Covering A Spread
Some of my clients are making their first foray into the world of printing and publishing when they come to me, and as we discuss their project, I realize that there are terms I use regularly that they have never heard before. This week when we were discussing a sample layout for a book project, my client asked me what a 'spread' refers to. It takes only about ten seconds to explain, but can make a big difference in discussing a project.
In this image, I've highlighted a page:
To (cause to) cover, reach, or have an effect on a wider or increasing area: The fire spread very rapidly because of the strong wind. It started off as cancer of the liver but it spread to other areas of the body. The Jets are one of three teams in the NFL to not cover the spread yet, with the Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans, who are 3-0 straight up and 0-5 against the spread.
See, that was easy. A spread is simply a set of pages (usually two) viewed together. It's how you see the book or magazine when it's open and both pages are showing.
As someone working with a book designer or print designer, it's good for you to know the difference. Why? Well, especially in layouts where the text and/or images are spread across both pages, you must see your proof in spreads to get the full effect of the design.
If your designer sends you a PDF proof where the pages are shown individually, you can write back and ask if it's possible to also see it in spreads. After all, the final book will virtually always be seen as spreads, and when you can see it on screen in spreads, it gives you a much better idea of how the layout will strike the viewer visually. It may also help to you catch layout errors more easily.
In InDesign, whether a 'print PDF' or 'interactive PDF' is being exported, there's an option to export it as pages OR spreads. Here are a few screenshots:
If you understand the difference between a spread and a page, you can have clearer conversations with your designer about your expectations for the project and the proofs.
Covering A Point Spread
Please note: receiving a PDF of your book as spreads is important for visual effect, but receiving a PDF of your book as individual pages is essential for the actual printing process. You will still want to have an individual pages version of the proof:
If you are wanting to print off the proof your designer has sent to you, to proofread it (always recommended - you catch a lot more errors on a printed proof), or
For sending to your printer or publisher.
Now you know what the term 'spread' refers to in book design and layout! And you even know where the option is in InDesign, to export the PDF as individual pages or as spreads. I remember a time when InDesign did not offer the option to export PDFs as spreads, but it's been a great addition to the software and definitely helps the client viewing a PDF proof to picture how everything will work together visually in the final, printed piece.
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The point spread is an estimate of the final point difference between the teams in an event. A handicap of the point spread value is given to the favourite team so bettors can choose sides at equal odds.
“Cover the spread” means that a favourite wins an event with the handicap taken into account or the underdog wins with additional points.
The spread goes beyond classifying a team as the favourite or the underdog and assigns a numerical value to the perceived difference between teams.
Covering A Spread In Football
Take a matchup between the San Antonio Spurs and the Charlotte Bobcats. The Spurs are clearly favoured to win as they are a much stronger team, making betting on the matchup lackluster at best.
Covering A Spread
But what if the Bobcats were given an extra 4 points? A few more people would bet on the Bobcats. What about 12? Sportsbooks set a spread at a value which accurately represents the perceived difference in value between the teams.
Say the sportsbook set the line at:
San Antonio Spurs -12.5 1.91
Charlotte Bobcats +12.5 1.91
Oddsmakers have assigned a “point spread” to the matchup, which basically gives the underdog team an artificial “head start”.
The Point Spread is +12.5 for Charlotte, which means that when they start the matchup and the real score is 0-0, Charlotte will actually be leading 12.5-0 for the purposes of picking a winner.
Say at the end of the matchup, the real score is Charlotte 100 and San Antonio 109.
If you picked San Antonio on the moneyline, you would have picked correctly because they won the matchup.
But with the point spread, it’s a different story.
Because the Bobcats started with an artificial 12.5 point lead, it gets added to their real score at the end of the game. Adding the 12.5 points to their real score of 100 gives them an adjusted score of 112.5, which is now better than the Spur’s real score of 109!
In this scenario, the Charlotte Bobcats are said to have covered the spread, meaning that they won the game with their head start.
On the other hand, if the final score at the end of the game is Charlotte 80 and San Antonio 98, then Charlotte’s adjusted score is 92.5 (12.5-point head start plus a real score of 80). However, even with the head start, Charlotte’s adjusted score (92.5) is less than San Antonio’s real score of 98.
This time, the San Antonio Spurs have covered the spread.
Of course, if the Charlotte Bobcats won the matchup outright, then they automatically cover the spread.
Covering A Spread
While sometimes a source of confusion for people new to making picks, all the point spread really does is makes picking either team equally attractive!
Why Do Some Spreads End In .5?
There is no such thing as a half point in sports, but there is in sports betting! The half point ensures that a side will win and that the match will not end in a push, where the spread equals the actual difference in points between the two teams. In a push all bettors get their money back, which is no good for the oddsmaker! Half points also give oddsmakers more control over lines, allowing them to set more specific values.