Adobe InDesign is one of the most powerful tools for creating professional-looking yearbooks, but the final step – exporting your file correctly for print – can sometimes feel a little overwhelming.
If your file isn’t set up properly, you may run into issues like cut-off text, blurry images, or colours that don’t look right on paper. To help you get it right the first time, here’s a step-by-step guide to exporting your yearbook from InDesign so it’s 100% ready for print.
DOUBLE CHECK YOUR DOCUMENT SET UP
Before you even think about exporting, make sure your InDesign file is set up correctly:
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Page size: Confirm your document size matches the printer’s required trim size (e.g. A4 – check with your yearbook provider).
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Margins and safe zone: Keep important text and graphics at least 10mm inside the trim area to avoid them being cut off.
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Bleed: Ensure you’ve set a 3mm bleed on all sides if your design has images or colours going to the edge of the page.
CHECK YOUR IMAGES
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Resolution: All images should be at least 300dpi for sharp, clear print quality.
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Colour mode: Convert images to CMYK (not RGB) so colours print correctly.
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Links: Make sure all images are linked (not missing) by checking the Links panel.
PROOF YOUR FILE
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Run Preflight (Window > Output > Preflight) to catch any issues like missing fonts, low-res images, or overset text.
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Do a final check of page numbers, spellings, and alignment.
EXPORT TO PRINT-READY PDF
Now for the important part – exporting your file.
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Go to File > Export.
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Choose Adobe PDF (Print) as the format and ensure you give your file a clear name you’ll recognise (e.g. Yearbook2025_PrintReady.pdf).
Ensure your settings match the example above before exporting
REVIEW YOUR PDF
Before sending it off:
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Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat (not just Preview or your browser).
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Zoom in on text and images to make sure they’re crisp.
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Check that bleeds, margins, and page order are correct.
SEND IT TO US!
Once you’re confident everything looks perfect, send the PDF to us at ar*****@***************om.au.
It’s always a good idea to keep a backup copy of both your PDF and your packaged InDesign files in case adjustments are needed.
