from the cover, it meant i had to trim down all of the pages so that they fitted into the smaller cover. I was lucky on this occasion that there were no graphics printed close to the edge of the pages, otherwise i may have had to cut into them. 

• Folding the Cover - As i had to cut down the cover and pages, this meant i had to fold the cover slightly differently that i had planned. The fold out side had to be folded with a 4mm step (essentially the same as the spine but on the opposite fold). This was to ensure the brochure fitted snuggly together once it was all close up with the pages inside.  

What Have I Learnt?

 I have picked up many skills by completing this project. The problems that i have encountered have taught me a lot, and i have learnt a lot about working with a group on a design venture.

•  Bleeds on Prints - To prevent having to cut down graphics and lose measurements, in future i must add a bleed of around 5mm to each edge of the document. This means that when printing double sided and the alignment isnt perfect, i will not have to cut into the graphics on one side. Instead, the bleed will cover any white space that would have needed to be cut off.

•  Edges - As stated previously, it is never a good idea to add graphics very close to the edge of a print. This is in case any of the image needs to be trimmed off for any reason, and will give a small allowance for errors.  

• Booklet Printing - I have learnt about reordering pages for booklet printing, and i am sure i will use this skill in the future. I have also learnt to hand bind which may be handy if i produce a similar style of book in the future.

• Group Design Projects - I have learnt a lot about working with people on a group project. As everyone has different styles of designing, at times it can be hard to come together and agree on a certain style and direction. I have learnt to be sensitive about others' work, and give my specialist typography knowledge and advice where it is needed. At times, a very stressful project due to clashes and differences in opinion, yet a very eye opening experience.