Make & keep
Give photo strip captions a safe print margin
A small proof reveals where the paper and image actually meet.
Lettering close to the edge may look elegant in a preview and disappear in the finished print. Treat the final edge as a tested production boundary, rather than assuming the screen border is the paper border.
Use the workflow’s own instructions
DNP’s SnapLab manual describes margins used to avoid content loss from paper trimming in documented products. That is evidence for its workflow, not a universal margin for every booth printer or print service. Read the instructions for the system actually producing your sheet.
Evidence: Manufacturer documentation
Build an original proof target
Make a disposable layout with a thin inner rectangle, a short caption and small markers at known distances from the edge. Print it using the intended paper and settings. Measure what remains visible on each side. Keep faces and necessary text inside the area that survives the real test.
Repeat when the production path changes
A new paper size, driver setting or print service can change the result. Label the proof with its date and settings, then keep it with the layout. Decorative border may extend farther out, but a name or date should not depend on the most fragile edge of the print.
Sources & further reading
Sources for the specific facts and product descriptions above. Our worked examples, interpretations and practical suggestions are original editorial guidance.
- DNP — SL620 user manualManufacturer documentation