Preparing for product catalog design can be broken down into three parts: specifications, images, and product information. The more specific these preparations are, the fewer revisions during the design process. Below, we explain what the client actually needs to do.
1. Specifications: Define Format, Page Count, and Purpose First
Specifications determine how much content can fit on a page, and also affect design workload and subsequent printing. Before commissioning, confirm the following:
- Finished size: Common sizes include A4, A5, square, or custom sizes based on product proportions. Different sizes mean the same number of products will occupy different page counts.
- Total page count: Note that in printing, page counts are generally arranged in multiples of 4 (including covers). This is a matter to confirm with the printer, not something the designer can decide unilaterally.
- Binding method: Saddle stitching, perfect binding, loose-leaf, etc. Different methods lead to different layout logic for covers and inner pages.
- Output purpose: Whether it is only for electronic distribution or also for printing; for electronic versions, distinguish between a screen-viewing PDF and a clickable interactive version. Different purposes have different requirements for image resolution and file size.
- Number of versions: Whether Chinese and English versions or versions for different regions are needed. Multilingual versions significantly increase layout workload and should be stated before quoting.
If you are unsure about the size, you can give the designer a general direction, such as "consistent with existing business card and packaging style" or "easy to fit into a standard courier bag," and then confirm after the designer provides suggestions.
2. Images: Prepare by Layout Position, Not All at Once
Images in a catalog usually fall into several categories, each requiring different preparation:
- Main product images: At least one image per product that clearly shows the overall appearance, with a clean background and even lighting for consistent processing.
- Detail or lifestyle images: Used for key products or spread displays. The quantity depends on layout planning; not every product needs them.
- Brand images: Logo files, brand colors, auxiliary graphics, etc. Editable vector files are required, not images saved from web pages.
When providing images, clearly state:
- Which images are final and can be used directly;
- Which need retouching and to what extent (background removal, color correction, scene compositing);
- Whether the shooting angle allows cropping, and which parts cannot be cropped;
- Whether the images have usage authorization, especially for models, scenes, and third-party materials.
Regarding retouching scope: basic color correction and blemish removal are routine processing; background replacement, scene compositing, and combining multiple images into one picture are additional workloads and should be clarified when confirming the quote. Image retouching and scene compositing are two different things; decide which one you need when preparing materials.
If you only have low-resolution images, such as those saved from chat records or web pages, mention this in advance. The designer will tell you which positions can use them and which will become blurry when enlarged, rather than discovering this after layout is complete.
3. Product Information: Organize into a Structured Table
This is the most easily underestimated part. If the text format in the catalog is inconsistent, there will be repeated back-and-forth during layout. We recommend organizing according to the following structure:
- Product name (and corresponding model or number)
- One-sentence selling point or usage description
- Specifications: dimensions, material, color, weight, etc., with unified fields by category
- Optional specifications: color, size, packaging options
- Ordering: which products go first, which are featured, which can be combined
Consider a home goods example: if Category A products list "Material: Stainless steel" while Category B products list "Stainless steel material, brushed surface treatment," the fields won't align during layout, and readers can't easily compare. Unifying into two fields, "Material" and "Surface Treatment," solves the problem.
Also confirm in advance:
- Whether there are fixed formats that must be retained in product names and specifications, such as model codes;
- Whether certifications, ingredients, or usage notes need to be labeled. Such content is provided and confirmed by the client; the designer is only responsible for layout;
- Whether the text is final or subject to change. Text changes in a catalog often affect layout; the later the changes, the higher the revision cost.
4. Source Files and Delivery: Distinguish Between Final Products and Editable Files
Clarify what will be delivered before commissioning. Final product files refer to formats like PDFs that can be sent directly or sent to print; editable files refer to design source files that allow you to modify text and replace images yourself. These two are not the same in terms of quotation and workload and should be discussed upfront, not added at delivery.
If you plan to update product information yourself later, mention this when commissioning so the designer can organize files in a maintainable way. If it's for one-time use only, final product files may be sufficient.
When printing is involved, requirements for paper, color, bleed, and binding need to be confirmed with the printer, and the designer will produce files according to the confirmed requirements. Printing and shipping are not included by default in design services; clarify who is responsible before cooperation.
5. Common Oversights When Preparing Materials
- Only product images are provided, no vector logo file, resulting in low-resolution images for covers and headers.
- Product specifications are scattered across multiple spreadsheets and chat records without unified fields.
- No indication of which products are featured, so the designer can only allocate space evenly.
- No indication of the catalog's usage scenario (trade show distribution, shipping insert, online sending), leading to inappropriate size and page count choices.
Organizing these contents into a document and handing it to the designer along with images will significantly improve communication efficiency. If you also need brand visual or business materials, you can refer to our graphic design services page for the scope of work.
