Magazines Production Solutions

Cover Weight versus Text Weight: Know the Difference

Have you ever been confused when you requested, say, an 80# cover and were asked if that is a text weight or a cover weight? What exactly is the difference? And why can’t you just say an 80# cover?...

When Text Pages Expand Beyond Cover Pages – Web Creep Explained

Have you ever noticed that on some magazines, the text pages appear just slightly wider than the cover pages? The explanation lies not in the finishing process, but in the printing process. A large...

Saddle or Perfect? Choosing the Right Magazine Binding

The thickness of a publication determines whether or not the publisher has an option between saddle stitching the spine of their publication (typically three staples) or perfect binding (where the...

Understanding Magazine Overs and Unders

Most magazine printers will apply a notation to their quote specifying their “overs and unders” policy when producing your magazine. What exactly does that mean? And why are “overs” and “unders”...

Changing Your Paper Weight, Page Count, or Trim Size? Don’t Guess; Calculate!

Have you ever wanted to do a quick calculation to determine the impact on the weight of your publication if you were to change your page count, the basis weight of your paper, or your trim size? The...

Paper Dummies are a Smart Idea

Page counts going up? Coming down? Are you considering a different trim size? Or maybe changing the basis weights of your papers, adding a cover wrap, French gate, or eight page cover? Paper dummies...

Press Proofs: A Primer

Publishers have three basic options for proofing their publications before going to press; soft proofs, hard proofs, or “color approval” hard proofs. Soft proofs (often called PDF proofs) are pages...

Do You Know Your (Paper) ABCs? Grade, Basis Weight, and Finish

Paper is a center stage player when it comes to both the design and cost of a publication. You don’t need to be a paper expert to make smart paper decisions. Once you understand the basic quality...

Paper Matters

Paper. It not only carries your message, it plays a key role in your reader’s impression and connection to your magazine. From its look, to its feel, to the impact it has on image reproduction,...

Does Your Cover Connect With Readers?

When readers choose a print magazine over an online version, it’s usually a tactile thing. They want to hold it in their hands, turn the pages, carry it around. Have you noticed the tactilely...