Brochure Design Brochure Facts 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What file format is the industry standard for sending final brochure artwork to a commercial printer?
- Print-ready PDF (Correct answer)
- JPEG
- PowerPoint
- PNG
Correct answer: Print-ready PDF
A print-ready PDF embeds fonts and images and preserves bleeds, making it the standard handoff format.
Question 2: In a self-mailing brochure, what must the back outer panel typically include?
- Space for the mailing address, postage, and any required postal markings (Correct answer)
- The company's full product catalog
- A table of contents
- The designer's signature
Correct answer: Space for the mailing address, postage, and any required postal markings
A self-mailer reserves a panel for address, postage, and postal compliance so no envelope is needed.
Question 3: Which typography practice improves brochure readability the most?
- Limiting the design to two or three complementary typefaces (Correct answer)
- Using a different font for every heading
- Setting all text in decorative script
- Using all capital letters throughout
Correct answer: Limiting the design to two or three complementary typefaces
Restricting a design to two or three typefaces keeps the brochure cohesive and easy to read.
Question 4: What does 'crossover' mean in brochure design?
- An image or graphic that spans across a fold onto an adjacent panel (Correct answer)
- Text repeated on multiple panels
- A brochure printed in two languages
- Mixing coated and uncoated paper
Correct answer: An image or graphic that spans across a fold onto an adjacent panel
A crossover is artwork that continues across a fold, requiring careful alignment at the crease.
Question 5: Why should heavy cover stock be scored before folding?
- To prevent the paper and ink from cracking along the fold (Correct answer)
- To make the brochure heavier
- To brighten the printed colors
- To speed up ink drying
Correct answer: To prevent the paper and ink from cracking along the fold
Scoring creases the fibers first so thick stock folds cleanly without cracking the ink or paper.
Question 6: Which brochure fold takes a sheet folded in half and then folds it in half again at a right angle?
- French fold (Correct answer)
- Gate fold
- Z-fold
- Roll fold
Correct answer: French fold
A French fold is folded in half twice, with the second fold perpendicular to the first.
Question 7: What is the purpose of converting fonts to outlines before sending brochure files to some printers?
- To ensure text displays correctly even if the printer lacks the fonts (Correct answer)
- To make the text bolder
- To reduce the file size dramatically
- To allow the printer to edit the copy
Correct answer: To ensure text displays correctly even if the printer lacks the fonts
Outlining converts type to vector shapes so missing fonts cannot cause substitution errors.
What file format is the industry standard for sending final brochure artwork to a commercial printer?