Craic Magazine Issue 4 Indie Printing (Custom Perfect Bound)

280x215mm Books
4pp Cover onto 300gsm Uncoated FSC Certified
Matt Lamination to outer
96pp Text onto 130gsm Silk FSC Certified (6mm Spine)
Full colour print throughout
Perfect bound

Craic Magazine Issue 4 is where the publication really leans into a high-end fashion magazine feel — confident photography, strong typography, and page turns that are built around big double-page moments. We printed it as a custom 280x215mm perfect bound magazine, with a sturdy uncoated cover and smooth silk text pages that keep full-colour work looking crisp.

If you’re planning your own indie title, you’ll find options and guidance across our magazine printing service, plus practical help in our print journey guide and perfect binding set-up guide.

About the Magazine

Issue 4 is an honest, energetic look at life and culture on the Emerald Isle, wrapped in styling that’s getting sharper with every issue. It reads like a proper editorial magazine — fashion-led imagery, long-form features, and punchy section openers that give the layout rhythm.

Print Specification & Materials

The spec balances durability with that slick magazine snap. A thick uncoated cover stock gives the outer a clean, tactile feel, then the silk text pages bring in a subtle sheen that suits image-heavy spreads and keeps body copy comfortable to read.

• Trim size: 280 x 215mm (custom)
• Cover: 4pp on 300gsm uncoated FSC certified
• Finish: matt lamination to outer cover
• Text: 96pp on 130gsm silk FSC certified
• Print: full colour throughout
• Binding: perfect bound (6mm spine)

Want to sense-check your own format before you commit? Our standard magazine dimensions guide is a useful starting point, and you can price up variations with the instant quote calculator.

Design Details We Loved

This issue is packed with glorious double-page spreads — the kind that make a custom size feel completely justified. You’ve got bold, clean type on white space, then a hard cut to full-bleed photography. That contrast keeps the pacing lively and makes the magazine feel considered, not cluttered.

The cover is crisp and sturdy, and the shift from uncoated outer to silk inner works brilliantly: the outside feels grounded and tactile, while the inside delivers that smooth editorial finish for colour and detail.

The Client’s Print Journey

James came to us for quotes across 150–250 copies, then landed on 200 for this run. The big pressure point was timing: there were key dates to hit, plus split delivery to two locations, so we steered the schedule towards breathing room rather than a last-minute sprint.

When files arrived, our pre-press checks flagged a trim size mismatch between the text PDF and cover file — an easy fix, but exactly the sort of thing that can derail a tight turnaround. Once that was corrected, we issued a final proof for approval before sending the job to press.

After approving, a couple of small typos were spotted. By that point, production had already started — a useful reminder that proofing is the last real safety net on a deadline job.

How We Helped

We kept the process calm and practical: clear schedules, file checks, quick feedback from pre-press, and a proper sign-off step before print. When the job needed two shipments, we prioritised getting the event-ready batch out first.

If you’re at the “are my files actually ready?” stage, start with our file set-up knowledge base or jump straight to ready to order and we’ll take a look.

Takeaways for Your Next Indie Magazine

• Use stock contrast on purpose. Uncoated cover + silk text pages is a strong mix when you want a tactile outer and clean, crisp colour inside.
• Let spreads do the heavy lifting. If your photography and design can carry double-page moments, a custom format feels instantly more “collectable”.
• Build in delivery slack. If you’ve got events, plan for couriers to be unpredictable and aim to land early.
• Proof like it’s press-ready (because it is). Once the green button is hit, changes are rarely possible without extra cost.

Where Craic mixes stocks, Millennium Film Magazine stays coated throughout: another custom size perfect bound title, with a flexible 250gsm silk cover over 104 pages of gloss.