Margin

[covax]

OK, I'm in the middle of designing a brochure that's going to be printed on standard 8x11 paper (very low budget, will probably be printed at Staples). My question is how much space do I need to leave for the margins on the edge of the paper? As in, how much space can I NOT print on? I'd like it to go all the way to the edges, but it's simply not going to happen and I really don't relish using the paper cutter on 2-300 of these...

[Drazan]

Typically most laser duplicators/copiers are set at 1/4". A few can go down to 1/8".

Call their copy center and find out. Also note that many machines also have odd offset to their margins. This can be equilized only if the person maintaining the machine cares to adjust it. Most copy centers don't adjust the margins to square so there is typically a larger bottom margin.

Also note that many copycenters will "fit to size" on whatever you send them. Even when you set up the file to full bleed.

Jade

[budafist]

Our colour copiers have a 2mm shift that is within spec. That means that if the front and back are out of registration by up to 2mm we don't get to call the technician in. If it's over, they have to come and fix it. Hope that is useful to you.

["Technical" Terry]

3/8" seems to work fine on higher end color lasers. I have one HP 2420 that needs a little more at the bottom.
Agree about the front to back registration. Good luck with that. Most of the time it causes more aggravation than its worth.