The most helpful catalog handoff is a single, consistent product dataset. It should tell the designer which product each record describes, what information belongs on the page and which images match that record.
You do not need a complicated system to begin. A well-prepared spreadsheet can be enough, provided the fields and product relationships are clear. The goal is to reduce interpretation during layout.
Start with a stable product identifier
Give every product or separately listed variant a unique SKU. Keep that identifier consistent across the spreadsheet, image names and correction notes. Product names can change during editing; the identifier should still point to the same item.
Avoid using row numbers as identifiers. Sorting the sheet should not change which image or specification belongs to a product. If you have parent products and variants, add a field that states that relationship explicitly.
Use one field for one kind of information
A useful starting structure is SKU, Product Name, Category, Description, Price, Dimensions, Specifications, Image_1, Image_2 and Variant. Add separate fields where the layout needs them, such as width, height, depth and unit.
Write a short field guide. Explain whether dimensions are in millimeters or inches, whether prices include any applicable charges and how a missing value is represented. Avoid mixing a dash, a blank cell and the word “none” if they mean different things.
For example, a blank diameter may mean the value has not been supplied. “Not applicable” means the product has no diameter to show. Those two cases should not produce the same printed claim.
Connect images to records before layout
Use filenames that correspond to the SKU and view, such as SKU123-front.jpg and SKU123-detail.jpg. Keep the original high-resolution assets available. A small image copied out of a document may not support the intended printed size.
Check that every image reference resolves to a file. Also check that the file depicts the correct variant. An attractive photograph attached to the wrong SKU can create a more serious problem than a missing photograph.
Test a difficult sample
Before approving the full dataset, select a long description, a product with several variants, a dense specification table and a product with missing material. Have those records laid out as a pilot.
The pilot shows where the data model or page system needs adjusting. It is much easier to resolve an ambiguous variant rule before it appears on 60 pages.
Lock the handoff version
Name the approved dataset clearly and keep a change log. After layout begins, send corrections with the SKU, field name, current value and replacement value. This is easier to verify than a message saying that “the large blue product has a new price.”
COLONFILM catalog design starts at $590 for up to 16 pages, with data condition reviewed before the scope is confirmed. A clean handoff helps the design budget go toward presentation and consistency.
Explore Product Catalog Design for the scope and enquiry details. Continue reading: Product Catalog Design Cost: Pages, Products and Data.