Page layout question for InDesign CS3

I have 2 options... sending to Kinkos (not full bleed) or a quick printer (full bleed).  Given the time to accomplish this I am trying to get the offset printer to take the job, but I need to have it to them by the end of today... Otherwise I will be off to Kinkos with a non-full bleed layout.

Is there any special tips you can give regarding designing a flowing front/back page when using the 8.5x11 format, or do I really need to work on the 11x17 option for that?

Finally, since  you have such great answers... do you have a paper recommendation for this "catalog"?  I want it to be heavier (glossy) stock which needs to be folded and stapled.  I have been told that 80# is pretty standard for this type of documents... what would you suggest considering that this will be double sided?

You can do as you choose, but it would be easier for you in 11x17 if imposing is not easy to grasp.  If you send it to the offset printer, you could ask if you could just send them a PDF with 8.5 x 11 page size with facing pages. They should be glad to do the imposing as part of the project.

If you set up the document with facing pages (in the New Document Dialog) then you'll have page spreads to work with, which will be intuitive except for the cover and back page. But depending on the nature of your bleed, this may make imposing problems.

To completely avoid that potential problem, you could use an 11x17 spread.

The first 11x17 spread is like this: (Page 1 = cover. Page 8 = back page of brochure)
______
|  8 |  1  |


The second spread pagination is like this:
______
|  2  |  7  |


The third spread pagination is like this:
______
| 6  |  3  |


And the fourth spread pagination like so:
| 4  |  5  |


Does that help you out at all?

Regarding paper, I have usually used 100# gloss text for brochures. But since you have 2 sheets, the thickness of 80# will likely be sufficient. I wouldn't have a big problem with it.

Is the offset printer also offering you aqueous coating? Gives a nice matte gloss, and offers scuff resistance to the paper.

If its not too late, I have to differ from thinkwelldesigns here. I don't recommend doing the imposition on your own. I would lay it out as 8.5 x 11 pages and make sure you add at least 1/8" bleed and that all your work definately butts to the fold.

Thanks for all the great information.  In summary, being my first project in InDesign things came out great.  I was pretty frustrated a couple of times when some options didn't act as I expecte them to (changing colors was weird, placing and resizing images was not as easy as it should have been and a few other things that 30 minutes on Lynda.com will undoubtedly solve).

I did come up with one technique on my own that worked very well, especially for the background images.  I created a photoshop document (11x17) and did my layout.  This worked especially well for the front and back covers.  Then I simple croped the image to create a front page then went back and did the same for the back page.  That way the graphics flowed nicely from one side to the other.  It also worked well on creating the facing pages.  I pretty much used indesign for laying out the text and a few simple graphics.

Anyway, I ended up at Kinkos... a bit disappointing (no full-bleed), but at least the seams will match up.  Although I had a copy with and without the imposition, they asked for the one without.

I appreciate the great answers, and look for my questions in the future because now I am diving deeper into indesign.  Your answers were excellent, quick and right on the mark.  Great job!

Thanks for the grade and points! You're learning...it's rewarding!


"and look for my questions in the future"

Will do that!