Design System IFC 2026

This guide documents the typographic and color decisions for IndyFurCon 2026 printed materials. Before locking in any choice, the considerations below should inform every decision — what looks great on screen often behaves very differently on paper.

Typography in Print

Print resolution is fixed at the moment the file goes to press. Unlike a screen where type is rendered dynamically, a printed page cannot compensate for a poor font choice at a small size. Every typeface decision should be evaluated at its intended print size, not at screen zoom.

Condensed fonts are a practical choice for event programs and schedules — they pack more information into a tight column while remaining readable. However, condensed faces can feel cramped if set too small or with insufficient leading. Test at the actual print size before committing.

Weight contrast matters. A bold heading above a regular-weight body creates clear hierarchy on paper. If the weight difference is too subtle, the hierarchy disappears when printed, especially on uncoated stock where ink spreads slightly into the paper fibers.

Color in Print

Colors defined on screen in RGB must be converted to CMYK for print. This conversion is not 1-to-1 — highly saturated RGB colors, particularly bright blues, greens, and oranges, often shift noticeably when printed. All palette colors on this page are defined with their screen approximation; the authoritative CMYK values in the Affinity palette file govern the actual print output.

Ink coverage affects both cost and quality. Solid fills of very dark colors (especially near-blacks built from four CMYK inks) can cause registration issues, slow drying, and bleed-through on lighter stock. Rich blacks should be used intentionally, not as a default.

Contrast on paper is non-negotiable for readability. Light text on a mid-tone background that looks fine on screen can become unreadable when the ink density shifts slightly in the press run. Use the Accessibility section of this guide to evaluate each color pairing before applying it to body content.

Spot colors vs. process. If a specific brand color must be exact across all printed pieces, consider requesting it as a Pantone spot color rather than relying on CMYK process matching. For event materials printed in smaller runs this may not be practical, but for any anchor brand element — a logo color, for instance — consistency is worth the cost.

Font Choices

Color Choices

Select colors from the palette for the final theme. Use the Color Overview in the Color section to document intended uses once decisions are made.

Section Heading

Note that all the main titles should be at 36pt so you can see how the sizing and the spacing of each font can differ.

Section Sub-heading

Paragraph Heading

Paragraph headings are used for sub-sections of explanatory body content, or as the titling of individual events, presentations, panels, and similar scheduled items within a section.

Body Text

Event Structure

Each event block consists of a title, day and time, host credits, and one or two body paragraphs. A 3pt gap separates the host line from the body, and paragraphs from each other.

Color Overview

Primary palette colors with name and intended use. This is the reference record — update the Use field as assignments are finalized.

Section Specific Needs

Accessibility

Each palette color shown in three contrast contexts: white text on the color, black text on the color, and the color as text on black.

Design Constraints

Pagination & Imposition

• Saddle stitching requires page counts in multiples of 4 — 45 pages will need to be adjusted (typically 44 or 48 pages).
• "2-up" means printer spreads (two pages per side), so reader spreads differ from printer spreads — design as single pages unless doing custom imposition.
• Be aware of page creep (shingling): inner pages shift outward and get trimmed more.

Margins, Bleeds & Safe Areas

• Standard bleed: 0.125" (1/8") on all sides.
• Keep critical content inside a safe margin (~0.25"–0.375") from trim.
• For saddle stitch, inner margins (gutter) should be slightly larger to account for creep and binding.
• Avoid placing text or images too close to the fold — especially across spreads.

Creep / Shingling

• The thicker the booklet, the more inner pages extend outward.
• This results in progressive trimming of inner pages, which can:
  • Cut into margins
  • Misalign cross-spread graphics
• Printers often compensate, but designs should avoid tight alignment across spreads.

Color & Ink Coverage (CMYK)

• Use CMYK only (no RGB or spot colors unless specified).
• Keep total ink coverage (TAC) typically under 280–300% depending on paper.
• Large solid dark areas may show:
  • Banding
  • Drying issues
• Rich blacks should be built (e.g., C60 M40 Y40 K100) instead of 100% K alone.

Images & Graphics

• Resolution: 300 DPI at final size.
• Avoid scaling raster images beyond ~120%.
• Use vector graphics where possible for sharpness.
• Heavy use of graphic underlays can cause:
  • Muddy appearance if opacity stacking isn't controlled
  • Registration issues if not properly flattened

Paper & Bulk Considerations

• 8.5" × 11" folded = 5.5" × 8.5" finished size.
• Paper weight affects:
  • Creep severity
  • Opacity (show-through) — important with heavy graphics
• Coated vs. uncoated stock impacts color vibrancy and drying.

Binding Constraints (Saddle Stitch)

• Spine cannot hold text — no printable spine.
• Booklets don't lay perfectly flat, especially with heavier stock.
• Cross-spread images will be slightly interrupted by the fold.

Typography & Readability

• With dense content:
  • Maintain consistent hierarchy (headings, subheads, body)
  • Avoid overly small type (generally ≥ 8–9 pt for body text)
  • Watch contrast when placing text over graphic underlays

File Setup & Prepress

• Provide print-ready PDFs:
  • Single pages, not spreads (unless printer asks otherwise)
  • Include bleed and crop marks
  • Embed fonts and outline if required
• Flatten transparencies if printer workflow requires it.

Alignment Across Spreads

• Avoid critical elements spanning across the gutter.
• If necessary, expect slight misalignment due to folding and trimming tolerances.

Sections