Bleed- one question!

[italart]

Hi, I've read through a lot of the comments here and can't get my question answered-- is it ok if my file is previewing with the bleed in the lulu-generated pdf proof? I am sure it's set up properly, I've checked countless times.

Lulu actually rejected my cover file until I REMOVED the bleed, then previewed ok.

it previewed the text pages with bleed INCLUDED

can I trust the lulu proof generated, will my book be resized automatically??? Please help, if anyone knows. Thanks!

[Maggie]

The final PDF is exactly what your book will look like. Lulu shows you the proof at the end of the process for you to review. If you checked it, you should be fine.

[italart]

Thanks Maggie. I wonder why it incorporated the bleed in the final pdf... all my pages were the same size. I included the bleed as per all the instructions (.125" larger on all sides, no crops) but expected the final version to reflect the trimmed document. Instead it looked identical to what I uploaded.

[kids_stuff]

It looks like you're referring to contents rather than covers. The loss in trim from contents is generally less than for covers, sometimes no loss at all. The trouble is, the trimming is a manual process and it is this which causes the variation, book to book, order to order. If there's a wedge of contents paper rubbing up against the edge of the trimmer, off it goes, along with the cover excess, if the paper is exact, then no loss. It is frustrating, but all you can do is have the edges a flexible affair; ok if its chopped, ok if it survives, you should never count on an exact trim, nor should you ever count on no trim.

KS

[italart]

Dear KS, I just wanted to thank you for the no-nonsense answer, which took a while for me to arrive at. By the time your reply came, I had recieved the first book and what you stated was evident in the product. It was a big relief to hear/see that we'd done our best and basically succeeeded within the production confines. The book looks great, though some graphics were closer to the trim than I'd like. Next time i will keep an evern wider distance from edges on both cover and interior. Thanks again for the clear info, I am sure it will be helpul for others too.

[kids_stuff]

Thank you for those kind comments. You're very welcome.

Just holler if you have any more queries, the thin red line we have here on Lulu will stick our heads out the redoubt and tackle the invader.

KS