Editing the Spine of a Perfect Bind Cover

You can configure the spine of a perfect bind cover using Spine Builder.
To edit the spine:
  1. In the Covers panel, specify the settings required for the perfect bind cover.
    For details about a specific setting, click the Help button to display the on-screen field help.
  2. Make sure that you set the outside or both sides of the cover to be printed with job content.
    If you used Cover Builder to design the cover sheet, also make sure that you save the changes to the outside cover.
  3. Click Spine Builder.
    The Spine Builder view is displayed in the workspace.

    The area available for the spine is highlighted. Any document pages placed on the outside cover are visible in the viewer.

    Spine Builder
  4. Click Spine position button, the Spine position button, at the bottom of the workspace and adjust the settings configured for the spine as required.
    The spine settings determine the location of the spine on the cover sheet and the size of the front and back cover spaces. Make sure that you configure these settings correctly before you start designing the spine.
  5. Click Rotate view counterclockwise button, the Rotate view counterclockwise button, or Rotate view clockwise button, the Rotate view clockwise button, to display the spine either vertically or horizontally in the viewer.
  6. To add a mask, click Mask tool button, the Mask tool button, on the toolbar, set the mask type and color, and then click the page and drag the cursor to create the mask.
    For more information, see Adding a Mask and Editing a Mask.
  7. To add text, click Text tool button, the Text tool button, on the toolbar, click the page to insert a text box, and then type the text.
    For more information, see Adding Text and Editing Text.
  8. To add an image, click Image tool button, the Image tool button, on the toolbar, and then click Choose Image... and select an image from the file browser.
    For more information, see Adding an Image and Editing an Image.
  9. To paste an image or text from the system clipboard, right-click and select Paste Special.
    For more information, see Pasting Images or Text from the System Clipboard.
  10. To select inserted masks, text boxes, or images:
    • To select a single object, click the object.
    • To select multiple objects, click the page and drag the cursor to create a selection area that surrounds the objects.
    • To select all the objects, right-click and select Select all.
    • To select all the objects in the spine area, right-click and select Select all in spine area.
  11. To reposition an object, select it and drag it to a new location or enter coordinates in the x and y input fields on the toolbar.
    The origin point (0,0) is at the center of the spine.
  12. To resize an object, select it and use the anchor points or enter width and height values in the w and h input fields on the toolbar.
  13. To copy, cut, and paste an object:
    1. Right-click the object and select Copy or Cut.
    2. Right-click and select Paste.
      The object is pasted at the center of the cover sheet.
  14. To set the order of multiple objects, right-click an object and select Order, then Bring to front, Bring forward, Send to back, or Send backward.
    • Bring to front: Brings the object in front of all other objects.
    • Bring forward: Brings the object forward by one layer.
    • Send to back: Sends the object behind all other objects.
    • Send backward: Sends the object backward by one layer.
  15. To center an object, right-click it and select Center, then Vertically, Horizontally, Both, or To spine.
    The To spine option centers the object on the spine area.
  16. To rotate an object, right-click it and select Rotate 90° clockwise or Rotate 90° counterclockwise.
  17. To delete an object, right-click it and select Delete.
  18. To create an overlay, select the objects that you want to include in the overlay, right-click, and select Create overlay....
    In the Overlays dialog box, enter a name for the overlay and click OK. You can use the overlay for jobs that have the same cover and spine settings.
In this example, a text box and an image were placed on the spine. The objects were resized and centered.
Spine Builder - Cover example
Parent topic: Adding a Cover to a Perfect Bound Job