Design System IFC 2026

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.

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.

The sections below are my way of tracking all the various deliverable sections for the conbook. There are two kinds: primary sections and secondary sections.

Primary sections are the main divisions of the conbook. They provide a clear structure and organization for different areas of content. In the table below you can find my coded list and brief description of each primary section. Keep in mind, this list is likely change right up until development starts on the conbook and that primary vs. secondary in no way means required vs. optional, first or second, or where something might be placed or the attention each needs.

You see each section has a code name and a description. One of the reasons I use this is because not only does it give me an at-a-glance view of the contents, it can help with order, placement, help identify things that might be needed which are missing or what can be removed for this years book that might have been include before and is just not needed.

Most important to these, and to me, is the third column you see. For every page in the code book, the layout offers four "panels". How they layout is entirely up to the design and implementation...initially, these help pre-define an amount of space consumed for each section and thus a way to roughly calculate how many pages will be needed for printing. This can help with strategy, managing expectations and estimating costs. As the project progressing I'll add more data to include actual panel calculations once I start getting content. All this information is stored in a comprehensive database that helps me manage my workflow and provide time estimates as needed.