A good and effective catalog printing process starts by having a good layout for the catalog. When you print catalogs, you need to know the proper parts that comprise it. This of course can vary from catalog to catalog, but most have a few things in common in terms of their parts. For most successful catalogs, they usually are made from six distinct parts. You will find each part below, along with a detailed description.



1. Front cover: Of course, all color catalogs have a front cover. This is basically the first and one of the most integral parts of catalogs. This is where you put what the whole catalog is all about. It usually should have a large title detailing what products or services are inside. Your company's logo and tagline should also be prominently displayed here. This should also indicate issue numbers and dates of publication.

Besides that however, the cover is also the location of your central design. This is where you put the images of your best products or services. Usually this is done through an artful representation of them, or in other cases a model or several models will be displaying the products. Whatever the case though, the cover is where you attract readers to view the full length of your catalog. So the cover design is usually where most of the thought is given to. It has to appeal to readers and it has to connect to them personally. Otherwise, if the front cover design fails, no one will read the catalog itself.

2. Inside cover: Behind the cover, or just the next page after it is the ?inside? cover. This is usually present, most especially if you have a very long catalog. This is because it is here where you put in your table of contents. In actuality, the table of contents is a ?mini front cover? as well as an encompassing body page. People who usually design a catalog inside cover plan on displaying extra pictures and promotional text to attract people to different parts of the whole catalog. Each section is usually represented by a ?flagship product? that represents the best of the best of that section. Its layout is usually very thought out as well, as it acts as a supporting ?front cover? that carries the readers along to the next step.

3. Body pages: Of course after the introductory pages, we now go to the meat of catalog printing which are the body pages. The body pages are where most of your products are displayed and their details displayed via text. Usually this is divided into sections with each similar type of product organized into its own page. The main layouts of body pages vary but usually there is one large picture for the best product of that group and then several smaller ones that represent variations of that product. On the bottom or top part of catalogs, you can usually see headers and footers with messages that will attract you to visit other pages as well.

4. Contact pages: Before or after the body pages, most competent catalog designers add a whole contact page of their own. These details contact numbers, website links and other pertinent contact information. This basically is where people should go to get information about how and where to buy your products. Usually contact pages are mentioned in all other pages so that people know where to look for contact information.

5. Order Form: The order form is something some catalog printers forget. However, having this printed with the catalog is a hallmark of a good catalog. The order form can be a tear of page from the catalog itself, or it can actually just slid through the last page of the catalog. Whichever the case is, having an order form in your catalog means people can order the products that they want immediately with no problems. This basically makes it easier for people to order from you, and it expedites the sales on your end.

6. Back cover: Lastly, we have the back cover. In most cases the back cover is where people put anything that they may have no space for. Commonly though people place the company logo and contact information on the back cover as well to keep reminding people where and how to buy the products. In other cases, people might place another promotional message or advertisement. This basically supports the front cover just in case the catalog is placed front side down.

You have now learned the basic parts that you need to know in catalog printing. Some people might add other sections like a feature article section and maybe even a letter from the editor or distributor. However these are just optional sections which catalogs can do without. You only need to remember these basic parts and you should have a nice effective catalog to print.