Ask MagCloud: Create a PDF

You can use any authoring tool that creates multi-page PDFs to create your MagCloud publication. Visit our Create section for design resources and templates to help you get started.

The PDF you upload to MagCloud should be one of the following sizes:

5.5" wide by 8.5" tall (Digest, Pamphlet or Flyer products)

8.5" wide by 5.5" tall (Digest, Pamphlet or Flyer products)

8.25" wide by 8.25" tall (Square, Pamphlet or Flyer products)

8.5" wide by 11" tall (Magazine, Pamphlet or Flyer products)

11" wide by 8.5" tall (Magazine or Flyer products)

11.25" wide by 14.25" tall (Tabloid product)

14.25" wide by 11.25" tall (Tabloid product)

17.25" wide by 11.25" tall (Tabloid product)

12.25" wide by 12.25" tall (Square product)

12.25" wide by 18.25" tall (Poster product)

18.25" wide by 12.25" tall (Poster product)

For more information about PDF specifications and step-by-step instructions to help you set up your file, visit our PDF Design Resources page in the Create section.

MagCloud print pricing is on a per-page basis, where a page is what you see numbered in a book or magazine: one side of one physical page in your printed publication. The total number of pages in your publication will be equal to the number of pages in the PDF you upload to MagCloud. Note that the total page count includes the front, back and inside covers, and that page 1 of your PDF will be the front cover of your publication, page 2 will be the inside front cover, and so on.

The page limit for your MagCloud publication depends on the product you are creating and the binding method you want to use:

For all Flyer and Poster products, the PDF you upload to MagCloud must be 2 pages long.

For all Pamphlet products, your PDF must be 4 pages long.

For Wire-O Binding, your publication can be as few as 8 pages or as many as 90 pages. The total page count must be a multiple of 2.

For Saddle Stitch Binding, your publication can be as few as 8 pages or as many as 100 pages. The total page count must be a multiple of 4.

For Perfect Binding, your publication can be as few as 24 pages or as many as 384 pages. The total page count must be a multiple of 2.

Learn more about each binding option and the products they are offered with on our Print Options page.

Nope! Just create your publication according to our PDF guidelines and we'll do the rest. If you'd like to add hyperlinks to your digital version to make it more interactive, please see our Digital Design page for tips.

You can use the same PDF for both saddle stitched and perfect bound MagCloud publications, but there will be some differences in the final product. Due to the glued binding on a perfect bound publication, up to 1/4" of the inside edge of your pages may disappear into the spine. Therefore, we recommend leaving a "safe zone" of at least 3/4" between the inside edge on your PDF and any text or images you want to be fully visible in the final printed publication. It is particularly important to keep this in mind when designing 2-page spreads, where content flows across the spine, since up to 1/2" (1/4" on both sides) may be lost.

For more tips on designing a publication for Perfect Binding, please see the MagCloud Blog.

When designing a 12 x 12" Square, 10.75" x 8.25" Standard or any size Tabloid publication, the bleed settings and safe zone will be different to account for the Wire-O binding. Wire-o bound publications are trimmed on all four sides, and holes will be punched on the inside edge for the binding to go through.

You can learn more about the design requirements for Wire-O bound publications and download software-specific instruction packets to help you create your PDF on the PDF Design Resources page in the Create section.

On half-fold and saddle stitch bound MagCloud publications, the front and back cover will meet at the center of the spine. On Wire-O bound publications, 0.125" will be trimmed off the inside edges of all pages and the wire coil will act as the spine.

For perfect bound MagCloud publications you can choose to fill the spine with a solid color, or upload your own spine design, after uploading your publication’s PDF. Look for the spine options in the Binding section after uploading.

To fill the spine with a color, click the background color box and you will be given a chart to select your spine color. For perfect bound publications over 80 pages you have the additional option of a colored spine with text. Simply enter the text you want to appear on the spine, and then choose colors for the text and spine.

If you prefer to design a spine yourself click Upload a file for the spine. You’ll then see a downloadable PNG template. Save your design as a PNG, sRGB JPG, or PDF file. (Do not upload a CMYK JPG or else the spine may not print as expected). Then click to upload your spine and use Preview Spine to make sure the spine looks as expected.

You are welcome to include advertising in your MagCloud publication. Small to medium sized publishers often do not have easy access to advertising, and we hope MagCloud will be able to help with this in the future.

At this time, MagCloud does not offer ISBN or ISSN numbers for purchase through our website, nor do we offer an option to sell your publication on other sites like Amazon.com. If you purchase an ISBN or ISSN number through a 3rd party and include it in your uploaded PDF design, it will be printed on your publication as specified.

You can find more information about ISBN and ISSN numbers online.