How to Print with Crossover

What is Crossover in Printing?

In printing, crossover refers to images, graphics, or text that cross over an entire page spread (both the right and left page). It is crucial for the right and left pages to align perfectly when there is a crossover. If the pages are not aligned, the image that crosses over will be misaligned or have parts cut off. Crossovers can be found in booklets, catalogs, newsletters, children’s books, and other bound products.

How do I Design for Crossover?

Designing for crossovers can be tricky! Here are our tips to help you make sure your designs turn out as intended:

1. Keep the photograph’s subject out of the spine. It would be sad for someone’s face to get cut off or misaligned in the spine. Backgrounds are generally a good section of the photo to place in the spine.
2. Try not to have letters or words in the spine. Try to let the spine fall in between letters or words to make any misalignment less obvious.
3. Use thick bold fonts for any text that does cross the spine. These fonts typically hold up better in crossovers than thinner, more detailed fonts.
4. Don’t use diagonal lines or detailed repeating patterns across the spine. These types of designs easily show any minor misalignment between pages.
5. Provide more space near the spine when designing perfect bound books because the binding process grinds off a small amount of the spine. Even this small amount could alter how your crossover appears.

If you have any questions about crossovers or a potential design, please reach out to our customer service team via email at csr@greenerprinter.com or via phone at 1-800-655-5833.