Help with major layout confusion!

[Snowext]

Hi,

I am trying to get my company up and running, but I need some help. I was in contact with a company that prints flyers, and they told me that I need to use a program called InDesign, or similar to make the PDF file, and I think that is so stupid, why I have to buy one program, for them to even get the file made.. err!!!

Anyway, is there a way that I can make the correct layout size without getting the stupid program? I have acess to Photoshop Elements, Paint and GIMP. The attributes they ask for is as follows:

210mm x 297mm
'bleed and slug' 3mm (<- Whatever that means? I am guessing a 3mm margain around the paper. But in that case, can't I just make it 6mm more on each side, and just avoid using the last three on each side in my design!)
CMYK colors, how the hell do I get my photoshop to only use those, and does it really matter? Like if I want to import a picture I tok or something.

So, is this possible to do in Photopshop Elements, and just convert to PDF from there. Also, they ask me to make sure when converting that I mark ''Spreads'' what the hell is that! I am using CutePDF at the moment, and never seen that there.

Thank you in advance to whoever saves me company

Devext

[Crax]

When you create a new file in Photoshop you have the option to set the color mode to CMYK, photoshop saves files in PDF format by default.

The CMYK color mode MATTERS! (Google "color modes photoshop")

Bleed is the actual result.
Slug is what they call the instructionmarginal where you leave special requests or similar to the people at the printers.

What was that about conversion and spreads? No idea what you are talking about. I have never used Photoshop elements but i am assuming that it does not differ to widely from CS3.

Were these the answers you where looking for?

[Snowext]

Yes, to some extend. But if I create a document, and set it to 210x297mm then add the 3 to each side that they ask for in order to cut it out correctly, would it then be:

216x303mm CMYK
---- And I can do something in that document and then save it as PDF, and it will come out in the correct format on their computer as well?

[Snowext]

Bump

[JustinPS]

The attributes they ask for is as follows:

210mm x 297mm
(1)'bleed and slug' 3mm (<- Whatever that means? I am guessing a 3mm margain around the paper. But in that case, can't I just make it 6mm more on each side, and just avoid using the last three on each side in my design!)
(2)CMYK colors, how the hell do I get my photoshop to only use those, and does it really matter? Like if I want to import a picture I tok or something.

So, is this possible to do in Photopshop Elements, and just convert to PDF from there. (3)Also, they ask me to make sure when converting that I mark ''Spreads'' what the hell is that! I am using CutePDF at the moment, and never seen that there.

Thank you in advance to whoever saves me company

Devext

1) Both you and Crax are correct about the bleed and slug: Crax described them well and I'm pretty sure you are right in saying that if you extend the file size by 3mm on every side, that should meet their requirements.

2) All printing is done in CMYK, and since it's easy to convert standard RGB files to CMYK in almost any Adobe program, a lot of companies are asking their customers to convert from RGB to CMYK before sending the file. To do this, open Photoshop Elements and click "Image" in the menu bar, then go to "Mode", and then select "CMYK color". If CMYK color is not an option, make sure you've clicked "Show All Menu Items" at the bottom of the Mode drop-down box.

3) Spreads only come into play if you are printing multiple pages out of one Photoshop file (for instance: if you are printing a magazine and have a 2-page spread that is only one file, they'd want you to mark the middle of the page in the 3mm "slug" margin).

And to answer your latest question, I think that would be fine if you just made the file bigger by 3mm on every side and saved it as a PDF

[Delela]

Don't overlook using some of the simplest forms of advertising to help get the word out such as adding your website address to your business cards, flyers, newspaper ads, to the bottom of every email you send out, etc. If you already have brochures printed, get some printed labels to apply with the new information. If you use methods like radio, television or billboards be certain that your website is present in those ads too. This form of advertising is generally called cross-promotion. The web is a 24/7 sales agent that can only work if it can be found.