The best setup for a document is that one which match with your editorial needs. Indesign is a powerful DTP tool and you can't miss to use it every time you are going to print because, as a matter of fact, it has been created for this. Remember! Never use Photoshop or Illustrator for editorial stuff if you can.
About Indesign You have to remember three essential points :
1. It has been designed for editorial publishing
2. The working space is in CMYK only
3. It is not Photoshop or Illustrator. So neither retouch, cut out or filter photo nor create vectorized elements with Indesign but use appropriate tools designed for that.
Well, let's go to setup a new Indesign document now.
Select File>New from the menu bar. The New Document dialog box appear.
Here you decide how your document is going to look like depending on your needs. You can produce from the simple postcard to the magazine up to the narrative book. It's all up to you.
In the dialog box the software asks you to choice individual options for Page Size, Columns, Margin and Bleed. Let’s go and see the differences. I’ll setup the document for creating a postcard.
Facing Pages checkbox
If you're going to create a multi-page publication that will have a spine, such as a book, catalog, or magazine, then enable this option. This is the kind of page that you are going to get:
In the example I’ve set all parameters and enabled the Facing Pages checkbox. I get a cover, a back and four middle pages.
If you're creating a one-page document, such as a business card, an ad, a poster or a postcard, leave the option unchecked.
Page Size
Indesign has some predefined options such as A4, Letter etc. but you are always able to enter in your figures considering your purpose.In my example I'll setup the document to create a postcard so I enter 100x150mm.
Columns
If you are creating a magazine you may want to have your text distributed in more than one column. Specify how many columns your document has and choose the gutter width. The gutter is the space between the columns, their distance. In my postcard sample I don't need any column so I leave the value to 1.Setup Margins
Margins represent the borders left between the content and the very edge of the document.Please remember to keep all important information, like names, addresses, phone numbers or logos within the safe margin to ensure that they aren’t cut off when your document is trimmed.
The little chain icon locked means that the software automatically applies the same measurements to all four side. If you want different margins for top or bottom click on the icon. The icon turns in a broken chain and you can enter in your measurement singularly.
If you previously have checked the Facing Pages checkbox than you find Inside and Outside fields instead of Left and Right. This is because usually designers specify a larger inside margin for multi-page publication to better accommodate the spine.
In my postcard example I have no need of a spine so my margins are the same for all four side. For a small document such as a postcard or a business card 5 mm could be enough. If you are preparing a wide document for a poster or and advertising remember to leave a proportional margin.
Bleed and Slug
If this option doesn't appear automatically than click the More Option button in order to access it.Bleed is the area of artwork that is extended beyond the actual dimensions of your design. To prevent an unwanted white border from showing at the edge of your document, be sure to extend any background colors or design elements all the way to the bleed edge. Most of printing companies place the specific demands for the bleed amount on their website. By the way the common value for bleed in Europe is 3 mm, which correspond about to 1/8'' in USA standards.
Finally you may want to setup the slug area, that area that you need to specify all others printing marks or information.
Click ok and you have your new, blank document. Indesign provides to show you Bleed, Margin and Edge lines in different colors.
Almost all of the inserted parameters can be changed clicking on File>Document Setup
You may change the number of pages just adding or deleting them from the Pages palette.
Other resources about this topic:
Designing for Print – Setting Up Crops and Bleed
Print Design: Don’t forget to use Bleed
Bleed (printing) on Wikipedia
Bleed and Content Margins
