Many publishers have asked for more product sizes. Well we are happy to announce a new product type called Digest. At 5.5” x 8.5” it’s approximately half the size of our current Standard product, and is available in both perfect bound and saddle stitch versions.
And with a smaller size comes a smaller price point. While there are lots of things that go into creating a high-quality finished publication, another benefit of Digest is that it allows us to reduce our overall production costs, specifically those related to paper and ink. Those savings help bring our per page cost down to $.16 per page vs. $.20 per page for our larger format. Smaller publications also mean lighter packages, which can reduce shipping rates.
The Digest product offers an overall more compact and affordable publishing solution.
Publishing for Digest is similar to how you publish today you just need to modify your PDF settings for a smaller trim size (5.25 x 8.25).
For step-by-step instructions on how to create your PDF, check out our Getting Started page.
Let us know how you plan to use the new Digest product in the comments section below.
Publisher's Corner 
Perfect! Just what I was hoping for! Thanks!
This could be a fun (albeit ambitious) writing project for my intermediate French Immersion students this coming year!
For a product that is half the physical size of the standard product, shouldn’t the pricing more closely (and aggressively) reflect this? A $0.04 cent price difference is not REALLY saving your customers any money. You might as well still be charging $0.20 cent per page. I would expect that at half the physical size of the standard product, the charge to be more around $0.12 per page maybe even $0.10. $0.16 per page does not help the customer save money. This should have been thought over more before making available to the public.
Hi Frank,
We completely understand why you might think that but unfortunately the production costs are not only the paper and ink, but include a lot of additional ‘work’ to create the finished product (for example, trimming the magazines to their final size, or checking every magazine for acceptable quality etc). So half the size doesn’t mean half the cost. Having said that, we certainly will always aim to provide the best quality at the lowest price, and we are constantly looking for ways to reduce our costs and pass the savings along to our publishers.
Cheers!
This is exactly what I need!
Wonderful news! Lack of a digest size was what put me off using MagCloud in the past, now it’s here just in time for a community magazine project we have going; thanks!
Waiting and looking forward to my first larger size sample. Based in Australia postage for me is a harder issue. Always great to have another option and thanks for providing the service.
This is pretty cool. I’ve been wanting to do a “magazine” of all my backgrounds but didn’t really want a full standard size magazine. This will fit nicely into what I want, it will also make a nice proof booklet for clients to see the images I took before they place an order.
@Frank
The paper cost is insignificant as Patty wrote, especially for small runs. That said, I would like to see discounts for larger page counts since there would be only a minimal amount of additional labor involved.
Bravo on the new product size MC. This size has a lot of potential for other uses like calendars, custom journals and date books. Keep them coming . . . .
I love the new digest size! However, I lay my pages out in StripDesigner App and upload to Flickr then upload to MagCloud. But there doesn’t appear to be a way to get the digest size? Is it only accessible using a pdf?
Great idea, but when will a larger size be implemented?
I’d actually prefer 11″ x 17″ than the smaller size 5.5″ x 8.5″
Thanks for the new size. This offers more possibilities for designers.
The 5.5″X 8.5″ format is an excellent format for designing a mini-portfolio or beauty book for my model client. Will have to learn more about uploading images in the PDF format.
I’m quite thrilled about this!
However, what will come next? I’m really looking forward to a comic book size! (17x26cm or 6 5/8″x 10.25″) That way I’ll feel better about formatting my publications!
Great new size , just what was needed.
Great news . This will add more flexibilty to my design and help me move forward.
Awesome. I’m so glad you’re expanding to this size. Exactly what I need for my next project!
Hi,
I appreciate what you all do! I’m curious to know if you’ll consider printing greeting cards??? I sure hope so!!!!
Just seen the new size . Great news , this will work well .
This is just what we wanted . The new size will work well for our clients , ideal . Thank you .
Nice job , this is a good step forward and just what my customers wanted . Thanks .
Would really like a print option with horizontal aspect ratio. Like journal size, but flipped around 90 degrees, stapled on the short dimension.
That would be great for magazines displaying horizontal photos with a 4×6 aspect ratio…
cooooool.thanks
I started reading Reader’s Digest at age 28. It quickly became my mainstay monthly read. I am now 78 and my heart breaks to see this magazine possibly ending. I always have a copy with me. My second son, with whom I shared a house, always made sure my subscription was paid for and up to date. He passed away in December 2017. Then, in 2020, I was packing to move and suddenly realized that since my son’s death, I had been putting my Reader’s Digest in a box, not to be read. I had amassed 3 years of this lovely magazine. Shortly after I moved, I went into the box and organized the magazine by month and year, and I began to read again. It breaks my heart to see this little magazine that has meant so much to so many has fallen on hard times. I am praying it can be restored. Thank you for all the wonderful years you kept me and so many others entertained and informed.