AdCP — Print Ads

This guide covers how AdCP represents print advertising formats for newspapers, magazines, inserts, and trade publications.

How print works in AdCP

Print uses the same building blocks as every other channel:

Collections model publications (Vogue, Bergedorfer Zeitung, Ad Age)
Installments model issues (March 2026 issue, Issue #47)
Installment deadlines carry booking, cancellation, and material due dates
Creative formats define physical dimensions, bleed, DPI, and file requirements
Placements define positions (full page, half page, island, inside front cover)

No print-specific schemas are needed. The standard product model handles print when sellers declare physical units in their formats and deadlines on their installments.

Print format characteristics

Print formats differ from digital in several ways:

Physical units — dimensions in inches or centimeters, not pixels
DPI requirements — minimum 300 DPI for standard print, 150 DPI for newspaper
Bleed — extra image area beyond the trim that prevents white edges after cutting
Color space — CMYK for full-color print, grayscale for B&W
File formats — press-ready PDF, TIFF, or EPS instead of JPG/PNG

Standard print formats

Full page (magazine)

{
  "format_id": {
    "agent_url": "https://ads.publisher.example.com",
    "id": "full_page"
  },
  "name": "Full Page",
  "renders": [{
    "role": "primary",
    "dimensions": {
      "width": 8.375,
      "height": 10.875,
      "unit": "inches"
    }
  }],
  "assets": [
    {
      "item_type": "individual",
      "asset_id": "artwork",
      "asset_type": "image",
      "asset_role": "print_artwork",
      "required": true,
      "requirements": {
        "min_width": 8.375,
        "max_width": 8.375,
        "min_height": 10.875,
        "max_height": 10.875,
        "unit": "inches",
        "min_dpi": 300,
        "bleed": { "uniform": 0.125 },
        "color_space": "cmyk",
        "formats": ["pdf", "tiff", "eps"]
      },
      "overlays": [
        { "id": "safe_left", "description": "Left trim margin — keep headlines, logos, and CTAs inside", "bounds": { "x": 0, "y": 0, "width": 0.25, "height": 10.875, "unit": "inches" } },
        { "id": "safe_right", "description": "Right trim margin", "bounds": { "x": 8.125, "y": 0, "width": 0.25, "height": 10.875, "unit": "inches" } },
        { "id": "safe_top", "description": "Top trim margin", "bounds": { "x": 0, "y": 0, "width": 8.375, "height": 0.25, "unit": "inches" } },
        { "id": "safe_bottom", "description": "Bottom trim margin", "bounds": { "x": 0, "y": 10.625, "width": 8.375, "height": 0.25, "unit": "inches" } }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Half page portrait (newspaper)

{
  "format_id": {
    "agent_url": "https://ads.publisher.example.com",
    "id": "half_page_portrait"
  },
  "name": "1/2 Seite Hochformat",
  "renders": [{
    "role": "primary",
    "dimensions": {
      "width": 130,
      "height": 185,
      "unit": "mm"
    }
  }],
  "assets": [
    {
      "item_type": "individual",
      "asset_id": "artwork",
      "asset_type": "image",
      "asset_role": "print_artwork",
      "required": true,
      "requirements": {
        "min_width": 130,
        "max_width": 130,
        "min_height": 185,
        "max_height": 185,
        "unit": "mm",
        "min_dpi": 150,
        "bleed": { "uniform": 3 },
        "color_space": "cmyk",
        "formats": ["pdf", "tiff"]
      }
    }
  ]
}

Insert/supplement

Multi-page inserts use a repeatable group for pages:

{
  "format_id": {
    "agent_url": "https://ads.publisher.example.com",
    "id": "insert_4page"
  },
  "name": "4-Page Insert",
  "renders": [{
    "role": "primary",
    "dimensions": {
      "width": 8.375,
      "height": 10.875,
      "unit": "inches"
    }
  }],
  "assets": [
    {
      "item_type": "repeatable_group",
      "asset_group_id": "pages",
      "required": true,
      "min_count": 4,
      "max_count": 4,
      "selection_mode": "sequential",
      "assets": [
        {
          "asset_id": "page",
          "asset_type": "image",
          "asset_role": "insert_page",
          "required": true,
          "requirements": {
            "min_width": 8.375,
            "max_width": 8.375,
            "min_height": 10.875,
            "max_height": 10.875,
            "unit": "inches",
            "min_dpi": 300,
            "bleed": { "uniform": 0.125 },
            "color_space": "cmyk",
            "formats": ["pdf"]
          }
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Publications and issues

A publication maps to a collection. Each issue maps to an installment with deadlines.

The publication (collection)

{
  "collection_id": "bergedorfer_zeitung",
  "name": "Bergedorfer Zeitung",
  "kind": "publication",
  "description": "Regional daily newspaper for Hamburg-Bergedorf",
  "genre": ["IAB12"],
  "genre_taxonomy": "iab_content_3.0",
  "language": "de",
  "cadence": "daily",
  "status": "active",
  "deadline_policy": {
    "booking_lead_days": 4,
    "cancellation_lead_days": 3,
    "material_stages": [
      { "stage": "final", "lead_days": 2, "label": "Druckfertige PDF" }
    ],
    "business_days_only": true
  }
}

With deadline_policy, the collection declares lead-time rules once. Agents compute absolute deadlines from each installment’s scheduled_at. A daily newspaper no longer needs to enumerate deadlines for every issue — the policy covers the common case, and individual installments can override when needed (e.g., holiday editions with earlier deadlines).

An issue (installment with deadlines)

{
  "installment_id": "2026-03-28",
  "name": "Freitag, 28. März 2026",
  "scheduled_at": "2026-03-28T05:00:00+01:00",
  "status": "scheduled",
  "deadlines": {
    "booking_deadline": "2026-03-24T17:00:00+01:00",
    "cancellation_deadline": "2026-03-25T12:00:00+01:00",
    "material_deadlines": [
      {
        "stage": "draft",
        "due_at": "2026-03-25T17:00:00+01:00",
        "label": "Entwurf zur Prüfung"
      },
      {
        "stage": "final",
        "due_at": "2026-03-26T17:00:00+01:00",
        "label": "Druckfertige PDF mit Beschnitt (3mm)"
      }
    ]
  }
}

For a monthly magazine with longer lead times:

{
  "installment_id": "2026-05",
  "name": "Mai 2026",
  "season": "2026",
  "installment_number": "5",
  "scheduled_at": "2026-05-01T00:00:00+02:00",
  "status": "scheduled",
  "deadlines": {
    "booking_deadline": "2026-03-15T17:00:00+01:00",
    "cancellation_deadline": "2026-03-22T17:00:00+01:00",
    "material_deadlines": [
      {
        "stage": "draft",
        "due_at": "2026-03-29T17:00:00+01:00",
        "label": "Raw artwork for review and color proofing"
      },
      {
        "stage": "final",
        "due_at": "2026-04-05T17:00:00+02:00",
        "label": "Press-ready PDF/X-4, CMYK, 300 DPI, 3mm bleed"
      }
    ]
  }
}

Complete product example

A regional newspaper selling print ad inventory across upcoming issues:

{
  "products": [
    {
      "product_id": "bz_display_april",
      "name": "Bergedorfer Zeitung — Display Ads, April 2026",
      "channels": ["print"],
      "collections": [{
        "publisher_domain": "bergedorfer-zeitung.de",
        "collection_ids": ["bergedorfer_zeitung"]
      }],
      "publisher_properties": [{
        "publisher_domain": "bergedorfer-zeitung.de",
        "selection_type": "all"
      }],
      "installments": [
        {
          "installment_id": "2026-04-01",
          "name": "Mittwoch, 1. April 2026",
          "scheduled_at": "2026-04-01T05:00:00+02:00",
          "status": "scheduled",
          "deadlines": {
            "booking_deadline": "2026-03-26T17:00:00+01:00",
            "cancellation_deadline": "2026-03-27T12:00:00+01:00",
            "material_deadlines": [
              { "stage": "final", "due_at": "2026-03-28T17:00:00+01:00", "label": "Druckfertige PDF" }
            ]
          }
        },
        {
          "installment_id": "2026-04-02",
          "name": "Donnerstag, 2. April 2026",
          "scheduled_at": "2026-04-02T05:00:00+02:00",
          "status": "scheduled",
          "deadlines": {
            "booking_deadline": "2026-03-27T17:00:00+01:00",
            "cancellation_deadline": "2026-03-28T12:00:00+01:00",
            "material_deadlines": [
              { "stage": "final", "due_at": "2026-03-29T17:00:00+01:00", "label": "Druckfertige PDF" }
            ]
          }
        }
      ],
      "placements": [
        { "kind": "seller_inline", "placement_id": "full_page", "name": "Ganze Seite", "mode": "targetable" },
        { "kind": "seller_inline", "placement_id": "half_page", "name": "1/2 Seite", "mode": "targetable" },
        { "kind": "seller_inline", "placement_id": "quarter_page", "name": "1/4 Seite", "mode": "targetable" }
      ],
      "format_ids": [
        { "agent_url": "https://ads.bergedorfer-zeitung.de", "id": "full_page" },
        { "agent_url": "https://ads.bergedorfer-zeitung.de", "id": "half_page_portrait" },
        { "agent_url": "https://ads.bergedorfer-zeitung.de", "id": "quarter_page" }
      ],
      "delivery_type": "guaranteed",
      "delivery_measurement": {
        "provider": "IVW (Informationsgemeinschaft zur Feststellung der Verbreitung von Werbeträgern)",
        "notes": "Verified circulation figures, updated quarterly"
      },
      "pricing_options": [
        {
          "pricing_option_id": "full_page_rate",
          "pricing_model": "flat_rate",
          "fixed_price": 2400,
          "currency": "EUR"
        },
        {
          "pricing_option_id": "half_page_rate",
          "pricing_model": "flat_rate",
          "fixed_price": 1350,
          "currency": "EUR"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Print-specific image requirements

Physical dimensions

Print formats declare dimensions in physical units (inches or cm) instead of pixels. The unit field on both format renders and image asset requirements controls interpretation:

{
  "dimensions": {
    "width": 8.375,
    "height": 10.875,
    "unit": "inches"
  }
}

When unit is absent, dimensions default to pixels (backward compatible with digital formats).

Bleed

Bleed is the extra image area beyond the trim size. After printing, the page is cut to the trim dimensions — bleed ensures ink coverage extends to the edge with no white border. Bleed can be specified per-side or uniformly:

"bleed": { "uniform": 0.125 }

"bleed": { "top": 0.125, "right": 0.125, "bottom": 0.25, "left": 0.125 }

Values use the same unit as the parent dimensions.

Calculating total image dimensions

For a full-page magazine ad at 8.375 x 10.875 inches with 0.125” uniform bleed at 300 DPI:

Total physical size: (8.375 + 0.125 + 0.125) x (10.875 + 0.125 + 0.125) = 8.625 x 11.125 inches
Pixel dimensions: 8.625 x 300 = 2588 pixels wide, 11.125 x 300 = 3338 pixels tall
Submitted image: 2588 x 3338 px, CMYK, PDF or TIFF

For a European newspaper at 130 x 185 mm with 3 mm uniform bleed at 150 DPI:

Total physical size: (130 + 3 + 3) x (185 + 3 + 3) = 136 x 191 mm
Convert to inches: 136 / 25.4 = 5.354”, 191 / 25.4 = 7.520”
Pixel dimensions: 5.354 x 150 = 803 px wide, 7.520 x 150 = 1128 px tall

DPI

min_dpi specifies the minimum dots per inch for acceptable print quality:

Use case	Typical min_dpi
Magazine (coated stock)	300
Newspaper (uncoated)	150
Large format / billboard	72-150

Color space

Print production requires CMYK color separation. Digital images in RGB must be converted before press. The color_space field declares what the publisher accepts:

cmyk — standard for offset and digital print
rgb — accepted when the publisher handles conversion
grayscale — for black-and-white placements

File formats

Format	Use case
`pdf`	Press-ready composite (PDF/X-4 recommended)
`tiff`	Rasterized artwork, lossless
`eps`	Vector artwork with embedded fonts

Safe area (trim margins)

Print production trims pages to their final size, and the cut can shift slightly. Critical content (headlines, logos, CTAs) placed too close to the trim edge risks being cut off. Publishers declare trim margins using the standard overlay pattern — the same mechanism used for CTV player controls and DOOH bezels. Each overlay marks a zone where creative agents should avoid placing important content:

"overlays": [
  { "id": "safe_left", "description": "Left trim margin", "bounds": { "x": 0, "y": 0, "width": 6, "height": 185, "unit": "mm" } },
  { "id": "safe_right", "bounds": { "x": 124, "y": 0, "width": 6, "height": 185, "unit": "mm" } },
  { "id": "safe_top", "bounds": { "x": 0, "y": 0, "width": 130, "height": 6, "unit": "mm" } },
  { "id": "safe_bottom", "bounds": { "x": 0, "y": 179, "width": 130, "height": 6, "unit": "mm" } }
]

A 6mm margin is standard for European newspaper production. Overlay bounds support physical units (mm, cm, inches) alongside px and fraction, so publishers can express safe areas in whichever unit their prepress workflow uses.

Deadlines beyond print

Installment deadlines are not print-specific. Any channel with advance material requirements uses the same pattern. See collections and installments for deadlines on podcasts, influencer host reads, and live events.

Collections and installments — the collection/installment model and deadlines
Creative formats — format structure and asset discovery
Media channel taxonomy — all 20 channels including print

Getting Started

Building with AdCP

Protocol

FAQ

Trust & Security

Reference

Certification

Print Ads

How print works in AdCP

Print format characteristics

Standard print formats

Full page (magazine)

Half page portrait (newspaper)

Insert/supplement

Publications and issues

The publication (collection)

An issue (installment with deadlines)

Complete product example

Print-specific image requirements

Physical dimensions

Bleed

Calculating total image dimensions

DPI

Color space

File formats

Safe area (trim margins)

Deadlines beyond print

​How print works in AdCP

​Print format characteristics

​Standard print formats

​Full page (magazine)

​Half page portrait (newspaper)

​Insert/supplement

​Publications and issues

​The publication (collection)

​An issue (installment with deadlines)

​Complete product example

​Print-specific image requirements

​Physical dimensions

​Bleed

​Calculating total image dimensions

​DPI

​Color space

​File formats

​Safe area (trim margins)

​Deadlines beyond print

​Related documentation

How print works in AdCP

Print format characteristics

Standard print formats

Full page (magazine)

Half page portrait (newspaper)

Insert/supplement

Publications and issues

The publication (collection)

An issue (installment with deadlines)

Complete product example

Print-specific image requirements

Physical dimensions

Bleed

Calculating total image dimensions

DPI

Color space

File formats

Safe area (trim margins)

Deadlines beyond print

Related documentation