How to print your spiral bound folder perfectly

Whether you want to print a training book, a business report or a notebook, the printing of your spiral bound folder needs to be prepared with great care in order to guarantee a result that meets your expectations.

There are 3 distinct steps to consider carefully before printing your spiral bound folder:

• Prepare the layout
• Check the file
• Choose all finishes

In this article, we will review them in order to guide you through the process of preparing your spiral bound folder printing. Finally, we will present you with all the advantages of using a professional printer for your spiral bound folder printing.

Prepare the layout before printing a spiral bound folder

Here are a few tips to help you layout a document to be bound with a spiral binding:

• Typography

The choice of typography for your spiral-bound folder is essential to make it easier to read. Choose a maximum of 2 or 3 different fonts for the entire file in order to maintain consistency. Prefer simple and readable fonts that you will use in a size at least equal to 12 (except for the footnotes). Always use the same font in the same size for each level of title to guide the reading.

• The structure and rhythm of reading

There are several elements that will help to give your readers a rhythmic reading experience and, consequently, encourage them to consult your spiral-bound folder from the first to the last page. For example, it is always useful to create a summary based on the titles that structure your folder. In terms of presentation, don' t hesitate to skip lines and leave blank spaces to air out the content and give your readers time to absorb the information you are delivering. The use of bullets or enumerations is also a good way to order and synthesize information.

• Graphic elements

In order to break the monotony of a text sequence and thus keep your readers' attention, we invite you to insert boxes (simple or colored) to disseminate specific information (product characteristics, prices for certain finishes, definitions of certain terms, usage tips, etc.). Similarly, inserting graphics and images is an excellent way to capture your readers' attention while illustrating your point.

• Punching margins

Finally, the spiral binding method requires the formalization of margins large enough to allow for the perforation of the document's constituent pages. Without these margins, you risk having the spiral inserted directly into the text of your document which, of course, would make it very difficult to read. For this reason, when you write your document, immediately increase the margins on the slider at the top of the page in Word.

Check the file before printing a spiral bound folder

Printing a spiral folder also involves meticulously checking the file you send to your professional printer.

• Make sure you send your file in pdf format. This will ensure that your layout will not be altered before printing your document.
• If you have chosen to use particularly original or rarely used fonts, it is best to inform your professional printer before printing the spiral-bound folder and to include the folder of fonts used with your shipment. This will ensure that there are no font errors during printing.
• For all the illustrations contained in your spiral-bound folder, we recommend that you check that the colorimetric mode is CMYK (and not RGB). If not, you may be disappointed by the color rendering when printing your spiral bound folder.
• Also, it is important to check that the definition of the images that illustrate your file is high enough to be clear and of optimal quality.
• For all illustrations that appear in your documents, you must verify that you have the rights to use them, whether they are images downloaded from image banks such as shutterstock or pixabay or photographs taken by a professional or amateur photographer.
• Finally, it is always useful, before printing your spiral bound file, to check the pagination against the table of contents (if your document contains one).

Choose all finishes before printing a spiral bound folder

When you send your file to your professional printer, he will offer you a wide range of finishes to choose from before printing your spiral bound folder.

• The choice of format: this includes the size (A4, A5, custom, etc.), the shape (rectangular, square, etc.), the orientation (portrait or landscape), as well as the choice of binding your file on the short or long side (for a top reading or from left to right).
• The choice of paper: depending on the paper you choose, your spiral bound folder will be likely to give a professional image, elegant, practical, light, etc. It is therefore important to choose a paper that reflects the image of your company while adapting to the objectives pursued by your spiral bound folder. The heavier the paper weight, the more the folder will carry a high-end image. A glossy coated paper will be reminiscent of magazine paper, while an uncoated paper will be more convenient for taking notes.
• We are dealing here with a spiral bound folder, so it will be necessary to choose the material (metal or plastic) of the spiral and its color . Again, this choice will have to take into account the target audience and the uses of your spiral bound folder. We do not recommend choosing a brightly colored spiral to bind a research paper, but it can be very judicious for a training book, especially if the graphic charter of your training company includes a color close to those proposed for the spiral.
• The cover and spine of your spiral folder can be made of transparent rhodoïd or colored hardboard. With a transparent cover with a ribbed effect (which has raised ridges), the title or the visual placed on the front page of your spiral folder will be immediately visible. The cover also offers additional protection to your spiral folder. For the back of the folder, choose a paper with a weight of 350 g/m2, for which Copymage offers different colors (black, blue, red, white).

Opt for a professional printer to print a spiral bound folder

At first glance, it may be tempting to print a spiral bound folder at home or in the office using a manual machine. However, as we have just seen, the layout, the characteristics of the file and the choice of finishes can be difficult to carry out alone. For this reason, it is often better to turn to a professional printer to print a spiral bound folder.

• Get perfect rendering quality: when you use a professional printer like Copymage, you get peace of mind. All your files will be checked free of charge before printing and you will have access to the proofing option which will allow you to obtain a copy of your spiral-bound file to check that you are satisfied with the rendering before printing multiple copies of your document.
• Be sure to meet the deadlines: you are in a hurry? Don't hesitate to let us know. At Copymage, we offer you the Express option before printing your spiral-bound folder. This means that all copies of your document will be printed in priority and available within 4 hours.
• Save money: rather than using your own reams of paper and toners from your home printer, choose Copymage's professional fleet of machines. The economies of scale will make printing your spiral-bound folder much more financially attractive.
• Benefit from professional advice: at Copymage, we provide your spiral-bound folder printing project with a specific advisor who will follow up on your order, from the reception of your file to the management of the delivery of your documents. He will be able to help you make all the key decisions to bring your project to a successful conclusion.
• Take advantage of a wide range of finishes: by using the services of a professional printer like Copymage, you can take advantage of a wide range of papers (weight, lamination, tints, etc.), spirals (metal, plastic, colored), covers and also original finishes (selective varnish, 3D varnish, etc.) that will make your folder as professional as it is memorable.

By using a 100% French professional printer like Copymage, you can be sure of the success of your spiral-bound folder printing!