Watch the setup walkthrough
A short walkthrough of how to set up a saddle-stitched booklet file, start to finish. Then grab the correctly-sized example below.
Quick file checklist
Tap each item as you confirm it before uploading.
00 / 08 doneWhat makes a press-ready booklet file
How saddle stitching works
Saddle stitching nests folded sheets inside one another and staples through the center fold, or spine. Because every sheet folds into 4 pages, your total page count must be a multiple of 4. It is the most economical binding for catalogs, programs, zines and lookbooks from 8 to 92 pages.
Page count and order
Build your file as single pages in reading order, not as reader or printer spreads. Page 1 is the outside front cover and the last page is the outside back cover. Our system imposes the pages for you, so you never have to work out which pages print together.
Bleed, trim and safe zone
Printing, folding and trimming each introduce tiny shifts. Extend full-bleed artwork 1/8" past the trim on all sides, and keep important text or logos 1/8" inside the trim. This avoids white slivers at the edge and type being cut off.
Self cover or plus cover
A self cover prints the cover on the same stock as the inside pages, which is clean and budget friendly. A plus cover uses a heavier stock for a sturdier feel. If your cover stock differs from the text, set the cover up as its own spread.
Color and resolution
Build everything in CMYK so on-screen color matches the press. Convert RGB images and Pantone swatches before export, and place raster images at 300 dpi at final size. For deep, even solids, use a rich black rather than 100% K alone.
Fonts and flattening
Embed or outline all fonts and flatten transparency before you export. Export as a single high-quality, press-ready PDF (PDF/X-1a works well). This keeps type crisp and stops effects like drop shadows from reflowing on our end.
Jobs with additional finishing
Jobs with additional finishing options bypass our automated proofing system entirely and go straight to a manual prepress review. Your soft proof may take up to 1 business day to be prepared, and our team may contact you if any file revisions are needed.
See our bindery guide for setup instructionsTemplates and how to use them
Download the template
- Open the price calculator and choose your size and options.
- Download the template that matches your specs, or resize the closest one to fit.
- Open it in Adobe InDesign or Illustrator, or in Canva.
Add your artwork
- Place your design on the artwork layer, using the template layer as a guide.
- Pull full-bleed art 1/8" past trim and keep text inside the safe margin.
- Remove all template guides, crop marks and non-printing elements before exporting your PDF.
- Export one press-ready PDF with fonts embedded and transparency flattened.
Saddle stitch, answered
Saddle-stitched booklets run from 8 to 92 pages. Beyond that the spine gets too bulky to staple cleanly, and we would recommend Wire-O or perfect binding instead.
Each printed sheet folds in half to make 4 pages. Since the booklet is built from folded sheets nested together, the total always lands on a multiple of 4: 8, 12, 16, 20 and so on. If you are a few pages short, add filler or blank pages to reach the next multiple of 4.
Send single pages in reading order, starting with the front cover. Do not impose the file into printer spreads yourself. Our system handles imposition automatically based on your page count.
Yes. The outside front cover is page 1 and the outside back cover is your final page. Count all four cover pages along with the interior.
A single press-ready PDF is preferred, with all fonts and images embedded. We also accept AI, INDD, PSD, EPS, JPG, PNG and TIFF, up to 250 MB per file.
Bleed is artwork that extends past the trim so there are no unprinted white edges after cutting. Saddle-stitched booklets need 1/8" of bleed on every outside edge, plus a 1/8" safe margin to keep text away from the trim.