Brochure Design Brochure 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A print shop requests a 'print-ready PDF' for a brochure. Which PDF standard is most commonly expected for reliable prepress output?
- PDF/A
- PDF/X (Correct answer)
- PDF/E
- Tagged PDF
Correct answer: PDF/X
PDF/X standards embed fonts, define color, and include bleed and trim boxes specifically for print production.
Question 2: Why should a designer avoid building large areas of black in a brochure using 100% K ink only?
- It cannot be trimmed
- Large solids in single-ink black can look washed out compared to a rich black mix (Correct answer)
- It causes registration errors
- It is illegal in commercial printing
Correct answer: Large solids in single-ink black can look washed out compared to a rich black mix
Rich black adds cyan, magenta, and yellow under the black plate to produce a deeper, denser solid area.
Question 3: A restaurant's brochure uses photos of its actual dishes rather than stock imagery. What is the main benefit?
- Faster printing turnaround
- Authenticity that builds trust with customers (Correct answer)
- Smaller file sizes
- No need for photo permissions
Correct answer: Authenticity that builds trust with customers
Authentic, original photos accurately represent the business and create credibility that generic stock images lack.
Question 4: During proofing, a client approves a digital PDF proof but the printed brochure colors look different. What is the most likely explanation?
- The printer used the wrong fold
- Screen RGB colors display differently from printed CMYK inks (Correct answer)
- The paper was trimmed incorrectly
- The fonts were substituted
Correct answer: Screen RGB colors display differently from printed CMYK inks
Backlit RGB monitors show a wider, brighter gamut than reflective CMYK ink on paper, so shifts are expected without a calibrated hard proof.
Question 5: What is 'orphan' or 'widow' text in brochure typesetting?
- Text printed without a byline
- A short line or single word left stranded at the top or bottom of a column (Correct answer)
- Text set in all capitals
- Copy without a headline
Correct answer: A short line or single word left stranded at the top or bottom of a column
Widows and orphans are stranded lines or words that break visual flow and should be fixed by adjusting spacing or edits.
Question 6: A designer wants readers to keep the brochure for reference. Which content strategy best supports this goal?
- Including genuinely useful information such as tips, maps, or schedules (Correct answer)
- Using the largest possible logo
- Printing only promotional slogans
- Leaving the back cover blank
Correct answer: Including genuinely useful information such as tips, maps, or schedules
Reference value like guides, schedules, or maps gives recipients a practical reason to retain the piece.
Question 7: Which check should be performed during preflight before sending brochure files to press?
- Confirming fonts are embedded, images are high resolution, and bleeds are set (Correct answer)
- Counting the number of adjectives in the copy
- Verifying the designer's software license
- Testing the brochure on mobile devices
Correct answer: Confirming fonts are embedded, images are high resolution, and bleeds are set
Preflight verifies technical readiness — fonts, image resolution, color mode, and bleed — to prevent costly press errors.
Brochure Design Brochure 5
A print shop requests a 'print-ready PDF' for a brochure.
Which PDF standard is most commonly expected for reliable prepress output?