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#5 is bad advice for the most part
Don't mess with things you don't understand. Virtually every RIP in use today has Imposition software that compensates for creep. You doing it in your files will do nothing but mess it all up.
The #1 rule of printing is "don't try to help the printer do their job, just worry about doing yours." In other words, leave it to the experts.
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Me again
Sorry, just wanted to say that this walked about on this very site in 2006
http://www.creativepro.com/article/review-quark-print-collection
Step No. 5
I'd much prefer to add in the creep at imposition stage, to be honest. Creep only affects a document, depending on paper weight, at around 56 pages. I think the most you can saddle stitch is around 112 pp.
You're best bet is to contact the printers. In my experience, it's usually added at imposition stage, not design stage. Your printers should be able to point you in the right direction.
But I would never incorporate creep into the design of my publication, ever. The measure is the same on each page, no matter what. The printers can compensate for creep. I should know I ran PREPs for years in a prepress department, and nobody ever ever added creep to their design, for various reasons.
I wouldn't recommend that anybody do as step no.5 suggests, in fact avoid that all costs, in my opinion.
The rest of it is good though. And I'm not in America, so perhaps it's different over there, but that's just my opinion on the subject.
One of the most important steps missed out on is to make sure your final PDF is CMYK, all fonts are embedded and all images used in the design are 300 dpi (I know you can get away with less dpi but generally speaking, 300 is the magic number).
Solid Information
This is a great piece of info--as others have mentioned, communicate, and then communicate some more. Don't assume that your printer will understand every bit of "lingo" that a designer will throw at them, and vice versa; "printer-speak" is definitely its own language. Make sure everyone is on the same page, ask questions, and spend time up front getting it right. This makes more work down the road, reprints, etc. that much easier and seamless for everyone involved.
Shop Around
Check with few different printers and see if their pre press dept. is familiar with these concepts. Any printer that is worth a darn shoudl be offering most of this as their pre press service. The good ones will save you from yourself and consult with you on what you are really expecting and how to get it.
Advice to print by
Relationships are huge when working with printers because every new print job is custom to your needs. The beauty of this article is it gives you some fantastic tips in getting a great product every time, even if your printer isn't as collaborative as you would prefer.
Great Advice!
Establishing relationships is key here. If you can get to know your printer and bindery operators it's a win-win. They get to know your work, style, and expectations and you get to learn more about the physical apect of the print industry. Everybody wins!
Great suggestions!
I think the most important point is #7: talk to your print shop before you even start. There's nothing more frustrating, for the printer or the customer, than to be stuck with something that's printed but can't be finished properly. I agree with NinerMan too, overcommunicate so that everyone is on the same page!
This was a very informative
This was a very informative article on how to take a proactive approach on how to get a finished "perfect" piece. Keeping open lines of communication with the print company's bindery department is crucial to the success of the project.