Portfolio Printing
Showcase your strongest work with portfolio printing that brings photography, art and design to life.
At 4edge, we professionally print portfolios for photographers, artists, designers, architects, students and creative professionals. Choose from hardback, perfect bound or staple bound formats, with a wide range of sizes, paper stocks, cover options and finishes to present your work with clarity, colour accuracy and a polished finish.
With expert artwork support, cost-effective digital printing and reliable UK production, we make it easy to create high-quality printed portfolios for interviews, client presentations, exhibitions, applications and creative showcases.
The Benefits of Online Portfolio Printing
Cost-effective digital printing
High-quality image reproduction
Expert artwork checking
Personal customer support
Printed in Hockley, Essex
Portfolio Specifications
Portfolio sizes
| Size | Width (mm) | Height (mm) |
|---|---|---|
| A6 | 105 | 148 |
| A5 | 148 | 210 |
| A4 | 210 | 297 |
| A3 | 297 | 420 |
| Novel | 127 | 203 |
| Standard | 132 | 197 |
| Demy | 138 | 216 |
| US Royal | 152 | 229 |
| Royal | 156 | 234 |
| Square | 210 | 210 |
- Custom sizes
Paper types
- Silk: 115-170 gsm
- Gloss: 115-170 gsm
- Uncoated: 70-170 gsm
- Offset: 80-120 gsm
- White Bookwove: 80 gsm
- Cream Bookwove: 70 gsm
Binding options
- Hardback / casebound
- Perfect bound (PUR)
- Staple bound / saddle stitched
Cover options
- Self cover
- 230 gsm cover stock
- 300 gsm cover stock
- 350 gsm cover stock
- Printed case covers
- Wibalin covers
- Faux leather covers
- Dust jackets
Finishes & Special Options
- Matt lamination
- Gloss lamination
- Soft-touch lamination
- Foil blocking
- Ribbon markers for hardback portfolios
- Head and tail bands for hardback portfolios
- Custom endpapers for hardback portfolios
How to Print Your Portfolios
The files you need to supply depend on the binding option you choose.
Staple bound portfolios
Supply one print-ready PDF containing all pages in reading order as single pages, not spreads. The cover pages should be included in the same PDF and the total page count must be in multiples of four.
Perfect bound portfolios
Please provide two print-ready PDF files:
- Cover PDF – outer and inner cover spreads, including the spine
- Inner pages PDF – all pages supplied in reading order as single pages, not spreads
The correct spine width depends on the number of pages and chosen paper stock. The 4edge team can confirm the required dimensions before you supply final artwork.
Do not provide the spine as a separate file.
Hardback portfolios
Please provide two print-ready PDF files:
- Cover PDF – back cover, spine and front cover supplied as one continuous outer spread
- Inner pages PDF – all pages supplied in reading order as single pages, not spreads
The correct spine width depends on the number of pages and chosen paper stock. The 4edge team can confirm the required dimensions before you supply final artwork.
Do not provide the spine as a separate file.
Colour and image quality
For the best print results:
- Set artwork to CMYK colour
- Use images at 300 dpi
- Set black text to 100% black
- Convert greyscale artwork to greyscale before supplying it
RGB artwork can be converted to CMYK, but some colours may change during conversion.
Bleed and quiet areas
Where artwork runs to the edge of the page, add 3 mm bleed around the outer edges.
Keep important content at least 3 mm inside all trim edges.
Additional quiet areas are required for the following:
- Perfect bound portfolios – 5 mm on the binding edge of inner pages
- Hardback portfolio inner pages – 8 mm on the binding edge
- Hardback portfolio covers – 8 mm around the finished cover edges, hinges and spine
Hardback covers also require 20 mm bleed around the outer edges and 5 mm hinges either side of the spine.
Keep captions, logos, text and important image details outside these areas.
Lamination
Where lamination is selected, it is applied to the outer cover surface.
Before Supplying Your Artwork
Please check that:
- The artwork matches the quoted finished size
- The correct file setup has been used for the chosen binding
- Inner pages are supplied as single pages in reading order
- Staple bound page counts are in multiples of four
- All fonts are embedded
- Images are supplied at suitable resolution
- Bleed and quiet areas have been included
- Any required blank pages are present
Please review your proof carefully before approving your portfolio for print.
Need help?
Call 01702 200243 to speak to the 4edge customer service team.
Email: admin@4edge.co.uk
Portfolio Printers in Essex
4edge provides professional portfolio printing for photographers, artists, designers, architects, students and creative professionals across the UK.
Based in Hockley, Essex, we print and finish portfolios in the UK using digital production and a choice of hardback, perfect bound and staple bound formats. Our team can support your project from artwork preparation and proofing through to printing, finishing and delivery.
Print-ready files can be retained to make future reorders straightforward, whether you are producing a photography portfolio, design presentation, architecture portfolio or creative showcase.
What binding options are available for portfolios?
4edge offers hardback / casebound, perfect bound (PUR) and staple bound / saddle stitched portfolios.
What size should a portfolio be?
A4 is a popular choice for photography, design and architecture portfolios, while A5 provides a more compact format. Square sizes can work well for image-led creative work.
Can I choose a custom portfolio size?
Yes. 4edge can produce custom sizes by cutting down from standard industry sizes, such as A4, depending on your chosen specification.
What paper is best for a portfolio?
Silk and gloss papers are popular for portfolios because they reproduce photography, artwork and colour clearly, while uncoated papers provide a softer, more natural finish.
Should I supply single pages or spreads?
Please supply inner pages as individual pages in reading order, not spreads. Perfect bound and hardback portfolios require a separate cover PDF, while staple bound portfolios are supplied as one print-ready PDF with the cover pages included in reading order.
How is the spine width calculated?
For perfect bound and hardback portfolios, the spine width depends on the number of pages and the thickness of your chosen paper stock. The 4edge team can calculate the correct spine width and provide the dimensions needed for your cover artwork. Staple bound portfolios do not require a spine.
Can photographs and artwork run to the edge of the page?
Yes. Where artwork runs to the edge, add 3 mm bleed around the outer edges. Hardback cover artwork requires 20 mm bleed to allow the printed cover to wrap around the case.
Do portfolio page counts need to be in multiples of four?
Staple bound portfolios must have a page count in multiples of four. Depending on the specification, blank pages may also be required in perfect bound or hardback portfolios to complete the final printed section.
Can I check my portfolio before printing?
Yes. Please review your proof carefully before production, checking image quality, colour, page order, captions, cover artwork and, where applicable, the spine.
Is VAT charged on printed portfolios?
Printed portfolios are normally zero-rated for VAT in the UK where they meet the relevant requirements.