Caitlyn Easter

 For this project we started out with a static National Geographic letter. The objective was to use variable data to customize the content to the reader and have the mail out fit inside of a #10 envelope. The customized content was the customer's name, a custom picture, the customer's mailing information and a custom QC code that linked to a special page for the customer.

To create the variable data fields, we used the "Data Merge" function in InDesign. This linked a CSV data file created in Excel. The Excel file had specific column headers for each column. Each row had the customer's information that was needed in the Nat. Geo. file. In InDesign, the Excel file was imported, and that pointed to the data that was needed. By replacing the generic field with the variable data field code, any instance of that field code would generate the custom field of that record.

Once the file was ready to print, we made sure that it allotted for bleed. This was done by making sure that the yellow border extended passed the bleed area. When printed and cropped, the file will have the yellow border extended to the edges of the page. The file was exported as an x3 pdf, and we made sure that all print/crop marks were displayed.