How to setup tab dividers for printing

Tab dividers need not be boring and dreary. We have the ability to design and print divider tabs in full colour, not only on the tab island, but across the entire body of the tab. This provides alot more scope to include and fuze your overal branding into what would normally be a bland, boring element of a document.

Below, we will discuss how to setup tab dividers for printing using adode Indesign.

How to setup tab dividers for printing

Tab dividers need not be boring and dreary. We have the ability to design and print divider tabs in full colour, not only on the tab island, but across the entire body of the tab. This provides alot more scope to include and fuze your overal branding into what would normally be a bland, boring element of a document.

Below, we will discuss how to setup tab dividers for printing using adode Indesign.

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How to setup tab dividers for printing

How to setup tab divider artwork for printing

Step 1: Open document

Open a new Adobe Indesign document that is 223mm wide x 297mm high. 

You may ask why 223mm wide instead of standard A4 width of 210mm, and the reason is that the width of a standard tab island is 13mm wide. 

As with any print document, ensure that the pasteboard has 3mm bleed guide lines applied so if your design is going to be full bleed (colour to the edge) that when you setup your artwork, you can ensure full bleed elements of your artwork extends all the way out to the 3mm bleed line. See how to add bleed for printing for more info.

Step 2: identifying and setting up the tab island

As per above step, we know that the tab island has a width of 13mm. The height of the tab island is determined by how many "to view" your tab set is going to be. In this example, we are going to look at a standard 5 to view tab template. This also means that we need to ensure that we have 5 pages in the indesign document (if it was a 10 to view tab template, there would need to be 10 pages).

The way to work out the height of a 5 to view tab island, is to divide the height of an A4, which is 297mm x 5, which is the number of tab islands we require. 297 divided by 5 equals 59.4, therefore, our tab islands are going to be 13mm wide x 59.4mm high.

Based on this info, we can now take our rectangle tool and draw a rectangle that is 13mm x 59.4mm. Drag this rectangle up into the top right hand corner of your first page, this is your tab island for position 1. 

For page 2, copy and paste that rectangle into the same position, but drop it 59.4mm down the page, which will give you position 2 tab. If this process is repeated across all 5 pages you will end up with your 5 to view tab template.

 

Step 3: Add your text to the tab island

Now that you have your perfectly sized tab island rectangles in position across your 5 pages, it is time to type in your tab text within the centre of these rectangles. 

It is important not to type your text to big so the text does not get to close to the edge of the rectangle guide. These tabs will eventually be cut out, so if any text is to close to the edge, it can be in danger of being cropped.

Step 4: Add artwork to the body of the tab

This is the part of the tab divider design process where you can have a bit of fun and bring in your creative flair to make your tabs encoprate into the overall theme and feel of your professional documentation. 

Congratulations

Export your 5 page Indesign document as a print ready PDF. Add 3mm of bleed and turn on crop marks in your export settings.

You are now ready to order your tab dividers and upload your PDF so we can produce them in all of their glory! Please email info@inknition.com.au for any further info on any artwork setup.

How to setup tab divider artwork for printing

Step 1: Open document

Open a new Adobe Indesign document that is 223mm wide x 297mm high. 

You may ask why 223mm wide instead of standard A4 width of 210mm, and the reason is that the width of a standard tab island is 13mm wide. 

As with any print document, ensure that the pasteboard has 3mm bleed guide lines applied so if your design is going to be full bleed (colour to the edge) that when you setup your artwork, you can ensure full bleed elements of your artwork extends all the way out to the 3mm bleed line. See how to add bleed for printing for more info.

Step 2: identifying and setting up the tab island

As per above step, we know that the tab island has a width of 13mm. The height of the tab island is determined by how many "to view" your tab set is going to be. In this example, we are going to look at a standard 5 to view tab template. This also means that we need to ensure that we have 5 pages in the indesign document (if it was a 10 to view tab template, there would need to be 10 pages).

The way to work out the height of a 5 to view tab island, is to divide the height of an A4, which is 297mm x 5, which is the number of tab islands we require. 297 divided by 5 equals 59.4, therefore, our tab islands are going to be 13mm wide x 59.4mm high.

Based on this info, we can now take our rectangle tool and draw a rectangle that is 13mm x 59.4mm. Drag this rectangle up into the top right hand corner of your first page, this is your tab island for position 1. 

For page 2, copy and paste that rectangle into the same position, but drop it 59.4mm down the page, which will give you position 2 tab. If this process is repeated across all 5 pages you will end up with your 5 to view tab template.

 

Step 3: Add your text to the tab island

Now that you have your perfectly sized tab island rectangles in position across your 5 pages, it is time to type in your tab text within the centre of these rectangles. 

It is important not to type your text to big so the text does not get to close to the edge of the rectangle guide. These tabs will eventually be cut out, so if any text is to close to the edge, it can be in danger of being cropped.

Step 4: Add artwork to the body of the tab

This is the part of the tab divider design process where you can have a bit of fun and bring in your creative flair to make your tabs encoprate into the overall theme and feel of your professional documentation. 

Congratulations

Export your 5 page Indesign document as a print ready PDF. Add 3mm of bleed and turn on crop marks in your export settings.

You are now ready to order your tab dividers and upload your PDF so we can produce them in all of their glory! Please email info@inknition.com.au for any further info on any artwork setup.

FAST & FREE DELIVERY

We provide fast & free freight across Australia to your doorstep using a selection of dedicated carriers.

FREE ART SET UP

We know how difficult it can somtimes be to setup artwork print ready, so we will handle any issues for you.

EASY ONLINE ORDERING

Welcome to our custom built website. Less hassle, less time. Select item, select your specs, check out, sit back and relax.

Need Something Custom? We'll get back to you within 1 hour!

Our online print range covers the most popular printing options, however - it is not exhaustive of our capabilities. Let us know the details of your requirements and we'll reply ASAP.

Or email direct to info@inknition.com.au

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