How to Create a Design File without Design Software

Is there a way to make a design file without specialized design software?

While we definitely prefer you to use our templates, which are built in Adobe Illustrator and InDesign, you can create a design file for Scout Books without having either program.

Making a design file for custom covers: 

If you choose to create your own custom cover without our template, you'll want to make sure you set up your file to be the size of the full front cover - 7 inches wide by 5 inches tall if you're creating a Pocket Scout Books and 10 inches wide by 7 inches tall if you're creating a Mega Scout Book.

If you would like artwork running to the very edge of your cover, you'll want to create your file with a .125" bleed (beyond the regular size of the page) and make sure any elements you'd like to reach the edge of the cover run all the way to the bleed line. 

You can create the same size of file for the inside cover! Please note that for the cover file the front cover will be on the right and the back cover will be on the left. For the inside cover the front inside cover will be on the left and the back inside cover on the right.

Making a design file for custom pages: 

If you choose to create your own custom pages without our template, you'll want to make sure you set up your pages to be 3.5 by 5 inches if you are creating a Pocket Scout Books and 5 by 7 inches if you are creating a Mega Scout Book.

If you would like artwork running to the very edge of your page, you'll want to create your pages with a .125" bleed (beyond the regular size of the page) and make sure any elements you'd like to reach the edge of the page run all the way to the bleed line. You'll be able to design on all 32 pages, which is 16 sheets, front and back. Page 1 is the first page on the right hand side as you open your Scout Book and page 32 will be the last page on the left hand side. 

For cover files or custom pages: 

We suggest keeping all text about 1/4th of an inch away from the edge of the page and any artwork at least 1/8th of an inch away from the edge (unless you'd like it to bleed). 

We've had people design in Microsoft Word before and as long as the pages are the right size and submitted as a PDF, we usually don't have any problems setting it up to print. Any other layout program you are comfortable with would most likely work as well. 

Before anything goes to press, we will supply a PDF proof for you to approve, so we'll be able to make sure everything looks right.