Everything you need to know before starting your catalog design project.
Getting Started
To begin your project we need: your product photos (high-resolution is ideal, but we can work with what you have), product names and descriptions, pricing if applicable, and any brand guidelines you have (logo, fonts, brand colors). If you don't have brand guidelines, share design examples you like and we'll develop the look together.
Not necessarily. Many clients begin with a brief and finalize content as we work. We'll set a clear content deadline at the project kickoff so both sides know when everything needs to be ready for the designer to proceed.
We share a secure file upload link (Google Drive, Dropbox, or WeTransfer) once you confirm your project. For smaller projects, email attachment works fine too.
Simply reach out via our contact page or email us directly at hello@pdfcatalogue.com. Tell us roughly how many products or pages you need, what type of catalog (product catalog, lookbook, price list, etc.), and your deadline. We'll respond with a tailored quote within a few hours on business days.
No minimum. We work on single-page price lists just as happily as 100-page product catalogs. Every project is quoted based on its actual scope.
Yes — our portfolio page shows a range of completed projects across industries. You're also welcome to ask for examples specific to your sector when you reach out for a quote.
Design Process
Most projects are completed within 3–7 business days from the time we receive all your content and the deposit payment. Turnaround depends on the plan (Basic: 5–7 days, Standard: 4–6 days, Premium: 3–5 days). Rush options are available on the Premium plan.
It means we'll keep making changes until you're fully satisfied — no extra charge, no cap on rounds. Our Basic plan includes 3 revision rounds; Standard and Premium include truly unlimited rounds. A "revision round" means one consolidated set of feedback sent at one time.
Yes. We always share a draft of the first 3–5 pages before continuing with the full catalog so you can sign off on the design direction before we build out every page.
Yes. While professional photography always produces the best results, we regularly work with client photos taken on smartphones or provided stock images. We'll advise on how to make the most of your available photography.
You provide the product copy — descriptions, specs, pricing, and any other text. We focus entirely on the design and layout. If you need copywriting assistance, we can recommend specialist copywriters, but it is outside our direct scope.
Absolutely. A redesign is one of the most common requests we handle. Share your existing catalog as a reference and we'll refresh the layout, typography, and visual style while preserving the structure and content you want to keep.
It depends on how much detail each product needs. A simple fashion lookbook might feature 2–3 products per spread; a dense electronics catalog could show 8–10 per page. During the brief stage we'll discuss your priorities and recommend a page count that works for your range.
Files & Formats
Every project includes: (1) a high-resolution print-ready PDF — CMYK color space, 300 DPI, with bleed and crop marks; and (2) an optimized digital PDF — RGB color space, compressed for email and web sharing. Source files (InDesign/Illustrator) are available on Standard (on request) and Premium (included) plans.
If you purchase source files with your plan, you'll receive fully editable InDesign files along with all linked images and fonts so you or your team can make future edits. Without source files, we're happy to make future updates for you at a per-hour or per-revision rate.
Both are included in every plan. We also offer Interactive PDF upgrades — with clickable navigation, hyperlinks, and interactive elements — as an add-on to any plan. Ask us about this during your quote request.
PDF is the standard output for catalog design. However, we can also export individual pages as high-resolution JPG or PNG images for use on social media or e-commerce platforms. EPUB export is available on request for digital publications. Let us know your requirements when requesting a quote.
We primarily use Adobe InDesign for multi-page catalog layouts, with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop for graphics and image retouching. This ensures industry-standard, print-ready output compatible with any professional print house worldwide.
Pricing & Payment
We accept credit/debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex), PayPal, and bank transfer. A 50% non-refundable deposit is required to begin the project, with the balance due on delivery of approved final files.
Absolutely. Our published plans cover up to 60 pages, but we regularly design catalogs of 80, 100, or more pages. Contact us with your requirements and we'll provide a custom quote.
The 50% deposit is non-refundable once work has commenced. If you cancel after work begins, you're responsible for fees covering work completed to date. If we fail to deliver for reasons within our control, we'll discuss a full or partial refund in good faith.
Yes. Clients who commission multiple catalogs in the same year, or who return for seasonal updates, typically receive a loyalty discount. We also offer volume pricing for agencies or brands that require regular catalog production. Reach out to discuss a long-term arrangement.
Our listed prices are net. Depending on your country and tax status, applicable VAT or local taxes may be added at checkout. We issue proper invoices for all projects. If your business is VAT-registered and requires reverse-charge billing, let us know when you request your quote.
For projects over a certain value, we can arrange a milestone payment structure — for example, 50% deposit, 25% on first draft approval, and 25% on final delivery. This needs to be agreed in writing before the project begins.
Technical Questions
For the best print quality, product photos should ideally be 300 DPI or higher and saved as JPG or PNG. For digital-only catalogs, 150 DPI or higher is acceptable. We'll let you know if any images are too low resolution before we use them.
Yes — brand consistency is a priority. Share your brand guidelines (logo, colors, fonts) and any existing marketing materials and we'll ensure the catalog aligns perfectly with your established identity.
Yes. We can design catalogs in any language. You supply the translated text and we'll handle the layout, ensuring proper typography and text flow for the target language, including right-to-left scripts such as Arabic and Hebrew.
We work with any standard page size — A4, A5, US Letter, US Legal, square formats, and custom sizes for trade show materials or digital screens. We'll recommend the most suitable size for your distribution method and content density during the brief stage.
Yes. We regularly add QR codes linking to product pages, order forms, videos, or websites. We can generate QR codes for you or incorporate ones you provide. Standard barcodes (EAN, UPC) can also be included on product listings if required.
Yes. Our digital PDF output includes clickable hyperlinks, email links, and internal navigation. For more advanced interactive features — animated transitions, embedded video thumbnails, expandable sections — ask about our Interactive PDF add-on.
Catalog Types
A product catalog is structured around products — it lists items with names, SKUs, specs, and pricing in an organised format designed for buyers who need information. A lookbook is more editorial and aspirational — it focuses on lifestyle imagery and brand story rather than dense product data. Many brands use both: a lookbook for brand building and a catalog for wholesale ordering. We can advise which format suits your goals.
A line sheet is a condensed wholesale document aimed at buyers and retailers — it typically includes product images, style numbers, colors, sizes, and wholesale prices on a minimal, scannable layout. A price list is simpler — often text-only or near-text-only — focused purely on pricing tiers, MOQs, and order conditions. We design both.
Yes. Trade show catalogs have specific requirements: they need to work in print form (since buyers take them away), present your range quickly and clearly, and survive a bag full of competitor materials. We'll design for scanability, strong cover impact, and clear ordering information.
We deliver optimised digital PDFs ready for sharing via email, WhatsApp, or download links. If you need a hosted, page-flip digital catalog (the kind that flips like a magazine online), we can export the files in formats compatible with platforms such as Issuu, FlipHTML5, or Yumpu. Hosting is handled on your side, but we prepare the files correctly.
Yes — and we actively encourage clients to plan for annual updates from the start. If you purchase source files, your team can make smaller updates in-house. Alternatively, we offer a discounted refresh rate for returning clients updating a catalog we originally designed.
Print & Production
Our service covers design and file preparation only — we do not manage print production directly. However, we deliver print-ready files (CMYK, 300 DPI, with bleed and crop marks) that any professional print house can work with immediately. We're happy to advise on what to ask your printer if you're not sure where to start.
Bleed is a small extension of the artwork (typically 3mm) beyond the final trim edge of the page. It ensures that when the printer cuts the pages to size, there are no unwanted white borders caused by minor cutting variations. All our print-ready PDFs include proper bleed and crop marks as standard.
It will be very close, but screen and print colour rendering are never identical. Screens use RGB light; print uses CMYK ink. We design in CMYK from the outset and apply colour profiles appropriate for commercial printing, which minimises surprises. For critical colour matching (e.g., specific brand Pantone colours), we recommend requesting a physical proof from your printer before the full print run.
A practical formula: estimate the number of meaningful conversations per day, multiply by the number of show days, add a 25% buffer, and round up. For most mid-size shows, 200–500 copies is a reasonable starting range. Surplus copies can be used for showroom visits, agent samples, and postal campaigns throughout the year. We're happy to advise further once we know your show and audience.
Working Together
Not full-time — but a timely response to drafts makes a real difference. We typically ask for feedback within 2–3 business days of sharing a draft. The faster the feedback loop, the faster your catalog is delivered. We'll set clear review milestones at the start of every project.
Yes. We always try to assign the same designer to repeat projects from the same client. Continuity matters — a designer who already knows your brand, your products, and your preferences delivers better results faster. Just mention it when you reach out.
It happens, and we handle it. If the direction changes significantly after work has already begun, we'll have a brief conversation about scope. Minor course corrections are part of the revision process and are always included. Major resets — such as changing the entire visual concept after several pages have been built — may involve a small additional fee, which we'll discuss and agree before proceeding.
Yes. Many of our clients operate in competitive markets and share unreleased products or wholesale pricing with us. We're comfortable signing a mutual NDA before any files are exchanged. Just let us know when you request a quote and we'll arrange it.
Yes. For larger or more complex projects, a short screen-share call to walk through the draft can be more efficient than written notes. We're happy to accommodate this — just let us know your preference and time zone.
After Delivery
Once the final files have been approved and delivered, the project is considered complete. Any changes after final delivery are treated as a new revision request and quoted accordingly — usually at a straightforward hourly or per-page rate. This is why we encourage thorough review before final approval.
We keep all project files — InDesign source, linked images, and exported PDFs — for 12 months after project completion at no extra charge. If you need us to retrieve or re-export files within that period, just ask. After 12 months, files are deleted unless you arrange ongoing storage or have purchased source files as part of your plan.
Yes — seasonal updates are among the most common follow-on projects we handle. Because we already have your brand assets, layout templates, and design preferences, updates are faster and cheaper than starting from scratch. Contact us before your next season and we'll plan the update timeline together.
Yes. After final delivery we can export selected pages or product spreads as high-resolution JPG or PNG files optimised for social media. This is a small add-on charge and is often worth doing for key hero pages or cover spreads.
Still Curious?
Can't Find Your Answer?
Reach out directly — we're happy to answer any questions about your specific project
before you commit to anything.