Using MS Word as it should never be used. Expert needed.

[Rob P]

I have a client for whom we designed a letterhead that bleeds on all four edges.

Client now wants a Word Template on which they can type, but one that if they 'print' as a PDF also bleeds, and has no white borders.

Is this achievable?

Rob P

[JoeC]

Yes. Just enlarge the bleed area beyond the printable margins. Word will prompt that it extends beyond the printable area if you send it to a printer but won't stop you doing it.

[riverrock]

So are you wanting word to print differently, depending on whether its to a PDF or to a printer?
Word doesn't know the difference between printing to PDF and to a printer, so that would be difficult.

Presuming that you only want to create a single template, which will only be used for printing to PDF, I don't think that should be a problem. However, I may well have just misunderstood your issue!

How are your MS Word skills? I don't want to patronise! (I'm using Word 2010).

I presume that your letterhead is a high-quality image, but most of the same would apply to text - just put the text in a text box.

Double click on the header section of the document.
Insert the image into the document inside the header section. This is important as it wont then interfere with what someone is typing in the main part of the document.
Right click on the image, select wrap text / Behind text.
Position the image as you wish, with the bleeding parts off the side of the visual document.
ie:
Drag the image so that the top and left edges disappear off the side of the "paper" showing the level of bleeding that you want on the left side and top.
Expand the image to the lower right, off the side of the document, again to show the amount of bleeding that you want.
Select the picture and go to the picture tools / format ribbon. Select Crop. Crop the bottom of the image to the amount of bleeding you want to remove.

If you want different things on different pages, select the appropriate options in the header menu (header & footer tools ribbon / Design / Different First Page)

Save as a template (File / Save as / Save as type: Word Template (dotx) ).

You could of course, select an appropriate font and all the rest for them too...

As far as Print to PDF is concerned - the printer driver that the pdf generators provide (at least - certainly the one on my laptop which was freeware) tell MSWord that they can "print" to the edge of the page, so there would be no blank space at the sides, and MSWord wont complain. If you try to print to a normal printer, then MSWord will warn you that the margins will mean that somethings may get cut off.

To use the template, when the user is creating a new document, they need to select your template rather than a blank document.

If you PM me your email address, I could send you a template I've just been messing about with you show you what I mean.

[stevelup]

Wot riverrock said. All our templates at the office are set up the same way using a WMF file for the background.

On a normal printer, the edges get cropped by the printer driver, but if you output to PDF, you get the full page.

[nallen]

...and if you're printing the "oversize" (i.e. bled) PDF make sure that the print option "Page scaling" is not set to "Shrink to printable area".

[Rob P]

Wow! Many thanks.

I am really not ready to tackle this at gone midnight, I'll take a look tomorrow and see if it's sorted.

I'd have no problems myself with a multi-stage process, the trick will be making it simple enough for the client to use easily.

Rob P

[Rob P]

Small delay over weekend, but now up to my oxters in it again

So far a big fail

Here's what I have done so far

1) Taken the 'artwork' pdf of the letterhead and converted it to a jpg using PhotoShop CS3
2) Cropped it at the bleed marks using the dimensions 30.1 x 21.5cm for the cropping tool
3) Pasted this into the Word header, setting text options to 'Behind Text'. The Word document size is set to custom 30.1 x 21.5 cm
4) Saved the resulting as an MS Word template

So far so good. I now have a template that if Word on 'printing' decides to crop slightly, then it will look perfect

5) Select 'Cute PDF' as the printer
6) Check that 'paper' size is set to A4
7 Push the print button.

Fail!




Any further thoughts?



Rob P

[stevelup]

Not really relevant to the problem (probably), but why are you using a custom paper size?

[stevelup]

Also, I can see your crop marks in that image? I thought you'd pre-cropped it?

[Rob P]

You answered your own question really

This was allowing for Word's propensity to suggest that there is "matter outside the printable area" and then cropping

So I only cropped down to the bleed marks, not the trim - See 2)

Rob P

[stevelup]

Word doesn't crop anything - the printer driver does.

I'd start again with an image that is exactly 297 x 210 mm, and a page the same.

Or send me the image and I'll try and sort it for you... PM me if you want to do this.

[Rob P]

OK, with little expectation of success I'll do the former before the latter

Rob P

[Rob P]

Bu66er!

Thank you Steve

Rob P

[stevelup]

Does that mean you sorted it?

[Rob P]

No.

It means you sorted it

Rob P