Yearbook pages fall in numerical sequence when you look at the finished book. They are NOT printed in that sequence. Thankfully, you do need to worry about the mechanics of preparing and submitting pages according to how your publisher prints the pages (unless your book consists of pages printed in both black and white and color). It is always educational to learn about the printing process, however, so the following information is provided to assist your understanding.
Pages fall in numerical sequence once both sides of the large sheet of paper are printed, folded, and trimmed. Yearbooks are printed on large sheets that allow 8 pages to be printed at the same time on both sides of the paper. These large sheets are called signatures. Only two pages truly face each other on a signature. This is known as a “natural spread”. This would be the best place to use photos that spread across the gutter (the center of the book), since you have a natural fold. Anywhere else, the photos are trimmed and then printed apart and rejoined after the fold. It may be difficult to make sure all images match nicely as they come together where the book is bound (at the gutter).
Each set of sixteen pages is called a signature, while each side of the printed sheet (signature) is called a multiple or flat. When you plan your yearbook, if it is Smyth sewn, you do so in 16-page signatures. If your book is bound as a Side-sewn yearbook or a Saddle-stapled or Perfect-bound book, you can purchase the book in 4-page spreads.
Survival Tip:
The key to your book being submitted on time to the yearbook plant is developing
and meeting your own internal milestones so you can meet your publisher’s deadline.
Once milestones are given to your staff, review progress on a weekly basis. Coordinate milestones with events on your school calendar.
Endsheets are the thick paper that is attached to both the inside of the cover and the printed pages of the yearbook. You will notice that this hard paper is usually left blank in a choice of color or white for autographs from the student body, or it is designed in one or two inks or in full color.
If you do decide to design your endsheet, review all your offerings with us. Most schools that design their endsheets usually continue their theme development, as well as a table of contents of their yearbook on the endsheet. Make sure to note that you have two endsheets that make up your yearbook—the front endsheet and the back endsheet.
Many schools like to design the front endsheet, but may choose to leave the back blank. Other schools have chosen to repeat the same design from the front onto the back. Some schools include a colophon on the endsheet or in the advertisement section that describes the specifications of the yearbook for future staffs. This colophon can include basic specs such as the name of the yearbook publisher that sold the yearbook and took photos, technology, cover specs, endsheet specs, pages, copies, sales price of book, amount of ad revenue, staff listing, and more.
Be sure to review costs for production of endsheets with your yearbook sales representative.
Have you taken the time to think about how much happens throughout the school year? Maybe a student made a new group of friends or maybe they tried a new sport and found out they excelled at it. So much can happen during the course of a year. Not only do events in school happen but outside of school too, the news and media are constantly updating viewers with current events.
These current events make a great addition to any yearbook- elementary, middle or high school. Not only do students get the chance to view their personal events during their school experience, but they also have the ability to see what major events happened in the world during their school year. This Year in Review supplement is a great option to keep everyone up to date on the happenings locally and globally. Yearbook supplement pages help you remember the year’s best events! A Year in Review supplement comes in either 4 or 8 pages, all full of bright and colorful images of the current year’s events. Things like sports, politics, entertainment, and so on are some of the included topics. Year in Review supplement pages make your yearbook more than ordinary, they make your yearbook unique every single year.
When you order your yearbook from YearbookLife, don’t forget to ask about our Year in Review pages. Add that extra kick to your yearbook to make it the best and most desired yearbook your school has ever seen! Contact us today for more information on Year in Review Supplement Pages.
