Designing A3 size Catalog for print

[Uzair]

I want to design a catalog of A3 size in Photoshop. Please gi'me any idea that how to design a catalog & how can I make it BEST for printing.
Thanks

[urstwile]

Don't do it in Photoshop for starters. Do you have InDesign or Quark?

[Uzair]

No I just have photoshop & I'm good in photoshop. I dont know anything about inDesign. Can u please help me, m really very confuse bcoz I dont have any idea how to do this.

[urstwile]

Photoshop is not meant for this type of work, it's an image editor, not a page layout program. You really need to have the tools to create a multi-page layout like Quark or InDesign.

[Uzair]

can I download inDesign or Quark? & please tell me after installing, how to make a catalog? Thank u

[urstwile]

This forum is meant to be a helpful place, so I'm not trying to give you short, quick answers. But you're really biting off a larger piece than I think you're ready to chew, so to speak.

You can download InDesign, as a trial, for 30 days. But if you plan on doing this as a career, you really need to invest in the full versions of the software, and then invest in some books or videos or online courses to teach you how to use the software. It's not something that can be answered in a simple forum thread.

Good luck! :)

[Uzair]

Thank you sir.
Just tell me can I do it in Illustrator ?
If yes then just tell me 1 thing that wot basic settings of the canvas do I need?
I mean, if I start working on A3 size with 300 Res. it looks too big

[urstwile]

Well, Illustrator would be preferable to all Photoshop, however, you'll need to do a separate file for each page. How many pages is the catalog?

300 dpi is for photographic/raster images, everything else that you possibly can should stay as vector (like type, shapes, etc.).

I strongly advise you to invest in InDesign. The interface is similar to Illustrator, but is more conducive to multi-page formats.

[Uzair]

Actually I've a very little time left, thats y I'm going to try illustrator.
Catalog contains 5 pages minimum. Do I've to design 5 pages? My said that he want A3 size. But looks very much big, how can I control that size. Catalog contains both images & text.

[urstwile]

A3 is not a standard U.S. size, but is roughly equivalent to what we'd call tabloid here. Which is not an unusual size for printing spreads, say, for a catalog.

Why does it look big to you? It really seems to me that you've taken on a project that is beyond your capabilities, to be quite honest.

[Uzair]

actually its my boss who wants me to do this :(
If I quite from this project, he may fire me :(
Thats the real problem. I'm very much confused!

[urstwile]

What is your role there? Are you a designer?

[Uzair]

Yes I'm a designer.

[urstwile]

In that case, I'm surprised that you don't know or seem to have familiarity with any page layout programs, unless you're self-taught. This is not meant as a slight, but it's an important tool for the trade.

I would highly recommend that you have your boss purchase a copy of InDesign, or the full Creative Suite. If you're familiar with Illustrator, InDesign has a similar interface, but is much more suited to multi-page situations like catalogs.

Beyond that I can't really advise you, as the scope of your question is beyond what a post in a forum thread can handle. Sorry I can't be of more help. :(

[panzer]

uzair what country are you from
in uk my mate tells me quark 5 is availablee on a magazine (full version) it costs £5 its called computer shopper
you have to register b4 january but its a bargain

[panzer]

A3 is very big for a catalogue i think
ae you sure that wont be 2 pages on this a3
be sure of your measurements
if you look on yhis sites you should find some good tips for magzine layout

[Neballer]

Thank you sir.
Just tell me can I do it in Illustrator ?
If yes then just tell me 1 thing that wot basic settings of the canvas do I need?
I mean, if I start working on A3 size with 300 Res. it looks too big
you mean ma'am.

[budafist]

Is it an A3 folded in half to A4? That sounds more nomal.

You can do it in illustrator, just that you will need to do a new document for each page.

I'll start for you (christmas spirit and all):
File > New > width 420mm, height 297mm (or whatever way you want to go)
Color Mode > CMYK
OK

There you go. You are now on your way to a successful design! :D