Brand Manual
12Print production
Process, formats, print files, checklist.
Good print pieces follow a fixed order: type first, then layout, then files. These rules come from the 2026 intercom booklet and apply to every print piece.
Process
- 01BriefingClarify goal, format, run, deadline, printer.
- 02TypefaceChoose the typeface before designing (12.1).
- 03LayoutGrid, images, copy as in chapter 09.
- 04ProofingCheck prices, names, data against shop and knowledge.
- 05Print filesPDF/X as in 12.3 and printer specs.
- 06ApprovalMarketing approves, then it goes to print.
Typeface first
Before every print piece we ask: “Which typeface should it use?” One family per piece.
| Piece | Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Booklet, brochure, catalogue, trade fair, campaign | KMR Apparat | Technical, precise, premium; face of the 2026 booklet |
| Datasheet, manual, price list, label, packaging | Helvetica Neue | Matches the shop 1:1, legible from 6 pt |
| Files partners edit | Montserrat | Free licence (OFL), static OTF only |
| Word, PowerPoint, Windows | Arial | Installed everywhere; never for the printer |
Formats
| Piece | Format | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Flyer | DL 99 × 210 mm or A5 | Roll fold 6 pages or single |
| Product booklet | A5 landscape 210 × 148 mm | Saddle stitch, page count divisible by 4 |
| Brochure, catalogue | A4 210 × 297 mm | Perfect binding from 48 pages |
| Datasheet | A4 | 1–2 pages, chapter 14 |
| Poster | A2 · A1 · A0 | Chapter 13 |
Print files
Bleed 3 mm, safety margin 5 mm to trim
| Job | Usually needed | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Flyer, poster, postcard | Print PDF | Bleed and format per printer |
| Brochure, booklet, catalogue | Print PDF + preview for sign-off | Spreads PDF only for presentations |
| Label, packaging | Print PDF with die line | Die line as spot colour on its own layer |
| Roll-up, banner, fair wall | Print PDF at the printer’s scale | Often 1:10 or 1:4 – ask |
| Web, e-mail, social | RGB-PDF · PNG · JPG | From a copy, never from the print master |
Specification
- PDF/X-3 oder PDF/X-4 · Output Intent FOGRA39 (ISO Coated v2)
- Bleed
- 3 mm (Illustrator: export 9 pt)
- Colour
- CMYK, total ink ≤ 330 %; black text 100 K
- Images
- ≥ 300 ppi, no downsampling on export
- Fonts
- Fully embedded
- Filing
- Keep the editable file (.indd/.ai), each round in a new dated folder
Checklist before printing
- Prices, product names and technical data checked against shop and knowledge
- “UVP” / “ab” as in the shop, price note on the last page
- All QR codes scanned and target checked
- Umlauts, ligatures and hyphenation checked in the PDF
- Logo from the logo pack, clear space kept
- Page numbers, running heads and positions the same on all pages
- Images ≥ 300 ppi, no RGB images in the print PDF
- Approval by marketing