Adding Fold Marks in Adobe InDesign CC: A Comprehensive Guide

Adding fold marks in Adobe InDesign CC is an essential step in preparing your document for printing. These marks help in indicating where the folding lines should be, ensuring your final product looks exactly as intended. This article will guide you through the process step by step, along with tips and best practices to make this task easier.

Understanding Bleed and Slug

Bleed and slug are crucial concepts when it comes to setting up documents for printing. Bleed refers to the extended graphics that extend beyond the trim area of a document, ensuring that nothing is cut off during the trimming process. A slug, on the other hand, is a section of the page that contains either informative or instructional text, typically used by the printing press operator. When creating fold marks, you will utilize both these features effectively.

Setting Up Fold Marks

To add fold marks in InDesign CC, follow these detailed steps:

Step 1: Document Setup

Start by opening your document in InDesign CC and navigating to the Document Setup menu. Within the Document Setup dialog box, locate the Bleed and Slug option.

Step 2: Defining Slug Size

Based on whether your fold is vertical or horizontal, you need to enter the appropriate slug size. For a vertical fold, input the slug size for the Top and Bottom, and for a horizontal fold, input the slug size for the Left and Right. This ensures that the fold marks are accurately positioned.

Step 3: Drawing Lines for Folds

Once the slug size is defined, you can draw lines for the fold marks. You can do this by selecting the Lasso Tool or Pen Tool and drawing the lines at the exact placement you desire. Ensure that these lines are set to a width of 0.25 points to maintain clarity and precision.

Step 4: Applying Registration Color

To make the fold marks visible and clearly defined, apply the Registration Color. The Registration Color serves as a neutral, unprinted area that helps ensure the ink registration is correct during printing.

Step 5: Placing Fold Marks on Master Page or Layer

For consistency and easy access, it's best to place these fold marks on the Master Page or on a locked layer. This will ensure that the fold marks are applied to all pages that are based on this master, or remain permanently visible without interference.

Tips and Best Practices

Here are some additional tips to ensure your fold marks are perfectly positioned and visible:

Tip 1: Consistency

Make sure that the width and color of the fold marks are consistent throughout the document. This will help maintain the professional appearance of your document.

Tip 2: Review via Print Preview

Regularly use the Print Preview feature to ensure that the fold marks are visible and correctly placed according to your design.

Tip 3: Save a Backup

Before making any significant changes, save a backup of your document to prevent accidental loss or corruption of your work. This is especially important when working on complex designs that may require multiple edits.

Conclusion

Adding fold marks in Adobe InDesign CC can seem daunting, but by following the steps outlined in this guide, you can ensure that your documents are perfectly prepared for printing. With a bit of practice, you'll be able to create clear, accurate fold marks that enhance the quality and professionalism of your printed materials.