One of the most common errors made when creating brochures is the print size. The print size must be set up correctly from the beginning of the project, as it can be difficult to resize elements when the project is nearing its end. The size of the brochure should match the printer's output size, whether it is a home printer or that of a professional printing service. Ask for the printing service's output size before designing the brochure to ensure a good fit. If the size does not match, the printer will often shrink or stretch the design, which can compromise the print resolution.
Resolution refers to the number of pixels per inch in an image. A higher-quality image will have more pixels per inch and the pixels will be less visible than that of a low-quality image. Images with low resolution will have jagged edges and often be blurry while those with a high resolution are smooth and sharp. Keeping a good resolution is vital to the brochure because resolution will also affect text and other objects in the design. The resolution recommended for printing documents is generally 300 pixels per inch. Obtaining stock images or royalty-free images from several websites online can help ensure that you have a high-resolution image for your brochure.
A print bleed is an edge of solid color around the design that is used to avoid problems when brochures are cut inaccurately. Brochures are not usually printed individually by printing services. They are mass printed and then cut to maximize paper use. The cuts can be inaccurate, depending on the machine. Print bleed is vital for brochures that have pictures and solid colors on the edges. Generally, a print bleed of 1/8 inch should be allotted to the entire document; however, some printers have specific print bleed sizes.
Selecting the appropriate paper quality for the brochure can help make a brochure identifiable when compared to others, as well as make a good impression on clients. Select the paper based on what the brochure will be used for, and for how long. For example, you might select a premium, high-gloss paper for a long-term mass marketing project but regular copier paper for a brochure promoting a small, one-time event.