How to Design a Journal for Print

Designing a journal for print involves more than arranging pages—it requires understanding print production standards.

Step 1: Choose a Trim Size

Popular journal sizes include:

• 5.5 × 8.5

• 6 × 9

• 8.5 × 11

Your size affects layout and printing costs.

Step 2: Set Proper Margins

Margins should allow comfortable writing space.

Typical margins:

• inside: 0.75–1 inch

• outside: 0.5 inch

Step 3: Design for 300 DPI

Print requires high-resolution images.

Anything below 300 DPI may appear blurry.

Step 4: Select Binding

Wire-O binding is ideal for journals because pages lie flat.

Printers like StationeryHQ offer several binding options for journals and notebooks.

For more information on POD publishing workflows, see:

The Complete Guide to Print on Demand Books