Newspaper Specifications
Welcome to the new Globe and Mail newspaper specifications. Here, you’ll find complete information to help build, prepare and upload your advertising for our Redesigned newspaper.
Need creative inspiration?
Check our ad formats gallery for high-impact page layout ideas.
Ready to begin? Let’s go!
Please make sure you read our most frequently asked questions section, designed to give you the most essential information our clients need, before you begin.
Once you’ve read all of this, and if you’re still scratching your head, reach out and let’s chat!
Build your advertising
Ready to build great ads? Here are the sizing details for preparing your creative to match our newspaper page dimensions.
Newspaper Broadsheet size
| Columns | Width (mm) | Width (inches) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 43 mm | 1.69" |
| 4 | 89.25 mm | 3.51" |
| 6 | 135.5 mm | 5.33" |
| 8 | 181.75 mm | 7.15" |
| 10 | 228 mm | 8.97" |
Classified Pages
| Columns | Width (mm) | Width (inches) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 43 mm | 1.69" |
| 2 | 89.25 mm | 3.51" |
| 3 | 135.5 mm | 5.33" |
| 4 | 181.75 mm | 7.15" |
| 5 | 228 mm | 8.97" |
Quick Size Conversions
| INCHES TO MM | → | INCHES X 25.4 |
| MM TO INCHES | → | MM ÷ 25.4 |
| AGATES TO INCHES | → | AGATES ÷ 14 |
| INCHES TO AGATES | → | INCHES X 14 |
Standard ad sizes
| Col x Agates | Ad Type | Inches | MM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 x 280 | FP DPS | 18.97” x 20.00” | 481.84 x 508 |
| 10 x 280 | FP | 8.97” x 20.00” | 228 x 508 |
| 10 x 210 | 3/4 Page | 8.97” x 15.00” | 228 x 381 |
| 10 x 187 | 2/3Page | 8.97” x 13.36” | 228 x 339.34 |
| 10 x 163 | Pg Dom 1 | 8.97” x 11.64” | 228 x 295.66 |
| 10 x 140 | 1/2 Page | 8.97” x 10.00” | 228 x 254 |
| 10 x 117 | 2/5 Page | 8.97” x 8.36” | 228 x 212.34 |
| 10 x 93 | 1/3 Page | 8.97” x 6.64” | 228 x 168.66 |
| 10 x 70 | 1/4 Page | 8.97” x 5.00” | 228 x 127 |
| 10 x 47 | 1/6 Page | 8.97” x 3.36” | 228 x 85.34 |
| 8 x 210 | Pg Dom 2 | 7.15” x 15.00” | 181.75 x 381 |
| 8 x 187 | Pg Dom 3 | 7.15” x 13.36” | 181.75 x 339.34 |
| 8 x 163 | Pg Dom 4 | 7.15” x 11.64” | 181.75 x 295.66 |
| 8 x 140 | Pg Dom 5 | 7.15” x 10.00” | 181.75 x 254 |
| 6 x 210 | Pg Dom 6 | 5.33” x 15.00” | 135.5 x 381 |
| 6 x 187 | 2/5Page | 5.33” x 13.36” | 135.5 x 339.34 |
| 6 x 163 | 1/3 Page | 5.33” x 11.64” | 135.5 x 295.66 |
| 6 x 140 | 5.33” x 10.00” | 135.5 x 254 | |
| 6 x 128 | 5.33” x 9.14” | 135.5 x 232.16 | |
| 6 x 117 | 1/4 Page | 5.33” x 8.36” | 135.5 x 212.34 |
| 6 x 105 | 5.33” x 7.50” | 135.5 x 190.5 | |
| 6 x 93 | 1/5 Page | 5.33” x 6.64” | 135.5 x 168.66 |
| 6 x 82 | 1/6 Page | 5.33” x 5.86” | 135.5 x 148.84 |
| 6 x 70 | 5.33” x 5.00” | 135.5 x 127 | |
| 6 x 58 | 1/8 Page | 5.33” x 4.14” | 135.5 x 105.16 |
| 6 x 47 | 1/10 Page | 5.33” x 3.36” | 135.5 x 85.34 |
| 6 x 35 | 1/13 | 5.33” x 2.50” | 135.5 x 63.5 |
| 4 x 140 | 1/5 Page | 3.51” x 10.00” | 89.25 x 254 |
| 4 x 128 | 3.51” x 9.14” | 89.25 x 232.16 | |
| 4 x 117 | 1/6 Page | 3.51” x 8.36” | 89.25 x 212.34 |
| 4 x 105 | 3.51” x 7.50” | 89.25 x 190.5 | |
| 4 x 93 | 3.51” x 6.64” | 89.25 x 168.66 | |
| 4 x 82 | 3.51” x 5.86” | 89.25 x 148.84 | |
| 4 x 70 | 1/10 Page | 3.51” x 5.00” | 89.25 x 127 |
| 4 x 58 | 1/12 Page | 3.51” x 4.14” | 89.25 x 105.16 |
| 4 x 47 | 1/15Page | 3.51” x 3.36” | 89.25 x 85.34 |
| 4 x 35 | 1/20 Page | 3.51” x 2.50” | 89.25 x 63.5 |
| 2 x 35 | 1/35 Page | 1.69” x 2.50” | 43 x 63.5 |
Premium Paper Pages - Saturday only
| News & ROB: | Front Page, Page 2, Page before DPS, DPS, Page after DPS, IBC & OBC |
| Sports, Opinion & Arts: | Front Page, Page 2, IBC & OBC |
| Pursuits: | Front Page, Page 2, Page before DPS, DPS, Page after DPS, IBC & OBC plus additional 4 pages within section |
Pursuits Section Sizes - National only
| Col x Agates | Ad Type | Inches |
|---|---|---|
| 10 x 280 | Full Page | 8.97” x 20.00" |
| 10 x 140 | 1/2 Page | 8.97” x 10.00" |
| 10 x 93 | 1/3 Page | 8.97” x 6.64" |
| 10 x 70 | 1/4 Page | 8.97” x 5.00" |
| 10 x 47 | 1/6 Page | 8.97” x 3.36" |
| 6 x 117 | 1/4 Page | 5.33” x 8.36" |
| 6 x 93 | 1/5 Page | 5.33” x 6.64" |
| 6 x 58 | 1/8 Page | 5.33” x 4.14” |
| 4 x 117 | 1/6 Page | 3.51” x 8.36" |
| 4 x 93 | 3.51” x 6.64" | |
| Additional Pursuits Ad Sizes | Travel advertisers only. | |
| 2 x 35 | 1.69” x 2.50” | |
| 4 x 35 | 1/20 Page | 3.51” x 2.50” |
| 4 x 47 | 1/15 Page | 3.51” x 3.36” |
| 4 x 58 | 1/12 Page | 3.51” x 4.14” |
| 4 x 70 | 1/10 Page | 3.51” x 5.00” |
| 4 x 93 | 3.51” x 6.64” | |
Position Specific Ad Sizes
| Col x Agates | Ad Type | Inches |
|---|---|---|
| 3 1⁄3 x 92 | Page 2 News (A2) Sat. only | 2.9” x 6.58” |
| 3 1⁄3 x 200 | Page 2 Full-depth News (A2) M to F | 2.9” x 20” |
| 10 x 44 | Front Pg Banners Excl. Drive & R.E. | 8.97” x 3.14” |
| 10 x 100 | Front Pg Banners Drive & Real Estate | 8.97” x 7.14” |
Career Ads
- Career ads do not follow ad formats, but must be even column width
- Minimum of 100 total lines
- Anything over 228 lines deep must run full depth
Appointment Notices
- Must be even column widths
- Picture must be colour, minimum 300 dpi Creative freedom @ 350 lines
Preparing your advertising
Beautiful ads, ready to go? Please follow our production requirements and checklist to make sure your creative will look its best in our newspaper.
Production specifications
Dot gainMidtone gain, 26%
- Refer to the chart below for the approximate dot gain in various dot percentages, based on ISO specifications.
- This chart should be used as a guide for the necessary adjustments of images, for newspaper reproduction.
- When creating text and tints, the dot gain of the given dot percentage should also be considered, please refer to the Dot Gain Guide, directly below.
- For instructional PDFs on dot gain and how to adjust images, please refer to our Deliver section, below.
- To adjust a colour image >240%, download The Globe’s ICC colour profile, also from Deliver.
- To adjust black and white images, download The Guide to Correcting Greyscale Images, also from Deliver.
Dot gain guide (based on 26% midtone gain)
| DOT PERCENTAGE | AMOUNT DOT WILL GAIN BY | PRINTED DOT SIZE |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | +11% | 21% |
| 20% | +19% | 39% |
| 30% | +24% | 54% |
| 40% | +26% | 66% |
| 50% | +26% | 76% |
| 60% | +24% | 84% |
| 70% | +20% | 90% |
| 80% | +14% | 94% |
| 90% | +7% | 97% |
Front News section: Page A1 standard ad format
- Our Newspaper is printed on a combination of Coldset and Heatset/UV
Colour Mode:
- CMYK (colour)
- Grayscale (B/W)
Note: Ads not supplied in the appropriate colour mode will be converted without notification
e.g. RGB to CMYK
*** The Globe and Mail is not responsible for any colour shift in colour or grayscale. ***
Total ink density: 240%
If total ink density is over 240%, The Globe will profile the ad without notification.
Output Preview Simulation Profile setting: U. S. Sheetfeed Coated V2
Dot Gain: 26% midtone
Resolution:
- Image above 266 DPI
- Colour Grayscale line art 2400 DPI
Text:
- Colour text should be above 24 point.
- Knockout text: Serif above 14 points. Sans Serif above 12 points
- Please note: any supplied creative with fonts outside of these specifications, may not reproduce to the highest possible quality – and we cannot guarantee clarity during reproduction.
Ad Layout:
- Ad size- 100% of booking size.
No Bleed allowance
- No Trapping, Choke or Spreads
Reproduction of dot size:
Max Dot: 93% (above and will fill in to 100%)
Minimum: 3% (under may blow out during the run)
Minimum line thickness: 0.5pts
Minimum colour line thickness: 2pt
Printing details
Print locations
The Globe prints on coldset web offset presses and heatset/uv web presses, at five print sites across Canada – Vancouver, Calgary, Estevan, Vaughan and Montreal.
Plate production
We produce our newspaper with a completely film-less workflow, using computer-to-plate (CTP) technology at all of our print sites. All production lines are calibrated to compensate for a 26% dot gain.
Printing in sections
On occasion, the amount of newspaper advertising exceeds our section limitations, and we may need your source your creative material a little earlier in the process. If this happens, your Globe representative will notify the booking agency of the new material submission date, to ensure adequate time for the submission of artwork.
Final checklist
Ad layout
The Ad has been created to 100% of the final booking size, with No trim or bleed allowance.
No trapping (chokes and spreads) has been applied.
The Border of the ad is within the live ad area.
Ad specifications
Colour Modes: For colour ads, all ad elements (text, tints, images, logos etc.) have been created using CMYK only. For black and white ads, all ad elements have been created as black and white only or in grayscale colour mode. SPOT or RGB colour must be converted to the equivalent CMYK or BLACK only value.
Total ink Density: All elements within the ad/text, lines images, logos and tints have been created with a maximum ink density of 240%.
Image Resolution: Colour and Grayscale bitmap images are 266 DPI or higher. Monochrome images (Graphics/Line Art) are 2400 DPI.
Black/Colour Text Specification: All Black text has been created as 100% Black only and set to overprint. Four colour black is not recommended, all coloured text should not be any smaller then 24 points.
- Please note: any supplied creative with fonts outside of these specifications, may not reproduce to the highest possible quality – and we cannot guarantee clarity during reproduction.
Knockout text: Sans Serif fonts should be a minimum of 12 points. Serif fonts should not be any smaller then 14 points.
- Please note: any supplied creative with fonts outside of these specifications, may not reproduce to the highest possible quality – and we cannot guarantee clarity during reproduction.
Gray Text/Tint/Logo/Line Elements: All gray elements have been created using a percentage of Black Only, 4 colour gray is not recommended.
Black Tint/Logo/Line Elements: All black tints, logos and line elements have been created as black only and set to Overprint. 4 colour black text is not recommended.
Line Elements: All line elements have been created with a minimum thickness of 0.5 points.
Doubletruck: For quality reproduction it is recommended that text and vital images be kept outside of the centre gutter space. To allot for this, 1.03 inch of space should be left free in the center of the ad.
Material submission
The file has been created to The Globe and Mail specifications and will be submitted to a minimum resolution of 266 DPI in PDF format, with fonts embedded in CMYK or Grayscale colour mode.
Files not submitted as a PDF have been collected and compressed into a single archived file such as .ZIP or .SIT including all images and fonts.
Deliver your creative materials
You’re just moments away from an intense feeling of satisfaction.
Read our instructions for uploading your advertising material and submit completed ads via your favourite FTP client, or The Globe’s AdForward system.
Get ready to upload ads
Colour Setting Downloads
Download our ICC Profile to profile your colour images and convert them to the best CMYK profile for newspaper printing.
Download Adobe Acrobat Distiller Job Options to load directly into version 4, 5 and 6 software.
Uploading Instructions
Here are instructions for submitting ads to The Globe and Mail:
You can use the AdForward panel on the right or we are able to retrieve your material from any common file sharing/hosting services (i.e your FTP site, drop box, Google drive. etc…).
